Partygoers will get the chance to ring in the new year with Sam Hurrie Band once again as the popular local blues guitarist plays New Year’s Eve.
Hurrie’s full band, otherwise known as the Big Five, will be on stage Thursday, December 31 at Red Lion Pub, playing crowd-pleasing hits for what Hurrie said is his last New Year’s show.
“It means a lot,” said Hurrie, “that my last New Year’s gig is in Powell River.”
Hurrie said the end of an era of New Year’s celebrations comes because in 2016 he’s launching a new project featuring the music of David Bowie and will be touring.
“It will be a plugged-in acoustic show,” he said. “I’ve been hearing a lot of interest about it from across the country.”
With nearly 40 New Year’s shows under his belt at venues in Canada and the US, Hurrie said he knows what people want to listen to for the special occasion, so the playlist will include lots of Rolling Stones, Chuck Barry and Eric Clapton, to name a few.
“People want to dance,” he said. “You play things people know and you try to give something everybody likes.”
Hurrie will be joined by pianist/organist Paul Mignot, guitarist/harpist Ron Campbell, bass guitarist Dennis Fox and drummer Neko Peterson. Hurrie said the band will also be accepting song requests.
“Between all of us, we know hundreds of songs,” he said, “so we should have everyone covered.”
Hurrie said it has been a particularly good year for his music and he is glad to be ringing in the new year at home in Powell River.
“I’ve had close to a 100 shows this year,” he said. “It’s been the busiest I’ve been on stage for 55 years.”
Hurrie said he doesn’t have an explanation for his recent popularity, but credits some of his success to a new generation who have learned to love blues guitar.
The show at Red Lion starts at 9 pm and tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door, including an appetizer buffet at 10 pm and champagne at midnight.
“The audience in Powell River is good,” said Hurrie, “and at midnight I will get a kiss from my wife.”
