Champz Sportz Grille Chatham

 

Venue: Champz Sportz Grille

City: Chatham-Kent,  Ontario, Canada.

Year: 2017

Opened: Nov. 18th, 2016.
Address: 304 St Clair St.

Notes: Formerly the Legion. on St. Clair Street, Champz brings live music on the weekends with Rock, Blues, & Jazz.

Bio: A new venue has arrived in Chatham…Lots of pool tables, dart boards,4 big screens, lots of flat screens, a mouthwatering menu, live classic rock/blues/jazz music every Friday, live country music Saturdays,  and the coldest beer in town.

Regency Event Hall

Let us host all of your special events. We will make your day worry free, food made on site by Chef Opie!! A set menu or customized to your likes. Fully stocked bar and staff to take care of all your needs.

Links: 

* Facebook link here.
* Website here.

Update March 2019: Champz closed it’s doors in early 2019, due to unforeseen circumstances.

Aberdeen Hotel Chatham 1915

Venue: Aberdeen Hotel
Year: 1915
City: Chatham Ontario Canada
Closed: Circa 1996.
Address: 1 Grand Ave.

Info based on the article:
Aberdeen Hotel has a long history of serving liquid hospitality
Posted by Chatham This Week 2016/07/11. By: John Rhodes.

* Before becoming known as the Aberdeen Hotel, it had spent 40 plus years known as the McNaughton Tavern.
* It can be traced back to the late 1840s – early 1850s. Known most for selling Whiskey than renting rooms.

During the 1970’s, Country music was huge, and the Aberdeen was a popular venue featuring live music most days of the week. During the 80’s, it became a hot spot for live hard Rock & Roll. Through it’s final years (1990-1996), it had began to show its age.
As of  today (April 2017), The building still stands, being used a storage space for Western Equipment.

Aberdeen 2016, now used as storage space

 

Picture Source: Bechard family. (Calixte Bechard owned it for many decades).
The picture is from a postcard produced for the hotel, which I estimate to have been created between 1910 and 1920. John Rhodes.
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Eightball Chatham Venue closes

Tony

Bands @ Eightball

Venue: Eightball VIP Sports Cafe
Year: 2004
Location: 90 Richmond Street, Chatham Ontario
Main owner & manager: Tony Almeida
Opened: October, 1983 as Eightball Billiards & Games
Closed: 2004

About EightBall:
From the early 90’s to 2004, EightBall was the main consistent provider of live entertainment with variety.
Owner Tony Almeida was simply the nicest bar owner in Chatham and a true supporter of the community and its local bands. Tony decided to retire after 25 years in the business which began as EightBall simply being a Billiard hall. The venue has since changed its name to Twisters, and a few others before becoming Encore, which it is now known as in 2010.
Over the years, the bar hosted acts including Finger Eleven, Great White, Quiet Riot, I Mother Earth, Nazareth, Big Sugar, The Trews, 54-40, Econoline Crush, Default, Theory of a Deadman, Bif Naked, Rusty & many, many more.
EightBall began hosting local bands to play shows back in the mid 1990’s. They were often given Sundays to do their thing. Otherwise, the young kids would normally have to rent a hall (JC Hall, KBD Hall, CAW Hall, Polish Hall, & the Legions) which was a big burden and risk to take for these young kids. Tony did his best to share his good fortune and develop a good community spirit amongst all club goers, whether it be rap, dance, country, techno, metal, or foam parties.
 Like all bars, it had a few slow years caused by various reasons, but mainly, it held its ground as the top entertainment venue in Chatham for the majority of the time.

Personal Note: I have worked with Tony for many years performing in bands (Foster Child/ Janet Theory) & he sincerely was the best owner, taking care of the bands he had play at his club. He took care of his customers, staff, and hired entertainment with respect. He gave opportunities to young new acts, and in return, we did our best to try to make the shows extra special so that the venue would be packed and everybody wins.
Tony remarked “I certainly miss all the people that I used to work with and of course, The group Foster Child/Janet Theory was sincerely one of the best to work with. I really miss you guys and will never forget some of the good times that we all had!
I will always be gratefull for all the effort that you guys did to help Eightball become what it did back in the day”.

A few of the bands that performed here were:54-40, Ashes of Soma, Betrayer, Big Sugar, Cage 33, Carpedeim, Clark Nova, Closer To Closure, Crazy Babies, Crutch, Default, Driving Lester, Dropping Poppies, Ego Seed, Fat Doug & The Sinners, Filmores (the)Finding Core, Finger Eleven, First Line Third Planet, Flicker, FLOORrYDe, Foreign Film Stars, Foster ChildGilligans Eye Lid, Halfway There, Hatchet Man Phenomenon, Hollow (the)HorrowShow, Janet Theory, J Englishmen, Joy Drop, Limblifter, Mad Dash Tour, Modena 440, Nerve, Orinj, Power Trip, Quiet Riot, Random Time, Room Without A View, Rusty, Salads (the), Sedated, Scratching Post, Social Code, Source (the), Stutter, Tangled Puppet, This End Up, Toast & Jam, Tranzit, Trole, Typhoid Mary, Wide Mouth Mason, Whaling Band & Whatever.

