BIG HANK & THE SMOKIN' HOT TOASTERS

Sat, Apr 18

Big Hank & The Smokin’ Hot Toasters Big Hank Lionhart, also known as Uncle Wiggly, just celebrated his 79th birthday. This marks Hank’s 61st year in the music business—a career that began in Edmonton during high school and continued in Seattle while attending art school. He played in several notable bands in Edmonton before moving to Victoria in 1978, where he formed Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band. The band was signed to RCA Records and opened shows for legends such as Muddy Waters, Joe Cocker, and George Thorogood. In 1985, Hank moved to Vancouver, where he met Steve Cross. Together, they founded The Toasters, becoming a mainstay in Vancouver’s vibrant Blues & R&B scene during the 1980s. The Toasters opened for the Neville Brothers, Koko Taylor, and John Mayall. Later, Jack Lavin joined the band, and they became The Kingpins, recording two albums featuring original songs penned by Jack. After The Kingpins, Hank returned to Edmonton and formed Big Hank & A Fist Full of Blues, a group that lasted nine years and recorded two albums of original material. During this time, Hank met his wife, Kim and in 2014, they relocated to Victoria, where Hank reformed the original Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band. The band achieved recognition by winning the right to represent British Columbia at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. As some members of Uncle Wiggly’s retired, Hank retired the band and reformed The Toasters, later renamed The Smokin’ Hot Toasters. Hank also performs with the Blue Heart Folk Blues Trio, alongside Mark Comerford from Uncle Wiggly’s and Mick Woodhouse from The Toasters. Hank continues to enjoy singing and performing live. The band features Big Hank Lionhart - (Vocals), Tom Bowler (guitar & vocals), Mick Woodhouse (bass & vocals), Steve Ranta (keys & vocals), James McRae (drums), Jerry Cook (sax) Book your spot early to avoid disappointment—KEEP IT LIVE