Once in a blue moon, a band comes along that defies genres, captivates audiences and delivers raw, electric energy.
Blue Moon Marquee is that band. Catch their signature fusion of vintage blues, jazz and swing live in Courtenay on April 19.
As part of the Blue Circle Series, the Sid Williams Theatre Society proudly presents Blue Moon Marquee and their smoky, foot-stomping sound that’s sure to cast a spell on audiences.
The award-winning duo will, in fact, be performing as a trio on this tour, with guitarist and vocalist A. W. Cardinal and upright bassist and foot drummer Jasmine Colette joined by special guest Darcy Phillips on keys.
“We’re going to be performing songs from our whole catalogue – some favourites and plenty from our new album that we released recently that just got nominated for a Juno,” says Colette.
After winning a 2024 Juno in the Blues category for their previous album, Blue Moon Marquee is celebrating another milestone — this time with a nomination for their latest release, New Orleans Sessions.
While recent years have provided industry appreciation, the nominations and wins are a testament to their journey from the underground to the spotlight with a performance style honed over a decade of evolution.
Cardinal and Colette’s musical journey began in their teenage years, where they “ran in the same circles” in Alberta, playing in punk, metal and rock bands. After many years apart, fate reunited them in 2012 in Vancouver through a mutual friend. “We really clicked on our love for rare vintage, early kind of obscure blues and gypsy jazz,” Colette recalls, citing influences like Charlie Patton and Blind Willie Johnson. It was from this shared passion that Blue Moon Marquee was born, releasing their first album in 2014.
Since then, they’ve played everywhere from dive bars and prisons to jazz clubs and massive festival stages.
Reflecting on their whirlwind touring, Colette recalls playing for wildly different audiences — like when they did a show at a maximum-security psychiatric hospital in Belgium and followed it up the next day with a show in a 13th-century castle.
“At the end of the day, whether you’re an inmate or sitting in a wheelchair or in a castle…everybody connects with music and appreciates music,” she says. It’s this universal power of music that keeps them performing in all kinds of spaces, from grand venues to intimate clubs, ensuring they “stay in all the different worlds.”
Life on the road has shaped both their music and their perspective. From living out of their truck “sleeping in alleyways with our instruments” to hitchhiking and performing with vaudeville acts, they embraced a true troubadour lifestyle.
“When we were first playing together, we were really sort of down and out. We just kind of came up from the dirt together … So after playing little hole in the walls in Montreal and sleeping in our truck, and then we’re playing on a big stage at the jazz fest to thousands of people felt like a real full circle moment.”
They’ve always seen appreciation from live audiences but struggled early with fitting neatly into industry-defined genres. As such, they once saw awards as part of “the big pop machine and the big money and the big labels.” Having spent over a decade playing ceaselessly, they often felt like outsiders — “too jazzy for the blues world and too bluesy for the jazz people.”
But after years of carving their own path, they now appreciate the recognition. The recent accolades prove their dedication has paid off. “We really hit the pavement to earn them,” says Colette, noting that makes the acknowledgement even sweeter
Despite the relatively new-found industry attention, their focus remains on the music and the people who support them. For Blue Moon Marquee, live shows are at the heart of their artistry.
Colette says performing live “is a reciprocal energy, it’s like a symbiotic relationship really” between the artists and the audience. The experience shifts depending on the venue — a lively dance party is a world away from an intimate theatre setting.
“Something we like to do in a theatre setting is get into a few more stories … and we've gotten a very positive response from people who've just been really curious about our past as we have kind of a unique history.”
Their upcoming Courtenay performance promises to embrace that intimacy, blending their signature grit with moments of connection. And now being based in the Cowichan Valley, it’s always nice to come home to the Island.
“We’re on the road a lot, but we love to play here. This part of the world’s very special to us,” says Colette. “And some of these crowds, these people here, saw us right at the beginning, so that makes it even more special.”
Don’t miss Blue Moon Marquee. From punk-rock roots to blues-jazz glory, they’re a force to be experienced. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone or directly at the box office.
For additional information and show details, visit sidwilliamstheatre.com.
