2012 Blues Stroll Performers

Stroll Performers
Most acts will perform three sets or two long sets.
prowess. Over the next four years
Hart collaborated on varied projects, including film soundtracks
for Black Snake Moan and The Great
Debaters.
ALVIN YOUNGBLOOD HART’S
‘MUSCLE THEORY’
@ Media Theatre for the
Performing Arts (9:10–10:40)
The cosmic love child of Howling’
Wolf and Link Wray. Since the
release of his 1996 debut recording, the all-acoustic Big Mama’s
Door, Hart has taken his eclectic
musical message around the world. A
devout follower of the “NO BARRIERS”
approach carved out by great musicians like Gatemouth Brown and
the late Doug Sahm, Hart aims to
delight the masses and to challenge
the Blues purists. Alvin received
five nominations at the 1997 W.C.
Handy Awards: “Bests” for Acoustic
Artist, Traditional Artist,
Acoustic Album, Traditional Album,
and New Artist – which he won. His
follow-up CD Territory garnered the
1998 Downbeat Magazine’s Critics’
Poll Award for Best Blues Album.
In 1999, Alvin teamed with legendary producer Jim Dickinson to
record Start With Soul, chosen by
the New York Times as one of the
Top Ten Releases of 2000; BBC
selected it as Blues Record of The
Year. His 2003 release Down in the
Alley received a Grammy Nomination.
And in 2004, Hart took home a
Grammy for his contribution to
Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of
Stephen Foster.
Continuing to defy stereotypes, in
2005, Alvin released his self-produced Motivational Speaker, a tribute to fallen and missing rockers
that displayed his electric guitar
In 2010 he joined forces with
Luther Dickinson of North
Mississippi Allstars and Jimbo
Mathus of Squirrel Nut Zippers
to form “The South Memphis String
Band”. Their CD Home Sweet Home
received a nomination for Best
Acoustic Album at the 2011 Blues
Music Awards. In recent years he
has been touring with his trio
“Muscle Theory,” which will perform
at our Blues Stroll on June 9.
Check out these great film documentaries which tell more about
Alvin’s storied career: The Soul
of a Man (Wim Wenders), The Blues:
A Musical Journey (Martin Scorcese)
and Last of the Mississippi Jukes
(by our good friend Bob Mugge who
until recently lived right here in
Media). www.mojomusic.com
DANIELLE
MIRAGLIA
@ Media
Theatre
for the
Performing
Arts
(8:10–9)
Danielle
(murr-A L e
a) comes to
the stage
armed with
an old Gibson, an infectious stompbox rhythm, and harmonica. Her
tunes range from heart-felt to
socially conscious and are certain
to move you. She released her debut
CD Bad Poetry in 2001, and followed
that with Just Wrong Enough in
2002. She soon began headlining at
Blues and Folk venues in Boston,
and has toured throughout this
country.
Stroll Performers
Her next CD Nothing Romantic was
her breakthrough as a formidable
songwriter – and a true explorer
of the human condition. Danielle’s
most recent CD Box of Troubles
combines her Blues-edge with great
songwriting.
another jewel in his string of
impressive CD’s; it showcases original songs deeply rooted in Gospel,
Soul and R&B, but firmly planted
in the heart of the Delta Electric
Blues tradition. He has performed
at all our eleven Blues Strolls.
“Hopefully the rest of the world
will find out what we’ve known
for years in New England – That
Danielle Miraglia is a fabulously
gifted singer-songwriter whose
uncanny folk/blues/jazz is both
progressive and highly original.”
– Steve Morse, Boston-based music
critic. www.daniellem.com
Our first inductee into America’s
Music Festival Series Hall of Fame.
www.lonnieshields.com
Discography: Portrait (Rooster
Records) 1993; Tired of Waiting
(JSP) 1996; Blues on Fire (JSP)
1997; Midnight Delight (Rooster
Records) 2000; Keeper of The Blues
(indie) 2009
LEROY HAWKES
& THE
HIPNOTICS
@ Joclyn’s (9:00–1)
Media’s “Soul
Ambassador to
the Blues”
LONNIE SHIELDS BAND
@ Sligo (9:30–1:15)
1994 Living Blues Critics Award:
Best Blues CD – “Self-Portrait”
Media’s Official Bluesman-in-Residence
An extraordinary live performer
who feeds off the energy of his
audience. For inspiration, Lonnie
cites season-to-season survival
techniques learned growing up in
the heart of the Delta in West
Helena, Arkansas. He cut his teeth
playing in Sam Carr’s groups – the
Unforgettable Blues Band and Jelly
Roll Kings, featuring late harpist
Frank Frost and late guitarist Big
Jack Johnson – in juke joints
across the South. Lonnie’s appearance at the King Biscuit Blues
Festival in 1986 brought him
national attention. He was the
first Delta artist that Rooster
Blues picked up after moving to
Clarksdale in 1987. Lonnie’s latest
release Keeper of the Blues is
Media’s No.1 Main Man, whose musical career began as a Gospel singer
in his birthplace of Virginia.
