The Blue Hearts

Some blues partnerships are measured in years. The Blue Hearts are measured in decades.

At the heart of The Blue Hearts are two longtime friends and collaborators who have been playing and recording the Blues together for more than 40 years: Mark “Westcoast” Comerford on guitar, percussion and vocals, and Big Hank Lionhart on lead vocals.

Both are longtime members of the legendary Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band, the Victoria-based group that recorded for RCA and toured extensively across Western Canada. Their musical history together reaches back decades, and along the way they have shared stages with some of the great names in blues and roots music, including Muddy Waters and Joe Cocker, as well as more recently opening for Burton Cummings.

The Blue Hearts grew out of that long musical partnership, giving Mark and Hank the opportunity to return to the roots of the Blues in a more intimate setting. They write and perform original material while staying firmly connected to the traditional spirit, feel and storytelling of the music.

Their work has taken them far beyond the local stage. In 2016, The Blue Hearts represented British Columbia in the Solo/Duo category at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, making it all the way to the semifinals. They returned to Memphis to represent BC again in January 2019.

Their first album, Pumpin’ Out the Blues, followed their 2016 IBC appearance, along with performances throughout British Columbia and Alberta at festivals and venues including the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, Island Folk Festival, 39 Days of July, Blue Frog Studios, Hermann’s Jazz Club and many more. Their second album, Two Way Street, combines live recordings with studio performances.

Meet the Band

Big Hank Lionhart – Lead Vocals

Big Hank’s musical journey began in Edmonton in the 1960s. After singing with bands there and spending time in Seattle, he returned to Edmonton and became part of the Western Canadian cabaret and blues scene. In the 1970s he joined the legendary blues band Hot Cottage, an experience that cemented his lifelong love of the Blues.

He later moved to Victoria and formed Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band, before relocating to Vancouver and becoming part of the city’s thriving Blues and R&B scene through bands including The Toasters and The Kingpins. He eventually returned to Edmonton, where he formed Big Hank & A Fist Full of Blues, before returning to Victoria and reuniting with Uncle Wiggly’s.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Hank has recorded numerous albums and performed with and opened for some of the most respected names in blues and roots music. His powerful voice, deep knowledge of the Blues and unmistakable stage presence remain at the centre of everything he does.

Mark “Westcoast” Comerford – Guitar, Percussion & Vocals

Mark grew up in a musical family, influenced by the Blues, Folk and Rock records his older siblings were playing during the 1960s. After high school, he formed a band with a school friend and quickly developed a passion for the Blues. The two made trips to Chicago to experience the city’s legendary blues scene firsthand, including a memorable tour of South Side blues clubs with renowned drummer Clifton James.

Mark later moved to Toronto, where he played the Southern Ontario blues circuit, before returning to Victoria. It was there that he answered an advertisement looking for blues musicians and met Big Hank Lionhart. The two went on to form Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band, beginning a musical partnership that has continued for more than four decades.

Mick Woodhouse – Bass

Mick Woodhouse brings decades of experience to the low end of The Blue Hearts. A veteran of the Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver music scenes, Mick’s history stretches back to the 1960s, including his time with Calgary’s Shades of Blonde and 49th Parallel, as well as many other projects throughout Western Canada.

He also spent more than 30 years playing bass with Big Hank and the Smokin’ Hot Toasters. A strong musician and harmony vocalist, Mick brings both experience and musical instinct to the band’s sound.

James McRae – Drums & Percussion

James McRae is a versatile Vancouver Island drummer, composer, arranger, producer and musical collaborator whose work crosses blues, jazz, roots and contemporary music.

Since moving to Vancouver Island in 1986, James has become an important part of the island’s music community. His extensive list of collaborators includes Jennifer Scott, David Essig, Scott White, Nico Rhodes, Andrew Homzy, Miles Black, Rene Worst, Marc Atkinson, Diana Braithwaite and many others.

James was also the driving force behind Impressions of Lightfoot, his acclaimed jazz reimagining of the music of Gordon Lightfoot, released as a CD in 2017. His breadth of experience and instinctive musicianship make him a natural fit for The Blue Hearts.

Steve Ranta – Keys

Steve Ranta is a veteran of the Vancouver music scene with more than four decades of experience. His career has included work with artists such as Bobby Curtola and Buddy Knox, as well as extensive time with The Toasters, The Kingpins and numerous other Vancouver-area bands.

A deeply knowledgeable blues pianist, Steve brings an understanding of the great blues piano tradition to The Blue Hearts, with the ability to move effortlessly from powerful, driving blues to the more subtle and soulful side of the music.

A Lifetime in the Blues

With more than 40 years of shared history at the core, a remarkable collection of individual musical careers behind them, two International Blues Challenge appearances, multiple recordings and countless stages across Western Canada, The Blue Hearts are a celebration of the Blues in the hands of musicians who have lived it.

Come experience the music, the stories and the chemistry that can only come from decades spent playing together.