Brother Ray Lemelin & The Matinee Kings

We’re really looking forward to welcoming Brother Ray Lemelin & The Matinee Kings for their first appearance with Calgary House Concerts on Sunday, May 3 — hosted at the Glendale/Glendale Meadows Community Centre. It’s’ Veterans Association Food Bank Booster Concert Tickets & Details https://calgaryhouseconcerts.ca/

📍 4500 25 Ave SW, Calgary
🕝 Doors 2:30 PM · Show 3:00 PM
👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages Welcome

This is a band that comes out of the real blues world — shaped over decades in clubs, pubs, festivals, and jam stages where the music is learned by doing, not talking about it. With roots going back to the 1980s, Ray brings nearly forty years of experience built through live performance, collaboration, and a deep respect for the tradition.

A big part of that story lives at Blues Can, where Ray hosts the long-running Sunday jam. It’s one of those rare spaces where the blues is still passed hand-to-hand — experienced players alongside new ones, learning in real time. Ray helps guide that room, welcoming musicians up and supporting them in the moment, and that same spirit carries directly into every performance.

What makes this show especially meaningful is that it brings that world into a different kind of space. Many people don’t have access to the venues where this music typically lives — late nights, bar settings, or the inner circles of the blues scene. For many in our audience, this will be a first introduction to both the band and this style of music, experienced in a welcoming, all-ages community setting. Hosting this event in Glendale allows the music to reach people close to home — comfortable, accessible, and open to everyone.

Brother Ray Lemelin is backed by The Matinee Kings — Howard “Schmenge” Chapman (accordion/keys), Daniel Wilton (bass), and Kelly Kruse (drums) — this is a band built on feel, trust, and time. Howard adds a rich, roots-infused texture, Daniel locks in the groove with steady, grounded playing, and Kelly brings deep pocket and swing that anchors the band. Together, they create a sound that is relaxed, responsive, and deeply connected.
Musically, the band draws from Chicago electric blues, Texas groove, and classic R&B, delivered with a natural, unforced feel. Nothing overplayed — just honest, groove-driven music that settles in and stays with you. In this setting, the experience becomes something special — close, human, and shared.

🥫 Food Bank Booster Concert
As with all Calgary House Concerts events, this afternoon is part of our ongoing Food Bank Booster Concert series. Guests are warmly invited to bring a non-perishable food donation in support of The Veterans Association Food Bank, or contribute what they can at the door. Every small gesture helps strengthen the community.

With nearly four decades in the blues, a strong connection to Calgary’s music community, and a 2026 Canadian Blues Music Awards nomination for Blues Video of the Year for “Walk On / Ain’t No Use in Worryin’” (featuring Steve Hill), this is a band carrying both history and momentum.

👉 More than anything, it’s an opportunity to experience real blues — up close, in the room, exactly where it belongs.
TICKETS & Details availalable at https://calgaryhouseconcerts.ca/