🎸 About Jay Coda Walker

Jay Coda Walker is a Calgary-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist rooted in blues, country, and Americana traditions — shaping a sound he often calls “Rocky Tonk.” Blending folk storytelling, blues grit, and a lively rockabilly pulse, Jay’s music feels both timeless and grounded in lived experience.

He has released multiple independent albums, including Happy Hour and It’s a Mighty Long Road, and has written and performed more than 200 original songs. His dedication to authentic songcraft and strong melodic writing carries through both his recordings and his live performances.

Jay has appeared on notable stages including the Grand Ole Opry, The Blues Can, Ranchman’s, and Mikey’s Juke Joint, and has shared stages with artists such as Jonny Lang and America. Whether performing solo or with a full band, he brings professionalism, warmth, and deep musicality to every room.

Over the past year, Jay has continued touring festivals, clubs, listening rooms, and community halls across Western Canada — building loyal audiences through genuine connection and engaging live shows.

At his core, Jay is a working musician who values the relationship between song and listener — making him a perfect fit for the Calgary House Concerts atmosphere, where music and community meet face to face.

Not just a concert. It’s a moment to connect with friends of the series—and a chance to share the realtime experience.
Hope you can join us—thank you! for supporting ‘Live Music in the Community

💛 Food Support for Our Neighbours

This Live in the Community event helps raise awareness of food insecurity in our neighbourhood and supports the host Food programs as well The Veterans Association Food Bank . We’re collecting non-perishable food donations onsite — a simple and powerful way to give back directly to your neighbours.

🌱 Featuring Youthful Bridges

Our Youthful Bridges youth performer search is still open! We’re welcoming submissions from young artists (under 25) from across Calgary to be selected for a potential spot open on future CHC events.

🎥 Submit your song »
https://calgaryhouseconcerts.ca/youthful-bridges-artist-intro

🎸 About The Show

We’re really looking forward to welcoming Brother Ray Lemelin & The Matinee Kings for their first appearance with Calgary House Concerts on May 3. This is a band that comes out of the real blues world — shaped over decades in clubs, pubs, festivals, and jam stages where the music is learned by doing, not talking about it. With roots going back to the 1980s, Ray brings nearly forty years of experience built through live performance, collaboration, and a deep respect for the tradition.

A big part of that story lives at Blues Can, where Ray hosts the long-running Sunday jam. It’s one of those rare spaces where the blues is still passed hand-to-hand — experienced players alongside new ones, learning in real time. Ray helps guide that room, welcoming musicians up and supporting them in the moment, and that same spirit carries directly into every performance. It’s not just about playing songs — it’s about sharing the music and keeping it alive.

What makes this show especially meaningful is that it brings that world into a different kind of space. Many people don’t have access to the venues where this music typically lives — late nights, bar settings, or the inner circles of the blues scene. For many in our audience, this will be a first introduction to both the band and this style of music, experienced in a welcoming, all-ages, listening-room environment. It’s a chance to hear it clearly, feel it fully, and connect with it in a way that’s often not possible in a louder, more crowded setting.

Backed by The Matinee Kings — Howard “Schmenge” Chapman on accordion and keys, Daniel Wilton on bass, and Kelly Kruse on drums — this is a band built on feel, trust, and time. Howard brings a unique texture that stretches the blues into roots and folk territory, Daniel holds a steady, grounded groove, and Kelly sits deep in the pocket with a natural swing that anchors the band. Together, they play like musicians who have spent years in the same rooms, listening as much as playing, creating a sound that is relaxed, responsive, and deeply connected.

Musically, the band draws from Chicago electric blues, Texas groove, and classic R&B, but what really defines them is how it feels in the room. Nothing forced, nothing overplayed — just honest, groove-driven music that settles in and stays with you. In a Calgary House Concerts setting, that experience becomes something special — close, human, and shared.

As with all Calgary House Concerts events, this afternoon is part of our ongoing Food Bank Booster Concert series. Guests are warmly invited to bring a non-perishable food donation in support of local community food programs and the Veterans Association Food Bank, or contribute what they can at the door. It’s a simple but meaningful way we gather — music bringing people together while also supporting neighbours and veterans facing food insecurity.

With nearly four decades in the blues, a strong connection to Calgary’s music community, and a recent 2026 Canadian Blues Music Awards nomination for Blues Video of the Year for “Walk On / Ain’t No Use in Worryin’” (featuring Steve Hill), this is a band carrying both history and momentum. More than anything, it’s an opportunity to experience real blues — up close, in the room, exactly where it belongs.

