2014 - The Blues Foundation

Transcription

Quarterfinal Schedule H Page 14
Contents
The Blues
Foundation
421 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103-4464
9 01.527.2583
w ww.blues.org
IBC Map. . ................................................ 10
The Blues Foundation is Memphis-based, but
world-renown as THE organization dedicated to
preserving our blues music history, celebrating
recording and performance excellence,
supporting blues education and ensuring the
future of this uniquely American art form.
Founded in 1980, The Blues Foundation has
4000 individual members and 200 affiliated
local blues societies representing another
50,000 fans and professionals around the
world. Its signature honors and events–the
Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame,
International Blues Challenge and Keeping the
Blues Alive Awards–make it the international
center of blues music. Its HART Fund provides
the blues community with medical assistance
while its Sound Healthcare program offers
musicians health insurance access. Blues in
the Schools programs and Generation Blues
scholarships expose new generations to blues
music. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff
serves the worldwide Blues community with
answers, information and news.
Support The Blues Foundation by becoming an
affiliated organization, corporate or individual
member or simply making a charitable donation.
The Blues Foundation Staff
J ay Sieleman, President & CEO
Joe Whitmer, Deputy Director
Cindi James, Membership
Glenda Mace, Financial
Priscilla Hernandez, Blues Liaison
Welcome. . ................................................ 11
Events...................................................... 12
What’s happening when & where
Wednesday Schedule...................... 14
quarterfinals - Round one
Thursday Schedule. . ........................ 18
quarterfinals - Round Two
Semi-finals, Finals
& Youth Showcase........................... 22
Solo/Duo Directory.......................... 23
Bios & Photos
Year in Review.................................... 44
Raise the Roof!.................................. 45
For the Blues Hall of Fame
Keeping the Blues Alive................ 63
2014 Award Recipients
Best Self-Produced CD.................. 91
IBC Win Unlocks Doors............. 101
By Selwyn Birchwood
2013 IBC Band Winner
IBC: The Fun & the Dream. . .... 109
By Little G Weevil
2013 IBC Solo/Duo Winner
Generation Blues............................ 117
2013 Scholarship Recipients
Bands Directory............................. 125
Bios & Photos
Youth Directory.............................. 151
Bios & Photos
IBC Program Production
IBC Prize Packages...................... 157
Writing Contributions: Jay Sieleman,
Selwyn Birchwood, Little G Weevil
IBC Act Index................................... 158
Editing: George Newman and Jay Sieleman
Sponsors, Volunteers & More
Ad Sales: Scott Allen
Board, Charter Members
& Affiliates........................................ 162
Cover & Program Design:
Jen Taylor, VividPix & Design
Thank You!........................................ 160
Blues Music Awards.. ................... 166
2014 BMA Nominee Ballot
3 0 T H I n t e r n a ti o n a l B l u e s C h a l l e n g e
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Welcome to 30th International Blues Challenge.
Remarkable indeed. We owe a debt of gratitude
to the early leaders of The Blues Foundation—all
those Memphis blues fans—who were just crazy
enough to come up with the idea and then
stage the first Blues Amateur Talent Contest,
in 1984, and to the Beale Street merchants
who got on board when this was a Saturday
afternoon event.
A couple of years after that first battle of the
blues bands, the event’s name was changed
to the National Blues Amateur Talent Contest.
By 1995 it had become the International Blues
Talent Competition, and in 2000 the current
name was adopted—the International Blues
Challenge. These name changes were not just
semantics. Presumably the first contests were
not national in scope, but they became so in a
short time. The word “amateur” was removed in
1994. “Amateur” generally connotes inexperienced or unskilled, a novice or nonprofessional,
someone who performs only for pleasure and
not for pay. We know that the term has not
been appropriate for many years, and I suspect
“amateur” was an inaccurate description from
the start.
The word “international” was added in 1995,
when Australia became the first country besides
the U.S. to send an act. In the years since then,
blues musicians from 29 countries—Argentina,
Australia, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Finland,
France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands,
Northern Ireland, Norway, the Philippines,
Poland, the Republic of Georgia, Russia,
Singapore, the Slovak Republic, South Africa,
Spain, Switzerland, and Taiwan—have made the
pilgrimage to Beale Street and Memphis.
The growth of the IBC has been phenomenal
of late. The IBC in 2003 had fewer than 70
acts. By the time I first welcomed blues fans in
a printed IBC program, in 2005, the event had
grown to 120 acts from 32 states and eight
countries. In this 30th year, 255 acts registered!
What is as remarkable is the business that
is conducted at the IBC. I think there was a
time when attendees mostly consisted of the
acts, their friends and families, and members
of their sponsoring societies. Now, of course,
blues fans with no particular relationship to any
one act come by the thousands, and they are
crowding into the clubs next to managers, booking agents, and record label owners. And they
are eating ribs with past IBC winners and Blues
Music Award nominees.
I want to mention a couple of other items that
may make your 30th IBC even more rewarding.
Blues Foundation Board member Dr. Janice
Johnston, of Arrowhead Health Centers in the
greater Phoenix area, has arranged for a series
of health screenings and presentations at the
Memphis Downtown Doubletree Hotel on both
Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
The offerings are expected to include cholesterol, blood pressure, hearing, and diabetes
screenings; presentations on common conditions that affect musicians, and how to manage
them; how to keep healthy on the road; and presentations by R.J. Stilwell of Sound Healthcare,
a facilitator for the Affordable Care Act. This is
only the beginning of what could become a very
valuable annual component of the IBC.
Check out the ad below. Hop-On Hop-Off bus
service provides quick and easy transportation
to Memphis’ cultural attractions, including Sun,
Stax, and Graceland, which must be on every
music fan’s bucket list.
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Hard Rock Café
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Peabody Place
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Peabody
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Majestic
PEA
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Kooky
Canuck
SO A
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Center for
Southern
Folklore
Inn
UNI
Orpheum Juke
B.B. King’s
Blues City Café
Club 152
Flynn’s
King’s Palace
Pig On Beale
Handy Blues Hall
Rum Boogie Café
Silky O’Sullivan’s
Alfred’s
Wet Willie’s
Hard Rock Café
Jerry Lee Lewis’
Coyote Ugly
New Daisy Theater
The Westin
Flying Saucer
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Thursday @ 1:30pm
901.577.5467 H MemphisHop.com
H 11
Other Performances & Events Wednesday
12:30-1:30pm Sanjin Banic Bane
Tuesday, January 21
5:30pm International Showcase hosted by
the Beale Street Merchants Assoc.
(New Daisy Theater) IBC Pass or $10
Croatian Blues Forces
(Hard Rock Cafe)
Blues Forces (Hard Rock Cafe)
France Blues (Rum Boogie Cafe)
Richardson, Sean Carney and
many more! (New Daisy Theater)
6:50Joe Elbaz & Blues Angels
Israel Blues Societ y
7:10 Tracy K & Jamie Steinhoff
Thursday, January 23
Thunder Bay Blues Societ y
7:30Zamba
7:50Naffis & Massarutto
DeltaBlues
8:10Brat Pack
Philippine Blues Societ y
8:30Felix Slim
Barcelona Blues Societ y
9:30am Blues in the Schools
With 2014 KBA recipient Tas Cru
(Downtown Elementary, 10 N 4th St)
1:00-2:00pm Mailbox Money in the Digital Age
Presented by BMI and Ardent Studios
(King’s Palace Cafe)
8:50Jan Galach Band
1:00-3:30pm Health Fair (details PG 18)
9:10Chris O’Connor
2:30-3:30pm Artist Crowdfunding Forum
Mick Kolassa & Jeff Jensen
T.B. King Blues Club
Sydney Blues Societ y
9:30Blues Power Band
France Blues
Other Performances & Events Tuesday
8:00pm Generation Blues Jam Benefit
Hosted by 2014 KBA recipient
Tas Cru (Rum Boogie Cafe)
Wednesday, January 22
11:00am-2:30pm IBC Act Registration
(New Daisy Theater)
12:30-2:00pm Affiliated Blues Society
Welcome Mixer (421 South Main)
1:00-3:30pm Health Fair (details PG 18)
2:30pm IBC Act Orientation Meeting
(New Daisy Theater)
4:30/5:00/5:35pm Quarterfinals
Round One (Beale Street - See pg 14 for
(King’s Palace Cafe)
4:30/5:00/5:35pm Quarterfinals
Round Two (Beale Street - See pg 18 for
schedule) IBC Pass or $10
SEMI-FINALISTS will be announced at
various Beale Street clubs when the
scores have been tabulated. The semifinalist schedule will be available at
blues.org, on the mobile app and at
Ugly Juanita’s by NOON on Friday.
Other Performances & Events Thursday
11:30am Great Canadian Polar Bear
Blues Showcase Raise the Roof!
Fundraiser (Kooky Canuck)
11:30am-4:30pm The Galaxie Agency/
Nashville Blues Society Showcase
(B.B. King’s)
11:30am Blind Raccoon Roots & Blues
Showcase (Purple Haze Night Club)
12:00-12:50pm Jack Gaffney - Colorado
schedule) IBC Pass or $10
12 H
Association of Geneva (Club 152)
1:00-1:50pm Flamin’ Crows - Blues
(Rum Boogie Cafe)
2:00-4:00pm Barbara Blue (Silky’S)
11:30pm Brandon Santini (Blues Hall)
11:30pm All-Star Jam with Jonn
Baltic Blues
12:30-1:30pm Bacon Fats - Blues
2:00-3:00pm Levonda Kids - Croatian
6:10Kingpin Trio
6:30Tim Lothar & Holger Daub
Societ y (Blues Cit y Cafe)
12:30-1:30pm Adriano Viterbini - Mojo
2:00-3:00pm Lucas Blues Project -
Philippine Blues Societ y
Other Performances & Events Friday
12:30-1:30pm Manu Lanvin &
Devil Blues - France Blues
5:50Herbie & Guitarguy
Dutch Blues Foundation
12:30-1:30pm The Riddle ‘n’ Blues
Band - Granite State Blues
Blues Societ y (Rum Boogie Cafe)
Station (Hard Rock Cafe)
at Bridgetown Incorporated
(Rum Boogie Cafe)
2:00-3:00pm Jake Kulak and the
LowDown - Connecticut Blues
2:00-3:00pm Malvin Noesen
& The Company - Norsk
Blues Societ y (Blues Cit y Cafe)
12:30-1:30pm Pappy Johns
Band - Grand River Blues
Societ y (Club 152)
12:30-1:30pm Hubert Szczesny &
Kuba Kleinschmidt - T.B. King
Blues Club (Hard Rock Cafe)
12:30-1:30pm Arsen Shomakhov
Band - White Rock Blues
Societ y (Rum Boogie Cafe)
Blues Union (Club 152)
2:00-3:00pm Mike Seeber Trio - Baltic
Blues (Hard Rock Cafe)
2:00-3:00pm Carlos Elliot Jr. &
Cornlickers - Colombian Blues
2:00-3:00pm John F. Klaver Band -
2:00-3:00pm In Layman Terms
Dutch Blues Foundation (Club 152)
River Cit y Blues Societ y
(Rum Boogie Cafe)
2:00-3:00pm Rod Paines Fulltime Lovers
11:00pm International Jam (B.B. Kings)
11:30pm Nick Moss (Rum Boogie Cafe)
Friday, January 24
11:00am-2:15pm IBC Youth Act Registration
(New Daisy Theater)
- Melbourne Blues Appreciation
Societ y (Hard Rock Cafe)
2:00-3:00pm Lisa Hutchinson Blues
Band - Collingwood Jazz and
Blues Societ y (Rum Boogie Cafe)
11:00pm Youth Jam (B.B. Kings)
11:00pm Bob Margolin (Rum Boogie)
Saturday, January 25
11:00am 2014 Keeping the Blues Alive
Awards (Doubletree - Tennessee
12:00pm 30th IBC Finals & Best SelfProduced CD Winner Announcement
(Orpheum Theatre) DOORS OPEN AT
11AM - IBC Pass or $42.50 at door, if available
Ballroom)
2:00pm BF Board of Directors Meeting
(Doubletree - DeSoto Room)
2:15pm IBC Youth Act Orientation Meeting
(New Daisy Theater)
4:20/5:00/5:40pm Youth Showcases
Other Performances & Events Saturday
8:30pm All-Star Jam with Dennis
Jones (New Daisy Theater)
(Beale Street Clubs - See pg 22 for
schedule) IBC Pass or $15 - includes Semi-finals
5:20/5:40/7:00pm 30th IBC Semi-Finals
(Beale Street Clubs - immediately following youth showcase) IBC Pass or $15
FINALISTS will be announced at
various Beale Street clubs when
the scores have been tabulated.
11:30am Blind Raccoon Roots & Blues
Showcase (Purple Haze Night Club)
12:30-1:30pm Dani Dorchin - Israel
11:00pm Bob Margolin (Rum Boogie)
Sunday, January 26
10:30am Blues Brunch (The Majestic Grille)
Other Performances & Events Sunday
H 13
IBC
Store
HHH Shop the Official HHH
of Beale St
@Ugly Juanita’s|&Corner
Rufus Thomas Rd
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
open 12:00-10:00pm
•
ff
HH
HH
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H O u rs o f o perati o n
@The Blues Hall of Fame
Future Home at 421 South Main
sh
irt
SAT 11am
t-
Afternoon Only
s • memora
bi
l
ia
•
Each set is 25 minutes long with a
set-up break in between (5 for solo/
duo and 10 for band). PLEASE NOTE:
Times are subject to change! Check
in at venues to stay informed.
14 H
King’s
Palace
Orpheum
Juke
Pig on
Beale
Silky
O’Sullivan’s
The Westin
5:00
Gary Prisby
& Matt
Barranti
Lane
Baldwin
Juke Joint
Jackson
Matt Tedder
Lightnin'
James
Tevis
Hodge Jr
Johnny
& Zep
Willie Green
5:30
David Pinsky & Phil
Newton
Coco Butter Band
Buck Hoffman & Paul
McQuade
Dani
Dorchin
Michael
McCarthy
Colin John
Arthur
Migliazza
Brian Keith
Wallen
6:00
Little Roy
Gene &
Grayson
Goff
Wendy
DeWitt
w/ Kirk
Harwood
Nico Wayne
Toussaint
& Michel
Foizon
Erik Ray
Dave
Muskett
Sanjin
Banic Bane
Chuckee
Zehr
Sasha
Colette
6:30
Dirty Old
Men
Sam Joyner
Band
John Latini
& JamieSue Seal
Manu Lanvin & Devil
Blues
T-Bone
Lightnin'
Leeboy
Greg
Burgess
Chris Sutton
The Timo
Arthur Duo
Suitcase
Brothers
Ozark
Mountain
Oysters
Cary Morin
Naffis &
Massarutto
John Carl
Escue
Bob "BumbleBee"
Kamoske
7:30
Tim
Williams
Andrew
& Joel
Mark
Pentone
& Smoky
Greenwell
AJ Gaither
Adriano
Viterbini
Gary Wright
Jenie Thai
Felix Slim
8:00
Monica
Morris
The Kentucky
Gentlemen
Jimy
Graham
Alonzo
Pennington
D&G Boogie Blues
Chad Lore
8:30
Cleveland
Blue
Owen Poteat
Tim Lothar &
Holger Daub
Between
Dead
Stations
Dunavent
and Hood
Chuck
& Leo
J J Rue
Micah
Kesselring
9:00
King &
Stiles
Herbie &
Guitarguy
SwampShaka Duo
w/ Tony C
Scale
House
Satoru
Nakagawa
Wild Will
Williamson
Tampa
Spatz
Tim
Bastmeyer
9:30
Chris
O'Connor
Gary
Applegate
Dave
Bostwick
Balkun
Brothers
Matt
Weidinger
Shawn Dore
Carl Henry
Big Jim
Adam
Chad Elliott
w/ Bonita
Crowe
Zakk & Big
Papa Binns
Bare Bones
John Egan
10:30
Boogie
Shoes
Mississippi
Marshall
James
Painter
Morry
Sochat &
Shoji Naito
11:00
Rick Tobey
Hubert
Szczesny &
7:00 Kuba Kleinschmidt
Black River
Sweet Danny Bluesman
Ray & Rafael Bad Mood&
Tranquillino
Hudson
Tabatha
Pete Herzog Ms.
& Bobby
•
su
@The Orpheum Theatre
rs
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pe
WED 11-2pmHTHU 10-2pmHFRI 11-2pm
Books • po
st
s •
e
l blues s
tu
Ar
3rd Floor
Brewer &
Stevo
CD
coo
al
•
H
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re! • origin
mo
Club 152
4:30
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
HHH Your Source For HHH
Will Call • Merchandise
Participant CDs • TIckets
Blues Hall
WEDNesdayHSolo/Duo
ROUND ONE H Wed Jan 22
12 Bar
2nd Floor
Jerry Lee Lewis’
10:00 & Tony Berci
Tracy K
& Jamie
Steinhoff
Pickett
Searcy
Coalition
The Delta
Swamp
Rats
Brandon
The CoIsaak
(Yukon Slim) Dependents
Lucious
Spiller
Christine
Jude Duo
"The
Preacher"
Dale Alan
Niehaus
D.J.Rice
Quarterfinals
Quarterfinals
TIME
H 15
B.B. King’s
Brenda
5:00 Meyer Band
Blues City
Cafe
Club 152
Alex Wilson
Band
The Good
The Bad &
The Blues
1st Floor
Rick Ham-
Anthony &
5:35 mond Blues Boogie Boys Conqueroos
Band
Doug Wright
6:10 & Nomads
Coyote Ugly
Flying
Saucer
Flynn’s
Hard Rock
Cafe
Jerry Lee
Lewis’
Downtown
Shimmy
Zamba
ThrowDown
Band
Juke Rockets Blues
Band
Annie Mack
Seventh
Son Blues
Band
Ben
Rice and
iLLamatics
New Daisy
Theater
Rum Boogie Wet Willie’s
Cafe
Billy the
Kid &
Regulators
Dirty Basement Blues
Band
Old No. 5's
Brad Absher Bret Bunton
& Swamp
Project
Royale
Arsen Shomakhov
Band
Doug Hart
Band
Bluesboy
Jag &
Juke Joint
Zombies
The Chain
Sister
Lucille
Ms. Lady
Dee "Me &
The Boyz"
Carlos
Elliot Jr. &
Cornlickers
The Juice
Flamin'
Crows
Brooke
Thomas &
Blue Suns
Mr. Sipp
Herbie D &
Dangermen
Charlotte
Taylor &
Gypsy Rain
Rock Island
Rollers
Charlley
Ward Band
Dan Doiron
Band
Lenny
"Fuzzy"
Rankins
Band
DieDra &
Ruff Pro
Band
Holly &
Evan Trio
Josh Hoyer
& Shadowboxers
Brat Pack
Pitbull of
Blues Band
6:45
Joel DaSilva
& Midnight
Howl
Gregg
Wright
Bad Brad
& Fat Cats
Clarence
"The Blues
Man" Turner
Band
Jimmy
Pritchard
Band
Bakin'Phat
7:20
Mike Clark
Band
In The
Pocket
Boogie
Patrol
Skinny
Velvet
The Katz
Sass
Jerome
Godboo
Cazanovas
Lauren
Mitchell
Band
Kev Nichols & Blue
Tuesday
Chaz Humley
& Effects
Grits From
Dumplin
Valley
Kim Pollard Band
Boscoe
France
Band
Jan Galach
Band
Gary Small
& Coyote
Brothers
Lee Delray
Band
James
Groves
Blues
Machine
Memphis
Blues
Revue
Tastes Like
Chicken
Fatty Waters
Mikey Mo
Band
Big Mike
Aguirre &
Blu-City
All-Stars
Katy Guillen & Girls
Back Pack
Jones
Jennifer B
& Groove
Michael
Gough
Group
Triple Threat
Blues
Mojo Theory
Crusade
Bacon Fats
11 Mile
Band
Rod Paines
Fulltime
Lovers
Jigsaw Mud
Octavia
Blues Band
Lit'l Chicago
Danny Draher Band
Mark May &
Soul Satyr
Horns
Lucky
Doggs
Blue Ruin
9:40 Low Society
Pappy
Johns Band
BK Smith
Blues Band
Billion Dollar Blues
Band
Ron &
Rumpshakers
Mal Eastick
& Milena
Barrett Blues
Project
R. Mutt
Blues Band
David
Shelley &
Bluestone
Mike Seeber Trio
Ghost Town
Blues Band
Lightnin'
Willie
Lawyers
Guns &
Money
Red Dirt
Revelators
The Paul
CruiZe
Blues Crew
The Rockin'
Jake Band
Jarekus
Singleton
MacKenzie
Blues Band
Crooked
Eye Tommy
Randy
Oxford Band
Terrie Odabi
& Evolution Blues
Rafael
Espinoza
Porkroll
Project
Brick Fields
& Chosen
Ones
Will Wesley
Band
Stacy
Brooks
Band
HooDoo
Blues Band
Miss Jackie
Wilson
Band
Blu Fonk
A Different Shade
of Blue
Joe Elbaz &
Blues Angels
Wayne
Watson &
Bluescake
Tommy
Z Band
Juke
Hounds
Blues
Tonight
Band
Kevin Pur-
7:55 Wicked Grin cell & Nightburners
8:30
9:05
10:15
10:50
16 H
Rae Gordon Band
John F.
Klaver Band
Lisa HutchinBlues
son Blues
Power Band
Band
WEDNesdayHBands
Alfred’s
Quarterfinals
TIME
H 17
Health
Fair
•••••••T o pic s inc l u d e •••••••
cholesterol H blood pressure H hearing
diabetes H managing common conditions
affecting musicians H staying healthy on
the road H access to health insurance
SEMI-FINALISTS will be announced at
various Beale Street clubs when the
scores have been tabulated. The semifinalist schedule will be available at
blues.org, on the mobile app and at Ugly
Juanita’s by NOON on Friday.
Semi-Finals begin immediately
following the Youth Showcase
performances on Friday.
18 H
King’s
Palace
Orpheum
Juke
Pig on
Beale
Silky
O’Sullivan’s
The Westin
Greg
Burgess
King &
Stiles
Andrew
& Joel
Tim Lothar &
Holger Daub
Scale
House
Brandon
Isaak
(Yukon Slim)
The Delta
Swamp
Rats
J J Rue
Tim
Bastmeyer
5:30
Boogie
Shoes
The Kentucky
Gentlemen
Dave
Bostwick
Morry
Sochat &
Shoji Naito
Dunavent
and Hood
Wild Will
Williamson
Jenie Thai
"The
Preacher"
Dale Alan
Niehaus
6:00
Cleveland
Blue
Big Jim
Adam
James
Painter
Between
Dead
Stations
Adriano
Viterbini
The CoDependents
Tampa
Spatz
Micah
Kesselring
6:30
Chris
O'Connor
Herbie &
Guitarguy
Sweet Danny
Ray & Rafael
Tranquillino
Balkun
Brothers
Pete Herzog
Chuck
& Leo
Bare Bones
Shawn Dore
7:00
Rick Tobey
Owen Poteat
SwampShaka Duo
w/ Tony C
Tracy K
& Jamie
Steinhoff
Lucious
Spiller
Ms. Tabatha
& Bobby
D&G Boogie Blues
D.J.Rice
Carl Henry
Gary
Applegate
Chad Elliott
w/ Bonita
Crowe
Zakk & Big
Papa Binns
Lightnin'
James
Christine
Jude Duo
Matt
Weidinger
John Egan
8:00
David Pinsky & Phil
Newton
Mississippi
Marshall
Buck Hoffman & Paul
McQuade
Matt Tedder
Satoru
Nakagawa
Tevis
Hodge Jr
Brewer &
Stevo
Brian Keith
Wallen
8:30
Dirty Old
Men
Coco Butter Band
Mark
Pentone
& Smoky
Greenwell
Manu Lanvin & Devil
Blues
Pickett
Searcy
Coalition
Leeboy
Arthur
Migliazza
Chris Sutton
9:00
Monica
Morris
Sam Joyner
Band
John Latini
& JamieSue Seal
AJ Gaither
Michael
McCarthy
Alonzo
Pennington
Johnny
& Zep
Felix Slim
9:30
Little Roy
Gene &
Grayson
Goff
Lane
Baldwin
Suitcase
Brothers
Dani
Dorchin
Cary Morin
Sanjin
Banic Bane
John Carl
Escue
Willie Green
10:00
Tim
Williams
The Timo
Arthur Duo
Juke Joint
Jackson
Dave
Muskett
Gary Wright
Chuckee
Zehr
Chad Lore
10:30
Gary Prisby
& Matt
Barranti
Wendy
DeWitt
w/ Kirk
Harwood
Nico Wayne
Toussaint
& Michel
Foizon
Black River
Bluesman &
Bad Mood
Hudson
Ozark
Mountain
Oysters
Jimy
Graham
Colin John
Sasha
Colette
Erik Ray
T-Bone
Lightnin'
Naffis &
Massarutto
Bob "BumbleBee"
Kamoske
7:30 & Tony Berci
•••••••• P r e s e nting ••••••••
Dr. Janice Johnston of Arrowhead
Health Centers and R.J. Stilwell
of Sound Healthcare, a facilitator
for the Affordable Care Act
3rd Floor
5:00
O u tside T ennessee B allr o o m
Health Screenings
and Presentations
Club 152
4:30
At The Doubletree Hotel
1:00-3:30pm
Wed & Thu
Blues Hall
ThursdayHSolo/Duo
ROUND Two H Thu Jan 23
12 Bar
2nd Floor
Jerry Lee Lewis’
Hubert
Szczesny &
11:00 Kuba Kleinschmidt
Quarterfinals
Quarterfinals
TIME
H 19
5:00
Mike Clark
Band
5:35
Rae Gordon Band
6:10 Wicked Grin
6:45
7:20
B.B. King’s
Blues City
Cafe
Club 152
James
Groves
Blues
Machine
Skinny
Velvet
Bacon Fats
11 Mile
Band
Cazanovas
Lauren
Mitchell
Band
The Rockin'
Jake Band
Mojo Theory
7:55 Low Society
Brenda
8:30 Meyer Band
Coyote Ugly
Flying
Saucer
Flynn’s
Hard Rock
Cafe
Jerry Lee
Lewis’
New Daisy
Theater
Kim Pollard Band
Rum Boogie Wet Willie’s
Cafe
Ghost Town
Blues Band
Jennifer B
& Groove
Blue Ruin
Fatty Waters
R. Mutt
Blues Band
Lit'l Chicago
Mike Seeber Trio
Mark May &
Soul Satyr
Horns
Lucky
Doggs
Will Wesley
Band
Blu Fonk
Jigsaw Mud
Joe Elbaz &
Blues Angels
Big Mike
Aguirre &
Blu-City
All-Stars
Tommy
Z Band
Jan Galach
Band
Gary Small
& Coyote
Brothers
Lee Delray
Band
Memphis
Blues
Revue
Tastes Like
Chicken
Chaz Humley
& Effects
Mikey Mo
Band
David
Shelley &
Bluestone
Katy Guillen & Girls
Back Pack
Jones
Brick Fields
& Chosen
Ones
Michael
Gough
Group
BK Smith
Blues Band
Jarekus
Singleton
Rod Paines
Fulltime
Lovers
Crooked
Eye Tommy
Octavia
Blues Band
Wayne
Watson &
Bluescake
Danny Draher Band
Porkroll
Project
Lightnin'
Willie
Arsen Shomakhov
Band
Doug Hart
Band
HooDoo
Blues Band
Billion Dollar Blues
Band
Sister
Lucille
Mal Eastick
& Milena
Barrett Blues
Project
Annie Mack
Terrie Odabi
& Evolution Blues
Flamin'
Crows
Billy the
Kid &
Regulators
Blues
Tonight
Band
Lawyers
Guns &
Money
The Paul
CruiZe
Blues Crew
Bluesboy
Jag &
Juke Joint
Zombies
Miss Jackie
Wilson
Band
ThrowDown
Band
A Different Shade
of Blue
Randy
Oxford Band
Downtown
Shimmy
Rafael
Espinoza
Juke
Hounds
Mr. Sipp
DieDra &
Ruff Pro
Band
Pappy
Johns Band
Stacy
Brooks
Band
Triple Threat
John F.