If you have pics from Eightball,
Email us:
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com

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Stephanie Rhodes 2013 Run For Cover

Vocalist: Stephanie Rhodes
Band: Run For Cover (Cover band)
Year: 2013
Home: Formerly Chatham, now Salt Spring Island, B.C.
Current: Vocalist for the dance pop rock cover band ‘Run For Cover’.

Notes:
RUN FOR COVER is a pop dance rock cover band based out of Victoria, BC. You can usually find them playing some of Victoria’s best pubs including the Bard and Banker and the Irish Times.
The band is based on great singing and feel good music that makes you dance. The RUN FOR COVER repertoire ensures something for everyone playing music from the sixties to today’s hits.
RUN FOR COVER is Stephanie Rhodes on lead vocals, Matt Johnson (of 5440) on drums, Lane Arndt on guitar/vocals and Jeff Pawson on bass. Just try not to dance. We dare you. 🙂

Discography:
Stephanie Rhodes – 2010 – Rhodes to Somewhere.

Links for Stephanie Rhodes :
Website.
YouTube.

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Jerseys Sports Bar Chatham

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Venue: Jerseys Sports Bar.
Year: 2007
City: Chatham Ontario
Opened: circa 2006.
Closed: January 2010.
Address: 125 Keil Drive South Chatham

Note: During its run, it was one of the top two choices for live music (mainly cover bands) in Chatham. It was also popular for being decked out with out door volleyball courts.

* The venue would later re-open under the name of “The Players Club” for a short while until it eventually closed. The world & local economy took a dive from 2008-2012.

* Before becoming Jerseys, it was was named Chappies.

The final party night musical entertainment was by local duo ‘Toast and Jam’ (Jan. 2010)

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Email your pics & info to:  chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com
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Aberdeen Tavern Chatham 1995

Venue: The Aberdeen Tavern
Home: Chatham
Opened: unknown: Circa 1971.
Closed: Circa 1996.
Last owners: Ron L. (Al & George)
* Aberdeen reunion 2016 info here.

 

1970’s – Chatham was home to a strong music scene with bands performing at least six nights a week at the Aberdeen. Musicians from all over Ontario join the strong Union in this city. Times are good.  Country music rules the day & the Aberdeen is a bar highly respected in the music community. Touring acts from around the world played here when they crossed Ontario.

1980’s – Glam rock takes over. The bar grows rough edges but continues to thrive and becomes a legendary party venue on the touring scene.  It can be safely said that no bar may hold more good rock & roll stories than our little watering hole here in Chatham.

1990’s – Live entertainment dwindles down to just three nights a week. By the late 1990’s, the live music bar scene fades & Al & George decide to sell the venue & move. The Aberdeen becomes a storage warehouse for a local business. It still stands today (2011) in all its run down glory. The glory days are over, but the stories will never be forgotten. It was simply Chatham’s most legendary bar.

* The Aberdeens final “weekend” of live bands included Nerve, Never, Square Root Of Margaret & The Janet Theory/Foster Child.

Mama, George & Al. Good Kind people!

If you have any pictures of the venue or Al & George, please send them to us so we can share them. Thanks.
Email us:
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com

The Players Club 2011

Venue: The Players Club
Location: 125 Keil Drive, Chatham On. Canada.
Phone: (519) 397-0705
Opened: July 2010 (Formerly Jerseys)

The Players Club is a versatile venue that often hosts popular cover bands on the weekends. 
What they offer:

* Live bands, Dj, open mic nights
* Full Menu
* 3 Volleyball Courts
* Front Room can hold up to 70 people and is a fantastic place to hold work meetings.
* Sport fans a variety of televised entertainment including, NFL Sunday Ticket, NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass, MLB Extra Innings, OHL Action Pack, US College Basketball and Football, and NASCAR HotPass.
* 3 Pool tables
* Texas Hold’Em Poker in our World Poker Tour Amateur Poker Leaguue

Update: The venue closed in the summer of 2011.
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Crooked River

click pic to enlarge

Band:Crooked River
Year: Circa 1985/1989
Genre: Country Cover Band

The band could be seen live at the Merrill in Chatham and other local venues. 

