A group of East Coast musicians will soon come together to celebrate the life of late Nova Scotia musician Dutch Mason and the mark he left on Canadian blues. “Basically, our motto is keeping the blues alive,” says Cathy Prothro with the East Coast Blues Society. The organization is hosting its annual Christmas concert, which will feature a special tribute to Mason, this weekend. “(He) needs no introduction. He was a legendary blues performer known as the Prime Minister of the Blues, dubbed that by the great B.B. King, no less,” says musician John Campbelljohn. The leader of the tribute band says Mason’s style was one-of-a-kind. “He could sing two notes, and you knew who it was right off the bat. He could play a couple of notes on the guitar, and you knew who it was right off the bat,” Campbelljohn said. Mason received the Order of Canada in 2005 for his contribution to music, one year before his death at the age of 68. “Here on this coast, everybody knows Dutch Mason … when you talk blues music, or even having fun at a venue, Dutch Mason will come up,” Prothro says. This weekend’s lineup includes his son, Juno-Award winning guitarist Garrett Mason. Campbelljohn says his appearance will make the show even more special. “(He’s) another unique performer and artist on his own right. Doesn’t sound like his dad, hasn’t copied his dad. He’s just developed his own style and it’s really powerful as a guitar player and a singer and a songwriter,” he says. They will be joined by other longtime collaborators and a gathering of East Coast blues performers that organizers say may never happen again. “Bill Stevenson’s 80 (years old), Joe Murphy’s mid 70’s, I don’t think there may ever be another time where all these artists will come together to tribute Dutch Mason,” Prothro says. The East Coast Blues Society’s annual Blue Christmas concert takes place Saturday at the Mic Mac Amateur Aquatic Club in Dartmouth, N.S. “So, if you’re a music lover, you love to dance and shake your tail feathers, you’ve got to get out for this one,” says Prothro. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