After moving to Philly, Leroy sang
with various local acts. He began
to develop his own style, reflecting the influence of singers such
as Sam Cooke, Otis, Joe Tex and the
Wicked Mr. Pickett. By the 1980’s
Leroy was appearing with standouts
like the Temptations and O’Jays
when he became stricken with an
affliction that left him temporarily blind. With his recovery came
the rebirth of an exciting vocalist
fronting a band that truly sets the
stage for his immense talent.
The Hipnotics is assembled around
a rhythm section cast in the mold
of Booker T’s MG’s from Memphis:
Jimmy Ficca (drums) Glen Bickel
(keyboards/vocals), Dr. Seth Ivins,
MD (guitar), Tony Kukulich (bass),
Pete Mayfourth (sax) and Adam Birch
(trumpet).
Inducted into our Hall of Fame, 2010.
www.leroyhawkesandthehipnotics.com
Stroll Performers
STEVE
GUYGER
& THE
EXCELLOS
@ Stephen’s
on State
(9:15–1:15)
2009 Nominee Blues Music Awards:
Best Harmonica
★ Join us at the Media Theatre at
8pm Blues Stroll night when Steve
will be inducted into “America’s
Music Festival Series Hall of Fame.”
Absolutely one of the best kept
secrets in Blues: Philly is home
to one of the very best harp players on earth. Steve Guyger has performed at several Blues Strolls in
the past, but tonight will be the
first time he brings his full band
with him. Stevie at Stephen’s: it’s
a perfect fit. Steve toured with
the late Jimmy Rogers and has
played with many of the great
Chicago bluesmen and contemporary
players. The late William Clarke
said of Steve: “The best harp player I ever heard.” He has shared the
stage with fellow harmonica masters
such as the late Carey Bell, Rod
Piazza, Kim Wilson and Charlie
Musselwhite. Steve endorses Hohner
harmonicas. www.steveguyger.com
Discography: Last Train to Dover
(1989); Live At Dinosaur BBQ
(1998); Past Life Blues (1999);
Living Legends w/Paul Oscher (2000);
Down Home Country Blues w/Richard
Farrell (2006); Radio Blues (2008)
MIKEY JR. &
STONE COLD
BLUES
@ “Quotation’s”
(9:30–12:30)
We are very
pleased to have
Mikey Jr. and
his band at the Blues Stroll. Mikey
is a harmonica virtuoso whose playing and gritty vocals have won
praise from audiences and critics
up and down the NE corridor. He
has released an impressive six CDs
as well as a documentary DVD. His
latest CD Look Inside My Pocket has
been hailed as a tour de force.
www.mikeyjr.com
“…If he keeps blowing harmonica
like that, people gonna find out
who Mikey Jr. is real soon.”
– Sonny Rhodes
DAVE COPPA & SCRAPPLE
@ Plumstead Inn (8:15–12:30)
With: Patrick Coppa (bass), Ray
“Ban” Williams (drums). The real
item, Coppa is a genuine guitarslinger. Heavily influenced by
the royalty of Albert, BB and
Freddy King, and Stevie Ray, Dave
and his solid trio are veterans
of the DelValley blues scene. They
have performed with the late Bo
Diddley, Luther “Guitar” Johnson
and Peter Wolf, and opened for
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and
Bobby Radcliffe. Scrapple has
entertained at the Wilmington
Riverfront Blues Festival and the
Atlantic City Basin Blues Festival.
