We're excited to present a double-bill with two of Canada's finest blues musicians, Rick Fines and Roly Platt.

Rick Fines and Roly Platt will be performing a matinée house concert at the Take Note! Music House on Sunday, June 14 at 2:30 pm (doors open at 2:00). Requested donation is $20, with all proceeds going directly to the performer. You may reserve your seat by calling (705) 305-1687 or emailing concerts@takenotepromotion.com.

Rick Fines (www.rickfines.ca)

'A generous picker with a down-home voice and attitude' [Ottawa Citizen]

Rick Fines refuses to be pigeonholed. Steeped in roots music, he crafts a unique blend of warm-hearted blues, juke joint folk, and dockside soul that both embraces and defies the genres that influence him.

As a veteran of the North American blues and folk circuits, he engages audiences with captivating songs, diverse guitar styling and his signature vocal growl. Rick's storied career has seen him working in stellar collaboration and as a successful solo act. First gaining attention as part of the legendary Jackson Delta, he's since released four solo albums, another with his own Rick Fines Trio, and a critically acclaimed disc with fellow troubadour, Suzie Vinnick. Along the way he has racked up both awards and accolades. His 15-year stint with Jackson Delta received both Juno and Handy Award nominations. His partnership with Suzie garnered a Maple Blues Songwriter of the Year award. On his own, he's pulled in two more Maple Music Awards (for 'Solo Act of the Year'), as well as an astonishing eight other nominations. While his songwriting chops won him a 2003 International Songwriting Competition, he's equally proficient on guitar ' having played for legendary blues piano player Pinetop Perkins, songstress Colleen Peterson, folk icon Penny Lang, and many others.

Equally at home alone at the microphone or leading a stage of fellow players, Rick has performed everywhere from the National Gallery and Governor General's Garden Party to Montreal Jazz, Ottawa BluesFest, the Edmonton Folk Festival, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. International tour highlights include visits to France, Italy, Scotland, Newfoundland, BC's Gulf Islands, and the Northern Arctic.

Rick believes in the transformative power of music. When not performing, he can be found teaching and sharing with students across Canada ' including work with the Blues In The Schools programs in Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto, and Yellowknife. He's also participated in the Ontario Arts Council's 'Artists in Education' program.

His newest album, Driving Home, is his most eclectic and electric to date.

Roly Platt (www.rolyplatt.com)

'Simply the greatest harp player, anywhere.' [Tim Thorney]

• two-time Maple Blues Awards nominee ' 'Harmonica Player of the Year'

• two Canadian Double Platinum Record credits

• recorded on over 1700 individual album cuts, movie scores and national jingles

Roly Platt has enjoyed a long and very musically rewarding career as both a live and studio harmonica player in the Canadian scene for over 35 years. He has had the pleasure of touring and recording with many greats in the business, including: Matt Minglewood, Dutch Mason, David Clayton-Thomas, Suzie Vinnick and Ronnie Hawkins.

After getting his start practicing to his older brother's Blues and Bluegrass records, Roly's early years on the road quickly introduced him to a wider variety of music including Country-Swing, Country Rock, R&B & Traditional Jazz. This experience of having to incorporate harmonica into some of these non-traditional roles helped form his melodic approach to playing and define his unique style. As Roly puts it, 'None of the songs we'd play had any harp in the original versions. So I had to figure out how to fit something into these genres that sounded good, or I'd be out of work. That was the best schooling I could have asked for.'

Roly's distinctive sound, versatility, and intuitive sense of 'what works', has elevated him to 'first-call' studio harmonica player in the Canadian recording scene. Roly had been recorded on over 1500 individual album cuts, movie scores and national jingles and is now working on sessions for clients from around the globe via his home studio.