Rocking 'n' rolling with the Stones

Joanne Polack, more commonly known as JoPo on the local music scene, has always been a big fan of the Rolling Stones and Martin Scorsese.

When she was asked to perform with her band Blackwater at Martinis at the Max, before and after the screening of Shine A Light, she was flattered, to say to the least.

“We are so excited going into this,” she said.

What makes the opportunity that much more exciting is that Michael Davis, a trombonist-composer who has been on five world tours with the Stones, will be joining Blackwater on stage for their final set.

“When ... Science North informed me that Michael will be flying up for the event and then asked me if it would be OK to have (him) join our band ... for a few songs in our last set, we were literally blown away,” JoPo said. “How could we say no? What an honour.”

JoPo said she is impressed with Science North's decision to invite local acts to share the stage with such prominent musicians.

“Now that is keeping it real,” she said. “An opportunity like this means a bright and confident future for our band ... only good things can come of this.”

It won't be the first time the local group has had the chance to meet rock 'n' roll legends.

Last April, they met John Kay of Steppenwolf during the Born To Be Wild party at Science North.

“That was an amazing experience,” JoPo said. “The night before that event, we were at the Imax doing a sound check and when completed, our band had the opportunity to have dinner with John Kay, his wife and crew up in the Lake House.

“Now that was an experience that we'll never forget. John and his wife shared so many different and interesting stories — he's brilliant. We could have sat there and listened to him all night. I grew up listening to Steppenwolf — to have had the honour to meet him, share the stage and open for him will be a memory I will never forget.”

Tickets to Martinis at the Max, which takes place at Science North Jan. 19 have been sold out. For more information about Blackwater, visit blackwatercanadaband.com.

Posted by Arron Pickard