Erin

Many performers believe that for Blues to sustain it should be reshaped and repackaged to broaden its appeal and make it more accessible to the masses. Side by side with this group are those practitioners who don't feel the need to diverge from tradition. The reasoning lies in the belief that structure walks hand in hand with content - the range of emotions that serve as the very foundation for the Blues. Erin McCallum is one of those artists.

McCallum, a relative newcomer to the music scene, remains committed to a basic approach that's true to the long-established roots of Blues. She's not deliberately trying to copy or recreate what has gone on long before her, she's simply following her heart and instincts that tell her the accepted process is the only way she can effectively express joys and sorrows. Employing drums, bass, guitar, occasional keyboards, and the centerpiece - her assured vocals and first-rate delivery - Erin has been steadily building a following since forming her band in 2003. And while it's been a few years since the 20 something McCallum first heard Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog", the thrill remains. The gut bucket sound she first heard on that record left its mark and is channeled in everything she touches - whether it's her own songs or the selected covers that bolster her repertoire.

McCallum is looking forward to showcasing her big voice this summer at a number of high profile events. That voice - a captivating alto tenor - is wrapped around the 11 cuts on her fine independent release "5 a.m. Blues", that has captured the imagination of DJ's and listeners in over 50 countries, and has earned the band an Ontario Independent Music Award "Best Blues" nomination.

A follow up to "5 a.m. Blues" is already in the works. There are big things on the horizon for Erin McCallum.