Blues
Klaver Band
Crusade
Red Dirt
Revelators
1st Floor
Ron &
Rumpshakers
9:05
Kevin PurDoug Wright cell
& Night& Nomads
burners
Boogie
Patrol
Zamba
MacKenzie
Blues Band
Ms. Lady
Dee "Me &
The Boyz"
Grits From
Dumplin
Valley
The Juice
Holly &
Evan Trio
Brad Absher
& Swamp
Royale
Brat Pack
Old No. 5's
9:40
Joel DaSilva
& Midnight Boogie Boys
Howl
Alex Wilson
Band
Clarence
"The Blues
Man" Turner
Band
Kev Nichols & Blue
Tuesday
Jerome
Godboo
Carlos
Elliot Jr. &
Cornlickers
Blues
Power Band
Boscoe
France
Band
Dan Doiron
Band
Dirty Basement Blues
Band
Pitbull of
Blues Band
Herbie D &
Dangermen
10:15 mond Blues
In The
Pocket
Bad Brad
& Fat Cats
The Good
The Bad &
The Blues
The Katz
Sass
Juke Rockets Blues
Band
Lisa Hutchinson Blues
Band
Seventh
Son Blues
Band
Ben
Rice and
iLLamatics
Josh Hoyer
& Shadowboxers
Lenny
"Fuzzy"
Rankins
Band
10:50
Gregg
Wright
Anthony &
Conqueroos
The Chain
Jimmy
Pritchard
Band
Bakin'Phat
Charlotte
Taylor &
Gypsy Rain
Rock Island
Rollers
Charlley
Ward Band
Brooke
Thomas &
Blue Suns
Bret Bunton
Project
Rick HamBand
20 H
ThursdayHBands
Alfred’s
Quarterfinals
TIME
H 21
Friday, January 24
Saturday, January 25
B eale S treet C l u bs
Semi-Finals begin immediately
following the Youth Showcase.
Orphe u m T heatre
The order of finalists will be alphabetical
by first name, including the word “The”.
Acts will alternate between
Band and Solo/Duo.
Y o u th S h o wcase
F inals sched u le
Youth Showcase
& Semi-finals
IBC finals
12 Bar (2nd Floor Jerry Lee Lewis’)
12:00pm
BAND
Alfred’s
12:30pm
Solo/Duo
B.B. King’s
1:00pm
BAND
5:00 Katie Schanze
5:40 Zoe Zielinski
5:40 The Sad Sam Blues Jam
6:20 The Understudies
5:00 Mo’ Pie
5:40 Malvin Noesen & The Company
6:20 Detour 91
Blues City Cafe
5:40 Abe Lincoln & the Log Lawyers
6:20 Jake Kulak & the LowDown
Blues Hall
5:00 Wholehearted Halfwits
5:40 Baldwin Street Blues
Club 152 (1st Floor)
5:40 Cumberland Blue
6:20 BX2
Flynn’s
5:40 Old Soul
6:20 Kingpin Trio
Hard Rock Cafe
5:00 Levonda Kids
5:40 Crimson Sky
6:20 Lucas Blues Project
King’s Palace
5:00 In Layman Terms
5:40 Peterson Brothers Band
New Daisy Theater
5:00 I Am Jack’s Band
5:40 The White Lighnins
6:20 Stax Music Academy Rhythm Section
Rum Boogie
5:40 The Riddle ‘n’ Blues Band
6:20 Brimstone
Silky O’Sullivan’s
4:20 Jack Gaffney
5:00 Macyn Taylor
Wet Willie’s
5:40 Chase Walker Band
6:20 The Social Bandits
22 H
1:30pm
Solo/Duo
2:00pm
BAND
2:30pm
Solo/Duo
3:00pm
BAND
3:30pm
Solo/Duo
4:00pm
BAND
4:30pm
Solo/Duo
5:00pm
BAND
Adriano Viterbini
Mojo Station
Born in 1979 in Rome, Italy,
Adriano started playing piano
as a child and then later took
up acoustic and electric guitar.
In a fairly short time he has
become one of the most complete guitarists/session men on
the Italian music scene. Greatly
influenced by Delta blues, Ry
Cooder, and stoner rock, he
developed his own sound,
which came to fruition in 2007
when he founded BSBE. In
2010 he founded the Delta
blues duo Black Friday. His
latest project is a solo album,
Goldfoil, an instrumental work
of American primitivism and
minimal blues, with echoes of
country and African music.
AJ Gaither
Kansas City Blues Society
5:30pm
Solo/Duo
6:00pm
BAND
6:30pm
Solo/Duo
7:00pm
BAND
7:30pm
Solo/Duo
8:00pm
BAND
Everything is better when it’s
homemade, and it don’t get
more down-home or DIY than
AJ. From the building of the
instruments to the writing of the
songs and the making of the
albums, everything about this
“one-man junk band” is
low-tech and hands-on. The
instruments are old cigar boxes
and scrap lumber, spare bolts
and wood screws, a large feed
bucket, and a snare drum
rigged to be played by foot.
Each one is unique in tone and
appearance. The sound is cold
lonely bars and old empty
barns, highways and heartaches. From raging high-octane
foot-stompin’ brag songs to
slow and soulful songs about
struggle and being homesick,
every bit of it is drenched in
whiskey and hard living.
Alonzo
Pennington
Kentucky Blues Society
A true-grit guitar slinger, Alonzo
was born and raised in heart of
western Kentucky. He has been
performing the blues for audiences since the age of 10.
Pennington merges his love of
the blues and artists like Stevie
Ray Vaughan and B.B. King with
his western Kentucky roots of
“thumb picking,” a style made
famous by Merle Travis and
Chet Atkins. People are often
heard to comment, “Wow! All
that sound comes from just that
one guitar!” Playing a mix of
original material and blues
standards, Pennington is sure
to please any crowd, whether
it’s with his full band or just him
and a guitar.
Andrew & Joel
Gulf Coast
Blues Society
Andrew “Elmo” Holmes played
with and was nicknamed Elmo
by King Biscuit Time guitarist
Joe Willie Wilkins. Joe Willie
claimed Holmes was Elmore
James, resurrected and reincarnated and come back to play
the blues in another life.
Holmes has had a band called
Elmo and the Bluesmen, which
has played on and off around
the Mobile area for some 30
years. About five years ago, he
started teaching Joel Dees how
to play blues bass. Andrew and
Joel have become good friends
over the years, and they plan to
play the blues together as often
and for as long as possible.
Arthur Migliazza
South Sound
Blues Association
A 2010 International Blues
Challenge finalist and Arizona
Blues Hall of Fame inductee,
SOLO/DUO H 23
Bare Bones
Arthur began his professional
blues piano career at age 13.
He was blessed from an early
age with the friendship and
guidance of some of the country’s greatest blues piano players, including Ann Rabson, Mr.
B, and Henry Butler. Arthur
revives the spirit of blues and
boogie-woogie piano with his
dynamic and personal expression of this rich tradition.
Blues Society of
Western New York
Balkun Brothers
Massachusetts
Blues Society
The father-and-son duo of David
Michael Miller and Joshua
Miller began playing blues, soul,
and gospel music together
almost a decade ago. In 2006,
when Josh was only 16, he and
his father formed Beautiful
Bones, accompanied by a cast
of very talented Buffalo musicians. They were regularly seen
playing venues around western
New York like the historic
Lafayette Tap Room. As an
acoustic duo they go by the
name Bare Bones, with David
playing roots-style acoustic and
resonator guitars along with his
soulful and gritty vocals, and
Josh on percussion.
New England natives the
Balkun Brothers bring an exciting, fresh, energetic and soulful
blend of blues that is sure to
get you moving and keep you
entertained all night long.
Mixing the traditional styles of
Delta and electric blues with
modern energy and groove, the
Balkun Brothers are crafting a
new, dynamic sound and style
all their own. This award-winning duo of young bluesmen
delivers a creative set showcasing the fiery slide guitar, strong
vocals, and refreshing originality of front man Steve Balkun.
With the addition of younger
brother Nick Balkun’s charismatic drumming and backup
vocals, the group has a full and
powerful sound that has been
thrilling audiences all over the
Northeast and beyond!
24 H
SOLO/DUO
Between Dead
Stations
Maine Blues Society
Between Dead Stations is a
modern blues duo featuring the
songwriting, gritty vocals, and
searing guitars of Jake Irish,
paired with the popping backbeat of Mike E. Styx on drums
and percussion. The combination is like gasoline and razor
blades, with hard life, late
nights, and long roads adding a
raw edge to their sound and
electricity to their stage show.
They have a sound like a hot
rod, mashing elements of
Americana. With rockabilly attitude on the outside, a Delta
soul drivetrain, and folk storytelling on the interior, it all fuses
into a custom roadster built for
comfort and for speed. These
guys play a brand of blues that
start in the heart, mess with
your mind, and go out with a
bang.
Black River
Bluesman & Bad
Mood Hudson
Finnish Blues Society
Big Jim Adam
Blues Alliance of the
Treasure Coast
Big Jim Adam’s emotional singing and his sliding, swampy
guitar, combined with his foot
percussion skills, make for a
powerful performance. Adam’s
unique style is a fusion of the
raw blues he heard as a child
on the front porches of his
neighborhood, combined with
the gospel music he sang growing up. These driving rhythms
and heartfelt vocals give him
his unique sound. Adam’s vocal
and guitar work can be heard in
the PBS special For Love of
Liberty. He also won the 2012
Telluride Acoustic Blues Solo
Competition. Listen Up Denver
said: “Contest winner Jim Adam
gave us some of the best and
most authentic blues I have
heard in a while. This man definitely deserved winning the
Acoustic Blues competition.”
Black River Bluesman and Bad
Mood Hudson “have managed
to take the blues right to the
edge, and in doing so they have
also brought us a lot closer to
its raw origin. They do this by
taking the old style Mississippi
Delta blues and basically tearing it a new one, giving us
something fresh and new, with
the essence and respect for the
old and pure,” says Canada’s
Blues Underground Network.
Jukka Juhola plays Johnny
Lowebow’s custom cigar-box
guitars; with both lead and bass
strings on the same double
broomstick neck and two outputs, they allow him to play both
parts at the same time. And
with Andy Hudson playing the
drums and singing, too, this duo
sounds more like a whole band
and fills any big stage. As
another review put it, “The best
two-man trio I’ve heard.”
Bob “Bumble
Bee” Kamoske
St. Louis Blues Society
After four decades of live gigs,
“the Bumble Bee” still plays
every set like it was his last.
City, country, fingers, picks, or
slide, Bob lays down the foundation of all American music:
the blues. Chicago shuffles,
bluesy swing, and country twobeats merge like the mighty
Missouri and Mississippi Rivers
just above the great music city
of St. Louis. Whether on his old
National resonator or Silvertone
electric, the music explodes,
seduces, and grooves.
Witnessing Kamoske’s dangerous guitar and passionate
vocals for the first time, even
the most cynical of listeners sit
back and muse: “I guess the
blues gonna be
all right.”
Boogie Shoes
Pikes Peak Blues
Community
Brandon Isaak
(Yukon Slim)
White Rock Blues Society
Brandon’s affinity for the rawness and spontaneity of the
blues is second to none, as
anyone who has had the privilege of being in his audiences
will tell you. He brings a firebrand style of guitar and killer
vocals that truly have to be
seen and heard to be appreciated! He is very much in the
moment as he rips it up, and
you’ll be impressed with the
songs, stories, and overall performance by this Canadian artist. Brandon plays a wide variety
of music styles in his one-man
shows, from ragtime to Delta
blues, Piedmont, gospel, and
swing.
Brewer & Stevo
Magic City Blues Society
Austin Johnson and Jake
Loggins bring to any venue a
unique style of blues inspired
by their dads and a vibrant
community of musicians in the
southern Colorado area. You
would think each of them had
12 fingers. Johnson (19) began
his career at just 5 months old.
Loggins bought his first guitar
for his 30th birthday, which was
in August. It’s easy to see that
these two young blues enthusiasts have been honing their
craft and putting in work. They
incorporate their personalities
into their show along with their
individual styles of playing.
This duo is David Brewer on
electric guitar and Stevo Ehrnst
on harp. The duo’s style is
aligned with Texas blues guitar
and Chicago-style harp. They
play mostly original songs written by David. The songs range
from slow ballad-style blues to
intense rave-ups with both players making a full, driving sound.
Stevo’s harp playing features
long, haunting notes, with thick
vibrato created naturally without electronic effects. David
SOLO/DUO H 25
uses no effects on his guitar,
either, playing clean through a
small amp. His singing style is
forceful, and is easily the most
dynamic feature of this pair.
Brian Keith
Wallen
Dayton Blues Society
Brian is a 21-year-old bluesman
with an old soul. His energetic
performances have landed him
gigs at venues like Dollywood,
the Cincy Blues Fest, the
Indiana State Fair, and in juke
joints, theaters, and clubs from
Maryland to Colorado. Brian
was named Blues Artist of the
Year in 2011 by the StarGennett Foundation. After seeing his performance at the
Cincy Blues Fest, iSPYCINCY.
com wrote that “his raw passionate sound encompassed
the blues soul with perfection.”
Traveling an average of 30,000
miles a year on the road, Brian
Keith Wallen is doing his best to
keep the blues alive everywhere
he goes.
Buck Hoffman &
Paul McQuade
Smoky Mountain
Blues Society
Buck was born in Austin, Texas.
He moved to Maryland, and
started to play guitar at age
11. As a teenager he met a
couple of the Piedmont blues
greats, who influenced his
style. His deep voice and sense
of timing have matured over
the years like good whiskey.
Paul started playing harp on
the streets of New Orleans at
the age of 13. In the ’70s he
moved to Memphis, where he
absorbed a wide variety of harp
styles; you can hear anything
from the bayou to Chicago
when he plays. Buck and Paul
met in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Together they have a sound
that reflects the deep traditions of their backgrounds.
Carl Henry &
Tony Berci
Detroit Blues Society
Carl and Tony have been a
Detroit music scene “favorite
secret” for the past 20-plus
years. They have played venues
throughout the U.S. and
Canada. Carl plays both the
guitar and Dobro with an energy
and a passion that you know
come from the heart and from a
soul that has experienced lifetimes of angst and pleasure.
The same is true of harmonica
master Tony Berci. This duo’s
commanding stage presence
and hypnotic energy give them
the uncanny ability to draw you
into the performance.
Cary Morin
Colorado Blues Society
Native Americana finger-style
guitar – Cary Morin brings
together the great musical
26 H
SOLO/DUO
award-winning original songs
have a timeless quality and are
augmented by Crowe’s inspired
harmonies. Twenty years ago
Elliott slowly taught himself to
fingerpick, playing along with
Mississippi John Hurt and
Lightnin’ Hopkins recordings on
a pawn-shop dreadnought guitar. Elliott and Crowe crossed
paths two years ago, and the
touring began in full force, logging an average of 200 shows a
year across the country.
traditions of America and
beyond like no other. His solo
acoustic release Streamline
showcases Morin’s deft fingerstyle guitar. His 2011 release
Sing It Louder revisits his musical origins in Montana. With
bands and as a solo artist, he
has played venues across the
globe, including the New
Orleans Jazz and Heritage
Festival, Lincoln Center in New
York City, the Paris Jazz Festival,
and the 2010 Vancouver
Olympics. Morin has produced
or appeared on dozens of
recordings, and has toured the
U.S., Japan, France, Germany,
Italy, Switzerland, Spain,
Belgium, and the U.K. His home
base is Fort Collins, Colorado.
Chad Elliott with
Bonita Crowe
Central Iowa Blues Society
Elliott and Crowe’s tight harmonies, harmonica riffs, foot
stomping and Delta guitar picking all blend into a specific
sound that makes this duo from
Iowa stand out on any stage.
They have been touring nationally, creating a buzz and gaining
fans along the way. Elliott’s
Chad Lore
Wyoming Blues and
Jazz Society
Chad was born and raised in
Casper, Wyoming. He discovered his love of music at 5, and
began drum lessons. He sang
with the school choir and studied piano, acoustic bass, and
percussion. In his senior year of
high school, Chad moved to
Germany and took up playing
guitar on the streets, then
moved on to Italy, where he was
introduced to the basics of
blues music. This was a defining moment in his development
as a musician. According to
Chad, “Now the music makes
sense.” Since 1997, Chad has
been a regular performer in and
around Casper as a solo artist
and with his current band, Free
Bier.
Chris O’Connor
Sydney Blues Society
Using old-time fingerpicking
and bottleneck techniques to
create rich, authentic accompaniments, Chris plays
still looking back at the lives
and language of rural working
people. He is no field-recorded
replica; he is another roadstamped original voice of the
blues.
Christine
Jude Duo
everything from thumping blues
to sparkling rags. Over the past
25 years, he has maintained
his love of solo blues inspired
by artists such as Tommy
Johnson and Blind Blake, while
making welcome diversions into
jug-band music and guitar-harmonica duos. O’Connor has
released two self-produced
CDs, with wry original songs
alongside his own take on classic blues from the 1920s and
’30s. Rhythms magazine
stated, “The blues legacy will
remain subtle and fresh in the
hands of dedicated artists like
O’Connor.”
Chris Sutton
The Blues, Jazz and
Folk Music Society
Chris is a performer who will no
doubt make you stand up,
shake, clap, and holler. He’s a
true master in the art of storytelling, with mature guitar skills
framing a truly masterful voice.
He can whisper in the crowd’s
ear one minute and rattle the
walls the next. Sutton spices his
show by sprinkling in sly doses
of self-effacing humor, while
inviting the audience closer
until they are all on board. Born
and raised in West Virginia,
Sutton has crafted a body of
songs that are timeless while
Oklahoma Blues Society
Originally from Queens, New
York, and relocated to Tulsa,
Oklahoma, as a youngster,
Christine brings the excitement
of New York City to the stage
every time she sings. A seasoned performer, her experience comes from being an
active part of the Tulsa music
scene for the last 15 years
fronting bands, performing on
the streets, and working with
musicians throughout the city. It
is from this setting that her
blues vocal style has emerged.
Classically trained and versed
in many styles, Chris Brown has
over 30 years’ experience as a
guitarist. Together they form the
Christine Jude Duo.
Chuck & Leo
Columbus Blues Alliance
Chuck Brisbin is recognized as
one of the best vocalists in the
SOLO/DUO H 27
tri-state area of Ohio, Indiana
and Kentucky. Chuck’s powerful, soulful voice can be heard
in his solo performances and in
harmony with some of the best
musicians in a duo, a trio, or his
full band. Leo Clarke will be
returning to the IBC for the third
time in four years. Chuck and
Leo together bring a mix of soulful R&B and Southern backporch Delta blues. They prove
that the blues is alive and well
in the Queen City.
Cleveland Blue
Wichita Blues Society
The CoDependents
Grafton Blues Association
Chuckee Zehr
Great Lakes Blues Society
At age 6, when she started
studying classical piano,
Charlene Zehr from Stratford,
Ontario, was already jamming
to gospel and Jerry Lee Lewis
records. With influences like
Koko, Aretha, Janis, and Etta,
combined with her own
vibrancy, Chuckee has been
described as “a gut-bustin’
vocalist, able to put a lump in
your throat and a chill up your
spine!” In a variety of bands,
theater productions, and
churches since her early teens,
she has come to love performing solo. She brings passion
and energy to the stage, and
enjoys having fun with the audience. With three albums of
originals and numerous nominations and awards, Chuckee
feels blessed to be part of the
blues community.
28 H
SOLO/DUO
performed at clubs, bars, and
festivals throughout the East
Coast and Midwest. While
schooled in Kansas City-style
blues, they bring a hard, progressive, straight East Coast
flavor. Wrapping up promotion
of their own label’s debut EP,
American Brothers, they are
excited to bring their swamp
funk and blues style to the IBC.
While Cleveland Blue may be an
unknown name to many in the
Midwest, he won’t be for long!
Cleveland came up playing the
blues in the great state of Ohio,
where many varieties of the
blues connect. He honed his
talents in hard, rough, tough
venues where he learned to
entertain a crowd. One thing
about Cleveland Blue that you
should remember: He has
always said that his goal as a
blues musician is to be “an
entertainer” and to have his
own style of playing and singing,
unlike so many of his contemporaries. The world doesn’t
need one more clone –
Cleveland is Cleveland, and he
sounds like it!
Coco Butter Band
Steel City Blues Society
D.J. Rice
Kentuckiana Blues Society
Steeped in the mystique of
Maxwell Street, The
Co-Dependents evoke the raw
blues sound of the outdoor
music that could be found at
the intersection of Maxwell and
Halsted Streets. The two musicians from Milwaukee have
been playing together since
2001, with Benny Rickun on
harmonica and Joe Stolzman on
guitar. In January 2014 The
Co-Dependents will release
their debut CD, Searching for
Maxwell Street.
Colin John
North East Ohio
Blues Association
This original blues duo is from
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. It is
made up of two longtime
Philadelphia session players,
Liam Bouterre on organ/bass
and Coco Bouterre on drums,
with both on lead vocals.
Forging a full band sound from
a duo lineup, they recently have
demonstrates formidable fingerpicking and a command of slide
playing in both lap and bottleneck styles. His synthesis of
blues, soul, ragtime, and
Hawaiian guitar prompted one
reviewer to compare him to “the
love child of Charlie Patton, Jimi
Hendrix, John Lee Hooker,
Muddy Waters, Jimmy Page,
and Stevie Ray Vaughan! But
then, throw that love child into
island life and raise him with
the rich tradition of Hawaiian
lap steel guitar, and you just
might wind up with someone
like Colin John.”
An internationally respected
artist possessing world-class
skills on acoustic, resonator,
and electric guitars, Colin John
D.J. Rice started playing music
at the age of 12, and has performed professionally across
America for over 30 years. D.J.
has performed at B.B. King’s in
Nashville, the Landmark Hotel
and Casino in Las Vegas and
the Alltech World Equestrian
Games in Lexington, Kentucky.
D.J.’s first love is the blues, and
he has released three CDs.
D&G Boogie
Blues
Memphis Blues Society
Diana and Gary are married
and have been playing piano
and harmonica together for 15
years. They combine traditional
blues sounds with popular/jazz
tunes, to entertain audiences
all around the city. Diana’s playing has a strong classical edge
because of her training. One
can also hear hints of stride
and ragtime, coming from her
love of early jazz. Gary honed
his skills on Beale Street. He
performs with various blues
bands in and around Memphis.
Both are in love with Chicago
blues and Mississippi Hill
Country blues. Piano and harmonica is a combination you
don’t usually hear in a blues
set, but it works well with these
two.
Dani Dorchin
Israel Blues Society
Dani is a musician and songwriter performing in the oneman-band tradition, combining
electric guitar, harmonica, foot
drum, and vocals for a powerful
effect of energetic, groovy
blues. Dani, who hails from the
outskirts of Nazareth, got his
blues education from his
father’s vast collection of blues
records and from years of traveling, working odd jobs and
meeting musicians all over the
world. Upon returning to Israel,
he made a name for himself as
one of the country’s top harmonica players, performing and
recording with both local and
international acts. Dani’s oneman band is his first solo project. His debut album is due in
January 2014.
Dave Bostwick
Topeka Blues Society
Making music means multitasking for Dave. He simultaneously
blends his acoustic guitar and
harmonica skills to provide a
background for his original lyrics. He honed his blues songwriting skills as part of the
Kansas-based acoustic group 5
Man Trio. As a result of over 25
years spent performing in venues across the Midwest, his
lyrics are flavored with a variety
of real-life observations and
humorous experiences. Adding
keyboards to his instrumental
repertoire, Dave also performs
regularly with the popular
Kansas City blues/rock band
the Groove Pilots.
Dave Muskett
Cincy Blues Society
Dave is an award-winning blues
guitarist, delivering a sophisticated finger-style technique
with his guitar, and a smooth,
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mature honesty with his voice.
Piedmont, ragtime, traditional,
and country blues all blend and
fuse to form the refined composite that is the sound of Dave
Muskett. Drawing from nearly
three decades of professional
performance, Dave is currently
emerging as a rising songwriter.
With upbeat, ragtime-infused
tunes, as well as darker,
deeper-grooved blues songs,
Muskett is making his second
trip to the IBC. A monthly performer at the world-famous
Slippery Noodle Inn in downtown Indianapolis, Dave is
emerging on the blues festival
scene in the Midwest.
David Pinsky &
Phil Newton
Rainy Day Blues Society
David and Phil have been a
major part of the southern
Oregon blues scene for over 30
years, and have recently joined
forces as an acoustic duo.
Longtime friends, they began
this new chapter by playing
local venues and concerts,
discovering the joy of sharing
their blues on a different level.
David’s propulsive guitar and
Phil’s harp chops provide a
steady groove, and the two will
also employ a twin harp attack.
Both men bring decades of
vocal experience, with David
concentrating on his original
compositions and Phil interpreting blues and roots. David and
Phil are committed to blues
education and teaching blues
harp to local school kids.
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The Delta
Swamp Rats
Suncoast Blues Society
The Delta Swamp Rats were
created by Steve Arvey and Tony
Smith in 2012. Their mission is
to bring the raw Delta sounds of
the late ’40s back to life. This
sound that the band creates is
called Mississippi Delta Funk.
Cigar-box guitars, scorching
vocals, and deep-tone wailing
harmonica are mixed with a
percussive drum kit that Arvey
calls the “Rat Trap.” This is very
hard-edged blues, boogie,
swamp, and funk crafted from
out of the Deep South and
molded in their own style. Steve
from Chicago and Tony from
Tupelo are no strangers to the
music world. They have a deep
passion for the blues, and it is
reflected in this duo.
Dirty Old Men
Long Island Blues Society
Tin Pan Alley, folk, and
Appalachian mountain music.
Bruce plays a variety of instruments including six- and
12-string guitar, slide guitar,
clawhammer banjo, mandolin,
and Autoharp. Dan plays violin,
viola, harmonica, and piano.
Dan and Bruce have been
mainstays of the music scene
on the east end of Long Island,
New York, for the past 15 years.
They have been regulars at the
Riverhead Blues and Music
Festival, and play numerous
acoustic music venues.
Dunavent & Hood
Mississippi Delta Blues
Society of Indianola
Gary Applegate
Indiana Blues Society
audiences and kept rowdy
dance-hall floors full. Steeped
in the traditions of Delta and
Chicago style blues, Erik’s pulsing slide guitar and harmonica,
along with his intense vocals
and syncopated foot rhythms,
strive to keep the blues spirit
alive and moving forward. Erik
has recently relocated to New
Hampshire, shifting his cowboy
lifestyle to pursue a new chapter of life in the Granite State.
Felix Slim
Barcelona Blues Society
David Dunavent and Zack Hood
can often be found performing
around Clarksdale. Dunavent,
with his deep Delta roots, is a
favorite son when it comes to
Ground Zero, the Juke Joint
Festival, and the Sunflower
River Blues Festival. Hood and
his saxophone have called
Clarksdale home for some time
now. He is very much a part of
the Delta’s blues scene, and
has toured the world playing his
saxophone. These two infuse
Southern touches of blues, jazz,
and R&B for a unique sound
that audiences love.
Erik Ray
Granite State Blues Society
Bruce MacDonald and Dan
Skabeikis have been playing
together since 1993. As a duo,
they describe their music as
“Americana,” covering a range
of musical styles including
Piedmont-style blues, ragtime,
between the harmonica and
kazoo, Slim complements these
instruments with his unique
singing voice, creating a fresh
and distinctive yet truly vintage
sound.
Montana native Erik Ray has
spent the past three decades
purveying his brand of blues
in the rough-and-tumble roadhouses and honky-tonks of the
Northwest. His unique oneman-band show has thrilled
One of Spain’s leading blues
musicians, Felix Slim specializes in blues, ragtime, and
swing from the 1920s to
1940s. Influenced by the Delta,
Piedmont, Texas, jump, and
Chicago sounds, Slim uses slide
guitar, fingerpicking, and standard and open tunings. He has
played his dynamic versions of
blues classics and original
songs with echoes of flamenco,
rebetiko, and jazz manouche on
five albums and has toured in
eight countries worldwide.
Expertly playing and swapping
Gary’s shows are distinctly different from other acts on
almost every level. They’re
entirely filled with music that’s
presented from the soul – or
the heart, if you will. He feels
something, and he’s trying to
help you feel it too. The lyrics
might make you laugh or might
touch your heart, and that
rhythmic groove that makes
your head bob is completely
unique. Gary gets his distinctive
sound using tools he created,
which allow him to simultaneously play guitar, a bass line,
foot percussion, harmonica,
and vocals. Gary does not use
any backing tracks, drum
machines, looping, or sequencing. Everything you hear is
played live. His custom-built rig
allows him to play a lot of music
without a lot of musicians.
Gary Prisby &
Matt Barranti
Blues Society of
Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh delivers Gary, a creative singer/songwriter, and
Matt, the finest slide guitarist
the city has to offer. Individually,
Gary and Matt have played their
way into a fourth decade in the
regional music scene. These
two just recently joined creative
forces to bring their seamless blend of acoustic/electric
blues to Memphis. Their sound
echoes the old Delta blues,
infused with the later Chicago
style and with a contemporary
polish to it. Gary’s solid acoustic compositions and cutting
vocals are the perfect canvas
for Matt’s Southern blues
slide mastery that will keep
you wanting one more song.
Gary Wright
Jersey Shore Jazz and
Blues Foundation
Gary has been performing blues
for the last 40 years. A 2000
IBC finalist with the band
Terraplane Blues, Gary has
returned to where his musical
journey began, as a solo performer specializing in Delta,
Chicago, and North Mississippi
blues. Passionate about education, Gary Wright has also
served as a lecturer in blues
programs for children and
adults.
