BMW – April 10, 2022

About BMW:

BMW (Belzner, McLean & Williams) was formed when three friends and collaborators (Kevin Belzner, cocktail drum kit; Big Dave McLean, guitars, harmonica and vocals; and Tim Williams, guitars, mandolin and vocals) found themselves together for a set at the Edmonton International Blues Festival. The music was so good, and the crowd reaction so positive, they have since been performing as a trio and have one CD (Catfish) to their credit. Delta Blues, smooth West Coast “club blues”, fine originals and more make up the set list, performed with joy and humour.

About Tim Williams:

Tim Williams is a blues-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist. He is a 40 year veteran of the Roots music scene in North America, roots which stretch back to the coffee-house scene of his native California in the mid 60's. Settling in Canada in 1970, Tim is a studio musician, producer, and a performer in constant demand. He has played Folk/Blues/Jazz festivals and concert halls and clubs from Halifax, to Vancouver Island, to the Yukon.

Inspired by the Hillbilly and Western Swing music he heard as a child, Tim absorbed late Fifties Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll, Hawaiian and Mexican music, early Sixties Folk, and Bluegrass "like a sponge" before discovering a passion for traditional blues styles which was fueled by seeing many first generation blues musicians live during the "Blues Boom" of the mid and late Sixties.

In 2014 he won the 30th Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. He took first place in the solo/duo category and was named the Saint Blues Guitarist for being top guitarist among the solo/duo finalists.

About Big Dave McLean:

Quintessential blues singer and guitarist Big Dave McLean contributed primarily to the blues from behind-the-scenes between 1970-98, but it was his 1998 release, For The Blues... Always, that pushed him more to the forefront of the blues arena. The Canadian-based singer/guitarist released one other album before 1998, titled Muddy Waters For Presiden., It was recorded in 1989 at the Bud's on Broadway club in Saskatoon. Billboard's Larry LeBlanc wrote in 1998, "At 45, the Winnipeg, Manitoba-based singer/guitarist [McLean] has done more to shape western Canada's blues scene than perhaps any other artist. He has been a significant influence on such leading Canadian blues-styled acts as singer guitarist Colin James, who produced For The Blues... Always, and young Atlantic Records trio Wide Mouth Mason." James told LeBlanc, "Dave's so good at the that acoustic [blues] stuff. He's something else with a National Steel (slide guitar)." Wide Mouth Mason singer/guitarist Shaun Verrautt added, "Any aspiring blues musicians from west of Winnipeg has likely seen Big Dave perform several times. He's the real deal."

About Kevin Belzner:

Calgary based drummer Kevin Belzner is a veteran on the local scene. Drummer of choice for Tim Williams and a host of others, Kevin's solid playing has graced numerous recordings.