Bluestone @ the NEW Jeff Healey's Roadhouse

I apparently missed another great gig by Ottawa band, Bluestone, last night at the NEW Jeff Healey's Roadhouse on Blue Jays Way near King and Spadina. I had an information breakdown re: whether the gig was on or off, so I decided not to take a chance.

My buddy John Mowat (aka Johnny White Dog) was there, though, and sent me a couple photos.

He also passed along a few comments on the new venue.


Healey's (the former name) used to be just south of Queen E on Bathurst until the end of November. By mid-December they relocated to Blue Jays Way, near the Dome and just across from Gretzky's restaurant. I missed all this while I was away on vacation.

Anyway, Johnny tells me the new location is great, although the beer is pretty pricey.


By the way, Jeff Healey has just come out of lung cancer surgery and we wish him well.

For those few of you who don't know his background, Jeff became blind when he was just one year old (due to a rare form of cancer that required the surgical removal of his eyes). He picked up the guitar at age 3 and developed a unique style of playing with the guitar flat on his lap.

I always think of Jeff as an extraordinary blues guitarist, but I understand his preference nowadays is vintage jazz. He's apparently as good on trumpet and clarinet as he is on guitar.

When he's not on tour you can catch him live at his club... typically doing weekend matinees.

No doubt the "Roadhouse" in the new venue's name is a reference to Jeff's movie appearance in Road House (starring Patrick Swayze).