Greg Burgess
Billtown Blues Association
Central Pennsylvania pianist,
singer, and songwriter Greg
Burgess reaches deep into the
blues tradition for his discoveries. His playing incorporates the
gamut of styles he has studied
since he was a teenager in the
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Hubert Szczesny
& Kuba
Kleinschmidt
Szczęsny and Kleinschmidt are
a Polish blues-rock duo who
have played dozens of concerts
all over the country. In January
2012 they were presented to
Polish fans through one of the
most important blues radio
broadcasts in Poland, Okolice
Bluesa. The music presented by
the duo is much wider than
blues only. Their music can be
defined as a mixture of interesting interpretations of songs and
uncommonly tender dynamics.
These musicians can easily
transform from an oasis of calm
into an erupting volcano. Blues
is the most important in what
they are doing, but other music
genres like folk, pop, and flamenco are also important for
them.
’70s. A typical performance
features dynamic inflections,
subtle harmonic movement, sly
singing and wry lyrics, the use
of a stride as well as a boogiewoogie left hand, and contrasts
from barrelhouse rumbles to
flights of rhapsodic lines reminiscent of Otis Spann or Pete
Johnson. A stalwart of the
Williamsport, Pennsylvania,
music scene for two decades,
Burgess played piano in the
’80s in the band of Rochester,
New York, bluesman Joe Beard.
Herbie & the
Guitarguy
J J Rue
Arkansas River
Blues Society
The duo Herbie and the
Guitarguy was formed in 2011.
A performance by the duo is a
raucous, joyful dose of ragtime
and Delta blues. The
Guitarguy’s catchy fingerpicking
style, effortlessly supported by
bass and snare drum combined
with the virtuoso harp playing of
Herbie, gives you the idea that
you are listening to a full band.
A night with Herbie and the
Guitarguy is a guaranteed party!
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Hot Springs, Arkansas, on
piano, guitar, and lead vocals,
and Johnny Stephens, originally
from Memphis, Tennessee, on
harmonica and vocals. Joshua’s
warm, from-the-gut vocals, complemented by Johnny’s crossharp lamentations, provide a
unique blues experience. They
are a son-in-law and father-inlaw who share a love for the
blues. Both have strong musical
backgrounds that result in a
refreshing sound.
James Painter
Sedalia Blues Society
James, from Virginia, is 29 and
has been performing for more
than half of his life. He has
many influences, ranging from
Robert Johnson to Howlin’ Wolf
and Stevie Ray Vaughan. James
started playing guitar in local
venues while still a freshman in
high school, and has been
going strong ever since. He has
put many years of heavy use on
his trusty Fender Stratocaster,
and has more chops than a
butcher shop! James has
played in several bands of all
sizes over the last 10 years, but
is now focused on a solo career.
He plans to release his debut
CD in the summer of 2014.
Jenie Thai
Edmonton Blues Society
These Southern boys create a
sweet duo of blended harmonica, piano, vocals, and guitar,
with Joshua Castleberry from
Jenie has been making the
ivories dance and her vocal
cords vibrate since the age of
5. She has been compared to
an early Maria Muldaur, and
soaks in the musical influences
of Bonnie Raitt, Muddy Waters,
Tom Waits, and Memphis Slim.
iconic reggae and R&B artists.
When he relocated to Japan, he
evolved from the Stratocaster to
the Dobro. His quest to learn
the roots of the blues created a
musical style that reflects the
integrity of the true
torch-bearers.
John Carl Escue
San Angelo Blues Society
Thai combines her love for boogie-woogie and stride piano with
heartfelt vocals that stretch
more than three octaves. In
2010 she was accepted into
Paul McCartney’s music school,
based in Liverpool, and in 2011
was recognized by the
International Songwriting
Competition in the performance
category. Jenie conveys an old
soul through her melodic phrasing, her musical storytelling,
and the way she consistently
leaves her heart on the stage.
Jimy Graham
Capital Region
Blues Network
John Latini &
Jamie-Sue Seal
Capital Area Blues Society
John Carl, a veteran West Texas
rocker, is an enigma. Incubated
in the blues venue of Sealy
Flats, John Carl has a fresh and
unique acoustic style utilizing
elements of funk/jazz to infuse
his stripped-down blues music.
A rhythmic finger style and
strong, soulful vocals put a
fresh spin on blues standards
as well as original
compositions.
John Egan
Houston Blues Society
A native of Jamaica, Jimy has
taken a musical journey that
has brought him full circle. At
the age of 8 he picked up a
guitar and began to undergo his
“experience.” Heavily influenced
by the Motown sound, and
drawing from his reggae roots,
his early career focused on the
electric blues guitar. His unique
styling and interpretation made
him a sought-after sideman for
records that don’t lend themselves to easy categorization.
He fits somewhere on a power
blues arc that includes Jimi
Hendrix and Chris Whitley, artists who put a powder keg
under the venerable genre.
Egan shares with Whitley a
sometimes-studied, sometimesstormy way with the resonator.
On his latest project, Phantoms,
Egan stomps and howls a rocking blues that will have his audience coming back for more.
When John shouts the blues,
he’s hard to miss. Hailing from
Houston, he has made four
John and Jamie-Sue share a
charismatic energy and an
easy, natural stage presence.
They play “black-eyed blues,” a
tough, street-smart style
marked by Latini’s economical,
driving guitar work that propels
the duo with bass lines, chord
work, solos, and fills. The result
is a musical foundation not
unlike that of a small combo,
upon which the two alternately
croon, belt, and wail! She sings
like an angel, with a rich tone
and beautiful clarity, he like a
freight train blowing off steam,
each with an abundance of
vocal power! Their harmonies
are a fantastic blend of the two
– her voice softening his, just
as his voice toughens hers.
Their songs are original stories
about real life, and straight out
of the blues.
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Johnny & Zep
music and the heritage surrounding the genre. Focusing
on early blues of the Piedmont
area, the Delta, and the
Mississippi Hill Country, J3 has
pushed the music in his own
way without losing his respect
for the masters. Taking any
musical instrument, storebought or homemade in his
shop in the mountains, Jackson
can produce the music of his
forefathers, with an edgy sound
and feel that is nothing but the
blues. Doesn’t matter if it is one
string or 10, diddley bow or
banjo, he is committed to playing them blues like a man on a
mission–a blues mission.
Second Story
Blues Alliance
Johnny and Zep churn out
sounds that echo back to the
raw passion of roots blues that
emanated from the South a
century ago. This blues is not
about music theory or note-fornote mimicry. It’s about original
expression of the soul through
rhythm and tone. Johnny feels
that “you don’t play the blues,
you own it.” While performing in
a Philadelphia Folksong Society
concert honoring the 100th
birthday of Robert Johnson,
Johnny met Zep Harpo, a veteran harmonica player who
shares a love for roots blues.
Together their performances
are infused with spirit and
authenticity, offering up passionate covers and originals in
step with the Piedmont and
Delta blues styles, but with a
transcendent, contemporary
hue.
Juke Joint
Jackson
The Kentucky
Gentlemen
Blues Society of
the Ozarks
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Reno Blues Society
The duo of King and Stiles is
Jason King Roxas on vocals/
guitar and Tommy Stiles on
Dobro/lap steel guitar. Jason is
an accomplished singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His soulful
approach to performing and
songwriting stays true to his
blues roots while being both
vital and relevant to today’s
music. Tommy’s playing was
once referred to by Steady
Rollin’ Bob Margolin as the
“prettiest and loneliest sound”
he had ever heard. Tommy’s
influences range from blues to
rock and country to bluegrass.
Together, King and Stiles create
a unique sound that blends old
blues tradition with a modern
interpretation.
Lane Baldwin
Sacramento Blues Society
West Virginia Blues Society
Brought up in the hills of
Virginia, Juke Joint Jackson has
spent his life in pursuit of blues
King & Stiles
The Kentucky Gentlemen’s
unique brand of traditional
roots music has been making
waves in the Midwest since the
summer of 2012. Mitch King
and Aaron Underwood have
taken the duo format and
turned it on its head, with
scorching guitar riffs and heartfelt vocals that are met with the
kind of rock-solid rhythm that
can only be achieved when your
bassist and drummer is the
same person. This delicate
balancing act is an enticing
amalgam of home-brew tube
amps, foot percussion, gritty
vocals, and old-school blues,
and in just a year they’ve mastered their craft so thoroughly
that you’ll have to see them
with your own eyes to believe
that two people can produce
such a full sound.
Lane’s blues journey has
spanned four decades and six
continents. When the veteran
bassist plays with a band, his
focus is on locking the groove
with his drummer and providing
the solid but greasy foundation
the blues requires. However,
when Lane steps up front, all
alone, he uses just his voice
and bass guitar to dig up his
deepest pain and bring forth his
unique style of deeper blues.
For Lane, it’s not about how fast
he can play, or how many slap
and tap tricks he knows.
Instead, it’s about deeper stories, told with deeper emotion.
It’s blues the way it was meant
to be felt! Iconic blues bassist
Johnny B. Gayden calls Lane
“one of the best out there…a
great player and an amazing
songwriter.”
Leeboy
East Coast Blues Society
Lucious Spiller
Ozark Blues Society of
Northwest Arkansas
he started to write his own
songs almost immediately.
Always looking and searching
for inspiration through music,
he discovered the sound of the
country blues, and has written
many of his own compositions
in the style. In 2010 Lightnin’
moved to Lillington, North
Carolina, where he started to
play the blues live in the surrounding areas of Raleigh/
Durham and Wilmington.
Little Roy Gene
& Grayson Goff
Spa City Blues Society
LeeBoy is an award-nominated
artist from eastern Nova Scotia.
His voice has been described by
critics as wondrous, powerful,
and soaring. In 2011 he left his
work as a paramedic to record
his album, Better Man Blues,
which was released with help
from award-winning musician
and album producer JP Cormier.
Most of the album was
recorded live off the floor to give
it a genuine, organic feeling,
and it has been well received
since its release in 2012. In the
last year, Leeboy has been
reaching larger audiences,
branching out to new provinces
and playing many of the major
festivals in eastern Canada.
Lightnin’ James
Cape Fear Blues Society
Lightnin’ James is a traditional
acoustic blues musician. He
grew up in the small town of
Conyers, Georgia, and learned
to play the guitar at the age of
10. After picking up the guitar,
Combining a soulful blend of
New Orleans rhythms and
Memphis grooves, electric slide
and moaning Delta vocals, this
Arkansas-based duo comes
together from distinctly different backgrounds. Little Roy
Gene Horne is a 40-year veteran of dance halls and juke
joints from Los Angeles to
Washington, D.C. He began
writing music at 13 and never
looked back. Barely 21 years
old, Grayson Goff is already a
seasoned musician. His playing
is gritty and precise, inspired
and smooth. Goff was made for
the blues, and vice versa. This
duo’s original music spins to
the rhythm of lonesome trains,
gandy dancers, and the front
porch of a crowded juke joint on
a Mississippi Saturday night.
During the early 1900s,
Arkansas was a breeding
ground for some of the world’s
greatest bluesmen. With his
individual style of guitar playing
and captivating vocals, Lucious
is an intensely mesmerizing,
electrifying blues showman. His
self-defined guitar style and
signature voice make him one
of the very finest musicians of
the blues today. His mix of oldschool blues injected with a
contemporary edge makes him
a truly amazing blues sensation. His original songs display
his deep, heartfelt passion for
the blues. Through his music,
Lucious takes his listeners on
an inspired trip to the crossroads of the blues.
Manu Lanvin &
the Devil Blues
France Blues
Manu has gained major stature
as a singer and guitar player in
French blues-rock. In 2009 he
co-wrote and produced Dawg
Eat Dawg, Calvin Russell’s last
album. Encouraged by his Texan
mentor, Manu launched himself
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body and soul into the blues.
The success of his latest album,
Mauvais Casting, opened the
doors for more than 120 concerts in 2013, including some
of the most prestigious venues
around the world. It was
onstage at the Montreux Jazz
Festival in July 2012 that Manu
was noticed by Claude Nobs as
well as Quincy Jones, who
asked him to play for the Jazz
Foundation of America in New
York.
Mark Pentone &
Smoky Greenwell
Voodoo Blues Crewe New
Orleans Blues Society
and everyone in between. He’s
an “old soul” who easily commands the attention of any
crowd, and his passion for
music and performing is
contagious.
Micah Kesselring
Cleveland Blues Society
the stage by age 9, and moved
to Nashville at 17 to pursue his
career. Influences such as
Muddy Waters and Lightnin’
Hopkins can all be heard in his
music, along with an originality
that is all his own. Matt shows
amazing musicianship by playing drums and guitar and singing vocals all at the same time.
Matt does not fall short when it
comes to connecting with his
audience and fans. As soon as
he takes the stage and plays
the first note, it’s hard to turn
away.
Matt Weidinger
Mark and Smoky are well
known in the New Orleans blues
music scene. Mark’s guitar and
Smoky’s harmonica perfectly
complement each other on a
variety of original blues songs.
With their different take on the
blues, and lyrics with a twist,
Greenwell and Pentone keep
audiences entertained and toes
tapping. Both are band leaders
in their own right, and with over
80 years of experience between
them, they are truly masters of
their craft and have “earned the
right to sing the blues.”
Matt Tedder
Nashville Blues Society
Matt is an 18-year-old blues/
rock guitarist/singer/songwriter. At the age of 7, he
picked up his first guitar and
began taking lessons. Right
away, Matt acknowledged his
passion and love for music, and
decided to make it his life’s
work. Matt took his talents to
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Grand River Blues Society
Micah is a three-time IBC semifinalist, and is making his fourth
appearance this year.
Completely self-taught, and well
known for his powerful, authentic vocals, impeccable slide
guitar, and unique blend of
country and Piedmont blues,
which he calls “Appalachia
blues,” Kesselring, 20, relentlessly puts everything he has
into each and every performance. Hailing from the backwoods of southeastern Ohio, he
just released his debut album,
Log Cabin Blues, in the fall.
Mike McCarthy is a musician originally from rural New
Hampshire. At 29 years old he
has been playing for over 20
years and performing for over
a decade, lighting up stages
from the swamps of Florida to
the mean streets of Boston and
all points in between. Following
the music wherever it has taken
him, McCarthy lived for several years in Central America,
where he built a regional reputation. Recently relocated to
the Gulf Coast, he has made a
name for himself with an oldschool acoustic guitar sound
that is at once technically
rich and tasteful. Slide guitar,
powerful vocals, and a deep
emotional connection to blues
music make Mike McCarthy
one young musician to keep
an eye on in years to come.
Mississippi
Marshall
Boise Blues Society
Monica Morris
Illinois Central Blues Club
Ms. Tabatha
& Bobby
Central Mississippi
Blues Society
Raised in a musical home with
a bass-playing father rooted in
the blues, Monica first used her
powerful voice as a lead singer
with soul and funk bands. After
10 years away from the music
scene, she discovered her passion for the blues. Propelled by
a commanding stage presence
and powerful lead vocals, and
supported by her rhythmic guitar work, Monica expresses her
feelings and emotions in original blues songs. Accompanied
by Josie Lowder, known for her
finger-style guitar and soulful
harmonies, Monica forges a
refreshing take on the blues,
steeped in tradition but void of
imitation.
Morry Sochat
& Shoji Naito
Windy City Blues Society
Michael
McCarthy
Matt has got soul. Taking inspiration from Ray Charles and
Leon Russell, Matt is cooking
up his own brand of blues that
will surely leave you wanting
more. The 20-year-old singer/
songwriter has been working
his way up in the southern
Ontario music scene for the
past five years. He performs like
a veteran musician on the
piano and organ, and is equally
proficient on guitar. Matt has
the capacity to grab the attention of both the old and young,
Blues Society of
Northwest Florida
for Eddy Clearwater. Sochat
sings, plays harmonica, and
wrote the original music that
they play on the band’s two
CDs, Swingin’ Shufflin’ Smokin’
and Eatin’ Dirt.
These two South Mississippi
musicians combine smooth
soul vocals with harmonica
solos and guitar playing that
hints of early Mississippi Delta
masters. Tabatha grew up singing in her church, and her
vocals reflect that gospel heritage. Known for her backup
work with notable artists, she is
now shining as a lead vocalist,
opening for large acts around
Mississippi. Bobby’s style of
picking and slide guitar and his
harmonica solos complement
Tabatha’s soulful voice. Bobby
is also part of the Leaf River
Blues Trio, which performs all
over Mississippi.
Naffis &
Massarutto
Mississippi Marshall is a hardhitting, rocking blues man that
brings a unique rawness and
talent to the blues scene of the
Northwest. Their music is a
blend of good old-fashioned
Delta blues with a heavy dose
of swamp boogie and just about
everything in between.
Mississippi Marshall’s songwriting and vocal talents, along with
his unique guitar thumbing
style, are direct reflections of
his Mississippi Delta influences.
DeltaBlues
Morry Sochat and Shoji Naito
met in Chicago in 2000 at the
Old Town School of Folk Music.
They have been playing together
in the band The Special 20s for
the past eight years. They play a
mix of Chicago blues, swing,
and ’50s-style rock ’n’ roll.
Naito plays guitar in the duo but
is equally adept at harmonica
and bass, which he also plays
SOLO/DUO H 37
Owen Poteat
Shark G. Naffis is a powerful
performer known for playing in any situation. Skilled
in resonator and slide guitar
technique, he has long experience as a street musician,
in clubs, and on European
stages. He has played at various blues festivals and opened
for Italian and international
artists. Gianni Massarutto
has been a leading performer
on the electric and acoustic
blues harmonica for over 20
years. He participated as an
actor and musician in the play
Beloved, a blues variation on
the book by Toni Morrison. He
belongs to the Armonauti harmonica trio, whose repertoire
includes blues, folk, and tango.
Charlotte Blues Society
Owen is back in Memphis
again for his third IBC. In 2012
he made the semifinals and
was humbled to find acceptance for his music. As a fulltime solo musician, he has
been literally stomping out old
blues for what seems like a
lifetime. His old body finally
matches his old soul, and the
music that both make finally
makes him happy. Like most
here, he has won some awards,
made up some songs, and
recorded some CDs. Being part
of this family that meets on
Beale Street challenges him to
be a better performer on the
stage and a better person off it.
And for him the best part about
being here, besides the music,
is the people – those performing, those judging, and especially those listening. He hopes
he and his music get to meet
you this year.
Nico Wayne
Toussaint &
Michel Foizon
South Florida
Blues Society
Nico and Michel began playing
together 20 years ago in the
southwest of France. Over the
past two decades Nico has
become one of Europe’s premier blues harmonica players
and vocalists, putting out 10
albums on Dixiefrog Records.
Nico won first place in the 2012
International Songwriting
Competition in the blues category for his song “How Long to
Heal.” He has also become a
part-time resident of South
Florida. Michel has produced
several blues and gospel projects with Nico in France, touring
all over the country. Nico and
Michel have just recorded their
first official duo album in Miami.
38 H
SOLO/DUO
Ozark Mountain
Oysters
Lake of the Ozarks
Blues Society
Ozark Mountain Oysters is
made up of two individuals with
diverse musical backgrounds.
John “Johnny G” Gibble is no
stranger to the blues. Before
settling in the Midwest, the
Ohio native fronted bands on
the East Coast, playing trumpet
and percussion and singing
lead vocals. John “Johnny”
Evans, born in Fort Belvoir,
Virginia, moved to Missouri at a
young age. As a teenager in the
1960s, he played clubs along
Route 66 from Fort Leonard
Wood to Kansas City. He started
writing songs using life’s valuable lessons. Soulful, funky,
raucous blues, peppered with
lyrics that have been fermenting
for decades, well describes this
road-tempered duo.
Pete Herzog
Ashland Blues Society
Rick Tobey
Triangle Blues Society
along with the slide and fingerstyle resonator guitar work of
Mark Searcy, an Arkansas
native. Both are celebrated for
their unique and compelling
approaches to blues, and their
sound combines raw elements
of gospel, Delta, and Texas
influences laced with dynamics
and passion.
The Preacher
Dale Alan
Niehaus
River Basin Blues Society
Pete plays with one foot in the
past and one in the future. He
approaches the blues as constantly evolving, maintaining
traditional links to the past
while moving the music into the
present. Pete combines traditional blues influences with his
original lyrics that reflect his
personal experiences. He uses
his back-porch bottleneck slide
style and a homemade stomp
box to bring listeners back to a
simpler time. He is always
searching the roots of the
blues, gathering songs and
stories from around the world,
looking for that common thread
that binds us all together.
Pickett Searcy
Coalition
Austin Blues Society
The Coalition features the
powerful and soulful vocals of
Texas native Ginger Pickett,
Dale taught himself to play guitar at age 12 by listening to his
mother’s old 78-rpm blues and
jazz records. He started playing
bars and nightclubs at age 16.
He describes the roughest bar
as “like the bar in the Blues
Brothers movie, but without the
chicken wire.” For 42 years he
has performed many styles of
music, but always returns to
playing his first love, the blues.
Niehaus writes original songs
that mimic the old Delta and
country blues tunes of the past.
His songs tell true tales of
addiction, despair, and
redemption.
Rick Tobey is a five-time Blues
Challenge winner from the
Piedmont and Cape Fear region
of North Carolina. Sheryl Bryant
of the Raleigh Music Industry
Association reviewed his recent
Triangle Blues Society win:
“Congratulations to the night’s
winner for solo duo act, Rick
Tobey. He tackled the stomp
board, mouth harp and guitar
with grace and fluidity. He blew
the crowd away with his selfdescribed ‘Chickenhead Blues.’
The crowd remarked about his
outstanding originality. Songs
like ‘Honey Bun’ and ‘The Big
Fat Belly Song’ were downright
black snake hoochie coochie
blues. He also nailed a version
of ‘Tin Pan Alley’ to ultimately
win over the judges. We wish
Rick luck at the IBC. The fifth
time’s the charm.”
Sam Joyner Band
Vicksburg Blues Society
Gifted educators and artists
Sam Joyner and Joe Eagle offer
decades of expertise. Proud of
his family’s Mississippi
heritage, Sam has lived and
performed throughout Asia and
the Pacific islands. Carrying the
torch, he’s an international
blues ambassador. Sam’s powerhouse style on the piano is
complemented with his solid
vocals. Drummer Joe Eagle was
born and raised in the
Mississippi Delta. His music
and talent clearly come from
his roots and his heart. His
style reflects the ’40s and ’50s.
The pair conjures a special
brand of Louisiana swamp
blues infused with zydeco and
second-line. They bring a big
sound to the stage.
Sanjin
Banic Bane
Bane, a guitar player and
singer, is a big fan of acoustic
and electric guitar. His passion
for music started when he
heard the blues at the age of 8
because his parents are passionate music fans. Sanjin
started his music journey with
drums, then turned to piano,
and after that fell in love with
the guitar, which is still his biggest passion and love. He
played with his band all over
Croatia and in Amsterdam,
London, and Milan at various
festivals, gigs, and TV shows.
Today he is a solo artist known
as Bane, trying to make his own
kind of music and writing his
own songs. He plays rock,
blues, jazz, fusion, soul, funky,
Latin … in a wide range of combinations of all these styles,
filled with his heart and soul.
SOLO/DUO H 39
Sasha Colette
Pomeroy Blues +
Jazz Society
With her Kentucky-rooted
slang, Sasha has taken her
natural revival sound from the
pulpit of the small country
church she was raised in and
translated it into a sound that
brings both angels and heathens alike to attention. A lifelong singing-songwriter, she
has released four albums, ranging from her solo traditional
sound to the latest album featuring her full-scale band. While
traveling down the highways of
this great nation, she has
entertained in venues from
coast to coast and is always
quick to flash a friendly smile
and say hello. Memphis will
love the passion of this soulsome and inspiring songbird!
Satoru
Nakagawa
Boston Blues Society
for playing Delta-style slide guitar and writing unique original
songs based on his real-life
experience. After graduating
from high school in Japan, he
decided to take a musical journey to the Mississippi Delta
searching for the roots of
American music. He spent five
years in Louisiana and
immersed himself in traditional
country blues, modern electric
blues, rhythm and blues, and
rock ’n’ roll, which are reflected
in his six original albums with
his band, Tokyo Tramps. Satoru
competed in the 2013 IBC as a
solo act and in the 2011 IBC
with the band.
Scale House
Blues Society of Tulsa
After years of stage experience
together and separately, with
musical ensembles of various
genres, Justin Cauble and Mike
Snow discovered their likeminded appreciation for the
roots of the blues, and teamed
up to create the acoustic duo
Scale House. These dynamic
multi-instrumentalists feel a
responsibility to perform, preserve, and educate listeners
about this truly American art
form. Their unique chemistry
and original arrangements create a contemporary ambiance
while capturing the groove created by early blues composers.
Shawn Doré
Satoru is a Japanese-born blues
singer, guitarist, and composer,
currently living in Boston,
Massachusetts, who is known
40 H
SOLO/DUO
Loyal Blues Fellowship
It was only a matter of time
before Shawn, born and raised
in a musical family in Belleville,
Puertas, born on Sonny Terry’s
birthday, is one of the finest
harmonica players in the world,
according to Jerry Portnoy.
Santos Puertas was born on
W.C. Handy’s birthday, and is a
soulful singer and a fine
Piedmont-style guitar picker.
These brothers will astound you
with original blues songs and
an updated, powerful interpretation of the Piedmont blues,
among other styles.
Ontario, became musical himself. Shawn got his first guitar at
the age of 5, and was introduced to the blues shortly after
that. He became instantly
hooked, and from that point on
he spent the majority of his free
time honing his craft. Now, 25
years later, Shawn is an experienced musician and songwriter
who has had the chance to
perform on many stages either
playing guitar, fronting bands,
or performing solo. Whether it is
heartfelt slide, a shredding
solo, or big vocals, Doré always
shows the passion and intensity
that he has for his work.
Suitcase
Brothers
Piedmont Blues
Preservation Society
The Suitcase Brothers, representing the Barcelona Blues
Society of Spain, and won second place in the 2013 IBC solo/
duo category. This year they are
honored and thrilled to be back
in Memphis representing North
Carolina’s Piedmont Blues
Preservation Society. Victor
SwampShaka
Duo with Tony C
Connecticut Blues Society
A healthy dose of honesty,
energy, and entertainment is
what this dynamic duo brings to
audiences with each impassioned performance. Shaka is a
21st-century tunesmith, reed
bender, and jug and washboard
throwback of sorts whose professed mission is to reconnect
audiences with the true blue
spirit of American tradition without the retro slant. The duo’s
self-penned numbers are built
around Shaka’s keen ability to
sculpt vignettes and deliver
them with personal conviction,
while guitarist Tony C builds the
foundation up from its root by
supplying a strong rhythmic
texture combined with a fluid
fingerpicking technique.
Sweet Danny
Ray & Rafael
Tranquillino
Washington Blues Society
Like a blast of cold air on
a sunny day, this twisted
Northwest-Mexicali spin on
classic themes is unexpected
and invigorating. If you’re looking for polished or politically
correct, look elsewhere. This
act recalls the acoustic immediacy of old-time blues artists
with a decidedly modern accent
on a vintage idea. Original, irreverent, and heartfelt blues come
through the emotive vocals of
this surprising duo. The
dynamic blend of Tranquillino’s
blazing guitar and the raw
energy of Danny Ray’s harp will
make you laugh, weep, and
raise an eyebrow or two. There’s
definite chemistry here. You’re
just never sure if they’re gonna
hug each other or blow something up.
T-Bone Lightnin’
Black Swamp Blues Society
T-Bone Lightnin’ (Jeff Traxler)
was born in 1959 in Toledo,
Ohio. He was raised in a very
musical family. At 13 he got his
first real instrument, and he has
played ever since. The paying
gigs started at 15, and after
graduating high school, he
joined his first road band and
never looked back. In 2001 a
wrong-way driver caused a
head-on collision that rendered
his left hand almost useless.
After a couple of years playing
bass he started to play lead
again, and he has been attacking the guitar like never before.
He captures the tones and flavors of the masters –
Buchanan, Vaughan, Allman,
Beck. From well-phrased
smooth and creamy to blistering-hot slide guitar mixed with
just the right amount of growl in
the voice, it adds up to a bluesified musical adventure.
Tampa Spatz
Minnesota Blues Society
Tampa Spatz is a blues piano
player and vocalist who performs boogie, blues, and stride
piano built from the old-school
traditions. A self-taught player
since the age of 11, he is based
out of the Twin Cities. His piano
playing displays an obvious and
keen reverence for the great
masters of the Chicago, New
Orleans, stride, and boogiewoogie piano styles ranging
from Otis Spann and James
Booker to Albert Ammons.
Tampa Spatz frequently accompanies his playing and singing
with a dry sense of humor and
an inflatable palm tree.
Tevis Hodge Jr.
