Australian blues artist headlining show at the Slice

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on October 5, 2022.

Chicago Blues Hall of Famer Michael Charles and his band will be hitting the stage at the Slice for a free concert in Lethbridge Thursday.

Charles and his band will take attendees through a non-stop guitar driven journey through 39 years and 38 releases.

Charles enjoyed a successful musical crusade of touring, recording and numerous television and radio appearances in his homeland of Australia before receiving an invitation to Chicago from Buddy Guy.

It was after being back and forth for a while that he decided to make the move to America 30 years ago and eventually worked the whole blues circuit with acts such as Buddy Guy, Phil Guy, James Cotton, Eddy Clearwater, Junior Wells, George Baze and touring with blues legend Jimmy Dawkins.

“It’s just been my life,” said Charles. “It’s not something that I chose to do, it’s not something I had planned to be a musician or anything. It’s just this progression that happened to be who I am I guess is the best way I can describe it… but in my case, it was just this little kid that knew he wanted to be a musician.”

The 2022 tour is his 15th consecutive international tour and will take him through the USA, Canada and Australia.

“I started touring Canada, like I said, it was probably 16 years ago and I’ve been touring Canada every year ever since,” said Charles.

“Sometimes, like this year, I’ve been in twice. This is my second tour this year and I’ve had a few other years where I’ve went in twice, which is great because the only reason you go back to places is because people ask you, which means you’re doing the right thing. It’s both an honour to be asked back and it’s a good feeling and people like what you do. It just keeps you going.”

This will be Charles’ third time in Lethbridge.

Charles was a nine-time Grammy elected artist and was featured on numerous television, radio broadcasts and several magazines.

He played on marque event stages such as the Chicago Blues Fest and the Philadelphia Jazz and Blues Fest.

He has aired on Windy City Live Television, WGN TV, JBTV and has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times and the College Music Journal.

Charles was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2015.

Charles will play at the Slice on Oct. 6 at 8:30 p.m.

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