Uncle Wiggly & The Smokin’ Hot Toasters Dance Party

Big Hank Lionhart, is also known as Uncle Wiggly, and this year 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.

Hank played in several notable bands in Edmonton before moving to Victoria in 1978, where he formed the infamous 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. They represented British Columbia at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee.

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.

They play a Smokin’ Hot collection of great dance tunes a mix of R&B, Rocking Blues and Swing, you won’t want to miss this night of outstanding music, and wear your comfy shoes, you’ll be dancing all night!

The band features Big Hank (Uncle Wiggly) Lionhart – (lead vocals), Stewart McLellan – (guitar & vocals), Mick Woodhouse (bass & vocals), Steve Ranta (keys & vocals), James McRae (drums) and Jonnie Bridgman – sax