Cascade Blues Association
Southern native turned
Northwest bluesman Tevis
Hodge Jr. has been living a life
steeped in blues since those
first early years in the South.
SOLO/DUO H 41
and placed No. 8 on Gonzo
Online Best of 2011 and No. 16
on the Blind Lemon Top 20
Canadian Blues Albums of
2012. Tim has performed in
Europe, the United States, and
Canada.
Tim Lothar &
Holger Daub
Deeply moved by the musical
traditions of his AfricanAmerican heritage, Tevis has
found a place of belonging in
the blues. At a young age, Tevis
began to pursue the techniques
of yesteryear. Now his mix of
early and original tunes has
managed to create a personal
sound that is unique and fresh.
The result is true blues music in
a modern age. He is not simply
a re-creator of the old; he is a
passionate and creative contributor to the new.
Tim Bastmeyer
Collingwood Jazz
and Blues Society
Baltic Blues
Tim (guitar, vocal) and Holger
(harmonica) perform the
Mississippi Delta blues in a very
impressive and intense way.
Tim is one of Denmark’s best
solo blues artists, well known
all over Europe. He won the
Danish Blues Award (Best
Album, Artist of the Year),
released three solo albums,
toured in 15 countries, and
represented Denmark in the
Baltic and European Blues
Challenges. In Memphis he’s
performing with his congenial
partner Holger Daub, one of
Germany’s best and best-known
harmonica players, to show the
colorful shapes of traditional
blues at its best.
Tim Williams
Tim is a Canadian blues singersongwriter whose style is based
on the tradition of prewar blues,
with a modern edge. His guitar
sound is brought to life with
different techniques using fingerpicking, flatpicking, and
multiple tunings with slide guitar. His unmistakable vocal
sound is distinct and original.
He has released three solo
albums and received significant
airplay and reviews, reaching
No. 34 on the Roots Report. He
has been nominated for a
Durham Region Music Award,
42 H
SOLO/DUO
Calgary Blues Music
Association
Tim was bit by the blues bug as
a teenager in Southern
California, seeing many of the
“rediscovered” bluesmen in
clubs like the Ash Grove. By age
20, he had gone from audience
member to opening act, and
has continued a career as a
touring roots musician for 40
years. He has toured Canada,
the U.S., Mexico, Morocco,
Cuba, Australia, and the U.K. in
support of eight CDs (the newest is Blue Highway, on
LowdenProud Records), taking
his unique blend of Texas,
Delta, and Piedmont finger-style
and slide guitar (and mandolin)
to audiences at festivals, concert halls, and clubs, winning
constant approval everywhere
he goes. Born in California, Tim
is a longtime resident of
Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The Timo
Arthur Duo
Atlanta Blues Society
New to Atlanta’s blues scene,
this duo showcases two of the
region’s latest dynamic musicians. Timo Arthur of Milford,
Connecticut, brandishes his
gritty and insistent guitar style
learned as a disciple of legend
Ronnie Earl, blending it seamlessly with his distinctively
smoky vocals. This dexterity is
carried atop the authoritative
old-school clout of the walking
upright bass of Hollywood,
California, native Tamara
Nicolai. In catchy jump originals
or famously storied standards,
the pair imparts an assertive
style which pays homage to the
giants of blues of yesterday and
today, while offering audiences
everywhere nothing less than
honest, foot-stomping
satisfaction.
Tracy K &
Jamie Steinhoff
Blues Duo
Thunder Bay Blues Society
delivering the sound of a full
combo and turning listeners’
heads when they realize the
lineup, this two-fisted duo pulls
the audience in with passion
and experience developed with
years of touring and recording.
Steve Freund produced two of
Wendy’s eight albums and
passed on many of the lessons
of his mentor Sunnyland Slim.
Wild Will
Williamson
DC Blues Society
When chef Jamie “Snakeman”
Steinhoff isn’t cookin’ in the
kitchen, he’s cookin’ on guitar
with songstress Tracy K, who’s
known internationally for wailin’
on harmonica and beltin’ out
blues. Snakeman supplies
swampy Delta slide, Piedmont
finger-style and lap steel that
characterizes their sound. Their
2011 album Canned Heat introduces this bluesman who is
guilty of preserving authenticity
paired with an award-winning
singer. Together they tour from
the top of Blues Hwy 61 in
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Wendy DeWitt
with Kirk
Harwood
Golden Gate Blues Society
Wendy is on piano and vocals
and Kirk is on drums and
vocals. They present a sound
reminiscent of S.P. Leary and
Otis Spann via a stew of
straight-up Chicago blues and
boogie-woogie. From the first
note they played together, the
pair hit it off and went straight
into writing and booking 200
dates a year. Known for
Wild Will brings bluegrass, rock,
and country influences into his
traditional and contemporary
blues numbers to deliver a
unique and vibrant performance. Will’s repertoire
includes Piedmont and Delta
style blues, fingerpicking and
bottleneck slide, showcasing
his dynamic guitar work and
rugged voice. He has studied
with several nationally known
blues artists including Jorma
Kaukonen, Roy Book Binder,
and Rory Block. In addition to
traditional songs, Wild Will performs many original numbers,
putting a bluesy slant on his
ironic perspectives on life in
this chaotic 21st century.
Willie Green
North Central Florida
Blues Society
Willie began entertaining at
house parties, farm camps and
sand-floor jukes in the ’50s.
His self-taught music and his
lifestyle earned him the nickname “Real Deal” from John
Hammond. Willie’s music will
bring to mind early Mississippi
rural Delta blues. The Florida
State Museum of History has
recognized three musicians for
their contributions to our music
heritage: Ray Charles, Bo
Diddley, and Willie Green. Willie
was featured on the cover of
the nationally circulated 2010
publication Blues Festival Guide
in a painting by Glen Hastings.
He is the house musician at the
Yearling Restaurant in Cross
Creek, Florida.
Zakk & Big
Papa Binns
Buffalo River
Blues Society
This father/son duo is from Hot
Springs, Arkansas. They play a
heavy, foot-stompin, Hill
Country, honest from-the-heart
kind of blues. Their dueling
slide guitars and one-manband-style drums produce a
raw, hypnotic Delta blues
sound. They are also members
of the band Brethren, which has
toured extensively with legendary bluesman Cedell Davis over
the last five years. So, some
dues have been paid.
SOLO/DUO H 43
2013 Year in Review
The Blues Foundation
✩✩ Begin 2013 with 4160 members
and 199 affiliates
✩✩ 29th IBC presents 230 acts from 17
countries; Selwyn Birchwood and
Little G Weevil crowned champs
✩✩ Membership reaches 4612 peak at
end of BMA voting, 200 affiliates
✩✩ 2013 Blues Hall of Fame inductees
include: Otis Clay, Joe Louis
Walker & Jody Williams
✩✩ Johnny Winter benefit at the Beale
Street Hard Rock Café garners
$10,000 for Blues Hall of Fame
✩✩ Raise the Roof! ends year with over
$2 million in pledges from over 900
individuals and organizations
✩✩ R.I.P. Bobby Blue Bland, T-Model
Ford, Piedmont Talent’s Steve Hecht,
Beale Street Caravan’s Sid Selvidge
and Beale Street’s Bob Harding,
✩✩ 34th Blues Music Awards hailed as the
best ever for 5th consecutive year!
✩✩ 2013 IBC and BMA economic
impact pegged at $6 million
✩✩ 10 new Board members: Paul
Benjamin, Janice Johnston, Gary
Nicholson, Gary Paradis, Meg Ramos,
Jonathon Richards, Gail Singer, Paul
Tischler, Eddie Turner & Luis Viada
✩✩ ArtsMemphis grants BF $24,500;
Tennessee Arts Commission, $23,500;
FDC Foundation, $20,000 to HART Fund
✩✩ Generation Blues awards almost
$15,000 to 13 young musicians to
attend summer blues camps
✩✩ Membership survey completed
✩✩ Board approves new strategic plan
✩✩ Grinder, Taber, Grinder selected as
general contractor for Blues Hall of Fame
✩✩ HART Fund disbursements this
fiscal year almost $50,000
✩✩ Sammy Hagar donates $25,000
to the Blues Hall of Fame
✩✩ Legendary Rhythm & Blue Cruisers
raise another $65,000 on October
cruise to bring their Raise the Roof!
contributions to over $325,000.
44 H
A Home for the Blues
The Blues Foundation is the international
home of blues music. The two most important events in blues music are staged
in Memphis each year – the International
Blues Challenge and the Blues Music
Awards. Now, with the final development of
421 South Main and the Blues Hall of Fame
at its heart,The Blues Foundation is poised
to create a facility for the world to visit every
day of the year. And it will expand the audience and customer base for blues music.
Raise
the
Roof!
C a m pa i g n f o r th e
Establishing a Blues Hall of Fame enhances
one of the founding programs of The Blues
Foundation, one that recognizes and
respects the men, women and recordings
deemed the greatest in this music genre,
one of the world’s great cultural art forms.
A Blues Hall of Fame is by definition an
educational tool in the vast wealth of
information it provides to the visitors and
the exposure it gives to both old friends
and new fans. A physical Blues Hall of
Fame touches on all four of the Blues
Foundation’s mission components:
H Preserving history
H Celebrating excellence
H Supporting music education
H Ensuring the future of Blues music
The new Blues Hall of Fame will be the
place for serious blues fans, casual
visitors, and wide-eyed students. It will
facilitate audience development and
membership growth. It will expose,
enlighten, educate, and entertain.
H a l l o f Fa m e
Please stop by and visit
the future Blues Hall of
Fame home at 421 S.
Main—just a short trolley
ride from Beale Street!
IBC week hours
Wed 11am-2pm
Thu 10am-1pm
Fri 11am-2pm
R a i s e th e R o o f ! f o r th e B l u e s H a l l o f F a m e
H 45
This is an
investment
in the Blues
A Peek Inside
Our goal is to create
a memorable experience for the visitor
that presents the rich
history of blues music
through recognition and
respect for the men and
women who created
this music, while also
spotlighting The Blues
Foundation programs
that ensure the future
of one of the great
cultural contributions to
the world: blues music.
The experience begins once your feet hit the ground.
The Plan
The campaign calls
for $2.5 million to
bring the Blues Hall
of Fame to life. The
new Hall of Fame will
be the place to:
Visitors are greeted by gallery panels that will rotate throughout the year.
H honor inductees
year-round
H listen to and learn
about the music
H preserve memorabilia
of this art form
H Educate the public on
the past, present and
future of the blues
Explore the rich history of the Blues with interactive touchscreen displays.
H 47
The new Blues Hall of Fame
is only a few notes away.
Don’t stand on the sidelines.
Be part of blues History. Donate.
H Donate by phone, mail, online, text or
in-person at 421 S Main in Memphis
H Make a one-time donation
or multi-year pledge
H Call 1-800-861-8795 or visit blues.org
If not us, who?
If not now, when?
Raise the Roof! for the Blues Hall of Fame
H
49
Blues Hall of Fame Members
P erf o rmer
Luther Allison H Billy Boy Arnold H Dave Bartholomew H Chuck Berry H Blind Blake H
Bobby “Blue” Bland H Mike Bloomfield H Lonnie Brooks H Big Bill Broonzy H Charles
Brown H Clarence Gatemouth Brown H Roy Brown H Ruth Brown H Paul Butterfield H
Leroy Carr H Ray Charles H Clifton Chenier H Otis Clay H Albert Collins H James Cotton
H Robert Cray H Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup H Reverend Gary Davis H Walter Davis H Bo
Diddley H Willie Dixon H Fats Domino H Champion Jack Dupree H David “Honeyboy”
Edwards H Sleepy John Estes H Blind Boy Fuller H Lowell Fulson H Buddy Guy H John
Hammond H W. C. Handy H Slim Harpo H Wynonie Harris H Billie Holiday H Earl Hooler
H John Lee Hooker H Lightnin’ Hopkins H Big Walter Horton H Son House H Alberta
Hunter H Mississippi John Hurt H J.B. Hutto H Elmore James H Skip James H Etta James
H Blind Lemon Jefferson H Buddy & Ella Johnson H Lonnie Johnson H Robert Johnson
H Tommy Johnson H Louis Jordan H B.B. King H Freddie King H Albert King H Denise
LaSalle H Lead Belly H J.B. Lenoir H Lazy Lester H Furry Lewis H Robert Jr. Lockwood
H Professor Longhair H Big Maceo H Taj Mahal H Big Maybelle H Percy Mayfield H
Jimmy McCracklin H Mississippi Fred McDowell H Brownie McGhee H Jay McShann H
Blind Willie McTell H Little Milton H Roy Milton H Memphis Minnie H Mississippi Sheiks
H Little Brother Montgomery H Matt “Guitar” Murphy H Charlie Musselwhite H Robert
Nighthawk H Johnny Otis H Little Junior Parker H Charley Patton H Pinetop Perkins H
Ma Rainey H Bonnie Raitt H Dr. John H Tampa Red H Jimmy Reed H Jimmie Rodgers
H Jimmy Rogers H Otis Rush H Bobby Rush H Magic Sam H Son Seals H Johnny Shines
H Memphis Slim H Sunnyland Slim H Guitar Slim H Bessie Smith H Otis Spann H
Frank Stokes H Hubert Sumlin H Roosevelt Sykes H Hound Dog Taylor H Eddie Taylor
H Koko Taylor H Sonny Terry H Sister Rosetta Tharpe H Rufus Thomas H Irma Thomas
H Big Mama Thornton H Allen Toussaint H Big Joe Turner H Ike Turner H Stevie Ray
Vaughan H Joe Louis Walker H T-Bone Walker H Sippie Wallace H Little Walter H
Dinah Washington H Muddy Waters H Johnny “Guitar” Watson H Junior Wells H Peetie
Wheatstraw H Bukka White H Big Joe Williams H Jody Williams H Sonny Boy Williamson
#1 H Sonny Boy Williamson #2 H Johnny Winter H Jimmy Witherspoon H Howlin’ Wolf
H 51
Affiliated Organization
rossroads Blues
C
Society of Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Keeping
the BLUES
H Alive H
The Blues Foundation will honor 20
individuals and organizations with
its 2014 Keeping the Blues Alive
Awards during a recognition luncheon
Friday, January 24, 2014, in Memphis,
Tennessee. Each year, The Blues
Foundation presents the KBA Awards
to individuals and organizations that
have made significant contributions
to blues music. The KBA ceremony
is held in conjunction with the 30th
International Blues Challenge.
The KBAs are awarded by a select
panel of blues professionals to
those working actively to promote
and document the music. The 20
recipients represent an outstanding
cross-section of blues advocates. The
KBA Committee selected Blue Star
Connection for a Special Committee
Award, because its gifting of musical
instruments to children and young
adults with cancer and other serious
medical challenges did not fall into
any of the established categories. The
Blues Foundation is pleased to honor
these people and organizations as a
tribute to the years each has given to
supporting the blues.
H 2014 H
The Crossroads Blues Society of Illinois,
founded in 1994, has since 2001 made its
Blues in the Schools programs its primary
emphasis. KBA recipient Fruteland Jackson helped kick off its school efforts in
2002, and its most recent programs were
with KBA recipient Michael “Hawkeye”
Herman. These two performers have done
more school programs for the society than
have any other artists. Since its inception,
the society has completed 122 programs
and reached over 38,000 students. From
the beginning, it has published a newsletter with news, reviews, radio playlists, and
upcoming events. Today, that newsletter
is published in full color and is delivered
to over 500 recipients. The society’s main
fund-raising efforts have been through
blues festivals. The Byron Crossroads
Blues Festival has been held each August
for the past four years, and the society
added a second major event last year, the
Field of Blues Festival in Loves Park, Illinois. The society is also actively involved
with fund-raising for entities such as the
Music Maker Relief Foundation, hurricane
relief efforts, and individual contributions to musicians in need of medical
aid. In 2007 the society was awarded the
Rockford Area Music Industry Award as
the best community outreach group.
Art
risten Craven Barnard
C
Senatobia, Mississippi
Cristen Barnard began as an artist at age
4, and has grown to be a major illustrator
of blues festival posters since her first in
1997 for the King Biscuit Festival. Since
then, she has supplied the posters for
six more King Biscuit Festivals. She has
also supplied the art for the Notodden
Blues Festival (four times), the Highway
61 Blues Festival (ten), Clarksdale’s Juke
Joint Festival (seven), the Sunflower River
Blues and Gospel Festival (four), Haney’s
Big House Ferriday Music Festival (three),
the Mississippi Development Authority’s
K EEP I NG T H E B LUES AL I V E
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Road Trip tours (three), the Natchez Art
and Soul Festival, Charleston’s Gateway
to the Delta Festival, and the Pinetop
Perkins Homecoming. In addition, Barnard designed the famous Railroad Park
murals of W.C. Handy and Sonny Boy
Williamson in downtown Tutwiler, as well
as murals in Helena, Leland, Batesville,
and Ruleville, and a huge hanging mural
for Notodden’s 25th anniversary. She is
perhaps best known for her painting of
the legendary “Deal at the Crossroads.”
Blues Club
Kingston Mines
Chicago, Illinois
For 45 years, Kingston Mines has been
one of the premier destinations to experience the blues in Chicago. Founded in
1968 by “Doc” Pellegrino, this family business has become a landmark on the Near
North Side. Early on, Pellegrino, who was
known for his many innovations over the
years, set up two stages: when one band
takes a break, the other band jumps into
action, keeping the music going constantly
throughout the evening. Over the decades,
Kingston Mines has featured blues legends such as B.B. King and Koko Taylor.
These days, any given month will feature
the likes of Joanna Connor, Billy Branch,
Carl Weathersby, John Primer, Eddie Shaw,
Demetria Taylor, Nellie “Tiger” Travis, and
many more great artists. With a reputation
for some of the best late-night barbeque
in the city, Kingston Mines is open for several hours after most Chicago clubs have
closed (until 5 a.m. on Saturdays), making it a perfect destination for blues fans
to let the good times roll … all night long!
Education
Tas Cru
Chaumont, New York
For over 20 years, Tas Cru has been developing and conducting activities ranging
from teaching about the blues and its
history to teaching people how to play
and enjoy the blues. In that time, Cru and
his various programs have reached over
18,000 students in 12 states. His model is
simple: before he embarks on a program,
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he works with individual teachers to better
assess the needs of their students as he
tailors his presentation. Thus his unique
approach can fit into almost any school
curriculum from Language Arts to Social
Studies to Music. He has also funded the
production of his children’s CD, Even Bugs
Sing the Blues. Teacher Lindsay Wilbanks
summed up the numerous endorsements:
“I can say that Mr. Cru’s presentation was
the most age appropriate and engaging
presentation to date. He had students
dancing, singing, and thinking about how
the blues genre relates to their lives.”
Festival - International
luesCazorla
B
Cazorla, Spain
For 20 years, the BluesCazorla festival
has brought the finest blues performers to
play on four stages around this tiny town.
Located three hours south of Madrid,
Cazorla features master classes and meetand-greets, augmented by shows in the
Plaza of Santa Maria, the Municipal Auditorium, and the town’s historic bull ring,
where most of the headliners perform.
Imagine Johnny Winter, Mavis Staples, Jimmie Vaughan, Rod Piazza, Charlie Musselwhite, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Buddy
Guy, Koko Taylor, Solomon Burke, and so
many others performing in the center of
a bull ring. Talk about growth – during the
first 10 years, the festival featured four
or five bands; in 1998, it began to hire
international musicians; for its 10th year,
it presented John Mayall, Buddy Guy, Rod
Piazza, Otis Grand, and Sista Monica; and
the 2013 edition of the festival featured
over 30 bands and welcomed more than
25,000 visitors during its three-day run.
Festival - U.S.
ississippi Valley
M
Blues Festival
Davenport, Iowa
This summer is the 30th anniversary of
the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. It
has become one of the longest-running,
most prestigious blues festivals in the
world. Held on the shore of the Mississippi River, this event features music on
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two outdoor stages and educational presentations in both an indoor workshop
space and an outdoor tent area used for
BlueSKool and children’s presentations.
The festival is always held as close to July
4th as possible. Four different times, the
festival has moved due to river flooding,
and usually with only a week’s notice, but
each time, festival organizers and volunteers have been up to the task. In 1995
the festival inaugurated its RiverRoad
Award to honor the true legends of the
blues, beginning with Honeyboy Edwards.
Thus far, 36 men and women have been
so honored. In 2013 the festival was the
recipient of the Quad cities Convention
& Visitors Bureau’s Hospitality Award.
Film, Television & Video
Stefan Grossman
Sparta, New Jersey
Though he may be best known as a major
player in the folk and country blues revival
of the 1960s, Stefan Grossman is being
honored for the films he has made available through his Guitar Workshop series.
Grossman began to acquire concert
footage of the old blues and country artists who had been rediscovered in the
1960s and had often made TV appearances. This became the basis for Vestapol Videos, which edited and reissued
the footage. It was a breakthrough for
younger guitarists to be able to watch
Big Bill Broonzy, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Rev.
Gary Davis, and many others long after
those players had died. Vestapol DVDs
rapidly expanded to include concert footage of living artists, too. Today the Vestapol and Guitar Workshop instructional
catalog numbers well over 200 DVDs,
with many archival films presenting legends of the genre up close and personal.
Guitar Workshop mails worldwide from
its bases in New Jersey and Yorkshire.
Historical Preservation
George Mitchell
Fort Myers, Florida
From the 1960s until the 1980s, George
Mitchell traveled throughout the South
and recorded blues musicians such as
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Jessie Mae Hemphill, Fred McDowell,
Johnny Woods, George Henry Bussey, Jim
Bunkley, Charlie Burse, Will Shade, Gus
Cannon, Joe Callicott, John Lee Ziegler,
Jimmy Lee Williams, Furry Lewis, Houston
Stackhouse, R.L. Burnside, and Sleepy
John Estes. His first recordings, in 1962,
included Lewis, Cannon, Shade, and others in Memphis. Over the years, more
than 100 of Mitchell’s field recordings
have been released on labels such as
Arhoolie, Flyright, Rounder, Fat Possum,
and others to critical acclaim. In addition,
Mitchell has written three books about
his experiences and his field recordings.
His photographs of blues musicians from
Tennessee, Georgia, Chicago, Mississippi, and Alabama are well known and
acclaimed, and his photographs of Mississippi Hill Country blues musicians
have been exhibited at the Mississippi
Museum of Art and at other locations.
International
The Royal Mail Hotel
Goodna, Queensland, Australia
The Royal Mail Hotel, established in
the 1840s as a classic Australian pub,
and owner Andrew Café have a wonderful history of providing live blues every
week for the past 26 years. The hotel has
become one of the best establishments
in Australia for roots and blues music.
When he was asked about the Royal
Mail Hotel, an exchange student from
Down Under answered, “That’s where
people go to hear the blues.” Though it
may at first have the feel of a typical Aussie pub, once the music starts, the vibe
becomes that of a Mississippi juke joint.
Journalism
Gene Tomko
L afayette, Louisiana
Gene Tomko started out as a photographer capturing images of the blues artists
he so admired more than 20 years ago
when the blues resurgence of the ’80s
and ’90s was in full swing, traveling often
to Chicago, Mississippi, New Orleans, and
other notable hot spots. His work began
appearing in various blues magazines, and
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in time he became a regular contributor
to Living Blues. His images also appeared
in Juke Blues, DownBeat, Jefferson, Soul
Bag, and other publications worldwide.
Eventually he was not only photographing
the artists, but also writing about them.
Then after tracking down long-disappeared bluesman Billy “The Kid” Emerson,
Tomko started his Lost Blues Files column
for Living Blues, in which he sets out to
locate and pay tribute to musicians who
have either fallen off the radar or mysteriously vanished from the blues and soul
world, such as Ironing Board Sam, Charlie Whitehead, Cousin Leroy, and Leroy
Washington. In 2006 he co-authored the
book Black Hoboes & Their Songs with
Paul Garon. His writing and photography have appeared in many books, CD
and LP releases, and documentaries,
and he continues to rack up the mileage
chasing and documenting the blues.
Literature
Gerard Herzhaft
Lyon, France
Gerard Herzhaft’s Encyclopedia of the
Blues should be an essential addition to
every fan’s bookshelf. It was first published in 1979 in Europe, but after many
long trips to the United States, Herzhaft
revised his book and released it in the
U.S. through the University of Arkansas
Press. The book includes alphabetical
listing of performers, a discography, and
20 pages that trace the origins of blues
standards. This encyclopedia has also
been translated into German, Czech,
and Spanish. But Herzhaft has written
much more. He has penned over 1,000
articles since 1971 on blues history and
music, published in nearly every blues
and music publication here and abroad.
He has written many essays on American
music, as well as three blues-themed
novels, all of which have been translated into English, and has won several
literary awards in France. His Le Blues
has been translated into Portuguese,
Romanian, and Turkish, thus spreading
the blues to millions of new readers and
listeners. Finally, Herzhaft participated
as a consultant from 1980 to 1992 in
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the creation of the Center for Southern
Studies at the University of Mississippi.
Manager
arcia Weaver
M
J
ackson, Mississippi
When Marcia Weaver became Dorothy
Moore’s manager in the late 1990s,
Moore had virtually quit the music business. Weaver helped Moore through
legal issues regarding her royalties,
and in 2002 helped her set up her own
record label, Farish Street Records of
Mississippi, for which Moore has now
recorded four CDs. Thanks to Weaver’s
tireless promotion of Moore, the singer
of “Misty Blue” is on at least six Mississippi Trail Markers, was inducted into the
Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, and
received the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Monterey Bay Blues
Festival. At the same time, Weaver has
been largely responsible for Moore’s
appearances across the United States,
South America, Canada, South Africa,
and Europe. In 2006 she helped Moore
publish a children’s book, Little Dorothy.
Photography
Dick Waterman
Oxford, Mississippi
If, as Rod Stewart famously sang, “Every
picture tells a story,” then Dick Waterman has both the pictures and stories
of the blues. As an agent and manager
in the 1960s, Waterman and his Avalon
Productions directed the careers of Son
House, Fred McDowell, Mississippi John
Hurt, Skip James, and nearly every other
prewar bluesman still performing. He
brought Junior Wells and Buddy Guy out
of Chicago, and he met Bonnie Raitt as
an 18-year-old college girl and managed
her for many years. At the same time,
Waterman actively photographed these
legends and many others throughout
the 1960s. His work chronicling events
in Greenwich Village, the Newport Folk
Festivals, and many other events is featured in his book, Between Midnight and
Day. Those stunning black and white
pictures, along with Waterman’s intimate
H 75
personal recollections of every performer,
are part of each lecture he gives. Waterman continues to share space in festival photo pits around the world, and
serves as a mentor to every blues lover.
Producer
Tom Hambridge
Nashville, Tennessee
Though Tom Hambridge has played drums
with Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Buddy
Guy, and Roy Buchanan and on countless award-winning albums, and has had
over 300 of his own songs recorded since
2000, few people have produced as many
critically acclaimed records. The industry
first took note when he produced Susan
Tedeschi’s Just Won’t Burn in 1998. Since
then, Hambridge has produced records
by Johnny Winter, George Thorogood,
Steve Cropper, Joe Louis Walker, James
Cotton, Quinn Sullivan, and many others.
His most notable work has been producing the last four records by Buddy Guy,
including the 2011 Grammy-winning
Living Proof and Guy’s current 2013
release, Rhythm & Blues. Hambridge’s
philosophy as a producer is not to look
at his record collection and pick out 12
songs that would be cool to have the artist record; rather, he strives to create a
new record for the artist so that others
will want to cover the songs in the future.
Promoter
yron Mu
M
San Francisco, California
For 30 years, Myron Mu has booked bands
to perform seven nights a week at his
iconic San Francisco club, the Saloon.
That might add up to more than 10,000
shows. And then factor in the fact that
most days there are two bands playing,
one performing an afternoon show while
the other handles the evening music. People may come to the Saloon because of
its history; musicians play there because
of Mu, who has booked artists such as
Johnny Ace, Tommy Castro, Cathy Lemons, Nick Gravenities, and many others.
According to Steve Freund, “Rather than
having to make phone calls to book a
H 77
show months in advance, Myron calls you
each month. This is practically unheard of
in this day and age, and harkens back to
the days when musicians were appreciated and treated fairly.” This is a lesson
every promoter should take to heart.
Publicist
Frank Roszak
North Hills, California
Though he has over 25 years of producing and engineering experience, Frank
Roszak began his promotional work in
2004 as director of marketing and promotions for Delta Groove Records, where he
was directly responsible for coordinating
all aspects of Delta Groove and Eclecto
Groove artists’ relations with media
and radio outlets. In 2011 he founded
Frank Roszak Promotions, dedicated
to supporting deserving artists in both
recordings and touring. His tireless work
has garnered his clients’ publicity in all
the major blues publications here and
abroad – Guitar Player, Goldmine, DownBeat – as well as in USA Today, the New
York Times, and many, many others. In
addition, Roszak has secured top radio
positioning for his clients with Sirius XM,
Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Living Blues Charts, House of Blues Radio,
Music Choice and Galaxie. The clients
he has served since 2011 number more
than 60 and include Big Bill Morganfield,
Sugar Blue, Hans Theessink, J.P. Soars,
Victor Wainwright, and many others.