Not just a concert. It’s a moment to connect with friends of the series—and a chance to share the realtime experience.
Hope you can join us—thank you! for supporting ‘Live Music in the Community

🎸 About Adam Karch

Adam Karch is a Montreal-based acoustic blues, roots, and Americana artist celebrated for his soulful vocals, innovative hybrid fingerstyle guitar, and deeply expressive songwriting.

From an early age, his musical gifts were clear — by his teens he was already fronting bands, performing in clubs, and captivating audiences with spirited guitar work and heartfelt singing.

His sound blends precise fingerpicking with percussive techniques, creating a rich, one-person band experience that bridges tradition and modernity. Influenced by the greats of blues and folk, Adam delivers music that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

His recordings — including Everything Can Change, Moving Forward, and Some Awkward Country Ahead — showcase his talent as a composer, guitarist, and storyteller, earning him a growing reputation on the Canadian and international roots scene.

Accolades & Recognition

🏆 International Blues Challenge – Memphis
Adam was awarded Best Solo/Duo Guitarist at the prestigious International Blues Challenge, representing the Montreal Blues Society among top performers from across North America and beyond.

🌍 International Touring
Following his Memphis success, Adam toured internationally, including a highly regarded run of concerts in Denmark, expanding his audience and artistic reach overseas.

🎶 Critically Acclaimed Recordings
Albums such as Moving Forward have received strong praise for their blend of blues, roots, and folk, highlighting Adam’s evolving artistry and emotional depth.

Why Audiences Love Him

Whether performing solo onstage or recording in the studio, Adam Karch brings warmth, authenticity, and remarkable musicianship to every performance. His ability to connect through story, rhythm, and song creates an intimate, engaging experience that continues to win over audiences in Canada, Europe, and beyond.

Not just a concert. It’s a moment to connect with friends of the series—and a chance to share the realtime experience.
Hope you can join us—thank you! for supporting ‘Live Music in the Community

🎸 About TREMOLOCO

Tremoloco is a Southern California–based roots/Americana band blending Gulf Coast rhythms, Sonoran desert textures, and Tex-Mex cantina grooves into a sound that feels both classic and distinct. Their music draws from California country-rock, Texas dancehall swing, and borderland folk traditions — layered with accordion-driven character and harmony-rich songwriting shaped by years on the road.

At the core of the band are:

Tony Zamora – vocals, basses, guitarrón, electric & acoustic guitars, ukulele, organ, percussion
Cougar Estrada – piano, drums, keyboards, percussion, vocals
Roberto Rodriguez III – accordion, vocals

Tremoloco has released multiple independent albums including Curandera (Volume I), Salsipuedes, Dulcinea, and Deseo, and has collaborated with respected roots artists such as Dave Alvin, Rick Shea, and Max Baca. Known as a true working band, they perform across club circuits, festivals, listening rooms, and house concerts throughout the U.S. and Europe — delivering road-tested musicianship wherever authentic roots music is welcomed.

Not just a concert. It’s a moment to connect with friends of the series—and a chance to share the realtime experience.
Hope you can join us—thank you! for supporting ‘Live Music in the Community

🎸 About J.Plank

J. Plank — the stage name of Jeff Plankenhorn — is a Texas-rooted, Vancouver Island–based singer-songwriter and master lap steel guitarist whose music blends blues grit, Americana warmth, and deeply lived-in storytelling. A constant presence on the touring circuit for decades, he has built his career the old-fashioned way: miles on the highway, stages in dance halls and clubs, and rooms where every note had to earn its place.

Known for his expressive lap steel work and grounded stage presence, J. Plank’s sound is rootsy, slightly gritty, and unmistakably authentic. His lap steel isn’t decoration — it’s a second voice, woven directly into his songs to shape tension, lift, and release. His songwriting carries both edge and warmth, reflecting the kind of honesty that only comes from experience.

After years immersed in the Texas roots scene, he now calls Vancouver Island home, continuing to tour across North America and beyond. Every performance reflects decades of craft — confident pacing, relaxed command, and a deep connection with the room.

J. Plank isn’t chasing trends. He’s carrying tradition forward — one road-earned song at a time.

Not just a concert. It’s a moment to connect with friends of the series—and a chance to share the realtime experience.
Hope you can join us—thank you! for supporting ‘Live Music in the Community