Blues News 2008.indd - Monroe County Community College

2008
BLUES NEWS
Monroe County’s 21th Annual Black History Month Blues Series
the big gig!
spirit in the night
Kick off February with a roof-raising gospel blues revival
starring legendary vocalist Marie Knight, Monroe’s roots
music “professor” Reverend Robert B. Jones, Sr. and
his life and musical partner, Sister Bernice Jones.
For the first time in blues series history, Robert will be
joined by The Sweet Kingdom Missionary Baptist
Church Band & Choir. And let’s not forget our special
guest Kim Wilson, harmonica wizard and co-founder of
the Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Monroe County’s 21st Annual Black History Month Blues
Concert caps off the month with another once-in-a-lifetime
lineup. For the first time “The Big Gig!” brings together
three generations of stellar electric guitarists.
Chicago legend Lonnie Brooks headlines, joined by
critically acclaimed New York fretmaster Michael Powers.
Monroe’s own Cetan Clawson returns for the first time
since 2001, when he opened the show at age 13.
“Spirit in the Night” will celebrate the essential connection between blues and gospel music, showcasing our
true shared culture in music and song.
Pack your dancing shoes (and maybe earplugs) as The
Big Gig! goes electric.
saturday, february 2
saturday, february 23
Monroe County Community College
La-Z-Boy Center - Meyer Theater
1555 S. Raisinville Rd. Monroe, MI
River Raisin Centre for the Arts
114 S. Monroe St.
in downtown Monroe
Both concerts begin at 7:00 sharp.
Seating is general admission, first-come first-served, and limited to venue capacity.
No tickets are required and doors will open at 6:00 pm.
For more scoop, phone the Monroe County Library System at (734) 241-5277 or 1-800-462-2050
or visit us online at www.monroe.lib.mi.us.
music of the underground railroad
with rev. robert jones & matt watroba
Jones and Watroba team up for an educational and entertaining evening of songs that encouraged
and informed abolitionists and freedom seekers.
Thursday, February 7 at 7:00 pm
at the Navarre Branch Library, 1135 E. Second Street, Monroe
more on reverse
tuesdays are bluesdays during February, when the blues series features a special
free concert in a different branch library each and every Tuesday at 7:00 pm
Tuesday, February 5
steppin’ in it
Dorsch Memorial Branch Library, 18 E. First Street, Monroe
Back by popular demand! Playing everything from blues to bluegrass, calypso to Cajun,
woeful waltzes to Western swing, Lansing’s Steppin’ In It makes its “flurry of old-timey
sounds” sound as up-to-date as the Billboard Top 200.
Tuesday, February 12
ricky nye
Carleton Branch Library, 1444 Kent Street, Carleton, MI
Cincinnati’s blues and boogie-woogie piano titan Ricky Nye makes his first
blues series appearance, rockin’the 88’s with his flying fingers of ivory doom.
Tuesday, February 19
samuel james
Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Road, Temperance
Hailing from Portland, Maine, twenty-something acoustic songwriter/guitarist Samuel James is one
of the blues scene’s most promising newcomers, “speaking in his own voice while steeped in the
traditions of his elders.”
bluesapalooza! family concert
Tuesday, February 26
with billy jonas
Ellis Reference & Information Center, 3700 S. Custer Road, Monroe
“Industrial re-percussionist”Billy Jonas turns his performances into joyful “singalongs, bangalongs,
whisperalongs,” making each audience member part of the show with songs about “life, love,
and triumph over Murphy’s Law.” A master of using “found objects” as musical instruments, Billy’s
been inspiring, informing, and enlightening audiences around the world since 1987.
hatitude
Zora Neale Hurston was an American folklorist and author best known for Their Eyes Were Watching God, and for always wearing a jaunty hat. Join us as we celebrate her life and writing and
imitate her Hatitude by creating fashionable paper hats to wear home. This program is for children
ages four and older.
Saturday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m.
Carleton Branch Library, 1444 Kent Street, Carleton
Monroe County’s 21th Annual Black History Month Blues Series is presented by the Monroe County Library System
and made possible with the generous support of the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, The National
Endowment for the Arts, and the 2008 Blues Coalition of community co-sponsors: Monroe County Community
College, La-Z-Boy Foundation, Friends of Dorsch, DTE Energy Foundation, City of Monroe Dept. of Parks &
Recreation, Monroe Bank & Trust , Monroe County Community College Diversity Committees, Friends of Bedford,
Friends of Carleton, Friends of the Dorsch Memorial Library, Friends of Ellis, Friends of Navarre, Detroit Blues
Society, Black Swamp Blues Society, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites of Monroe. “Bluesapalooza” is sponsored
in part by the Community Foundation of Monroe County.
www.monroe.lib.mi.us/blues.htm