Radio - Commercial
Jerry Schaefer
East Islip, New York
Jerry Schaefer has presented the only
commercial blues radio program in the
New York City/Long Island area for more
than a decade. His show, Graveyard Blues,
is featured on WRCN 103.9 FM on Sundays from 10 p.m. to midnight. In addition
to playing blues records, Schaefer also
has conducted in-studio interviews with,
and featured live performances by, the
likes of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Robert Cray, as well as local NYC blues acts.
In conjunction with his 100th program,
H 79
in 2004, Schaefer organized the first
ever Graveyard Blues Festival, which
has become an annual late-spring event
raising money for local charities and the
Suffolk County Make-A-Wish chapter.
Radio - Public
arry Lisk
L
St. Petersburg, Florida
Now in his 16th year hosting Mo Blues
Monday on Tampa’s WMNF 88.5 FM, a
70,000-watt community radio station,
Larry Lisk has made his show the definitive place for west-central Florida blues
lovers to get their weekly fix of music,
information, and commentary. On the
show, Lisk emphasizes the diversity of
the blues, from its roots to classic blues
to current performers. Introducing new
artists to his faithful audience is a show
mainstay, along with the popular Blues
Goodie Bag, which has put more than
1,200 CDs, tickets and other bluesrelated items in the hands of his listeners.
When not on the air, Lisk is the emcee
for area festivals such as the Tampa Bay,
Clearwater, and Sarasota blues festivals,
and can generally be found where blues
music is playing. In addition, he was a cofounder of the Suncoast Blues Society and
served as president from 1997 to 2005.
Record Label
tony Plain Records
S
E
dmonton, Alberta
Stony Plain Records was co-founded by
Holger Petersen and Alvin Jahns 38 years
ago. As Canada’s oldest independent
blues label, Stony Plain has released
over 350 records of both Canadian and
American blues and roots artists such
as Eric Bibb, Rory Block, Downchild,
Ronnie Earl, Amos Garrett, Jeff Healey,
MonkeyJunk, Maria Muldaur, Duke Robillard, Joe Louis Walker, and Kenny “Blues
Boss” Wayne. In addition, Stony Plain has
released music by legends such as Long
John Baldry, Rosco Gordon, Jay McShann,
Jimmy Witherspoon, and Lowell Fulson.
As a testament to the quality of its recordings, Stony Plain has had six Grammy
nominations as well as many Blues Music
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Award nominations, with almost a dozen
wins. This small, independent label, which
emphasizes quality over quantity, provides
its artists with a stable business environment. At the center of this consistency is
the tone set by its dedicated founders.
Special Committee Award
Blue Star Connection
Winter Park, Colorado
Since its beginning in 2005, the mission
of Blue Star Connection has been to help
medically fragile children and teens. The
organization was born when John Catt of
the Grand County Blues Society asked
a 17-year-old with two inoperable brain
tumors if he played music. “I asked Colin if
he’d play an electric guitar if he had one,
and he said yeah. I asked him what color
he’d want, and his mom said, ‘It has to
be blue like his eyes.’” Two weeks later,
Catt was sitting in a Radio Shack when
a guy came in with a blue Ibanez electric
guitar to donate to Blues in the Schools.
Catt delivered it to Colin, and an idea took
hold. Since then, Blue Star Connection has
placed musical instruments in the hands
of hundreds of children with life-challenging conditions, as well as with the music
therapy departments of more than 25
children’s hospitals across the country. In
the past five years, instruments have been
donated to St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital in Memphis, Lurie Children’s
Hospital in Chicago, and the new Mott
Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Best
FaceBook Blues
ittle Joe
L
Self-Produced
McLerran
CD
Blues Society
of Tulsa
Keep on Jukin
Blues
Prophets
Maine Blues
Society
2014 Finalists
Blues & Trouble
Grand
Marquis
Topeka Blues
Society
Monday Night
The CD
Woodbury
Band
W
ashington
Blues Society
Account to Me
ank
H
Mowery
West Michigan
Blues Society
Past Best Self-Produced CDs
2005 Crazy, Cryin’ Blues by Robin Rogers and
Silver Bird by Collard Greens & Gravy (tie)
In 2005, The Blues
Foundation introduced the
Best Self-Produced CD
(BSPCD) contest as another
way to celebrate up-andcoming artists. Where the
IBC has been the measure
of excellence for a band’s
live performance, the BSPCD
title honors musicians that
have achieved excellence
in the studio. Moreover, in
addition to complementing
the live component of the
International Blues Challenge
weekend, this contest further
emphasizes the critical role
of affiliated societies in the
Blues world. In order to support and foster the local blues
society, BSPCD entries are
permitted by affiliated blues
societies only. The CDs are
evaluated on: (1) musical performance; (2) audio quality;
(3) cover art and design; and
(4) credits and liner notes.
Prize Package Includes
2006 Back in Bluesville by Roxy Perry
2007 We are Mighty Lester by Mighty Lester Band
++ Personalized Plaque
2008 Sophisticated Ladies by Sue Palmer &
Her Motel Swing Orchestra
++ $750 cash
2009 Hollerin’ by Nathan James & Ben Hernandez
2010 Crime Scene Queen by The Informants and
Fire it Up! by Laurie Morvan Band (tie)
2011 Get Inside This House by Joe McMurrian
2012 Where I’m Coming From by Dave Keller
2013 Solo Recordings by Steve Hill
++ Airplay on: Sirius XM Satellite
Radio’s B.B. King’s Bluesville;
Music Choice, your cable and
satellite TV Blues channel;
Blues Breaker status on The
House of Blues Radio Show with
Elwood Blues; and other radio
shows hosted by our deejay
judges around the country.
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2013 IBC Band Winner H Representing The Suncoast Blues Societ y
IBC
Win
Unlocks Doors
By Selwyn Birchwood
was very difficult, if not impossible, to get
out-of-town work. Since our win, I have noticed
a significant increase in interest and demand
for the band. I would not say that doors have
been blown open by the IBC win, but it has
definitely unlocked or cracked open doors
that were formerly slammed shut. It is up to
the band or individual to make the most of
the Blues Foundation stamp of approval that
goes along with winning the competition. It is
a very competitive landscape, and the benefits
ph o t o s b y jen tay l o r / sc o tt allen - vividpix . c o m
It’s hard to believe that a year has already
passed since our International Blues
Challenge win in 2013. The IBC has proved
to be a great launching pad and opportunity
for the band and myself. In the months since
our win, we have played in almost 50 different cities outside our home state of Florida,
and logged 40,000 miles on our vehicle.
Although the band was already performing
at a handful of blues fests and doing some
light touring prior to the win in Memphis, it
101
of an IBC win can be limitless if the band
is willing and able to take advantage of it.
I am still shocked at the depth of the
International Blues Challenge’s reach.
It seems as though there are people in
every city and venue who either saw our
set at the Blues Challenge or have a friend
who spoke of it. The vast majority of blues
lovers all over the country are definitely
familiar with the competition. I can’t express enough what a great opportunity
it can be for a band. Although emphasis
is inherently placed on winning, simply
attending and competing is a great way
for a band to promote itself and be heard.
2013 marked the third time that my
band competed in Memphis. I repeatedly
entered the competition because regardless of the results, I was able to make
contacts with highly influential buyers,
promoters, record labels, etc. Every trip to
Memphis resulted in shows and contacts
that we might never have received through
any other means. Our win has allowed us
to fully capitalize on these opportunities.
I believe that our band is a good
example of how much the IBC can do for a
band. Now, almost a year later, show offers are still coming to us both directly and
indirectly due to the win. It has been like
night and day in comparison to my prior
experiences with booking. I’m very thankful that this kind of opportunity is available
to bands, and very blessed to have come
out of it with the winning edge. I wish
this year’s bands and fans all the best!
~ Selwyn Birchwood
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w w w. b l u e s . o r g
2 0 1 3 IB C Solo/D u o W i n n e r H Re p re s e n ti n g T h e A t lan t a B lue s S o c ie t y
IBC
ph o t o s b y jen tay l o r / sc o tt allen - vividpix . c o m
The Fun
& the
Dream
By Little G Weevil
I first visited Memphis in 2005 because
of the IBC. That atmosphere absolutely
blew me away, so I ended up moving to
Memphis a few months later. With these
few words I just said everything.
The International Blues Challenge is
so much fun regardless of whether you
are a competitor or a fan. There is no
other blues gathering on the planet like
this one. For nearly a week I’m surrounded
by thousands of fellow blues lovers and
musicians from all over the world. In the
morning I have breakfast with the Suitcase
Brothers from Spain and folks from Finland.
Around lunchtime I might bump into Anson
Funderburgh and, while I’m shaking his
hand, see Bob Margolin walking by with a
huge smile on his face. I look left and there
is Shakura S’Aida, look right and see John
Németh just hanging out. Then the music
starts and never stops until next morning.
For fans it is a festival; for musicians it
is a competition. Each and every musician
tries to be on the top of the game. It is very
exciting. I’m very happy that I entered last
year, not only because I won the solo/duo
H 109
category but because it was really fun. As
far as winning, this is a good opportunity
that can give your career a big push—the
push you have been dreaming of. Go
for it. I’m happy and proud that I did.
Although I had some success with
my previous work, the title “IBC solo winner” has helped my career a lot. About a
month after winning the challenge I signed
up with a booking agency. Another two
weeks went by and I had a record label.
My new album was released in July 2013
on VizzTone. I immediately hit the road to
support the album. Since the competition
I have performed in many states and
three countries overseas. Late in 2013
the second part of my album tour took
me to Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and,
as I write this, the Legendary Rhythm &
Blues Cruise. When I get off the cruise
ship I will switch to an airplane and fly to
France and Spain for a two-week tour.
This is all happening because of the
IBC, without doubt. However, earlier I used
the word “opportunity” because nothing
comes easy, and you still have to work
hard. But with this title in your pocket,
doors will open if you keep doing the right
thing. It did happen for me, and I could
not be more grateful. Now it’s all on me; I
have to give it back to the community by
keeping on making good blues music.
A giant thanks to The Blues
Foundation for giving me a chance, to
the Galaxie Agency for the previous
tour, to Blue Eyed Promotions for future
tours, to VizzTone Label Group for the
album, and to all the blues fans for their
support and love. God bless you all.
~ Little G. Weevil
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w w w. b l u e s . o r g
In its fourth year, The Blues
Foundation’s Generation Blues
scholarship program was able
to offer $15,000 in scholarships
to more than 15 young Blues
musicians in 2013.
scholarship recipients share their Generation Blues experience
Darryn Azevedo,
14 (Fernando Jones’
Blues Camp). “When I
attended my first Blues
Camp three years ago
I was a beginner on
the keys and an average singer. With the
mentoring from Mr.
Jones and his musician teachers, and my
passion to study and
practice the blues,
I feel very comfortable performing on
stage and engaging
the audience. In addition, I also learned to
work with other musicians in an ensemble
and improve my
leadership and team
building skills.”
Roman BartenSherman, 10 (Port
Townsend Acoustic
Blues Festival and
Workshop). “As usual
the teachers and
environment were
magnificent, but the
thing that set it apart
from other years was
the participation of
younger people. There
were over a dozen
youths, each with a
different but strong
interest in the blues.
Every single one of
them was participating
in porch jams, classes,
and band labs.”
Savanna Coen, 14
(Port Townsend). “I
took two different
vocal classes and
a variety of guitar
classes, and learned
so much in each
of them! All of the
instructors were so
kind, supportive, and
always willing to help.
I also got to participate in the under-21
band labs, where I
got to jam with musicians my age. The
entire camp was like
a huge, friendly community who all shared
the same joy and passion of the blues.”
Michael Czubaj, 13
(Sean Carney’s Camp
Blues). “Camp Blues
taught me how to work
with my competition.
We did have a conflict
on songs, but in the
end it worked out.
I met new people. I
would like to thank all
of the staff that helped
me succeed in that
camp and I hope to
do it again next year.”
Carson Diersing,
15 (Pinetop Perkins
Master Class Youth
Workshop). “I learned
so much from my
harmonica instructor
Gary Allegretto, not
only about how to play
harmonica, but how
to conduct myself as
a professional musician. Our class took
a field trip to Helena
and participated
in Sunshine Sonny
Payne’s “King Biscuit
Time.” Being able to
meet, work with and
develop friendships
with other kids who
have a passion and
appreciation for the
blues makes the experience very rewarding!”
Matthew Fyke, 14
(Fernando Jones).
“To give us real stage
experience at real
blues venues, Mr.
Jones arranged for us
to perform at Reggie’s
Music Joint and
House of Blues. As a
drummer, I had the
opportunity to attend
a workshop taught by
Mr. Frank Donaldson,
who is an expert
Columbia College
instructor of drums
and percussions. He
taught me some new
sticking technique
that I was not familiar
with. The most rewarding thing for me was
meeting and playing
with other young talented musicians.”
Ian Matthew
Harper, 15 (Sean
Carney). “At the beginning of camp I was
introduced to my drum
instructor who used
different exercises to
teach me and my fellow students the music
we needed to learn for
the week. At the end
of each day we would
perform our songs in
front of our instructors and they would
give us feedback on
our playing and how
to make it sound better. They would also
help us with stage
presence and how
to get the audience
into the music. At
the end of the week
The Camp Blues students performed at
The Creekside Jazz
and Blues Festival
in Gahanna, Ohio.
We were on a main
stage in front of
a large crowd.
GENERA T I ON B LUES
H 117
Michael Kavchak & Fernando Jones
Bear Hutchinson,
17 (Pinetop Perkins). “I
spent three days playing blues piano with
people from all over
the world. We stayed
in a sharecropper’s
cabin at the Shack Up
Inn and jammed in the
Hopson Commissary,
both incredible experiences. I visited the
Blues Museum in
Clarksdale where our
Master Class had a
private reception. And
of course, I went to
the Crossroads. The
highlight was playing
at Ground Zero Blues
Club where I got to jam
along side our phenomenal teachers.”
Michael Kavchak,
14 (Fernando Jones).
“I was able to attend
the camp, along with
115 other kids from
across the U.S.A.,
including one other
Canadian. One of
the biggest thrills of
making music is performing in front of a
live audience. On the
third day we went for
lunch to Reggie’s Rock
Club and got a chance
to perform on stage.
However, the highlight
of the camp was the
showcase performance at the House
of Blues venue at the
end of the week.”
Micah Kesselring,
20 (Port Townsend)
“This year I focused
on improving my
Piedmont and ragtime
guitar playing abilities,
so I attended almost
all of Mary Flower’s
and Lightnin’ Wells’
classes, which were
tremendously inspiring
and highly valuable.
I also participated
in Maria Woodford’s
vocals classes, which
helped me to better
understand critical
vocal warm ups and
techniques. I was
very happy to teach a
handful of older and
younger participants
some Blind Blake &
Charlie Patton tunes,
as well as some slide
guitar techniques,
which was new to
me, but something I
would love to do more
of in the future.”
Jake Kulak, 13
(Pinetop Perkins).
“Bob Margolin taught
us how to interact in
Bear Hutchinson and Daryl Davis
a band setting, and
I learned many techniques that I can apply
to my guitar playing.
Every night there was
a jam at the Hopson
Commissary where
the musicians learned
so much from each
other and on the final
night we played at the
Ground Zero Blues
Club. This experience
has made me a better
musician and inspired
my love of the blues. “
Cole Layman,
15 (Berklee Guitar
Sessions). “My experience at Berklee is one
of my most cherished
music experiences. I
aspire to go to Berklee
when I graduate from
high school so the
opportunity to live on
campus for a week
was amazing. The
atmosphere, making
awesome new friends,
jamming every night
until 3:00 in the morning, going to all the
concerts; it all was a
complete blast. I spent
days in the same room
as unbelievable guitarists my age from
around the world that
share my passion for
the blues. We had
the most entertaining, amazing, cool
and kind teachers you
can possibly have.
Logan Layman, 12
(Fernando Jones).
Logan was also
offered an opportunity to go to Chicago
in early June to open
up the Chicago Blues
Festival - opening for
Shemekia Copeland
(Logan’s favorite!) on
opening night with 4
other “Blues Kids”
from across the country. After all of this,
Logan was named
“Blues Kid of the
Year” by Fernando
Jones’ Blues Camp.
“I am truly blessed
to have been giving
the opportunities that
I took advantage of
this past summer.”
Alissa GattusoChesis, 20
(Pinetop Perkins).
Brady Geilenfeldt,
13 (Fernando Jones).
The Blues Foundation again will be awarding scholarships for 2014 summer camps.
Participation is open to anyone under the age of 21. Applications are available at
blues.org and must be received on or before April 1, 2014. Please consider helping a
young blues performer by making a donation to Generation Blues.
GENERA T I ON B LUES
H 119
11 Mile Band
Pikes Peak Blues
Community
One of Colorado Springs’ most
popular blues acts, 11 Mile
Band features California native
Jeremy Vasquez, who has been
playing in clubs since he was
14, has performed across the
country, and has been in
Colorado since 2000. He was
influenced by his father, fellow
band member Richard Vasquez,
who has been playing guitar for
more than 40 years. Bryant
Jones, one of the best
Hammond organ players anywhere, learned chords from his
father but is mostly self-taught.
Noel McFarlane, who began
playing bass professionally as a
teenager, adds a modern twist
to the band’s old-style blues.
And drummer Dennis McCarthy,
who hails from Chicago, provides extraordinary blues stylings, grooves, and shuffles.
A Different
Shade of Blue
Spawned from a small town
deep in southern Mississippi,
this band has followed its
members’ dreams. Tom Penton
is the front man for this
dynamic blues band, and he will
tell you that the journey of a
musician never ends. With
Jimmy Burge on bass, Josh
Jones on drums, and Wayne
Penton on rhythm guitar, they
embrace a blues style all their
own. The result is a truly entertaining live show. It is not necessarily old-school blues or
modern blues, but somewhere
in between – hence A Different
Shade of Blue.
Alex Wilson Band
Crossroads Blues
Society of Illinois
A 2011 and 2013 IBC finalist
and five-time Wisconsin Area
Music Industry award winner,
Alex calls Milwaukee home but
has played across the U.S. and
Canada, including Milwaukee’s
Summerfest and the Montreal
Jazz Festival, and in countries
such as China and France.
These well-seasoned, versatile
musicians effortlessly play a
wide array of tasty originals and
vintage classics. Alex’s atypical
playing style hits a contemporary vein kissed by a ’60s subculture influence while keeping
a strong foothold in the blues
genre. His unmistakable guitar
style and vocal expression,
woven with the band’s love-toplay energy, put this music in a
class of its own.
Annie Mack
With a powerful voice, a strong
presence, and captivating storytelling ability, Annie is a force to
be reckoned with. Raised in
musically rich North Minneapolis, in a neighborhood she
describes as “tough, interesting, and old-school,” Annie cultivated her early childhood
experiences to develop into an
exceptional singer, songwriter,
and performer. A devoted student of the blues, Annie follows
in the footsteps of the legendary blues women, making a
genuine connection with her
audiences and upholding the
tradition of testifying about the
experiences of life. Backed by a
strong cast of seasoned Minnesota musicians, Annie never
fails to thrill audiences with her
soulful and alluring style.
Anthony & the
Conqueroos
Blue Ridge Blues Society
Formed in July 2012, Anthony
and the Conqueroos have
quickly made a name on the
BANDS H 125
local and national blues scenes.
The band mixes its blues with
heavy doses of funk, rock, and
jam-band influences, and
blends these elements into a
gumbo that is heavily steeped
in the blues tradition. Live performances flow from straightahead Delta blues through ’60s
Bay Area jams into Crescent
City second-line funk. With a
band of musicians this diverse
you can cover a lot of ground,
but they also write strong songs
with instrumental hooks and
lyrics that speak with emotion
and depth. If funky guitar-driven
blues with old-school harp is
your thing, this is your new
favorite band.
Arsen
Shomakhov Band
Canadian guitarist, songwriter,
and singer Arsen Shomakhov, a
Maple Blues Awards nominee,
is an electric blues performer
truly dedicated to the style’s
roots yet never hesitating to
borrow means of expression
from other genres. He established himself as a bluesdevoted virtuoso musician in
his native Russia, making it to
the IBC in 2005 and winning
the new-talent contest at the
King Biscuit Blues Festival in
2007. Reviews of his albums
released in the U.S. said they
were remarkable for their tonal
variety, inventive rhythms, and
fleet-fingered, creative guitar
solos. A truly international artist, Arsen continues to perform
at blues festivals throughout
Europe, the U.S., and Canada.
126 H
BANDS
Back Pack Jones
Prairie Crossroads
Blues Society
Within a year of the band’s
formation in 2012, this talented
group of central Illinois musicians was turning heads on
Memphis’ Beale Street and had
festival crowds singing along to
its original song “Riptide Baby.”
The addition of an elite horn
section upped the musical ante
and is reflected in the band’s
debut CD, Betsy’s Kitchen.
Their original and versatile
musical style is an inspiring and
high-energy mixture of traditional, swing, and soulful blues
guaranteed to please fans of all
tastes. Blues is about life’s
challenges, twists and turns,
joys and frustrations. Back Pack
Jones brings all of these emotions to blues fans through an
incredible, high-energy musical
package.
The Bacon Fats
Blues Association
of Geneva
harmonica player and vocalist
Jan Hartmann, guitar player
and vocalist Sleepy Eddie
James, bass player Tobias Wirz,
and drummer Lukas Meier. The
all-professional band was
founded in 2011. The same
year, it released an EP that was
well received. A couple of gigs
later, The Bacon Fats won the
2013 Swiss Blues Challenge.
Bad Brad &
the Fat Cats
Bad Brad and the Fat Cats are
a team of energetic, raw, fearless blues musicians who are
creating a name for themselves
in the business through their
dedication to serving the music.
Brad leads the group with powerful guitar playing and a voice
that demands attention! With
Nic Clark playing harmonica like
you’ve never heard it, and Alec
Stivers and Curtis Hawkins
forming an airtight rhythm section, this band is unstoppable!
It has been recognized as a
new force in the blues.
Bakin’Phat
The Bacon Fats is a rhythm-andblues, swing, surf, and roots
band. Their own blend of styles,
which they describe with the
term “hard swing blues,” is
unique. Bluesy, jazzy, swingy,
rocky, surfy, rocksteadyish – not
easy to get a descriptive grip
on. It’s certainly fresh and driving. The band includes
award-winning harp/guitar duo
of Dave Allen and Dennis
Higgins, backed by the powerhouse rhythm section of Ken
Danielson and Pat Potter, these
guys have quickly become
crowd favorites throughout
Washington state. With their
high-energy approach to jump
blues, they are a must-see!
Ben Rice & the
iLLamatics
Ben Rice and the iLLamatics
call their sound Roots, Rhythm,
and Grooves. Ben Rice leads
this group with his screaming
slide guitar and howling vocals,
while childhood friends Ryan
Rustrum and Alex McEntee
make a high-energy, rocking
rhythm section. Their music is
deeply rooted in various blues
traditions, and they are just as
much at home playing a backporch Delta blues as they are
swinging a West Coast jump.
Their performances are thrilling,
with cigar-box guitars and a
drummer who can play a groove
on anything. Ben Rice and the
iLLamatics is the band to catch
if you are concerned for the
future of this American art form.
Each song is an eloquent and
inventive display of mastery of
the blues vernacular.
Big Mike Aguirre
& the Blu-City
All-Stars
Since forming in early 2012,
Bakin’Phat has been thrilling
audiences throughout the
Pacific Northwest. With the
Big Mike began his career in
East St. Louis at the age of
19, playing under the tutelage of blues legends David
played the Grand Ole Opry more
than 55 times with the Farwell
Party Band.
Billy the Kid &
the Regulators
Dee, Big George Brock, and Boo
Boo Davis. In 2010 he founded
the Blu-City All-Stars. As the
name suggests, bassist Preston
Hubbard, drummer Benet
Schaeffer, keyboardist Matt
Murdick, and the funky-butt
brass tandem of Aaron
Chandler and Adam Hucke are
some of the baddest blues players in – and out of – St. Louis. A
gifted and soulful singer, Big
Mike channels the overdrive of
SRV and Luther Allison, but also
possesses a lyrical acuity that
shows how closely he has listened to Keith Richards and
Magic Sam. Together, this band
is headed to Memphis to represent the powerhouse of blues
and soul they call home.
Billion Dollar
Blues Band
Paris Blues Society
Blues Society of
They are a high-powered, guitardriven, horn-infused rhythmand-blues band based in
Pittsburgh. Lead singer Billy
Evanochko is widely known
across the Steel City for his
impassioned lyrics, seductive
vocals, and stinging guitar riffs.
He and his band, the
Regulators, deliver a well-balanced dose of funky rhythm
and blues, with heart and soul
being the main ingredients.
Playing countless clubs and
festivals throughout
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West
Virginia, the band has attracted
fans with its fresh mix and interpretation of the iconic R&B
experience.
BK Smith
Blues Band
This band is an upbeat blues
band that has been together for
four years playing clubs, blues
festivals, and casinos. The
rhythm section holds down a
tight groove while the keys,
guitar, and harmonica keep the
lead rides smoking, with Paul
Spencer on vocals wailing anything from low-down blues to an
upbeat, funky style that is all
their own. This band has been
onstage with America’s Got
Talent runner-up Cas Haley, and
bass player Staley Rogers has
Canada South
Blues Society
They are an up-tempo, highenergy blues quartet from
Windsor, Ontario. Fronted by
lead vocalist/harmonica player
Brian Smith, with his
BANDS H 127
guitar-playing brother Kevin and
the rock-solid rhythm section of
Phil Trudell on drums and Larry
Culnan on bass, the members
of the BK Smith band have
been spreading the news about
the blues in the Motor City area
for decades. These veteran
players lay it down with authority and attitude, and always hit
the stage with a blue-collar,
full-contact blues assault.
House-rockin’ Chicago and
swing style blues are always on
tap when the BK Smith boys are
in the building.
Blu Fonk
Blue Ruin is a blues trio from
New York made up of Scott
Ross (guitar/vocals), Al Levy
(bass/vocals), and Frank
Anstiss (drums/vocals). Scott
and Frank formed the band
in 1985, and Al joined the following year. They have been
performing in the tri-state
region ever since. The musical concept is complementary:
One for all and all for one. The
rhythm section is a bit more
involved in the improvisational
sections of songs than a traditional blues rhythm section. Al
and Frank have worked hard for
many years at making a tight
but fluid foundation for Scott to
improvise from. As a trio, their
dynamic sound ranges from full
to intimate – whatever mood
the composition calls for.
Blues Power
Band
Blu Fonk is a newly formed
group of veteran blues musicians from Oklahoma. Led by
drummer Walter Taylor III, the
group includes Oklahoma Blues
Hall of Fame inductee Sir
James Walker Sr., vocalist
Danny White, bassist Vernon
King, and saxophonist Larry
Banks. With over 200 years of
collective playing experience, a
new group with a fresh sound
came together and captivated
audiences with its standout
style. Blu Fonk has a statement
to make. Oklahoma has the
blues, and this band is taking it
to Memphis.
Blue Ruin
128 H
BANDS
France Blues
Blues Power Band (aka BPB) is
the most explosive band on the
French blues scene. They have
a strong reputation, forged in
the studios and onstage. In the
studio, after Shoot Shoot Don’t
Talk! (2007), Zee (2009), and
Where the Action Is (2010),
BPB recently released Dark
Room, acclaimed by the
European media as a masterpiece. In the past six years, they
have performed more than 600
shows in many famous Parisian
venues as well as at major
blues and rock festivals in
France, Europe, Canada, and
China. BPB has become the
benchmark in France when it
comes to performing extraordinary shows. Everyone salutes
the band’s energy and sense of
show. The U.K.’s Blues Matters!
calls BPB “French power blues
at its best!”
Blues Tonight
Band
and producer for Burks’ Make It
Rain. Richard Ferguson played
with Frank Frost, and Gary Getts
has been a stalwart of the Little
Rock blues scene for many
years. Bluesboy Jag and the
Juke Joint Zombies play blues
of all varieties including Hill
Country, Chicago, and early
20th-century blues.
Blues Tonight comes to Memphis from New England, with
members from Maine, New
Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Their original material
has shades of Howlin’ Wolf,
Buddy Guy, and Little Walter
mixed in with their own unique
touch. That touch has been
developed by the core members’ playing together over a
30-year period. With two guitars
featuring vastly different playing
styles, and a ripping harp player
backed by a rock-solid bass and
percussion team, the band
brings home a blend of traditional Chicago-style blues with a
truly modern touch.