Members:
Gary Comeou
Tammy Jones
Roger Heatherington

Email your pics & info to us @
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com

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Golden Tap and Grill in Chatham Ontario

click pic to enlarge

Venue: Golden Tap and Grill
City: Chatham Ontario
Genre: Country Music Bar
Bands: Live bands on weekends
Phone: (519) 351-1907
Address: 429 Grand Avenue East

The Golden Tap has remained the only true country music bar in Chatham Ontario since the early nineties. But it did not begin there. The venue was previously known as the ‘Kingsway Hotel’, which had a good run through the 1970’s to the early 1990’s. Bands from around the continent (big and small) performed here in the 1970’s when live music was the main and only source of weekly entertainment.

Today, you can still enjoy country music bands performing every weekend at the Golden Tap.

Anyone with info or pictures, please email:
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com

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Circus Wreck Band in 2010

Band: Circus Wreck
Year: 2010
Formed: 2009
Home: Chatham-Kent
Genre: Rock cover band

Members:
Jamie Michaud – Lead Vocals/Guitar
Jay Bateman – Drums/Vocals
Mark Gander – Bass Guitar/Vocals
Steve Tremblay – Lead Guitar/Vocals

Notes: Circus Wreck was formed in the summer of 2009 with members from local bands “Comaphoric”,”Fletcher Munson”,”Monkey Unit?” and “Buster Hymen”.The bands music is described as “The edgier side of mainstream radio rock”. Circus Wreck recreates music from some of rock and rolls greatest bands ranging from legends Led Zeppelin to some of todays hottest bands like Nickleback, Buck Cherry and Thousand Foot Crutch.

Contact Circus Wreck through their “circus Wreck” facebook group.
Check out Jay’s music online here.
Check out Jamie’s music online here.
Check out Steve’s music music online here.

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Chatham Hotel 1934

click pic to enlarge

Place: Chatham Hotel
Location: Fifth Street, Chatham Ontario
Opened: January 13, 1934

The Chatham Hotel was built shortly after the Famous William Pitt Hotel.
The Turf Room opens January 7th 1964. The room was host to bands from home and afar for many, many years.

Photo: 1935 (From Union Gas Archives)
Photo can also be found in the Public Library in the following book:
Images of Canada Chatham, by Jim and Lisa Gilbert.

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Smoke House has bands

Downtown King Street

Venue: Smoke House
Type: Live music on weekends.
City: Chatham Ontario
Location: 216 King Street West. (Downtown)
Phone: 519-352-8882

Musical acts that you will find at the Smoke House are:
Superfly, Tim Tyler Duo, Bluetonium, Bill Durst , Ray Whaling Duo, Chris Murphy, Sam Hurrie Duo, That Whaling Band, Tom Lockwood Band, Da Blooze Bros, Carole Allison Trio, Electric Soul, Chuck Fitzgerald, etc.

This venue closed in early 2011.

Visit the Smoke House website here.

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Big Shots in Chatham Ontario

Click on photo to enlarge

Venue: Big Shots
Year: 2010
Location: 17 King Street W. Chatham, Ontario (Near Cinema Six & Clems Book Store.

Big Shots have gone out of their way to bring their customers everything they need for a good time. This also includes live bands. The bar has a great out door patio that often has live acoustic acts performing, including Ray Whaling, Julie Ross etc. With Jersey’s shut down right now,(early 2010) many people are discovering this new venue and are loving it.

Chatham’s Newest Hot Spot!
We’ve got lots of pool tables and T.V.’s…
A gorgeous VIP room for you to host your trendy private parties…
A superb bar menu and the best servers to make your stay more enjoyable!
Our bar is ALWAYS STOCKED with premium liquers and COLD BEER.

Update: April 29th 2016. The owners of Big Shots have moved locations in early 2016.  They have have also changed their name to Champz. The venue will be located on St. Clair, with better opportunities with the heavier traffic flow.
Link: Champz Sportz Grille on Facebook.

Website:
http://www.bigshotsbilliards.ca/

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Encore Bar & Night Spot

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Night Club: Encore Bar & Night Spot
City: Chatham Ontario
Where: 90 Richmond St.
What: Live concerts, comedy, dancing, top 40, indie shows, pool

The place to be.  Where you can dance the night away to the top 40 hits, rock out to your favorite live local bands, see great concerts and unique appearances by comedians, recording artists, and famous celebrities, play pool, watch sporting events on Chatham’s biggest screen and 10 tvs, and most of all, enjoy an evening with good friends, food, drinks and great entertainment.

With over 6000 sq. feet, ENCORE is Chatham’s largest bar and boasts an upscale atmosphere with a fresh attitude and feel.  It’s the place where friends congregate and celebrate.  From our innovative cocktails to our impressive lineup of live DJ’s, great bands, international performing artists, and hilarious comic relief, we serve fun every night of the week.

We are the only place in town bringing big name acts to Chatham’s most equipped sound stage.  Having featured live shows from notable performers such as Crash Karma, Bif Naked, Thornley, Helix, Karl Wolf, Faberdrive, Default, D12, Jason Mewes, YUK YUKS Comedy, and the Trailer Park Boys, to name a few, ENCORE creates nights you won’t forget.