Hints of Texas Blues and Hendrixstyle ingredients combine for an
incendiary mix.
www.davidcoppaandscrapple.com
Discography: Storm (1995); Make A
Change (2010)
Stroll Performers
THE
TELETONES
@ Picasso
(9:30–1:15)
With: Joe
Lasorte
(guitar),
Lin Doughten
(guitar,
vocals),
Scott Siska (bass), Neal Tillotson
(drums, vocals). The Teletones are
an all-star group of Delaware-based
musicians who joined forces in 2009
to create their own gumbo of Blues,
Soul and Funk music. The band
combines the tuneful styling of
guitarist Lasorte, the bluesy growl
of Doughten’s guitar, the soulful
drive of bassist Siska, and the
soaring harmonies of Tillotson
into a no-nonsense get-out-on-thedance-floor fun machine.
www.teletonesband.com
BLUES BROTHERS &
A SISTER
@ John’s Grille (8–12:15)
With: George St. John, Sr. (bass),
Joseph St. John, Jr. (drums,
vocals), Ricky Johnson (guitar,
vocals), Miss Donna (vocals). From
South Jersey, this Chicago-style
style band has been on the scene
for more than 40 years, they have
performed at Penn’s Landing, the
late River Blues Fest and the old
Zanzibar Blue on Broad Street.
One of the Stroll’s most popular –
and most requested – acts. If that
stripped down West Side sound
appeals to you, you can’t afford
to miss this authentic Blues outfit
in the classic setting at John’s,
Media’s oldest restaurant. The real
deal and then some.
WANAMAKER
LEWIS BAND
@ Diego’s
Cantina &
Tequila Bar
(9:15–1:15)
With: Wanamaker
Lewis (guitar,
vocals), Eddie Russikoff (hamonica), Don Butler (bass), John
DiGiovanni (drums). This quartet
has performed their exciting blend
of the Blues in our region's best
Blues venues and on live radio.
Wanamaker is a true veteran of the
Philadelphia music scene. His playing reflects the influences of
electric masters like the Kings –
Albert, Freddie and BB – and he
is also considered one of the
area's finest finger-style
acoustic players.
www.wanamakerlewis.tripod.com
CAROL
MOOG &
GARRY
COGDELL
@ Ariano
(10–1)
Harmonica
player Moog
is known to
be a “huge
sound in a
small package.” She
played with her No Alibi Blues Band
and with the late Zan Gardner. In
acoustical performances she has
appeared with Saffire, Ronnie Earl,
Guy Davis, Kelly Joe Phelps, and
John Hammond. www.carolmoog.com
Stroll Performers
“He’s so good,
it’s scary,” – The
late Philadelphia
Jerry Ricks said
of Garry Cogdell.
Garry’s playing
and singing draws
deeply from the music of the Delta,
Chicago, and Texas. His masterful
slide guitar – and his fluid, flat
finger picking, in various guitar
tunings – speak volumes of his
knowledge and understanding of the
subtleties of the Blues. Gary has
opened shows for Jimmy Dawkins,
Muddy Waters, Noble “Thin Man”
Watts, George Thorogood, John
Hammond. [email protected].
Roycee Martin (bass). A singer/
songwriter/acoustic from South
Jersey/Philly who plays a variety
of instruments. Inspired by Skip
James and Robert Johnson, Norman’s
style has been influenced by
artists in both the Delta and
Piedmont/Country Blues traditions.
He has opened for Trombone Shorty
at The Keswick, Guy Davis, Phil
Roy, Chris Smither, Pat Wictor,
and Marcia Ball. Norman is a
veteran performer at several
regional festivals.
www.myspace.com/normantaylormusic
Discography: Through The Years,
Saint George’s Sessions
BETH
GOLDWATER
@ La Belle Epoque
(10–12)
Beth really began
songwriting during
her stint as a landscaper – after
singing every song she'd ever heard
and realized it was only 2 pm in
the afternoon. She joined an original band which opened for acts as
diverse as the Black Crowes and
Cinderella, and learned you can
never have too many neck scarves.
After taking a break, she has
picked up the guitar and songwriting again. Transparent is her debut
solo album and can be found on
iTunes and Amazon.
www.reverbnation.com/bethgoldwater
NORMAN TAYLOR
& BLUES SOUL
@ FMFCU Coffee
Beanery
(7:30–11:30)
With: Steve
Goldstein (guitar),
JOHNNY NEVER &
The Solar Pimps
@ Towne House Forge Room (8–12)
With: Johnny Never (guitars,
vocals), Frank Lucca (guitars),
Paul Patchel (drums), Dexter Gesh
(harmonica).