Polish Blues Association
Bluesboy Jag
& the Juke
Joint Zombies
Arkansas River
Blues Society
Bluesboy Jag has been a guitar
instructor for 36 years. He was
an IBC competitor in the solo/
duo category in 2008 and
2009. He builds and plays his
own cigar-box guitars. The Juke
Joint Zombies have more than
100 combined years of blues
experience. Bassist Wightman
Harris was the executive producer on Michael Burks’ first
album, From the Inside Out,
Boogie Boys
of rocking, funky blues since
2007. Based out of Edmonton,
Alberta, it was nominated for a
Maple Blues Award in 2013.
The four-piece group consists of
“Rott’n” Dan on vocals and
harmonica, Japanese expat Yuji
Ihara providing guitar, Joey
McIntyre holding down the
groove on drums, and Nigel
Gale rounding out the sound on
bass. Boogie Patrol serves up a
highly energetic and dynamic
live show, all the while paying
respect to the blues and its
pioneers.
Boscoe France
Band
Since 2002 they have visited
almost all the continents. They
have released three albums. In
2009 the Boogie Boys were
finalists in the greatest blues
competition in the world, the
International Blues Challenge.
In 2010 and 2011 in a Blues
Top survey they were chosen
Band of the Year. Team leader
Bart Szopinski and other group
members have repeatedly been
named Pianist of the Year and
Instrumentalist of the Year.
Their latest album, Made in
Cali, was entirely produced in
the U.S.A., with fantastic guests
such as guitarist Ron
Thompson. In 2013 the album
was named Album of the Year
in a Blues Top poll.
Boogie Patrol
Making its second appearance
at the IBC, Boogie Patrol has
been presenting its heavy brand
The rich music traditions and
history of western Kentucky
continue in the music of the
talented Boscoe France. Boscoe has committed his life to
the blues music he loves, a
commitment that your soul can
feel in the raw energy of the
band’s original songs and classic arrangements. A guitardriven band, its roots are in
artists such as Freddie King,
Duane Allman, and Elmore
James. Flanked by bassist John
Gillespie and drummer Jimmy
Cummings, the band plays to
crowds throughout the Southeast, including at regional blues
festivals and opening for major
blues acts. The band is excited
about the release of a new live
CD, planned for early 2014. If
you love blues guitar, this is a
show you don’t want to miss!
Brad Absher &
Swamp Royale
The thrill of representing
Houston for the second consecutive year is alive and well for
these Gulf Coast musical masterminds. Let the reviews speak
for them: “Brad plays killer guitar with a voice that delivers
dead on”; “Masters of tone and
melody”; “They use Blues
Intelligence to create a unique,
uplifting style respecting the
masters.” Authentic and original, Swamp Royale is led by
Brad Absher, with five
acclaimed albums and electrifying performances worldwide.
The crowd-pleasing band is
composed of Houston’s finest,
with Barry Seelen on Hammond
B3, Anthony Terry on baritone
sax, Andy Saad on tenor sax,
and a righteous rhythm section
of Mike Patton and Ed Starkey.
Brat Pack
Philippine Blues Society
Brat Pack takes the various
threads of keyboard-based
blues and weaves them into a
high-energy fabric that has captivated the vibrant Manila blues
scene, performing in funky
back-alley blues bars and fivestar-hotel lounges. Its four
members – David de
Koenigswarter, bass; RJ Pineda,
keyboard; Xtine Mercado,
vocals; and Allan Abdulla,
BANDS H 129
Brooke Thomas
& the Blue Suns
drums – are all in their early
20s, and were encouraged to
explore music at early ages by
music-oriented families.
Together they are revolutionizing the conception of blues in
the Philippines with their fresh
and infectious performances.
Brenda Meyer
Band
Lake of the Ozarks
Blues Society
music borders three genres:
blues, rock, and soul. While it is
hard to categorize him, it isn’t
hard to distinguish him from
other artists, because he has a
style all his own.
Brick Fields &
the Chosen Ones
Ozark Blues Society of
Northwest Arkansas
The band from Springfield,
Missouri, will be making its
third appearance at the IBC this
year. Brenda, a longtime veteran musician and singer, has
played drums and sung lead
vocals. This year she will be
fronting the band after adding a
new female drummer so she
can focus on her vocals and
connect better with her audience. Brenda plays congas,
backed by her longtime guitarist
playing his favorite Firebird
guitar leads and slide. Brenda
loves a blues ballad, an uptempo shuffle, a minor-chord
progression, and a little hypnotic blend thrown in for good
measure. Four-part harmonies
top off the band’s sound.
Bret Bunton
Project
River City Blues
Society (Illinois)
From the moment Bret first
picked up a guitar, a fire was
lit deep inside of him. It’s a
fire that still rages today. He
pours his heart and soul into
every note and lyric with an
energy and explosiveness that
are simply unparalleled. His
130 H
BANDS
Arkansas has put out a lot of
solid music and artists who
have made their mark on this
world. Brick Fields is on its way
to sit with the best of them.
Brick Fields has the husbandwife team of Larry Brick of West
Memphis, Arkansas, on guitar,
and Rachel Fields of Pine Bluff,
Arkansas, on vocals. Add the
Chosen Ones – Jennifer Parker
of El Dorado, Arkansas, on
bass; Johnny Arredondo of
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, on
drums; Matt Jenkins of Rogers,
Arkansas, on keys; and Ben
Sass, all the way from Israel, on
harmonica – and you’ve got a
solid foundation to set their
soul-nourishing music on
course. The chemistry and
musicianship among them take
the listener on a journey
through emotions, as the best
of blues does.
Formed in Springfield, Illinois, in
2009, Brooke Thomas and the
Blue Suns have a unique sound
that mixes gospel and Chicago
and Memphis blues with
touches of soul, bluegrass, and
jazz. Lead vocalist and songwriter Brooke Thomas adds a
sultry feel, creating a perfect
balance of soul and blues.
Shayla Logan on saxophone
brings Chicago blues, jazz, and
unmatched stage presence.
Ezra Casey offers gospel, blues
and soul on keys, while Luke
Turasky plays Memphis blues
with a hint of bluegrass on lead
guitar. Dion Doss on drums and
Ian Grindstaff on bass guitar
carry creative rhythms. Adding
high energy is songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Mike
Burnett. Each member’s style
contributes to a captivating and
distinctive blues sound.
Carlos Elliot Jr.
& the Cornlickers
Colombian Blues Society
heritage found in ceremonial
music and dance. Sensitive to
the need to promote preservation of mother earth and cultural tradition, Carlos is an
activist who plays guitar and fife
as the Hill Country blues pioneer in South America. He has
lived the music, playing with
local blues legends in Delta
juke joints and backyard parties
in North Mississippi, where he
enriched his already diverse
Colombian cultural roots with
the deep spiritual feeling of
blues music. He is currently
promoting his latest record,
Mystic Juke Joint Blues, with his
U.S.-based band the
Cornlickers.
The Cazanovas
Charlotte Taylor
& Gypsy Rain
blues band. The Chain has
emerged as a fierce competitor
on the blues scene. Powerhouse vocals and soul-burning
musicianship will leave the
listener wanting more of this
contemporary blues band. The
Chain perform primarily original
music inspired by life events,
world events, and one-liners,
but they have been known to
play their own interpretations of
popular blues tunes! You won’t
want to miss seeing these crazy
Canucks perform!
The Charlley
Ward Band
This hard-driving band stays
true to the heart of the blues.
From Delta to postwar Chicago,
Texas to North Mississippi, the
band lays down a high-energy
brand of blues that will keep
you shouting for more. Maurice
Nazzaro welds his rich vocal
sound and drippy harp tone to
the fat and forceful guitar laid
down by Danny Vinson and the
grooving rhythm section of
Fernando Barreto on bass and
Pete Maier on drums. With the
relevant and true lyrics of their
originals, and with their profound feel for classic blues, they
will make you dig deep into your
soul and feel the blues in a
whole new way.
The Chain
Carlos is a Colombian bluesman inspired by Mississippi Hill
Country blues and the AfricanAmerican and Latino cultural
with Earl Sidbury, who had
recently retired after 40 years
with the Drifters. Earl joined
them. They won.
Northern Ontario, Canada, eh?
Not the first place you would
expect to find a hardworking
Blues performer and singersongwriter Charlotte Taylor
fronts this dynamic, original
blues band from Arkansas.
Taylor has been singing since
an early age, and her vocals
have been compared to those
of Etta James, Janis Joplin, and
Aretha Franklin. With influences
that cover the bases from blues
to rock to jazz, Taylor and company always entertain audiences with musicianship and
pure emotion.
Chaz Humley
& the Effects
Charlley Ward was standing in
the Rusty Nail saloon in Wilmington, North Carolina, having a
hissy fit. He had just heard that
his drummer and his other guitarist were not going to make it
to the Cape Fear Blues Challenge, and he was frustrated.
He wanted to play, to show the
New Piedmont blues he’d been
working on for the last 10 years.
He knew that he and his bassist, Charlie Hamlin, could pull it
off with a trio, but they had no
drummer. And to make things
worse, Ward couldn’t get the
bartender’s attention to get a
beer. But then she appeared
and asked, “Honey, what can I
get you?” He howled, “How
about a drummer?” She said, “I
think I can do that.” Two minutes later he was on the phone
Pomeroy Blues +
Jazz Society
Chaz Humley and the Effects,
from Teays Valley, West Virginia,
was born from the lifelong
desire of four men to play the
blues. The members all played
in R&B, jazz, and soul bands,
separately or in pairs, before
coming together in late 2009.
Scott Rogan and Jim Spence
grew up together, forming their
first band in 1964. Tim Coll and
Alan Handley first played music
together in the late 1960s.
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Years later, all four men walked
into Betty’s House of Blues and
their lives changed forever.
Their original music shows
they’ve taken the blues to
heart. Their CD, Only the Blues,
covers most genres of the blues
and pays homage to the masters who came before them.
Chaz Humley and the Effects:
Only the blues.
Clarence “The
Blues Man”
Turner Band
Southern California blues scene
in 2013, sporting scorching
performances of original music
firmly rooted in traditional
blues, which feels familiar but
somehow new. Blame Tommy
Marsh’s considerable
songwriting, vocal, and guitar
skills. Capitalizing on local
talent, Tommy and his brother
Paddy Marsh invited the
legendary Jimmy Calire on sax
and the deeply grooved, driving
rhythm section of Tony Cicero
on drums and Glade
Rasmussen on bass to join the
effort. The result is an
irresistible alchemy of veteran
experience, raw talent, and
enthralling original material.
Dan Doiron Band
The blues has been brewing
within the band for some time
now, and finally the seasoning
is just right and bursting with
flavor. Take some gritty guitar
mixed with blazing brass and
orchestrated organ, all simmering on top of some funky fresh
rhythm, and you get a band that
will keep an audience’s blues
buds watering for more. If you
want to savor the flavor of a
funky blues band, get yourself a
helping of this D.C. blues band.
Crooked Eye
Tommy
Santa Barbara
Blues Society
Crooked Eye Tommy, proudly
representing the Santa Barbara
Blues Society, erupted on the
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BANDS
A blazing spitfire guitarist with a
six-string wall of sound who
combines traditional and modern blues influences to create
his unique sound and energetic
show, Dan has been addicted to
the raw energy of the electric
guitar since he formed his first
band in Cape Breton over 20
years ago. Building on the success of his first solo album,
Even My Guitar Is in Love with
You, which was nominated for a
2012 East Coast Music Association award for Blues Recording of the Year, comes the new
release From Deep Inside, a
confident, smokin’ set full of hot
leads, a variety of styles, and
cliché-free originals. “One hell
of a musical ride. The guitar
playing on these songs take the
listener to another place. It is a
magical experience.”
Danny Draher
Band
DieDra & the
Ruff Pro Band
Guitarist and vocalist Danny
Draher has played, toured, and
recorded with many famous
musicians, including legendary
artists like Otis Rush, Buddy
Guy, Etta James, Dr. John, and
Paul Butterfield. His self-produced CD Big Fun Tonite is an
all-original album with an allstar cast including Dr. John,
Bernard Purdie, and Wilbur
Bascomb. The Danny Draher
Band is a new trio that includes
another two talented and seasoned musicians: bassist Mike
Nunno and drummer Liviu Pop.
Together, they strive to achieve
a distinctive sound by mixing
the blues idiom with elements
of soul and jazz music.
David Shelley
& Bluestone
South Florida
Blues Society
Their music has the roots of the
blues masters with a modern
melodic edge. Lead singer and
guitarist David Shelley has
brought these elements
together by enlisting the perfect
combination of musicians. With
bassist Charles Gasper, guitarist David Scott, and drummer
Randy Ridenour, the band fuses
Doug Wright &
the Nomads
traditional forms with the members’ unique cultural experiences. They were a 2007 IBC
finalist and are a three-time
winner of the South Florida
Blues Society’s local IBC
competition.
DieDra is a high-energy, swinging blues fireball. Born in
Virginia, DieDra moved to
Birmingham, Alabama, in 2007
to be with her lead guitar player,
producer, and husband, Keithen
Ruff. The couple formed DieDra
and the Ruff Pro Band. In 2010
the Jus’ Blues Music
Foundation honored DieDra
with a nomination for Best
Southern Soul Artist. In 2011
she received 13 blues nominations and one award from the
National Association of Rhythm
and Blues, and her original
“Rent Man” went to No. 4 Best
Female Artist on the Southern
Soul chart. In 2013 the band
went to the IBC semifinals.
Keithen Ruff has been Bobby
Rush’s guitar player for 18
years. On the drums is Ezra
Williams, and on bass is Joshua
Blackwell.
Dirty Basement
Blues Band
Hailing from the outskirts of
the Motor City, Dirty Basement
Blues is a band of five guys who
are as hard-working and gritty
as the town they represent. The
group was initially formed in
late 2011 after teaming up for a
studio project to record some
new tunes. Several of them had
played together in another project for nearly 10 years, and
were eager to embark on a new
musical adventure. With highenergy live performances, stellar musical ability, and uniquely
crafted original material, Dirty
Basement Blues is a true original and a band that is not to be
missed. In 2013 they plan to
record a debut album and continue to wow audiences.
The Doug
Hart Band
Singer Doug Wright, with his
raspy vocals and dynamite harp
riffs, has been playing professionally for 25 years. Guitarist
James Gaetano, a Texas native,
toured with The Crawl in the
early ’90s before moving to
southern Indiana, where he
plays regularly. Bassist Hank
Dobson lives in southern
Indiana. He plays with energy
and drive. Drummer Frank
McCubbins toured Florida and
the East Coast in the ’80s. He
moved on to play in the Pat
Thomas Band for 10 years, and
then with Sue O’Neil and Blues
Seville.
The Downtown
Shimmy
Over the last 15 years, the
Doug Hart Band has been a
major force in the southwestern
Ohio blues scene. Doug
constantly strives to put forth
the best product and deliver the
best show possible. The band
incorporates free-form yet
controlled versions of many
blues standards, with the
blending of Doug’s blues and
rock influences to form creative,
original compositions. He has
enlisted the veteran talents of
bassist Mike Hausfeld,
drummer Keith Cozart, and
keyboardist Mike Jordan to
complete his band. Together,
they never fail to amaze
audiences with the soul and
passion of their performances.
From the gritty streets of South
Philadelphia comes a new blues
sound. The Downtown
Shimmy’s fresh take on old
traditions blends the roots of
the music with contemporary
styles. Their grooves have
become renowned on the international dance scene, where
this in-demand band is popular
with people kicking up their
heels. Whether reinterpreting
classics or conceiving originals,
their arrangements twist with
dynamics and drive through
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rhythms to a climactic development. The energy is charged by
electric vocals roaring behind
an instrumental powerhouse of
piano, guitar, harmonica, bass,
and percussion. When throttled
up, this five-cylinder engine
energizes the room.
Fatty Waters
Blues Society of
Northwest Florida
Emerging from Pensacola,
Florida, Fatty Waters is a labor
of love for four sidemen stepping out on their own. In two
short years the band has honed
a unique sound, using
Pensacola’s burgeoning music
scene and the camaraderie of
the blues community to share
the stage with many contemporary greats. Victor Wainwright
says: “These guys don’t chase
any ghosts of Robert Johnson,
or fall into the pitfalls of coming
off gimmicky, they bring the
goods with this no-nonsense
production and I can’t help but
conclude that these songs were
constructed for the express
purpose of taking on and winning over a live audience, something I greatly admire, and
something these guys have the
extreme talent to do! Love it!”
Flamin’ Crows
Blues at Bridgetown
The Flamin’ Crows are a
Western Australia blues trio on
a serious mission. These musicians from one of the most
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isolated areas on the planet fan
a smoldering and driving original style of blues, with Alan
Rogers’ galvanizing electro-guitar playing and soulful vocals
driven by the suffocatingly tight
rhythm of Carl Holroyd on bass
and Yugon Chobanoff on
drums. Forged on an anvil of
iconic, historic Delta and hammering Texan blues, they deliver
a stylish, jumping powerhouse
brand of electric blues grooves
through a complex repertoire of
ripping blues originals and
adapted classics. They prefer to
let the music do the talkin’, as
evidenced on their new album
release, Too Much Ain’t
Enough.
Gary Small & the
Coyote Brothers
Wyoming Blues and
Jazz Society
Ghost Town
Blues Band
This 2013 IBC finalist delivers a
crowd-pleasing show filled with
cigar-box guitar throwing, a horn
section bursting with dance
moves, and miles of Memphis
class. From a residence at Rum
Boogie to blues festivals and
tour dates around the country,
GTBB has been featured in
major blues publications and
national TV commercials, and
has been a “pick to click” on
B.B. King’s Bluesville for its CD,
Dark Horse. Living Blues
magazine says: “GTBB shows
what can happen when the past
is distilled through young
sensibilities, voices, and
instruments. This is
21st-century blues at its best.”
The Good the
Bad & the Blues
Gary is an accomplished guitarist and vocalist, raised in
Wyoming and a member of the
Northern Cheyenne Indian
Nation. His music spans a vast
variety of blues styles as well as
other genres, and has a Native
American coloration. No
stranger to the music profession, Small has won four Native
American Music Awards, including Male Artist of the Year. For
15 years Small led his group of
outstanding musicians through
a myriad of music styles, including blues, funk, and world beat.
His rhythm-section members
included Graham Lear of
Santana and Bobby Torres of
the Joe Cocker Band.
This band plays every element
of the blues, from its roots in
church to the juke joints. It
starts with guitarist Aayan
Naim, who grew up in Chicago,
where he was baptized in the
blues early, watching the comings and goings of his famous
neighbor Muddy Waters, getting
a true sense of what the blues
is all about. John Cunningham
on keyboards adds heart and
soul to round out the sound.
Whether it’s down home or from
the heart of the city, he’s able
to make it just right. Mike
“Hollywood” Darby on drums is
a rhythmic force of nature that
makes your toes tap and head
bob. On bass, Wayne Harris lays
down the smooth foundation for
that master groove. And the
vocals you will just have to hear
for yourself!
Gregg Wright
Southern California
Blues Society
Southpaw guitarist and soulful
vocalist Gregg Wright’s professional career began on the
Southern U.S. circuit in the mid1970s, where he logged several
years’ worth of one-nighters,
opening shows for legends like
Albert King and Freddie King.
Today Wright admits, “I was
privileged to be around greatness! People like that encouraged me to work hard and keep
on pushing.” A 1980s move
from Louisiana to Los Angeles
saw Wright become a top session guitarist who mastered
many styles of popular music.
Awards, albums, and tours with
Mick Fleetwood, Michael
Jackson, The Gap Band, and
Spencer Davis followed, but
Gregg Wright insists that the
blues is where he truly lives and
breathes.
Grits from
Dumplin Valley
Smoky Mountain
Blues Society
The band is composed of
four seasoned veterans: Rob
Higginbotham and Rick Sharp
Holly &
Evan Trio
Capital Region
Blues Network
on guitars, Mark Havely on
drums, and Noe Cruz on bass.
Their repertoire is diverse, as
reflected in the title and the
content of the band’s premiere
CD, Tennessee Weather. While
blues is a favorite genre, they
truly love playing music of all
styles. Their diverse backgrounds bring different flavors
to please any blues palate. The
Grits band performs over 100
dates a year in the East
Tennessee area for audiences
ranging from small clubs to
large stages, either as a headliner or as an opening act.
Herbie D & the
Dangermen
River City Blues
Society (Virginia)
Both from rich musical backgrounds, Holly Taormina and
Evan Conway have joined with
drummer Bob Morris to update
the traditions of the barrelhouse, with their unique and
electric style. Holly’s songwriting comes from a lifetime of
reading about, listening to, and
living the lifestyle of the blues.
Her original songs, such as
“Parchman Prison” and
“Satisfied,” were inspired by the
hardships endured by many of
the Mississippi blues greats. In
their four years together, they
have actively pushed the
boundaries of traditional blues
music, mixing in a touch of jazz
and soul, and their style has
attracted the attention of many
of New York’s finest players.
HooDoo
Blues Band
This unique acoustic blues
band is based in Hampton
Roads, Virginia. The band’s
latest release, Dangerous with
Blues, is a showcase of original
tunes flavored with traditional
Chicago, Texas, and New
Orleans influences, forming a
funky acoustic blues approach
of their own. Herbie, with his
distinctive finger-style playing
and his raspy voice, drives the
band on both lead vocals and
guitar. The Dangermen, with Art
Martin on saxophone, Chris
Gifford on upright bass, and
Michael Salazar on drums, provide a solid, soulful backbone
that will get you out of your seat
and dancing.
Louisville, Kentucky, is a soulful
river town, ideally situated
between such traditional blues
locales as Chicago, Memphis,
and New Orleans. Influenced by
these surroundings, the
Louisville-based HooDoo Blues
Band has incorporated various
aspects of regional blues to
produce a unique and eclectic
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blues sound all its own.
Performing original butt-shaking
blues, John Burgard, Mike
Lynch, Mike Alger, and Rick
Cain wear their influences well,
and carry on Louisville’s blues
lineage. Area blues legends
such as Sylvester Weaver, Mary
Ann Fisher, and Steve Ferguson
would be proud.
In the Pocket
In the Pocket is a blues band in
the true sense of the word
“band”! Striving for collective
excellence with its music, this
soulful blues band is creating a
unique, sometimes “swampy”
niche in the world of blues. The
band includes J. “Billy Rock”
Smith and Leonard Griffie writing original blues that lyrically
speak from the heart – often
with a touch of life’s dark
humor. With Leonard out front
on guitar and lead vocals, Pat
McDougall on multiple keyboards, Mark Cunningham on
“stay just behind the beat”
bass, and Billy Rock locked in
on drums and lead vocals, this
stellar musical quartet creates
a powerful expression of blues.
Want it, need it, got to have it!
James Groves
Blues Machine
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BANDS
Hailing from Tulsa, the Blues
Machine features James
Groves on guitar and vocals,
Roger Johnson on bass, Gary
Eldridge on harmonica, and
Chris Matthews on drums.
Together they have been captivating audiences with their
infectious blend of authentic
blues. Rooted in the traditions
of the past, they inject their own
style and energy into the music,
which is clearly heard on their
debut CD, Beale Street Bound.
With a driving rhythm section,
electrifying harmonica, and
soulful guitar and vocals, they
are guaranteed to get you out
of your seat and onto your feet.
The Jan
Galach Band
The band was formed by the
Polish violinist Jan Galach. The
current lineup matured in 2011.
The music is ambitious bluesrock with jazz and fusion elements. The band likes
improvising, which is why the
songs it plays during its concerts create a mosaic of sounds
and make each performance
different and unique. Playing
original tracks along with covers
of well-known pieces, the band
boasts a repertoire that recalls
the spirit of psychedelic music
from the early ’70s. Last
September the band released
its first album, Jan Galach and
Friends. The group delivers
blues-rock like it was meant to
be played – hot and a little
rough – making it swing while
they are at it.
Jarekus
Singleton
Central Mississippi
Blues Society
Jarekus, age 29, has used the
focus he learned as an athlete
to propel him to early success
as a Mississippi blues musician. He plays guitar with soulful, blazing licks, and his
original lyrics deal with today’s
life issues. His band is a tight,
well-rehearsed group that plays
a variety from gospel to funky
blues, slow blues, and R&Bflavored blues. They have
played clubs and festivals in the
Southeast and up and down the
East Coast, as well as the
Chicago Blues Festival. Jarekus
has had two songs from his CD
Heartfelt in rotation on B.B.
King’s Bluesville on Sirius XM
radio. Jarekus was chosen as
2013 Artist of the Year at the
Jackson Music Awards, and has
a guitar endorsement from
Clevenger Guitars.
Jennifer B &
the Groove
Jennifer B has lived the blues.
She is a two-time cancer survivor, and her powerful, gutwrenching voice smacks of
deep, warm ethnicity and soft,
sweet falsettos. Her high-octane
stage performance has captured many with sassy, soulful
blues, Delta blues, R&B, and
blues rock. The band is composed of Jennifer Lindsey (guitar, vocals, and songwriting), Dr.
D (bass guitar, mandolin, and
vocals) Doug Mortenson
(drums, vocals, and songwriting), and Dave Scher (guitar,
slide, keyboard, vocals, songwriting, and arranging). Jennifer
B and the Groove have toured
the U.S.A., and plan to soon
share their love and passion for
the blues with Europe.
Jerome Godboo
Toronto Blues Society
Toronto singer and harmonica
player Jerome Godboo is always
improving himself as a musician, a man, and a communicator. Jerome has released 14
albums in his 25-plus-year
career, 11 of which are solo,
including the brand new
Sanctuary City with Spin
Doctors guitarist Eric
Schenkman. Jerome has been
a full-time musician since
1986, when he won an Ottawa
Bluesfest contest that helped
launched his career and triggered a move to Toronto. He
headlined at the Montreal Jazz
Festival in 2005, played
Toronto’s Air Canada Centre as
a member of Ronnie Hawkins’
Hawks, and has performed on
stages across Canada, the U.S.,
France, Finland, Portugal,
Ukraine, Israel, and beyond.
Jigsaw Mud
Fort Smith Riverfront
Blues Society
Jigsaw Mud, based in northwestern Arkansas, creates
star-quality arrangements
and originals, and its stage
have already electrified blues
lovers and captured the hearts
of the Jersey Shore.
Joe Elbaz & the
Blues Angels
performances are notoriously
attention-grabbing. Fans frequently comment on the band’s
unique sound, with two lead
guitars and two lead vocals.
Lectric Liz Lottmann (vocals)
and Brent Barker (lead guitar
and vocals) have been performing nationally at festivals and
major club venues for many
years. Max Taylor (lead guitar),
Clay Johnson (bass), and Ian
Davis (drums) are highly trained
musicians who lay down a
Memphis-style rhythm. This
band digs down into blues
grooves until something gets
really stirred up.
Jimmy Pritchard
Band
Blues Foundation
Start with a blues-singing bass
player (Jimmy P), then add redhot guitar (Matt Daniels), rocksolid drumming (Kenny
Robinson), and a flash of brass
(Rob Zinn, trumpet, and Kevin
Lyons, sax). These five professional musicians have decades
of recording and performing
experience among them. With
origins in Jersey and the surrounding region, they’ve created
a razor’s-edge sound that
respects the tradition of the
blues and pushes its contemporary boundaries. In their freshman year, their raucous,
high-energy live performances
Joe Elbaz was born in Israel to
Moroccan Jewish parents, and
exposed from his early years to
traditional Moroccan music and
dialects, as well as traditional
Jewish prayers from his rabbi
grandfather. As a young adult
he discovered the blues, picked
up a guitar, and started playing,
later adding the harmonica. Joe
brings to the stage his unique
vocal abilities, high energy, and
charisma. After hundreds of live
shows and years of experience,
the Blues Angels offer a special
mix of traditional and modern
blues, spicing it up with a touch
of traditional Moroccan themes.
This is a groundbreaking fusion
of East and West that leaves no
music lover indifferent.
Joel DaSilva & the
Midnight Howl
Orange Blossom
Blues Society
Joel DaSilva has blues running
through his veins. Born and
raised in his sweet home,
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Chicago, DaSilva hails from a
musical family. He continues to
channel that energy in his
manic and soulful live performances. His original goal was to
get closer to the music, immersing himself in the scene.
Eventually he was setting up
equipment for touring bands
and getting to know them in
exchange for lessons from the
masters. At 18, DaSilva joined
his first band. He went on to
play in a number of bands
before breaking out on his own
as a solo artist. DaSilva is
poised to become a power
player. He is the real deal. His
tone matches his soul. His voice
matches his heart.
John F.
Klaver Band
As Matt Schofield said, “John F.
Klaver is one of the most interesting guitarists out of
Holland.” The band is making
it second appearance at the
IBC after a successful debut in
2012. John began playing guitar at the age of 11. He studied
in the U.S. at the University of
the Pacific, and graduated from
conservatory in Amsterdam.
