Take the rhythm of the Maritime Acadian music, season well with Louisiana zydeco blues, add a twist of Highway 61 era Dylan, serve it up with great showmanship, and you’ve got a potent musical cocktail that will have your head spinning and your feet dancing! - Island Folks Festival
Gary Comeau is a singer-songwriter and musician of unique diversity and talent. Playing a range of instruments including guitar, mandolin, fiddle and piano, he delivers originally crafted, high energy, New Orleans-style rockin' roots and blues.
Although Gary’s own roots are French-Acadian - he was born and raised in Nova Scotia - his soul seems to have taken a long and inspiring detour through Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta. While Gary does not consider himself to be a Cajun or zydeco artist per se (“it’s just the vibe that runs through the tunes I write”) he’s probably the most southern-sounding player in town. Steve Newton of The Georgia Straight states, “Vancouver’s roots-music scene has immensely benefited from Comeau’s presence.”
Between 1997 - 2004 Gary released four CD’s. Comeau’s talents have also caught the attention of the film industry with songs like "Marianne", featured in The Paramount Film “Double Jeopardy” (1999) and "I Think About You All the Time” from the film “Wise Guys” (2003).
Gary Comeau & The Voodoo Allstars were asked to participate in The BC Fire Relief Benefit; a joint production of CBC television and radio. They were featured on Holger Peterson’s Saturday Night Blues; a CBC nation-wide blues show out of Edmonton, Alberta and are regulars on the West Coast Festival circuit where their live performances are, more often than not, the showcase highlight.
From 2012 till the present, Gary has been a founding member of the very popular trio group Cannery Row . With fellow bandmates Tim Hearsey - guitars & Chris Nordquist - drums & percussion & featuring songs from all three writers, Cannery Row weaves a cloth in the styles & traditions of the Amercian south with the added spice of being Canadian from the west coast of British Columbia.
Since 2021 Gary has also been featuring his music in another trio group called Gary Comeau & The "Sounds Of New Orleans". This group features mostly Gary's compositions but it does delve into the rich cultural history of New Orleans & Louisiana. Gary's passion for New Orleans piano & with his cajun fiddle never too far away make this trio a fun festive experience indeed.
Gary Comeau & the Voodoo Allstars is:
Gary Comeau - vocals, fiddle, mandolin, piano, accordian, guitar
Tim Hearsey - vocals, guitar
One of Canada's finest blues guitarists, Tim has been a fan favourite on the Vancouver music scene for well over three decades. During that time, along side of his longtime friend and bandmate Chris Nordquist, he honed his skills performing with some of the greatest blues players of our time. From Lowell Fulson to Hubert Sumlin, Taj Mahal to Eddie Shaw, Eddy 'the Chief' Clearwater to Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson, it's been a lifelong affection and affliction with the blues! Co-writer and performer with Jim Byrnes on the 1996 Juno award winning album 'That River', Tim continues his writing, producing and performing today with Gary Comeau and Chris Nordquist in their new collaboration 'Cannery Row'
Rob Becker - vocals, bass
Chris Nordquist - vocals, drums, percussion
Chris "The Wrist", as he is known to many, is a much respected and internationally recognized drummer, composer, actor and educator. A nominee for both 'Drummer of the Year 2011' by the Toronto Maple Blues Society and 2012 Juno Award, he is currently artistic director for the Pender Harbour Blues and Roots Festival. A credit list of recordings and performances that reads like a veritable who's who and crosses multiple genres, he is always in demand for his versatility, experience and musicality.
Jerry Cook - sax
Cannery Row
Gary is also available as part of the trio 'Cannery Row', a West Coast trio who have come together from a range of different musical backgrounds to create an eclectic collection of songs. You will hear the influence of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the blues from Memphis and the Mississippi delta (the land of Chuck Berry), the Latin rhythms of Cuba, and a sprinkle of the early roots of Jazz as the trio performs songs from their self-titled album.
Cannery Row is:
Gary Comeau - piano, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, guitar,
banjo, vocals
Tim Hearsey - slide/acoustic guitar, banjo, vocals
Chris Nordquist - drums, percussion, washboard, vocals
Gary Comeau & The Sounds of New Orleans
Laying out a soundscape of the jazz, roots, cajun, latin & r&b blues from the cultural rich history of New Orleans & south Louisiana. From the jazz influence of Louis Armstrong, the New Orleans piano sounds of Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Dr. John & Allen Toussaint, the funky sounds of the Neville Brothers, & Gary’s own compositions in his own gumbo style...it’s all here.