Soul searing acoustic blues sounds
of Delta, Piedmont and original
blues in an all-acoustic fivepeice setting. Selected by the
Philadelphia Folk Song Society to
honor the 100th birthday of Delta
blues legend, Robert Johnson.
www.Johnnynever.com
“…one of the best new bands I’ve
discovered in a long time. Johnny
Never is the real deal – Delta and
Piedmont Blues rarely heard this far
North. A rare treat.” – Dave
Strickler, Baltimore Blues Society
Stroll Performers
SISTER
BLUE
ANDREA
CARLSON
@ Margaret
Kuo’s Media
(7–9) &
7 Stones
Café/Plum
St. Mall
(9:30– 10:15)
@ Lotus
(6–9)
With: Mark Furman (guitar).
“…she growls in a low-down Janis
Joplinish voice and coaxes from a
guitar that bellies up to her like
a dog who knows who‘s in charge.”
– Inquirer Magazine
When not fronting her own driving
band, Philly native Sister Blue
performs as an acoustic duo – where
she plays traditional Blues and
Ragtime; including renditions of
her favorite Bessie Smith songs
mixed in among her original tunes.
She has had the honor to grace the
stage with Blues greats Koko
Taylor, Albert Collins, and Johnny
Copeland.
Discography: Red, White & Sister
Blue; Lust, Pain & Other Temptations
BRUCE
ANTHONY
@ Temaki
Sushi Bar
(7–10)
Raised in
Chester, Bruce
now lives and
performs in
Delaware. He
plays notes
that he’ll
leave lingering
in the cold
for a while, only to pick them up
later – blends of octaves and chord
progressions – mostly covers of old
Jazz standards, flowing in his own
interpretations.
www.reverberation.com/bruceanthony
With:
Bruce
Malcolm
(bass).
Andrea’s new
CD Drivin’
Myself Wild
for You
takes you
on a delightful journey through
songs of love and songs of life.
This former Chicagoan has earned
a degree in Classical Guitar from
the American Conservatory of Music.
In 2009 Andrea was one of the
winners of the Philadelphia
Songwriters Project.
www.myspace.com/andreacarlsonguitar
DANI MARI
@ Baker Street
Tattoo (6–8)
Philadelphia-based
Dani Mari’s music
is distinctive –
characterized by
a keen pop
sensibility and
delivered in a
Jazz-inspired
style. This singer/songwriter
released her debut album in 2010.
Dani has performed with Patti Smith
and Jeffrey Gaines and at the Tin
Angel, Kimmel Center, World Café
Live, Austin’s SXSW, and at NYC’s
Bitter End. She was awarded Artist
of the Year by Origivation
Magazine.
www.myspace.com/danimarirock.com
Stroll Performers
last century, this five-piece has
performed at a variety of venues
around and about the Cradle of
Liberty. They’ll clear out the
cobwebs on some choice old chestnuts and roasting them to warm your
heart to singe your soul. They cook
up their Blues and then they serve
’em, greasy. www.obsoleets.com
SPECIAL BREW’D
@ Budlight/Veterans’ Square Stage
(6:30–10:15)
Media’s own stand-up guys, returning
for their fifth appearance at The
Stroll:
Twin brothers Mark (bass) and Mitch
Hunter (guitar) are music directors, Bob Martin (drums), George
Krain (keyboards), and Ed Jackson
(lead vocalist). These dance party
favorites have been ripping up a
host area clubs, John’s Grille at
The Roots Ramble, and the Rose
Tree Park Summer Concert Series.
www.myspace.com/specialbrewd
STEVIE & THE
BLUESCASTERS
@ 7 Stones Café/Plum Street Mall
Stage (6:30–7:30)
With: Stevie (vocals), Brad Haberle
(upright bass, vocals), Paul Nolan
(National Steel and acoustic
guitars, mandolin).
This is acoustic ensemble plays
Country Blues, Chicago Blues,
Gospel, and Old Country music. They
are known for the deep feeling of
the music, humor, and the simple
joy they bring to their audiences.
This is their first appearance at
the Blues Stroll.
THE OBSOLEETS
@ 7 Stones Café/Plum Street Mall
Stage (8–9)
With: Jack Stovicek (vocals,
guitar, mandolin, banjo), Alex
Uskuraitis (accordians), Qian Qin
(erhu), Bill the Bassman.
A brand new and improved string
band and show orchestra. Since late