Playing its own blend of modern blues at festivals such as
Moulin Blues and Big Rivers,
winning numerous Dutch Blues
Awards, and this year releasing
its fourth CD, the John F. Klaver
band is clearly ready for the
international stage.
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Josh Hoyer & the
Shadowboxers
Blues Society of Omaha
This six-piece soul/R&B band
from Lincoln, Nebraska, is
fronted by one of the area’s
finest songwriters, and includes
the area’s most revered and
accomplished musicians.
Formed in December of 2012,
the band is playing sold-out
club dates and marquee festivals in the West and Midwest,
and has been nominated for
the Omaha Entertainment
Awards’ Artist of the Year.
Borrowing from the Stax,
Motown, New Orleans, and San
Francisco sounds, they blend
the classic sounds of soul and
R&B, yet create a fresh vibe
and unique sound. If great
songs, soul-drenched vocals,
screaming guitar, blasting
horns, thick, nasty organ, and
an inescapable groove are your
thing, this band is for you. Don’t
miss out – this band leaves it
all on the stage!
The Juice
Cincy Blues Society
Cincinnati has a special kind of
juice, the multitalented blues
band called The Juice.
Everybody sings, each one is a
master of his instrument, and
three members of the band
write songs. Their all-original CD
Once in a Blue Moon sold out
the first 500 copies within nine
months of its August 2012
release. The main vocalist is
Lady Joya, classic and unique at
the same time. Bob Herrmann
is the band leader and plays the
hot guitar. Going deep on the
bass is Dave Sageser. Roger
Bates on the drums is a veteran
of many Cincinnati blues bands.
The “Soul Man” of the band is
Steve Thomas, playing keys and
alto sax. Add them all together,
and you get a band playing the
blues with some juice.
The Juke Hounds
North East Ohio
Blues Association
The Juke Hounds share an attitude – a Midwestern grit that
makes them relate to the blues
and to each other. When the
Jukes play, you’ll hear echoes of
B.B. King and James Cotton,
along with a defiance and swagger that says “You can’t keep
me down.” The music, the lyrics, and the band’s aggressive
stage presence announce that
they are a force to be reckoned
with. They hit hard, but their
musical pugilism isn’t about
knocking folks down. It’s about
bringing the crowd to their feet
and keeping ’em there until it’s
time to go home – maybe even
a little later. Brittany Nader of
Buzzbin Magazine agrees that
when the Juke Hounds start to
play, “it’s impossible not to get
up and start shaking along to
the rhythm of each tune.”
Juke Rockets
Blues Band
Maine Blues Society
The ever-versatile vocal talents of Carlene Thornton add
a powerful element to an
already formidable collection of
Midcoast Maine musicians and
backup singers that includes
Steve Mellor on bass, Tim
Woitowitz on drums, and the
band’s newest member, Willy
Kelly, who brings to the group
his talents on guitar and harp.
Together the foursome combines the sounds of old-school
blues with their original blend of
high-energy tunes, never failing
to bring crowds to their feet.
From the conversational-style
songs the blues is known for to
the grittier, more primitive
sounds that gave rock its roots,
they do it all with the onstage
camaraderie that adds a playfulness to each of their shows
and keeps audiences smiling.
Katy Guillen
& the Girls
The blues-influenced roots-rock
trio, formed in September of
2012, is made up of Katy
Guillen (guitar and vocals),
Claire Adams (bass and vocals),
and Stephanie Williams
(drums). The group’s sound is
characterized by Guillen’s searing, lively guitar licks, Williams’
heavy, driving drums, and
Adams’ rock-solid bass lines.
Guillen’s soulful vocals backed
by Adams’ intense harmonies
add a fierce punch to Guillen’s
songwriting. The Girls draw
influences from everywhere,
from rock ’n’ roll contemporaries like Heartless Bastards to
timeless guitar god Jimi Hendrix
and soulful songstress Susan
Tedeschi.
The Katz Sass
“Take the music past where you
found it.” This is the guiding
principle of The Katz Sass, a
modern-day blues band from
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with
roots in Texas blues topped with
a taste of 1960s British and
Irish blues guitar influence.
Always looking for ways to push
the envelope, The Katz Sass
blends the souls of the old masters with the edgy riffs of modern blues stylists to transform
the songs and struggles of the
past into present-day tales of
love, life, and dreams. The outstanding combination of Ronnie
Long on vocals and Joe
Barborich on guitar, with Steve
Campeau on drums and Scott
Walters on bass, allows this
four-piece band to shift gears
from old-time classic blues to
modern blues-rock.
Kev Nichols &
Blue Tuesday
Born out of some casual
Tuesday-night jam sessions in
the basement studio of singer/
songwriter Kev Nichols, this
band has been turning the
heads of music fans everywhere with its high-energy
brand of blues. From swinging
to rocking, the emotional groove
runs deep as guitarist Tony
Riske, drummer Greg Sauceda,
and bassist Heather Kulaga lift
Nichols’ songs to new heights
every time they hit the stage. If
you’re looking for great live
music that you’ll feel from the
top of your head to the tips of
your toes, look no further than
Kev Nichols and Blue Tuesday.
Kevin Purcell &
the Nightburners
Kevin Purcell is a performer on
the Chicago blues scene, and
for 30 years has entertained
audiences in the Midwest from
local venues to festivals to the
concert stage. His high-energy
vocal and harmonica style has
captivated crowds time after
time. Raised in Chicago, he was
heavily influenced by local blues
artists ranging from Paul
Butterfield to James Cotton. In
2002 Kevin brought the fiddle
into his music in the person of
Andy Ohlrich. Andy’s virtuosity,
coupled with Kevin’s harp, adds
a dynamic element to their
sound that is unique and rare in
the blues idiom. Add the searing guitar of Don Laferty, the
fiery Bill LeClair on keys, and
the rhythm of Tony Root on bass
and Pete Kruse on skins, and
you have a stunning show.
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Kim Pollard
Band
Passion and soul. Fresh and
original, this music paints a
portrait of pain and redemption
wrapped in a rich melody. You
will never doubt that singing the
blues comes naturally to Kim
Pollard, with her strong, pitchperfect vocals, as sweet as they
are gritty. The band members,
Roger Law (bass/vocals), Bruce
Cowle (keys/horn), Rob
Lawrence (tenor sax), Paul
Stacey (alto sax), Joe Ramsay
(guitar/vocals), and Paul
Lindstrome (drums), present
strong musicianship, each having a unique skill set. When
combined, they are truly a force
to be reckoned with, as soulful
as they are tight, providing the
perfect balance between proficiency and groove.
The Lauren
Mitchell Band
With a voice that growls and
soothes, and with looks and
attitude that say “You better
stop and listen,” Lauren
Mitchell means business. Lots
of people can sing, Lauren
gives you everything she’s got!
From her roots in the churches
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BANDS
of Ohio to the Florida blues
scene, Lauren has honed her
craft singing her heart out in
blues halls and festivals
throughout North America.
Lauren’s full-throttle, all-or-nothing style, and the high-energy
backing band, featuring Gulf
Coast B3 master Michael “The
Professor” Hensley, leave audiences wanting more. They will
rock the house with its original
concoctions of blues and soul.
Lawyers Guns
& Money
Piedmont Blues
mix of Albert King, Albert
Collins, and Luther Allison all
rolled up into one. Delray’s
show is as diverse as it is entertaining. He will go from hardrocking “downtown” shuffles
that will bring you all the way to
Austin, Texas, to sweet soul
blues ballads and every funky
old stop in between. With Bill
“Doc” Coleman laying down
those fat, funky bass lines and
Papa John Mole on the drums
providing the infectious groove,
these gentlemen come out of
the gate running and don’t stop
until you have gotten your fill.
The Lenny
“Fuzzy”
Rankins Band
Blues Lovers United
of San Diego
This North Carolina band has a
unique sound that is clean and
balanced. They perform the
blues and their own originals,
showcasing guitar, lap steel,
and strong vocals. LGM has one
CD out, Make Up Another Lie,
and has had two singles reach
No. 1 on Cashbox Magazine’s
Roadhouse Blues charts.
Lee Delray Band
Lehigh Valley
Blues Network
Lee plays with a passion and
conviction that you would find in
the true blues masters of days
gone by. Although he has a
sound that is all his own, Delray
has been lauded as a ferocious
Lightnin’ Willie
Ventura County
Blues Society
Lit’l Chicago
Lightnin’ Willie is a to-the-bone
blues trio made up of Lightnin’
Willie (guitar/vocals), Otis
Gurwell (keyboards/vocals),
and Jerry Olson (drums/
vocals). Currently working on
their seventh album of original
songs, these blues-oil salesmen peddle in-the-pocket
blues. As disciples of traditional blues, they walk a path
of dynamics and simplicity that
has earned them a reputation
as the “biggest little blues
band” you will ever see, hear,
or experience, with an emphasis on the word “blues.”
Lisa Hutchinson
Blues Band
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Lenny
“Fuzzy” Rankins hails from a
strong gospel music background. He discovered the
diversity of the blues after relocating to San Diego in 1990.
Fuzzy has developed a sound
that is a collaboration of all
elements of the blues, gospel,
jazz, and funk. A multi-instrumentalist, skilled storyteller,
writer, composer, and producer, Fuzzy is best known for
his masterful and creative control of the fretwork on his guitar. When he combines that
with his soulful yet powerful
vocals and witty entertainment
style, the charismatic Fuzzy is
sure to capture your attention
and stir your emotions.
voice. With Ian Ross on guitar,
Richard Jackson on drums, and
Peter Loudon on bass, the band
shows a deep respect for the
blues tradition while infusing its
music with raw energy and
authentic passion.
Collingwood Jazz
and Blues Society
On a mission to broadcast the
blues, Lit’l Chicago, from
Sarnia, Ontario, is a throwback
to the era of big grooves, and is
unmistakably reminiscent of
the artists for whom its members hold such deep respect.
But make no mistake–they
have never tried to sound like
anyone else! Whether it’s a
soulful blues ballad layered
with the band’s trademark
harmonies, or a fiery uptempo
shuffle, Lit’l Chicago has its
own unique and identifiable
sound, and possesses the
ability to sound familiar enough
to keep an audience interested, yet fresh enough to keep
them wanting more. When
Robb, Dave, Wulf, Jef, and JP
take the stage, you do believe
the blues are in good hands.
Low Society
Buffalo River
Blues Society
Captivating audiences with her
powerful voice and commanding stage presence, Lisa
Hutchinson and her band bring
their own brand of Canadian
soul to the blues. Lisa doesn’t
shy away from expressing the
full range and texture of her
Low Society brings the blues
into sharp focus with an aggressive style that’s well suited to
the juke joints of Mississippi
and Arkansas, where the band
frequently appears. Big City
Rhythm & Blues magazine said
it best: “These hipsters have
taken southern country blues
and super charged it to a whitehot intensity.” Featuring the
supernaturally soulful Mandy
Lemons on vocals, Sturgis
Nikides on slide guitar, Mike
Munn on drums, and Niko
“The Neck” Dodson on bass,
the band has appeared on
stages from New York City to
Clarksdale to Memphis, and all
the way to Prague and beyond.
Its music is firmly anchored in
the past, present, and future
of the blues, but specifically
encapsulates the shimmering heat of the Deep South.
The Lucky Doggs
Gulf Coast Blues Society
Johnny Barbato was born and
raised in New Orleans, and cut
his teeth on the back streets of
the French Quarter listening to
local greats, while stealing all
he could wrap his soul around
of that legendary sound.
Making their way to the main
venues, then up and down the
Gulf Coast, Johnny and the
Lucky Doggs (Luther Wamble
on lead guitar, Art Hedgepath
on bass, David Padgett on
drums, and Keith Lee on keyboard) have been a mainstay
from New Orleans to Florida.
Their original music ranges
from Louisiana rockin’ blues to
hard-driving Southern rock,
laced with storytelling ballads
and lined with funk.
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The MacKenzie
Blues Band
Bruce County
Blues Society
are touched by their commitment to songs of joy, as well as
those that draw tears from the
soul. Together with their experienced rhythm section, Stan
Mobbs on bass and Tony Boyd
on drums, this outfit drives with
a groove that is all its own.
Every song performed reflects
the band’s own unique and
passionate style.
Mark May & the
Soul Satyr Horns
Mix equal parts of blues grit,
soul, and raw talent with a dash
of retro style, and you get a
pure musical tonic. The band is
Tara MacKenzie, a vocal powerhouse with a three-and-a-halfoctave range delivered with a
ballsy and sultry swagger;
Trevor MacKenzie, a versatile
guitarist who shifts between
styles with grace, all the while
staying faithful to the blues
genre; and bassist Joel Dawson
and drummer Mike Weir, who
glue the band together with
snappy, funky, pulsing grooves.
Their debut album, Back Road
Revelation, has garnered significant international airplay and
rave reviews.
Mal Eastick &
Milena Barrett
Blues Project
Hailing from Sydney, Australia,
renowned blues guitarist Mal
Eastick and singer-songwriter
Milena Barrett have a powerful
musical connection. Each was
touched by each other’s sincerity, they feel the song the same
way, and they share the goal of
playing their own brand of blues
all around the world. Audiences
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BANDS
Mark May, former guitarist,
vocalist, and songwriter for
Dickey Betts and Great
Southern, perfected his craft
playing rough-and-tumble biker
bars and blues clubs in
Houston, Texas. His live shows
are jam-packed with traditional
blues and blues-rock, featuring
dynamic twin leads and dual
harmony guitar work, the perfect complement to Mark’s
smooth vocals. Mark has been
featured in major blues publications, and gets heavy rotation
on Sirius XM and Sonic Tap
radio. The band members
include Dave Absalom (guitar),
Tim Keefe (bass), Gary
Jorgenson (drums), Soul Satyr
(horns), Ted Basinger (trombone), John Bonham (trumpet),
and Joe Reasoner (sax).
The Memphis
Blues Revue
Sonny Boy Blues Society
Composed of talented and
experienced musicians who
strong vocal delivery, lyrical
content, and a powerful rhythmic structure. Its music is
thick, heavy, and steeped in
the blues.
exhibit a level of professionalism and musicianship, they
make it easy to become a dedicated blues fan. Not surprisingly, their fan base just
continues to grow as a result.
They have diverse musical
backgrounds, with years of
public performance, miles traveled, and decades in the business. Whether it is old-school,
new-school, or something in
between, the Memphis Blues
Revue has it covered. With
vocals by Gina Barnes, Bob
Horn on guitar, David Pierce on
keyboards, Eric Westpy on bass,
Charley Carrington on drums,
and Lou Nesta on blues harp,
they always have one thing in
mind – to play the blues for you.
The Michael
Gough Group
The Blues, Jazz and
Folk Music Society
Based in traditional blues while
taking its music to the next
level, this cutting-edge trio
consisting of Michael Gough
(bass and vocals), Karle
“Crawl” Moulden (guitar), and
Rodney “Cool Pepper” Williams
(drums) is poised to be
launched from regional favorite
to the national and international stage. It is a melting pot
of various rhythm-and-blues
influences, with all three members seasoned by years of road
and studio work. The group is
characterized by Michael’s
The Mike
Clark Band
Calgary Blues
Music Association
ster he was drawn to the music
of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray
Vaughan, and Johnny Winter.
Mike followed closely the East
German blues bands, and
looks upon them all as his
musical fathers. For years he
toured as “Texas Mike” and
gained a strong following. In
2012 he founded the Mike
Seeber Trio with Philipp Roesch
on bass and Tobias Ridder on
drums. Press and fans call
them “the thunder of the
German blues scene.”
Mikey Mo Band
Santa Clarita Valley
Blues Society
A groove-fueled, funky gumbo of
the blues! Multi-instrumentalist,
singer, and songwriter Mike
Clark is one of Canada’s premier blues artists, and has
been nominated for a Maple
Blues Award in the category of
Horn Player of the Year for three
consecutive years. He has twice
been named Sax Player of the
Year by the Calgary Blues Music
Association. Brent Wright’s
virtuoso guitar, Brian Pollock
and Thom Moon’s swampy
grooves, and Mike’s fiery tenor
sax and vocals have made this
outfit one of Canada’s favorites.
Peter North of the Edmonton
Journal says, “Clark’s quartet
offers up a varied combination
of musical touchstones and lays
them all out with authority and
conviction.”
Mike Seeber Trio
Baltic Blues
The Miss Jackie
Wilson Band
Mikey Mo, from Southern
California, has become a force
that many blues fans and artists alike have been paying
close attention to. He first
picked up the guitar at the early
age of 5, and has since been
cultivating a style all his own.
Mo’s tasty guitar work, soulful
vocals, and original music are
backed by the tight rhythm section of Stuart Brooks and Art
Mendoza. Also accompanying
Mikey Mo is the three-sax horn
section of Jim Scimonetti, Steve
Sadd, and Craig Williams.
Mojo Theory
Mike has been playing guitar
since he was a kid. As a young-
ease, making it a band that
pleases the tastes of novices
and enthusiasts. With three
CDs to its credit, Mojo has
become a part of the fabric in
our blues community. Its stage
show has been described as
“exciting and electrifying.”
Mark Richards on vocals, David
Warnock on guitar, CJ Justus
on bass, Jeff Morris on keys,
and Todd Mollette on drums
deliver a signature sound that
is truly unforgettable!
From the moment you hear
“It’s time to play the blues!”
you know you are in for a thrill.
The band performs its original
music in the traditional blues
styles as well as the contemporary styles of the 21st century.
Mojo Theory roams the spectrum of styles with shocking
Think Ann Peebles and Big
Mama Thornton, add some Joss
Stone and Koko Taylor, then top
it with Aretha, and you have the
boundless blues of the Jackie
Wilson Band. Their music’s
foundation? The blues, with a
hint of gospel, R&B, and soul.
The band is led by singer, songwriter, and dauntless entertainer Miss Jackie Wilson, with
Maestro Lightford on keys, Alex
Kramer on guitar, Walter Blair
on bass, and Josh Ellis on
drums. This in-the-pocket group
has been rockin’ crowds as the
headliner at Bourbon Street
Blues & Boogie Bar in
Nashville’s historic Printer’s
Alley since 2010, and has also
performed in Italy and the U.K.
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Mr. Sipp
Guitarist, vocalist, writer, and
producer Castro Coleman, aka
Mr. Sipp “The Mississippi Blues
Child,” brings electrifying
energy, passion, and jaw-dropping skill. He struts across the
stage with mesmerizing moves.
Aiming his guitar, he flashes his
brilliant smile, locks you into
his gaze, and takes you hostage. You won’t want to escape.
When he pauses, you can’t wait
for more. His music is from the
soul of an old bluesman, yet
he’s also young and fresh. His
persona onstage, complete
with eyeglasses taped at the
bridge, is very nerdy and very
cool. Renditions of classic Mississippi Delta and Chicago
blues and originals make up
his show. Phillip Coleman on
keys, Jeffrey Flanagan on bass,
and Timothy Henderson on
drums complete the band.
Ms. Lady Dee
“Me & the Boyz”
Led by the powerful yet sensual
vocals of Deanna Custard
(Lady Dee), this Midwest-based
high-energy act features a supporting cast of Spencer
Cummings (guitar and vocals),
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BANDS
Larry Sanders (drums and
vocals), and Val Williams (bass
and vocals). Collectively, their
sound reflects the influence of
varied genres of music, from
rock to gospel and all styles of
blues. They have the ability to
make even the most laid-back
audience party like there is no
tomorrow. What sets them
apart is that their audience
interaction comes naturally.
They are in high demand
throughout the Midwest. When
you hear them, you will understand why.
The Octavia
Blues Band
Second Story
Blues Alliance
The Paul CruiZe
Blues Crew
Phoenix Blues Society
influences as far-ranging as
blues, reggae, roots rock, country, folk, and funk, beating into
existence their own chapter of a
musical tradition that is as old
as the country. The Old No. 5’s
are guitarist/vocalist Brock
Alexander, percussionist Aaron
Thomas, and Derek Tucker on
bass guitar. These Kansas
natives’ musical influences and
heritage run deep. The Old No.
5’s have been in existence
since 2011, but Brock and
Aaron have played together in
some form since 2005.
Pappy Johns
Band
Based in Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania, the Octavia Blues
Band conveys soulful blues with
commercial appeal, and the
love of music is evident in the
band members’ dialogue. With
nearly five decades onstage,
Octavia gives a passionate performance with powerful vocals,
innovative, ear-grabbing harp
rides, accomplished songwriting, and fun audience interaction that keep fans wanting
more. Chip Stanilla adds searing guitar leads. Bobby Fry cuts
deep bass grooves with Jamie
Furhman’s dynamic, in-thepocket drumming. This tight,
driving, fiery four-piece performs energetic blues that wow
audiences at festivals, events,
and other venues.
The Old No. 5’s
The Old No. 5’s are marching
in the familiar American folk
music tradition. These newcomers from Kansas City fuse
The members of Pappy Johns
Band are longtime friends and
brothers in the blues. Together
for more than 30 years, brothers-in-law bassist Don Powless
and drummer Oren Doxtator
provide without a doubt one of
the most soulful, tight, and
thick backbones any blues
band could wish for – period.
Add the brilliant piano and
organ virtuoso John Lee (of Mel
Brown and Dutch Mason) and
the exciting, youthful energy of
front man and lead guitarist
Joshua Arden Miller, and Pappy
Johns Band has been captivating audiences and rocking
stages everywhere with its soulful, rockin’ blues style, which
has been described as “fabulously bad-ass blues.”
This band has been shrouded
in a bit of mystery. Probably the
most frequently asked question
about them is “Who are they?”
Before they won the Arizona
Blues Showdown, no one had
ever heard of them. They were
the only unknown band in the
competition. Where did they
came from? What we do know
is that there are three members
in the crew, with a unique
approach to the blues. We also
know that Arizona has been
buzzing since the Showdown.
What fans say: “Wow, amazing
and intense.” “Didn’t know
three people could make that
much music.” “They’re unique
and different, they’ve got their
own sound for sure.” What they
say about themselves: “We’re
the new ol’ school.” Well, we
may not know where they came
from, but we sure know where
they’re going: to Memphis!
The Pitbull of
Blues Band
Southwest Florida
Blues Society
Led by dynamic front man Josh
“The Pitbull of Blues” Rowand,
this high-energy Florida trio has
prowled the southern U.S. for
many years. The band is a regular on the festival circuit, known
throughout the region for its
fun-loving mix of traditional and
original blues. Josh hits hard
with stunning guitar work, leading crowds through a repertoire
of all that is blues and more.
With the smooth cool of bassist
Deny Rowand and red-hot percussion of drummer Richie
Corricelli, fans are treated to
the tight sound and chemistry
that comes from years of playing music together. Putting the
bite in blues, this band delivers
a show that reminds you why
you fell in love with live blues in
the first place.
The Porkroll
Project
The Porkroll Project, a six-piece
contemporary blues band from
Philadelphia, is known for its
high-energy blend of original
tunes and fresh covers. The
band members have played
together in a variety of projects
for 15 years, including three
Porkroll Project CDs. The music
is an infectious blend of blues
that will rock the house, steam
up the windows, and even take
you to church. Led by guitarist/
songwriter Neil Taylor, the band
also includes Joey Stout on
organ, Paul Matecki on piano,
Ed Young on bass, Larry Hinkel
on drums, and Buddy Cleveland on harp. Each player
brings a unique ingredient to
the stew. When the heat is
turned up and the spices start
to blend, you’re going to taste
some fine music, guaranteed!
The R. Mutt
Blues Band
Blues Society
A two-time winner of the NCFBS
Blues Challenge, the band performs an eclectic mix of traditional blues paired with soulful
original music that pays homage to the golden era of 1950s
and ’60s electric blues. The
group was formed three years
ago by award-winning visual
artist and bassist Richard
Heipp; multi-instrumentalist,
vocalist, songwriter, and visual
artist Dan Stepp; and lead guitarist Paul Goble. They were
joined in 2013 by drummer Rsi
Pollard and saxophonist Ben
Grier. The band’s name is taken
from artist Marcel Duchamp’s
1917 artwork Fountain, a urinal
displayed in an art gallery and
signed simply “R. Mutt.”
Rae Gordon Band
Rae’s roots in piano bars and
comedy clubs in L.A. allow her
to connect intimately with audiences of all sizes. The Cascade
Blues Association’s 2013 Best
Female Vocalist Muddy Award
winner is known for her extensive vocal range that moves
BANDS H 145
effortlessly from soul to gospel,
making her a return favorite at
the Waterfront Blues Festival.
She found a winning combination with guitarist/band leader
Gaddis Cavenah, co-writing the
recent release “Blue
Lemonade,” No. 10 on the
Billboard blues chart with airplay in the U.S. and England
and on Pandora. Joseph
Conrad on bass, Ed Pierce on
drums, and Scott Franklin on
sax offer everything from a
get-up-and-groove number to a
haunting slide tune that will
make you want to find a back
porch and sit a spell.
Rafael Espinoza
The Rick
Hammond
Blues Band
Reno Blues Society
Treasure Coast
was one of the original blues
instruments, featured with W.C.
Handy’s band in Memphis during the early 1900s. Although it
is rare to see a trombone player
leading a blues band in modern
times, Oxford has found a way
to make it work. All members of
the band contribute to the original compositions and perform
them with great enthusiasm.
Having fun onstage has become
this band’s signature.
The Randy
Oxford Band
South Sound
Blues Association
Honoring the true definition of
the word “band,” every member
of this group is featured at one
time or another during a performance. With Randy taking the
lead on his trombone and interacting with multiple guitarists
and vocalists, they have created a fresh and exciting sound
in the blues. The trombone
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BANDS
Kalamazoo Valley
Blues Association
The Rockin’
Jake Band
Red Dirt
Revelators
Rafael is a singer/songwriter/
guitarist from Golden, Texas,
who performs with his band at
various venues throughout the
year. His band includes Tim
Bohannan on bass guitar and
Curtis Lane on drums. With a
sound all its own that can’t be
pigeonholed, they are an alloriginal group performing exclusively original music deeply
rooted in the blues.
Seventh Son
Blues Band
and original. That is what
drives this blues train. They
have one simple philosophy:
Let the music speak for itself!
The members are Bruce Seidel
on drums, Kevin Vidal on bass,
Fred Mills on harp, and Rick
Hammond on lead vocals and
guitar. The band has existed
since 2001 with various lineups, but this crew is the best
yet, and the newest member
has been with the band for two
years now. The instrumentation
is typical of early Chicago blues
bands, and they play their own
version of traditional Chicago
blues with a dab of West Coast
jump blues in the mix. The
band’s main objective is to be
contagious with the blues.
Rock Island
Rollers
Mississippi Valley
Blues Society
This is a dirty blues band, and
not in terms of lyrics or distortion. The dirt is in the grooves,
Red Dirt grooves, with lyrics that
reveal a story, a truth, and
sometimes an emotional revelation. They are powered by the
irresistible “Big Deluxe” dirt
engine of Jason Gardner on
drums and Clay Ford on bass.
The band gets its supercharger
cut from the incredible guitar
work of John Fenwick and the
voice of Willie Shane Johnston.
When Willie starts “revelatin’”
on harp and that nasty voice
lights up, he couldn’t hold back
on the gas even if he wanted to.
Listening to them has been
referred to by fans as “going to
blues church with whiskey
Communion.”
From the heart of the heartland come the Rock Island
Rollers. Soulful and funky, their
sound will go straight to your
gut and move your spirit. Since
its founding in January of
2012, the band has quickly
become known as one of the
best in the Midwest. After they
won the 2012 Iowa Blues
Challenge, they began work on
their first record, released in
June of 2013. Pulling no
punches, their music is true
Tony got down to basics with
drummer Ray Tully, and Rod
Paine’s Fulltime Lovers was
born. A dirty postwar electric
blues combo, the Fulltime
Lovers keep it simple, serving
up dirty undertones, swinging
rhythms, and rumbling shuffles
to their audiences everywhere.
Born and raised in New England, Rockin’ Jake has a deep
passion for music that drove
him to New Orleans in 1990. He
soon became established in the
local music scene, allowing the
local musical flavors of jazz,
blues, zydeco, and swamp funk
to influence his sound. Between
1990 and 2005 he was named
Best Harmonica at OffBeat’s
New Orleans music awards five
times, released four CDs,
logged many studio sessions,
and toured internationally. Hurricane Katrina displaced him in
2005, first to Fort Worth, then
to St. Louis, where he was nominated in 2011 for Best Blues
Act by the Riverfront Times.
Recently settled in southern
Florida, he tours full-time with
the Rockin’ Jake Band.
