JEN BLACKWOOD ANSWERS FIVE QUESTIONS

Former front person and founding member of the legendary psychobilly outfit The Creepshow, Jen Blackwood, returns to Hamilton July 4th at Vertagogo

06/17/2025 - By Ben Rispin

I've known Jen Blackwood longer than I haven't at this point. We met almost 30 years ago out front of a venue in Burlington, Ontario called The Yellow Submarine. She had a Todd Mcfarlane Spider-Man tattoo and I, like every other boy in the 905 punk and hardcore community was smitten.

Since meeting her, I've become friends with her entire family and feel as though we too are extended family. Jen's sister Sarah Blackwood, took over the reigns of The Creepshow when Jen left. Sarah also ended up leaving the band while forming Walk Off The Earth, who shortly after became internet superstars. Jen's brother, Ian, is also a wildly talented musicians and actor, having played in bands like Always Outnumbered, The Artist Life, and most recently, Great Mistakes, a new band with the members of Always Outnumbered.

LISTEN TO SARAH AND JEN BLACKWOOD ON SPOTIFY

Jen is one of the most creative people I have ever met and puts something new into this world daily. Wether a song, a tattoo, refurbished furniture, a painting, or whatever the hell else she sets her mind to, anything she touches becomes exceptional.

We're thrilled to have her as the featured guest on this segment of Five Questions With:

Don't miss her July 4th with Death By Stereo, Lee Reed, Anthony Haley, and my own band, The Video Dead. Get tickets HERE or by clicking the image below.

About Jen Blackwood:

Jen Blackwood shows up in this world in so many ways how do we even focus on one? She is a true artist in all forms and mediums, she has tapped into every possible element of creation, and she seemingly never stops. We often wonder if she ever sleeps.

Among many other things, Jenny is a guitar playing singer-songwriter/producer who crafts music within the punk culture with an unmistakable signature. Born and raised in Burlington Ontario, her music weaves raw emotion with grit & guts, and her powerful vocals showcase infectious melodies, drawing inspiration from her vast collection of favourites. Whether performing live or recording in the studio, Jenny brings a wild energy that pulls in the crowd and takes it for a ride. Do we love her with our whole hearts? Ya. We sure do.

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH JEN BLACKWOOD, FORMERLY OF THE CREEPSHOW

WHEN AND WHERE DID YOUR LOVE OF MUSIC FORM?

I was a kid! And lucky me, my parents loved music, so it was all around me and I didn’t have to go far to find it for myself. If there was music playing in a room, I was in it. The way it moved, vibrated, and called to me… It was like lightning direct to my soul wiring. As a young pre-teen I plugged into the alternative and punk culture, and holy shit. The world grew a million times bigger. I was to create it, make it myself, and so I did.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST CONCERT YOU WENT TO?

My Dad surprised my sister and I with NKOTB tickets, my bro came too. Year was 1990, and I came home with a lost voice. Second concert was Marilyn Manson a few years later at the Opera house in Toronto. Very different.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST “BIG SHOW”? OR YOUR FIRST SHOW EVER?

First show ever… I decided to pretend I wasn’t scared, take my guitar and just sign up to play some acoustic shows around the 905 wherever I could. I played at the Burlington YMCA first, Oakville, Hamilton etc.

Then others wanted to collab and team up, I met a lot of people just throwing myself out there. I played with a ton of different people, eventually joined the lovely ladies in Tuuli for a while, skipping around Europe and across the United States, and we remain friends to this day.

Biggest shows I ever played were in my band The Creepshow, in particular, a psychobilly festival in California. Met my friend Kamilla (Horrorpops) earlier for a quick hang and then it was go time. Came out on stage to meet eyes with what looked like the entire population of the state standing in front of me. Like what?! Ok kids let’s GOOO!

It was fucking awesome.

WHAT WAS YOUR WORST SHOW OR FUNNIEST SHOW MEMORY?

There have been MANY worst shows and MANY funniest memories I don’t even know how to start diving into those memory files… but I will say, being out on tour as the only woman with a bunch of punks just writes comedy itself. By the minute ;)

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR BAND?

I’m in full surrender to what the universe brings to me. I’ve asked it to show me how fucking good it can get. So let’s see what happens. Who’s comin with me?