SooToday Stage Two

Friday
July 18, 2025

Friday Night Blues presented by The Sault Blues Society

4:30pm – The Preacher

5:30pm – Dark Eyed Junko

6:30pm – Mudfoot Mike and the Mukrakers

7:30pm – Smokehouse

8:30pm – Rusty McBlues

Saturday
July 19, 2025

1:30pm – Matthew James

2:30pm – Cameron Oliver

3:30pm – HA!LS

4:30pm – HEADF1RST

5:30pm – Convergence

6:30pm – DJ Seith

7:30pm – Jupiter Marvelous

8:30pm – Fuller

The Preacher learned finger style Chicago blues in Chicago from friends and mentors Matt Hendricks and Eddie Taylor Jr. and all the musicians and bands that came through Buddy Guy’s Legends and other blues clubs. He was given his name at Buddy Guy’s Legends. Plays original songs like Uneven Blues, Since I Been Lucky Blues and Heavy Lead Blues.

Dark Eyed Junko are the Soo’s newest Electric Power Blues Band. Their unique style features a focus on Canadian Artists such as Big Sugar & Colin James while also featuring ZZ Top, Freddie King, The Black Crows and many of your bluesrock favorites. Dark Eyed Junko are amped up to bring High Energy and High Volume to the SBS Stage!

The grandfather of Toronto’s infamous Grossman’s Tavern jams, Mike has enjoyed more than five decades as a professional musician, entertaining North American and European audiences over the years and sharing the stage with artists such as Randy Bachman, Alannah Miles, John Kay and Steppenwolf among a few. When asked, he’ll say opening for B.B. King was his all time favourite.

Smokehouse a local band that plays original music and covers. The band has been around for about 10 years, with present members listed below.

As a top Toronto guitarist for hire Rusty has gigged with Alannah Myles, Dawn Tyler Watson, Jerome Godboo, Al Wood, Wicked Grin, The Cameo Blues Band, Molly Johnson, the Blues Brothers. Rusty lives in St Catharines and plays local gigs with Guitarist Grant Parker & Maple Blues drummer Jim Casson. Rusty’s latest release is ‘Out of the Blue’.

Matthew James, local songwriter, has been honing his folk/pop sound for over a decade. His work meanders through genre bending vibes as he grapples with the comings and goings of a hard life hardly lived. His expressive performances harken back to the perfect campfire jam session with the people you love the most.

Local country artist Cameron Oliver’s musical journey began in an unexpected way, teaching himself guitar after a sports injury and discovering a passion for storytelling through song. Inspired by legends like Garth Brooks and Chris Stapleton, Cameron blends small-town heart with raw, relatable lyrics—creating music that’s honest, heartfelt, and rooted in country tradition.

HA!LS are a crossover thrash band known for playing fast and asking questions later. They blend 90s skate punk with elements of thrash, technical death metal and jazz to forge their own unique soundscape. Formed in 2022 the HA!LS lineup consists of singer/bassist B.G Ellis, cousin guitar duo Carmen Muto and Mikhal Muto, and drummer Keegan McAllister.

Known for their electrifying performances and original hard rock sound, HEADF1RST has quickly become a staple in the local music scene. Their return to SooToday Stage Two underscores their growing popularity and dynamic presence. Fans can expect an unforgettable set filled with raw energy and powerful music, solidifying HEADF1RST’s reputation as one of the region’s most exciting live acts.

Convergence fuses intricate melodies with thunderous, djent-infused riffs – creating a sound untamed as the landscape that inspires them. The Sault Ste. Marie-based progressive metal quartet blends complex rhythms, virtuosic guitar work, and hauntingly powerful vocals, layered with extended-range guitars and lyrics that hit with visceral intensity. For fans of high-energy performances, Convergence is not just a show – it’s an experience.

DJ Seith has been constructing psychedelic musical journeys through hip-hop, funk, soul, rock and disco for the better part of two decades. His “Seith’s Tape Club” project from 2021 has seen worldwide acclaim from Skratch Bastid, Fresh Kils, Oonops Drops (Brooklyn Radio), Skeme Richards (Rock Steady Crew) and DJ Platurn.

With a desire to do something outside the box, Jupiter Marvelous has grown into a rag-tag bunch of your friends from weird backgrounds who like weird tunes. With bluesy biting riffs, big drum sounds and a keen sense for pop hooks the band looks to push the idea of popular music to a different place. A much more fun place.

Sculpted from the ashes of punk band “Buckle”, Sault Ste. Marie’s “Fuller” became a staple of the early 2000’s local music scene. More than 20 years later, the band would finally record a proper album. Fuller II became available on all streaming services March 28, 2025.