Schatte finalist in blues competition

By Joe Belanger

London-based Great Lakes Blues Society is celebrating its best showing yet at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

The Michael Schatte Band made it to the final eight out of 117 bands at the week-long blues festival but didn’t win. The 30-year-old Chatham-born guitarist, now living and working in Toronto, won the right to represent the society by competing against several other regional blues bands last October.

“We’re extremely proud,” said society chair Dave Harland in a telephone interview shortly after the finals ended.

“This is our most successful visit to Memphis. Katfight Keys -- Chuckee Zehr (who is married to Harland) and Gail Selkirk with both on vocals and keyboards -- played extremely well. They played at the International showcase and the Canadian showcase and put on great performances. The crowds loved them.”

Michael Schatte earned an MA in History in 2008 from Western University.