On any given night of the week, if you scan the corners of a hopping Kingston live music venue, you're likely to find local musician and live music promoter Dave Whiteway. Not only is Whiteway a musician and fan of live music, but in his own unassuming way, he's also one of our city's biggest proponents of live music, and an advocate for local bands and artists. Kingston owes him a nod.

As a local concert promoter, Whiteway's Blues For Women (or B4W Promotions)—which he continues in memory of his wife, Karilee—has become a curative outlet for Whiteway. Earlier this month, he paired local bluesman, Jeff Dunn, with world-renowned Delta blues disciple, Doc MacLean, for a special Sunday evening show at Monte's in the historic Prince George Hotel in downtown Kingston and voila – Sit Down Sundays was born.

Originally from Nova Scotia, music is in Whiteway's blood. With the closing of Blu Martini this past fall, Whiteway saw an opportunity to help keep live music alive on this popular downtown Kingston strip. "With its vintage decor and superb hotel-level service, Monte's presented the ideal venue for this Sit Down Sundays," notes Whiteway. "Being from Nova Scotia, I'm hoping to recreate a more casual kind of east coast live music experience that will draw people looking for a less pretentious atmosphere."

With the series' third installment planned for December 8 (web link), Whiteway continues to materialize his vision for Sit Down Sundays. "Ever since I'd experienced Brent 'Buck' Tingley and his band play a Sunday matinee at The Local Pub in Halifax, I've dreamt of recreating the same kind of environment," explains Whiteway. "The entire band were seated while playing, and it made me feel like I was sitting at their kitchen table during a jam with all their friends."

With Sit Down Sundays, Whiteway hopes to create a platform to expose live music lovers to exceptional out-of-town musical talent, as well as noteworthy Kingston-based acts and artists. "I'm a strong believer in supporting Canadian—and especially local—talent," says Whiteway. So far, Kingston's Jeff Dunn, Saul T. Doggs have performed at Sit Down Sundays, as well as Belleville's Tony Vani and Kenny Pauze.

While Whiteway's personal music tastes favour roots and blues, he recognizes the opportunity to diversify the casual live music experience, and to make them as inclusive as possible. "Beyond the blues, I'd like to present acts you wouldn't expect to see seated, and give audiences and performers an opportunity to experience music in a more intimate and up-close environment." To Whiteway, engineering the right setting and atmosphere is essential. "Hopefully, Sit Down Sundays enables the sharing of feelings that music inspires in each of us, and differently than in standing room-only bars and huge arenas – and much more affordably too."

Timothy Campbell headlines the next 'episode' of Sit Down Sundays with special guest, Kingston's own exceptional Paula Wood. Details here: web link Posted: Nov 29, 2024