Happy summer everybody!

It's Friday the 13th, and I want to say thanks to all of those who came out to a show in the first half of 2008, as well as our great performers, Chris Whiteley and Diana Braithwaite, Tony D, Andy J. Forest, Penny Lang, Amy Campbell, Sarah Johnston, and Coco Love Alcorn.

We've had a wonderful first half of the year, and I now encourage you all to go find more live music this summer at Westfest, Bluesfest, the Jazz Festival, the Stewart Park Festival in Perth, the Folk Festival, with Tony D's new project Monkeyjunk at Irene's, at the Sheep, or wherever life takes you.

We're taking the summer off, since we figure most people are going to be cottaging, vacationing, and festivaling, and since we want to do some of that too!

But rest assured, we will be back in the fall with some more amazing performers.

February 10: Sunday afternoon swamp romp with Tony D, Andy J. Forest, and Steve Dunn.

BobCat House Concerts is heading south in February. Unfortunately, it’s only a metaphor, and we will be our pasty white selves for the foreseeable future… but even so, there’s a treat to be had.

We in Ottawa are lucky to have guitarist Tony D as one of our own. For years, he’s played with anyone and everyone and become a linchpin of Ottawa’s blues scene. And Tony is bringing his endless creativity to BobCat, along with a couple of great friends of his.

Even though Andy J. Forest was born in Washington State, his soul found him in Louisiana, where he has become a tremendously acclaimed singer, writer, harmonica player, and artist. With a lucky 13 albums to his credit (including a live CD recorded with Tony D and the band at the Rainbow), Andy is a frequent visitor to Ottawa.

Tony and Andy are bringing along veteran percussionist Steve Lund, who’s played with them before, as well as the Drew Nelson band, blues legend Dutch Mason, and many others.

Just the facts:

• Andy J. Forest, Tony D and Steve Lund
• Sunday, February 10, 1:00 mingling, 2:00 show
• Suggested donation $20
• As always, we provide non-alcoholic beverages; please feel free to bring beverages of your choice, some appetizer-ish food to share, and a donation of non-perishable food or cash for the Ottawa Food Bank.
• Reserve your seat via e-mail (bob.ledrew@gmail.com); we request prepayment -- please don’t short-change the artists!