Live concert to Boonies Drive-In

By Mark Ribble

TILBURY — The Boonies Drive-in will be the site of a live concert being held October 17.

In this time of COVID restrictions, many performers have opted for livestream concerts from their basements. Many others feel the need to perform live in front of a real live audience.

Such is the case with Leamington’s Mary Newland and the Blue Bayou Band.

Newland and her husband, Richard Baker of Santana fame, have been performing together for many years and to have that down time is not something they are used to.

The two Canadian musicians met in LA, where Richard became her producer and performing partner for many years.

Returning home a few years ago, they’ve found success with the Blue Bayou Band.

“We’ve sold out houses from Windsor to Port Stanley,” she said. “We’ve never had this lack of gigs like we’ve experienced this year.”

Newland reached out to a few musician friends and they had a discussion about trying to put on a concert in the midst of the COVID restrictions.

“In such times, concerts are not allowable, so I decided to create a COVID safe concert,” she said. “That’s when the idea of using a drive-in came up.”

MARY NEWLAND AND RICHARD BAKER

So, on October 17 at Boonies Drive-In near Tilbury, Newland and her bandmates will take the stage for the first time since March, performing in the First Annual Monarch Music Festival. “Windsor and Kingsville both have great music festivals,” she said. “Why can’t Leamington have one?”

Joining the Blue Bayou Band will be Almost Famous (Kingsville), The Fontaines (Windsor) and Leamington’s own Jody Raffoul.

Newland’s band, as the name suggests, spotlights the musical catalogue of Linda Ronstadt, belting out tunes such as You’re No Good, When Will I Be Loved and of course, Blue Bayou.

Almost Famous plays a mix of classic rock tunes, while The Fontaines play more to the Joni Mitchell/ James Taylor crowd. Of course, Jody Raffoul has a collection of his own songs and does some fabulous covers of classic rock and roll songs.

“Each of the acts have loyal followers, and music lovers are feeling a bit deprived of late,” said Newland.

JODY RAFFOUL

Each group will play a full set and the concert will end with a finale by all four groups on stage at once.

One of Newland’s signature tunes is a medley of Santana hits, which showcases her husband’s deep roots in the band.

When Newland came up with the idea of a concert, she reached out to Richard ‘Ziggy’ Schiefer of Leamington, who owns Boonies Drive-In.

“He didn’t hesitate to say yes,” she said.

She is hoping this will become an annual event.

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and sit outside their vehicles and are also asked to bring a mask for washroom and concession stand visits.

The gates open at 5 pm with the first act up at 6 pm.

There is room for 200 vehicles, plus some room around the perimeter of the drive-in for buses, campers and trailers, if you are so inclined.

The cost is $100 per carload, up to five people. Beyond five people in your car will incur an extra charge.

The drive-in is located at 4625 Richardson Sideroad, just south of the 401 exit at County Rd. 42.

You can book your spot by heading over to EventBrite.com and searching for the concert, or by picking up tickets in person at Wharram’s Jewellery, Thirteen at the Inn, or at Sissy and Roche in Kingsville.