Visit Encore online here.

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The Royal Tavern in Chatham

Venue: The Royal Tavern
City: Chatham-Kent Ontario
Location: 119 King Street East
Established: Late 1800’s
Website: Royaltavern.ca

  The Royal Tavern has made major improvements since new owners took over a few years ago.
  The venue often has live entertainment on the weekends.

Notes:  The famous Royal Exchange Hotel was erected in 1840 at the southwest corner of King and Fifth Streets. The original owner of the hotel was Mr. Joe Northwood who later sold to William and Walter Eberts. For many years this was Chatham‘s finest and most popular hotel. It survived until the turn of the century when it was swept by fire. The Royal was later relocated down the street to its’ current location where it has stood proudly ever since.

Royal Tavern in 2010

Click on article to enlarge

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That Whaling Band Release Jacks Gallery

Click on pic to enlarge

Band: That Waling Band
Release: Live – Jack’s Gallery
Year: 2008
Genre: Rock
Home: Chatham

Members:
Ray Whaling – Guitar, Vocals
Andy Martin – Bass, B. Vox
Daryl Denault – Guitar, B. Vox, Percussion
Joel Laprise – Drums

Tracks:
01. Jeckyll Meets Hyde
02. Quarter Mile Straight
03. Lookin’ For A Girl
04. Black Ryder
05. Rock Me
06. Get back Tomorrow
07. Rainen
08. Wheelz Of Fire
09. Shine

Recorded at Eyre Space Studios by: Bob Hiltz & Ray Whaling
All songs written by Ray Whaling.

That Whaling Band record a new release’ live off the floor’ in the studio.
Visit them online here.

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The Unit INC

Band: The Unit INC.
Year: 1968
Genre: Horn Band, R &B Music
Home: Chatham

Members:
Raymond Violot
Mark Tremblay – Organist
Brian Edwards – Guitar
Bob Sharron – Bass

George Wilson – Trumpet
Bob Sass – Flugel Horn, Trumpet, sax etc.

Notes: The band performed around 1967-68 and had a four piece horn section.
Anyone with further info or pictures, please visit our contact page or leave a message at the bottom of this page. Thank You.

Jani Jakovac 2003 CD

Artist: Jani Jakovac
CD Release: This Is Her Life
Style: Vocal and Piano
Year: 2003
Home: Chatham Ontario
Resides: Vancouver

Tracks:
01. this is her life
02. lovin’ you
03. I’d rather be
04. strips me bare
05. she has no name
06. closer
07. something borrowed
08. take it back
09. the score

All music & lyrics by Jani Jakovac
Recorded in Vancouver B.C.
Cover photo by Carmen Day

Notes: This is her second recording, but her first to the public.
  She grew up in the small city of Chatham, Ontario, 45 minutes over the border from the Motown.  Her influences, ranging from classical to funk, are revealed in every song that she writes. Her often autobiographical lyrics leave audiences thankful for the living she has done. No, music has not been the only part of Jani’s life, but it has been the strongest, most dynamic, most necessary, always with her, traveling to every place she has been. The ever positive, vibrant, energetic Jani, admits that her music is a therapeutic device that she has used for many years to keep the smile on her face.  Audiences are thrilled she has lived enough life to have stories to tell with her songs and young enough to make it interesting.

Visit Jani online here.

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Led Zeppelin Tribute Band ‘Black Dog’ in 2008

Kevin

Frank

JZ

Nick

Artist: Black Dog
Year: 2008
What: Led Zeppelin Tribute Band
Home: Chatham Kent Ontario Canada

Band is:
KEVIN MCWATTERS – VOCALS
FRANK LONGE – GUITARS
JZ TAINE – BASS
NICK SENNEMA – DRUMS

The Scoop:
   The Led Zeppelin tribute Black Dog has been performing all over Canada and U.S. for the past 10 years. Black Dog was featured in the Canadian music artists’ 5440 ‘Animal In Pain’ music video which was broadcast worldwide and still appears on the band’s official website.

   Black Dog’s show consists of look a like costumes of the Rock Gods themselves. Vocalist Kevin McWatters bears a striking resemblance to Robert Plant. His vocal style and range emulate Zeppelin’s 70s fame. Guitarist Frank Longe (formerly of L.A.) has mastered Jimmy Page’s art through 15 years of playing. He has Les Paul and double neck guitars.

   The John Paul Jones bottom end is held down nicely by bass player J.Z. Taine who has many years of professional music experience. Black Dog is a must see for any Zeppelin fan!

KEEPING THE LEGACY LIVE!

Nick also plays in the hardcore band 100 Proof, Superfly and more.
JZ TAINE also plays bass for Finding Core.

Listen Here:
http://www.myspace.com/zeppelinblackdog

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