They just turned one.
Nelson band Baker Street Blues played their first gig at the Royal last January, the first of 40 Kootenay performances they did last year, and now they’re celebrating with the release of their first album Turn Up The Heat.
“We’re the hardest working blues band in the Kootenays,” frontman Stelio Calagias told the Star.
“This is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for us.”
Along with his bassist brother-in-law Phil Wilson-Birks, drummer Malik Mourah and guitarist Mike Bennett, Calagias has been playing everything from local festivals to intimate dinner venues. It’s a big commitment on top of his work at Front Street Dance Studio, but it’s something he’s always wanted to pursue.
“Phil and I would do basement jams and make music together, have fun, and we did that religiously for close to 30 years. It was always in the back of our minds that one day we’d have a band of our own.”
And now it’s a reality.
“All of us have day jobs — I’m a retired school teacher — but we’re not just weekend warriors,” said Wilson-Birks.
“Our real passion is the music, and we’ve been working hard.”
Last August they held a fundraiser that raised funds for local music programs, an initiative they were all passionate about. But they were dismayed when they figured out it landed during the Shambhala Music Festival.
“We took a chance, and to our big surprise, it sold out. We put these musicians together and the blues people showed up. It’s a different crowd. And we ended up raising $1,300.”
One of Calagias’ favourite memories from the last year was performing their first show at Finley’s. The crowd flooded the dance floor as they played, and as he sang Calagias was floored by the energy coming back at him.
“It was one of those pinch-me moments where we had been in this venue 35 years ago when it looked completely different, and now here we were and our dream was coming to fruition.”
And it was crucial their band name had a local angle.
“I always wondered, has there never been a band that’s taken that name? It just seemed obvious. I asked around and it turned out nobody had, so when the time came it was just the right choice,” said Wilson-Birks.
For more information on the band visit bakerstreetblues.ca.