Rod Paine’s
Fulltime Lovers
Melbourne Blues
Appreciation Society
One of the most powerful and
soulful voices in the roots
scene, Rod Paine was one
of the founding members
of Melbourne’s legendary
Chicago blues act Howlin’ Time,
formed in 1989. In 2005, with
renewed enthusiasm, Rod and
his good friends Dave and
Ron & the
Rumpshakers
Seventh Son may be the longest-lived band at this year’s
IBC. It has been an institution of
the Kalamazoo blues scene
since its debut in 1986. Six of
the seven members have been
playing together for 20 years or
more. With over 300 years of
musical experience among
them, Seventh Son is unusual
in that it includes two sax players and a harmonica, similar to
bands led by Taj Mahal and
Delbert McClinton. The band
has three fine singers who
share lead and harmony vocals.
Seventh Son is known for its
large, eclectic repertoire.
Sister Lucille
With a sound that is powerful
and high-energy, Ron and the
Rumpshakers will have your
attention from the very first
note. Bringing you over 25
years’ experience apiece, they
will entertain you with a show
full of traditional, swing, and
modern blues, a sound that will
keep you coming back for more.
Their first CD of all originals,
Heart and Soul, has been
receiving local airplay, and the
track “Shake It Up” was featured on the compilation Blues
from the Burgh. Their second
CD, Loud Rocking Rhythm and
Blues, is studio fresh. The members are Ron Vis (guitar and
vocals), Tom Bender (bass),
Greg Stewart (drums), Greg
Eggert (trumpet), and Joe
Romeo (saxophone).
Blues Society of
the Ozarks
Sister Lucille is a four-piece
band hailing from southwestern
Missouri that got its inspiration
on Beale Street, home to some
of the best musicians in the
world! After 20 years of onstage
experience together, Kimberly
Dill’s soulful, gut-wrenching
vocals and Jamie Holdren’s
heartfelt, blistering guitar solos
are sure to turn a lot of heads!
The thunderous rhythm section
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consists of the legendary Terry
Simmons on the Fender Jazz
Bass, and the one and only
Charles Alexander on the
drums. Charles is originally from
Omaha, Nebraska, and studied
under the great Buddy Miles.
Together these four cats bring
all of the energy, passion, and
conviction needed to entertain
the masses!
Skinny Velvet
opening act for a blues festival,
she formed her own band. (She
was already a member of two
bands). Fast forward to the
present: Stacy has been touring
nonstop with some excellent
musicians. Her current band
members are Walter Tates Jr.,
Charles Adkins, Barry Brady,
and Calvin Newbill Jr., who have
been with her since 2008, and
Jeremy Boyle, who has been
part of the band since 2007.
They also played on her awardnominated CD Love, Peace &
the Blues.
Tastes Like
Chicken
Lowcountry Blues Club
Skinny Velvet has been touring
the eastern United States since
January of 2011. From Washington, D.C. to the Florida Keys,
this band had been winning
over audiences night after
night! Take two parts blues and
one part rock, add a dash of
funk and soul, mix and fry in a
greasy cast-iron skillet, and you
get what we have here: a Southern soul transfusion! As a fan
said, “Skinny Velvet is the new
ministers of Southern soul!”
The Stacy
Brooks Band
DC Blues Society
Stacy has been on the stage
since the age of 5 in Germany.
After being contacted by a
Delaware promoter who liked
her style and wanted her as the
148 H
BANDS
The Tommy
Z Band
Blues Society of
Western New York
blues straight from the soul.
Their compelling arrangements
create a contemporary sound,
while never losing track of the
blues’ origins. From the San
Francisco Bay Area, these musicians take pride in their urban
roots. They appeal to a wide
audience and represent the
evolution of the blues.
The ThrowDown
Band
Tastes Like Chicken represents
the large blues scene of
Charleston, South Carolina. This
band is fronted by Rhonda
Maples, who first learned music
from her grandmother’s hymnals and then learned theory in
school before taking her voice
to the nightclub stage. Rhonda
sings with a loose vibe that
creates moods ranging from
soothing and relaxing to fun
and naughty. As her foil, guitarist Poppa Dupree Wall is controlled exuberance and wild
slide guitar work. The band’s
veteran rhythm section consists
of Bert Ross on bass guitar and
James “Captain” Kirk on drums.
Terrie Odabi &
Evolution Blues
Golden Gate Blues Society
Their music is steeped in the
traditional roots of the blues.
Together they perform original
Wayne Watson
& Bluescake
This band exploded onto the
Boston music scene in late
2009, and in a short time they
attained the reputation of a
band to be reckoned with in
the new blues era. They are
widely regarded as the next big
act to come out of Boston. An
aggressive, take-no-prisoners,
guitar-shredding, soul-screaming approach to music puts
them in a hard-to-define, multigenre electric-blues/rock category. And one thing is for sure:
They do not disappoint. From
excruciatingly soulful slow jams
to hard-hitting, genre-bending
rockers, a night with ThrowDown is full of peaks and valleys, building to a crescendo
that will slam you into a climactic explosion, leaving you dripping with sweat and begging
for more.
Joe on sax, the Sandman on
bass, and Big Steve on guitar,
the Triple Threat Blues
Crusade takes elements from
the past and mixes them in the
present to create a new blend
of classic and nontraditional
forms of the blues.
Combining the best of traditional and modern guitarbased electric blues, the TZB
makes about as much music
as a trio can. Voted Buffalo’s
top blues guitarist, vocalist,
and band numerous times,
Tommy was inducted into the
Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in
2007. He has taken his band
overseas to entertain U.S.
troops in Iraq, Afghanistan,
Europe, Asia, and Africa since
2003, and also toured with
Grammy winner Pinetop
Perkins. His new CD,
Sometimes, hit the Top 50
blues charts for both FM and
Internet airplay. Superb bassist Jerry Livingston and
dynamic drummer Damone
Jackson lay down the infectious, uplifting grooves. A
blend of musicianship, positive
energy, and fun makes this act
one to experience.
The Triple Threat
Blues Crusade
Massachusetts
Blues Society
They play the blues with elements of funk and rock and
10,000 watts of electric energy.
Triple Threat lives to tear it
up and have a good time in
clubs throughout southern
New England. With Professor
Norm on drums, Newport
The Will
Wesley Band
Voodoo Blues Krewe New
Their music can best be
described as a cultural blend of
authentic blues combined with
a songwriter’s twist. The band is
a three-piece, with Will on lead
guitar and vocals, Troy West on
bass and vocals, and Steven
Herring on drums. The band
was formed in Baton Rouge,
and has been performing
steadily for over five years. What
makes their music different
from most is the wide variety of
styles that it incorporates, while
always staying true to the
authenticity of the blues. The
band’s biggest influences are
the Delta sounds and rich
blues history of Baton Rouge,
and with a songwriter’s touch
they have created a sound all
their own.
The blues, like cake, comes in
many flavors and styles. Wayne
Watson and Bluescake, a delicious mix of blues, swing, and
a hint of jazz, are feeding their
audiences into frenzy. Wayne
blends the music styles like a
batter that’s rich and smooth.
With the added talents of Jay
Thompson on harp, vocals, and
trombone, Greg Cartright on
keyboards and vocals, Sam
Withrow on drums, and Henry
Connally on bass, the band is
cooking their way into the
hearts of blues lovers everywhere. Wayne’s CD Risky
Business was the Indiana
Blues Society’s submission for
the 2012 Best Self-Produced
CD award.
Wicked Grin
Ottawa Blues Society
Blues with bite? Combine a
lead singer/songwriter’s fresh
take on gritty blues and his
killer guitar, a veteran harp
player who is raucous and
wailing in all the right places, a
super-tight bassist, and a hot
young drummer, and you get
BANDS H 149
full-tilt blues with a groove that
just won’t quit: blues with bite!
Since 2003, Murray Kinsley
and Wicked Grin have been
rockin’ festivals and clubs
throughout Ontario and
Quebec with their distinctive,
hard-driving sound. According
to the Ottawa Citizen, their
2011 debut, Down to the
Corner, “is designed for blues
lovers who appreciate a high
level of musicianship.” Their
new album, Shame on Me, was
released in December 2013.
Blues with bite!
Zamba
The band was founded 11
years ago by a group of fellows
who had known each other for
a long time, and got its name
from the nickname of its guitar
player, songwriter, and
producer. Through the years,
the band’s repertoire has
moved from blues to rock and
back to blues. After years of
playing covers, it now has
material of its own, written
entirely by Zamba. First place
in the fifth Croatian Blues
Challenge was a reward for
years of dedication to the
blues. Friendship within the
band keeps its energy and the
quality of its music on the
highest level. The band enjoys
performing, and tries to
transfer that to the audience.
The band members are Boris
“Zamba” Dugi-Novacki
(guitars/vocal), Tihomir Ban
(bass guitar), Hrvoje Stiscak
(drums), and Viktor Lipic
(Hammond organ).
Abe Lincoln &
the Log Lawyers
Dashiell Wakeman, Jonathan
Yaeger, and Logan Brammer
are Abe Lincoln and the Log
Lawyers, a new Atlanta blues
trio of talented musicians who
bonded over their love of blues
and now have banded together
to share that love with a wider
audience. Although the band
itself is new, the individual
members are veteran performers, having played with several
bands from the Atlanta youth
blues scene over the past few
years. Their music reflects a
wide variety of influences, from
Mississippi John Hurt to Gary
Clark, Jr., from Freddie King to
Atlanta’s own Sean Costello;
that is what creates the band’s
unique sound. Real, honest
blues is what Abe Lincoln and
the Log Lawyers deliver, in a
style guaranteed to please
any crowd.
Baldwin
Street Blues
Evan Hawk is a 17-year-old
blues singer and guitar player
150 H
BANDS
from Franklin, Indiana. He
started playing blues six years
ago after listening to an Albert
Collins CD. Evan likes to listen
to and play different styles of
blues. He has the ability even at
such a young age to let listeners feel the blues in his songs.
Evan, who is a junior in high
school, and Adam Land formed
Baldwin Street Blues in 2011.
Adam is a talented drummer
and a college freshman studying music. Bassist Ryan
Chandler plans to pursue a
career in accounting. The band
can be viewed on YouTube at
“Evan Hawk and Baldwin Street
Blues.” Evan can be seen at
“King Biscuit Time KFFA Carson
and Evan.” Evan also performed at the King Biscuit
Festival in 2012.
Brimstone
Hailing from Austin, Texas,
Brimstone is a high-energy
blues band delivering an electrifying stage presence while
performing traditional and
modern style blues à la Stevie
Ray Vaughn and Buddy Guy.
Brimstone writes and performs
engaging originals and covers.
Fourteen-year-old Dillon Havins
is known for his powerful stage
presence, soulful vocals, and
fiery guitar playing, and was
featured on America’s Got
Talent in 2012. Fourteen-yearold phenom Cameron Riggs,
dubbed “The Blues Piano Kid,”
adds the influences of Pinetop
Perkins and his mentor, Floyd
Domino. Charismatic and
passionate 15-year-old Dylon
Dickson is on bass. On drums
is the amazing 11-year-old Eric
Munjack, who has kept a
steady beat since age 4.
BX2
BX2 (Brothers Times Two) has a
distinctly hard-edged, guitardriven sound that has become
its trademark and has been
described as “futuristic blues.”
Drawn from the musicians’
collective influences, this sound
is traditional yet fresh. After
nearly two years of gigging
together, since early 2012,
when they were all just 9 and
11 years old, BX2 exhibits an
undeniably advanced musical
maturity. An extremely tight
rhythm section, scorching guitar
leads, and tasty keys are the
cornerstones of this band. With
each show, Brandon and Dylan
Niederauer (lead guitar and
bass), Thomas and Paul
Foschino (drums and keys), and
Kyle Sheehan (guitar) are leaving larger and larger audiences
in complete awe.
Chase Walker
Band
Orange County
Blues Society
Influenced by Warren Haynes,
Amos Lee, and Tab Benoit, the
Chase Walker Band’s soulful
original music and powerful
adaptations of classic blues
and roots songs are bringing
audiences to their feet at music
YOUTH H 151
In Layman Terms
create a unique sound for their
original music as well as covers
of others’ work, delivering a
top-shelf performance full of
rock and soul.
River City Blues
Society (Virginia)
Cumberland Blue
festivals and events across the
country. Although this band is
composed of teenagers, the
tight trio’s sound and performance are polished well beyond
their collective years. The
Chase Walker Band has been
covered on television and in
radio interviews and numerous
articles, including in the Wall
Street Journal. The Chase
Walker Band is one of the only
blues bands to be invited to
play the Van’s Warped Tour in
both 2013 and 2014.
Crimson Sky
Jersey Shore Jazz &
Blues Foundation
Crimson Sky is a New Jerseybased blues band formed in
2013 from participants in Bruce
Gallipani’s Rockit!Live program
hosted at the Count Basie
Theatre. A deep love and
respect for music is celebrated
in their stage performance as
they interpret and deliver the
core emotions of a song. There
is something for everyone, with
Dillon keeping the time on the
drums, Paul working the pocket
on bass, Samantha making her
keyboard dance, Tristan
delivering exceptional guitar
chops, and Allison guiding you
through the lyrics. Based on the
influences of band members,
their vision allows them to
152 H
YOUTH
Erwin Helfer, David Maxwell,
and other blues greats. He has
attended Otis Taylor’s Trance
Blues workshops. Voted
Freshman of the Year at
Boulder High, Jack also studies
music theory at the University
of Colorado.
Jake Kulak &
the LowDown
Forming in the fall of 2012,
Cumberland Blue won the
Nashville Blues Challenge youth
category and participated in the
2013 IBC in Memphis. Back
again in 2014, they honor the
roots of the blues while giving it
a fresh take for today’s audiences. Vocal powerhouse Chloe
Kohanski injects old blues soul
into every song. Duncan King
provides powerful, groove-laden
percussion, with heart-pounding bass from Jonah Folsom.
Grant Smith adds spicy flair
with his unique blues fiddle.
Hank Compton provides tasteful
and searing guitar. Members of
Cumberland Blue are multiinstrumentalists who will surprise you and have you dancing
in the aisles with their fresh
blues approach based on blues
masters of the past.
Detour 91
Los Angeles Blues Society
Detour 91 is a group of musicians between the ages of 14
and 16 who will captivate you
with their soulful and lively
tunes, strong musicianship, and
charismatic stage presence.
They met at a music camp
and developed a solid musical
friendship, and have performed
at over 30 venues in California
and Chicago since 2012. They
are influenced by blues and
classic rock music, and have
begun to write their own compositions. Detour 91 has been
featured in the Orange County
Register and Southland Blues
Magazine, and has opened for
music legends B.B. King and
Leon Russell. Come see them
and be entertained by Darryn
(vocals/keys), Kassandra
(vocals), Sloan (keys/sax), Lizzy
(bass), Anthony (guitar), Clay
(guitar), and Skylar (drums).
I Am Jack’s Band
Having performed together in
various settings, playing a multitude of styles ranging from
orchestral to electronica, jazz to
punk, the members formed I
Am Jack’s Band to explore their
interest in the blues. Their
eclectic style spans the genre,
including traditional and contemporary with notes of rock
and alternative blues. Each
musician plays multiple instruments in their school’s jazz and
percussion ensembles, orchestra, and marching and concert
bands, while lead vocalist
Ebon’e Jackson lends her
incredible voice to stage musicals, women’s ensemble, and
show choir as well. Joining
Ebon’e are Matt Ingram, drums;
Zach McGinty, guitar; Will
Hartner, bass; and Paul Priddy,
keyboard and vocals.
In Layman Terms is a sibling
duo hailing from Williamsburg,
Virginia. They have a passion for
the blues and write original,
foot-stomping music. Cole
Layman, 16, and Logan
Layman, 13, have been making
music together for as long as
they can remember. Their chilling vocal harmonies and unique
use of foot percussion make for
a gritty, soulful, and unforgettable performance. Logan was
named Blues Kid of the Year in
2013. She is known as the little
girl with the big voice and bigger bass lines. Cole has found
his niche playing Coke-bottle
slide in standard tuning.
Jack Gaffney
Jack Gaffney is a 16-year-old
singer-songwriter and pianist
from Boulder, Colorado. Jack’s
musical interests range from
Beethoven to U2 to James
Booker. He began playing piano
at age 4 and writing songs at 9,
and recorded his first CD at 12.
Twice he has been invited to the
Pinetop Perkins master keyboard workshop in Clarksdale,
Mississippi, where he played
and studied with Bob Margolin,
Jake Kulak first picked up a
guitar two years ago at age 11,
and has quickly established a
reputation for playing with a
maturity and conviction that
transcend his age. His soulful
guitar solos have earned him
scholarships from both The
Blues Foundation’s Generation
Blues program and the
Honeyboy Edwards Fund for the
Blues, which allowed him to
further hone his skills at the
Pinetop Perkins master class in
guitar in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
His numerous influences range
from Son House and Robert
Johnson to Jack White, Stevie
Ray Vaughan, and Joe
Bonamassa. Jake is thrilled to
be joined on stage by Anthony
Dailey, 13, on bass, and
Matthew Puffer, 14, on drums.
Together they are Jake Kulak
and the LowDown.
Katie Schanze
Treasure Coast
Katie Schanze is a 17-year-old
guitarist, performer, and singersongwriter from Pembroke
Pines, Florida. On stage since
she was 12, Katie has had the
opportunity to perform on tour
with such musical greats as Joe
Lynn Turner of Deep Purple, the
late Larry Hoppen of Orleans,
and Jimmy Hall, on the All-Star
Rock Tour 2011. Katie’s EP of
original songs was produced by
Jason Bonham in 2012. With
deep roots in blues and rock,
Katie can often be found playing with other talented musicians in the blues scene. She is
a long-standing member of the
South Florida Blues Society,
and a three-year invited guitarist for the annual Top Ten SFBS
Guitar Slingers Showcase.
Kingpin Trio
Philippine Blues Society
Kingpin Trio is a blues/bluesrock band consisting of guitarist/vocalist King Pineda (age
17), bassist Scott Dunn (15),
and drummer Jam Villanueva
(18). King was discovered at
age 15 by Philippine blues legend Wally Gonzalez, who has
been mentoring him ever since.
King already fronts a band composed of three blues and rock
veterans and himself, and he
often guests with the top blues
bands in Manila. Encouraged by
blues aficionados, King recently
enlisted Scott and Jam to join a
teenage band dedicated to
YOUTH H 153
exploring the blues in depth
and spreading the blues to
younger fans and beyond.
Levonda Kids
Levonda Kids come from a
Croatian island, Hvar, which
has a tradition of growing and
picking the native flowering
lavender and making lavender
oil and spice for cooking. Young
boys often help their parents in
the lavender fields, and that’s
where the band’s name came
from. They have a video spot of
their original song “Levonda
Blues.” These four friends
since elementary school
started playing together in
2011, and since then they’ve
played at a few blues festivals
and a lot of humanitarian
concerts. The band plays
something like island blues,
writing songs in the local
dialect. The members are Luka
Ljubic (15), vocal/lead guitar;
Luka Tresic (15), rhythm guitar;
Bono Tadic (15), bass guitar;
and Tin Lusic (14), drums.
Lucas Blues
Project
France Blues
The Lucas Blues Project is one
of the most promising young
bands to come out of the
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YOUTH
French blues scene in a long
time. The talented leader of the
band, Lucas Peaquin, provides
searing-hot lead guitar and
bluesy vocals, while the nimble
fingers of Julian Hurst bring the
keyboards to life and makes
them rock! The dynamic power
of the band comes from the
skill and incredible teamwork of
Ludo Perrin on bass and Joris
Corallini on drums. Influenced
by blues, rock, jazz, and funk,
the band treats audiences to
the mastery of Eric Clapton, the
spontaneity of Alvin Lee, and
the emotion of Gary Moore.
They are in the process of
recording their own blues compositions, which will be
released in February 2014.
Macyn Taylor
Malvin Noesen
& the Company
Old Soul
Norsk Bluesunion
The winners of Union Blues Cup
2012 have made their mark
with tight playing and catchy
songs during their yearlong tour
of Norway. They are fronted by
the young guitarist and singer
Malvin Noesen, who also does
the songwriting. He has, despite
his young age, already
managed to make a name for
himself with his talent, and has
received several awards,
including the National Music
Practice Award in 2010. The
band shows great enthusiasm
and is sure to put the audience
in a good mood!
Mo’ Pie
Old Soul is mesmerizing audiences across the United States.
Hohner Harmonica’s youngest
endorsee ever, Carson Diersing,
has a tone you don’t want to
miss. Zack Bulgarelli on drums
and Joel Temple on bass provide a solid foundation, locked
into those tight grooves.
Members have performed at
the Chicago Blues Fest, Pinetop
Perkins Homecoming,
FloydFest, Indy 500, House of
Blues, B.B. King’s, and more!
The Pinetop Perkins Master
Class and Fernando Jones
Blues Camp have helped
develop their musicianship.
These boys have fun and love
performing, and it shines
through on stage.
Peterson
Brothers Band
Macyn Taylor is an accomplished guitar player and singer.
She is 19 years old, and
recently graduated from the
University of WisconsinMilwaukee with a Bachelor of
Fine Arts degree. Now a graduate student at UWM, Macyn has
been performing since she was
7. She loves to play many different styles of music, and is the
2013 Wilson Center
International Guitar Competition
champion. Macyn was recently
given an award for Most
Promising New Talent by
Acoustic Guitar magazine. She
was also named the 2013
Wisconsin Area Music Industry
folk/Celtic performer of the
year.
Mo’ Pie is Ian Matthew Harper
(age 16), a 2013 Generation
Blues scholarship recipient, on
drums; Connor Stith (15) on
guitar; Ian “Deebs” Lovelace
(19) on harmonica; Trey Farlee
(18) on bass and vocals; Patrick
Long (14) on vocals and guitar;
and Sven Dugandzija (17) on
vocals and guitar. Together they
make up the driving six-man
blues group Mo’ Pie! With three
vocalists, three guitarists, a
driving bass-and-drum rhythm
section, and deep blues harmonica, Mo’ Pie combines the
traditional and modern sounds
of the blues in a high-energy,
youthful package.
The instinctive bond between
the two brothers is apparent
when they take to the stage.
They are inspiring, with their
combination of traditional and
contemporary songs together
with original material. Their
instrumental prowess holds
crowds in awe, and their abilities on stage rival those of
much older, seasoned players.
Glenn, 17 years old, plays guitar
and is the lead vocalist. Alex,
14, plays bass guitar and violin,
and also sings. They deliver the
blues with a heavy influence of
funk and a smooth, jazz-influenced technique combined with
a traditional blues approach.
Work is already under way on
their debut album with Grammy
Award-winning producer
Michael Freeman, due for
release in the spring of 2014.
Stax Music
Academy Rhythm
Section
The Stax Music Academy aims
to inspire young people and
enhance their academic, musical, and leadership skills
through the use of music, drawing heavily from the rich tradition of Stax Records and
Memphis music. The Stax
Music Academy Rhythm
Section, under the keen direction of Paul McKinney and
Justin Merrick, continues this
tradition. These “Soul
Communicators” showcase
their formidable talent performing a wide range of music
including the Stax Records catalogue, blues, funk, and contemporary jazz. Their ability to
re-create and elevate such treasured music is truly a gift.
The Riddle ’n’
Blues Band
The Riddle ’n’ Blues Band is
a group of four extremely talented young men. They are
home-schooled and have been
performing individually for
many years. However, this
band has been performing the
blues together for only three
months. Alex Brackett is the
lead singer/guitarist. He is 19
and shows great strength with
his songwriting abilities and
performing skills. Alex has
never had formal training. The
LeMieux brothers back Alex up.
Michael, 19, is the clarinet
player. Though he is classically
trained, Michael is self-taught
in swing jazz, and performs with
his brothers in their family
band. Jacob, 17, is the drummer, and has been performing
for six years. At just 14 years
old, Adam, on bass, is a natural!
The Sad Sam
Blues Jam
The Sad Sam Blues Jam, a sister-led act, will be performing at
the IBC for a second time with
Sadie Johnson (17) on lead
guitar and vocals, Sam Johnson
(18) on bass, Krista Hess (19)
on guitar and vocals, and Jacob
Gates (19) on drums. This band
plays at a level that has
matured and will definitely
impress, no matter how you like
your blues. The girls’ continuous energy and love of the
music, along with their precision and technique, make a
show that is heartfelt and
explosive.
YOUTH H 155
The Social
Bandits
Each has understudied with a
great local musician, and the
music causes each to occasionally “under-study” for an upcoming test. In both cases it pays
off in their performances.
The White
Lightnins
The Social Bandits are a new
act, anchored by Jesse
Medawar on vocals, Jared
Bentley on lead guitar, Brad
Rude on bass, and Dylan Walsh
on drums. The group experiments with blues and rock
vibes, while adding a new creative twist that is sure to interest audiences of all ages.
Currently, The Social Bandits
are busy performing many clubs
dates, festivals, and other community events. They are also
putting the final touches on
their four-song EP, recorded at
Rust Belt Studios in Royal Oak,
with a planned release by
December of 2013.
The Understudies
The Understudies is a
Minneapolis-based blues band
with a guitar rocking bent. Each
member has extensive performance experience in prior
bands, ranging from straight-up
blues to rock to jazz and gospel.
The Understudies are a guitarforward band built around dual
leads. While their shows feature
a musical humor and an occasional sensitive side, they never
stray far from the principle that
Loud Is Good! The Understudies
are Colin Campbell and Zach
Avery on guitar and vocals, with
Tom Bush and Quin Simmons
on bass and drums making up
the rhythm section. All are 17.
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YOUTH
The White Lightnins are some
of Texas’ finest young musicians. With influences such as
Lightnin’ Hopkins, Albert
Collins, Tom Waits, Stevie Ray
Vaughn, and Bob Dylan, this
band gives you blues like you
don’t hear every day. These
boys have been in the blues
trenches, and it shows! Five
members of The White
Lightnins have either won or
been candidates for the prestigious Houston Blues Society
Young Artist of the Year award.
Several of them performed in
the IBC Houston competition in
the band category. The members are Eric Hoovestol,
Matthew Brodnax, Matthew
Cobb, Jake Helpinstill, Zolo
Sindu, and Kyle Schmidt. Look
out, Memphis–Texas is bringing
it again!
Wholehearted
Halfwits
Pomeroy Blues +
Jazz Society
The Wholehearted Halfwits are
composed of guitarist and
singer/songwriter Zackary
Shafer, bassist John Mollica,
and drummer Yonry Zhu. Their
music pulls influence from rock,
blues, and alternative styles,
occasionally featuring funk or
indie undertones. They hope to
release their own self-produced
album in the fall of 2013. In the
next five years they hope to
further develop their sound,
meet and play with other names
on the music scene, and secure
spots in upcoming gigs nationwide. Six years of hard work,
determination, perseverance,
and serious love of music best
describes these talented individuals, who will perform at
their best for any venue willing
to offer a stage!
Zoe Zielinski
Blues Society of
1st Place Band
Best Harmonica Player
✩✩ Personalized Plaque
✩✩ $2500 cash
✩✩ A Reactor Watch the Best Built
Performance Sport Watch...period!
✩✩ 2 Year Bandzoogle Pro account
with web design assistance
✩✩ Ad in Blues Festival Guide and Web Ad
✩✩ Great gigs, including:
▪▪ 2014 Legendary Rhythm &
Blues Pacific Cruise
▪▪ Heritage Blues Festival - Wheeling, WV
▪▪ Telluride Blues & Brews Festival - Telluride, CO
▪▪ Hot Springs Blues Festival - Hot Springs, AR
▪▪ Eureka Springs Blues WeekendEureka Springs, AR
▪▪ Greater Ozark Blues Festival - Springfield, MO
▪▪ Gladstone SummerTime
BluesFest - Gladstone, MO
▪▪ Levitt Shell Concert Series - Memphis,TN
▪▪ Sin City Soul & Blues Revival - Las Vegas, NV
▪▪ Bottleneck Blues Bar Ameristar
Casino - Vicksburg, MS
S ponso r ed b y L ee O ska r H a r monicas
2nd Place Band
Zoe Zielinski is a 19-year-old
singer-songwriter from
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where
she attends community college.
She has been writing songs,
playing the guitar, and expressing herself through music since
the age of 12. Zoe is a storyteller who can sit down as easily
at a piano as with a guitar, and
can even rock out on a drum
set if need be. She makes her
own beats and produces her
own music with GarageBand.
Her eclectic musical taste runs
the gamut from old-time
Western to smooth R&B, doowop, and rap. She studies voice
and guitar at Hope Academy of
Music and the Arts, where she
did a songwriting workshop with
Bubs Mckeg from the Blues
Society of Western
Pennsylvania. Last year Zoe
won the society’s Youth Blues
Challenge.
✩✩ $1500 cash
✩✩ Two Year Bandzoogle Pro account
✩✩ Great Gigs, including:
▪▪ Canal Bank Shuffle - Thorold, Ontario, Canada
Casino, Vicksburg. MS
3rd Place Band
✩✩ $1000 cash
✩✩ Great Gigs, including:
Casino - Vicksburg. MS
✩✩ Category 5 Amp
1st Place Solo/Duo
✩✩ $2000 cash
✩✩ A Reactor Watch the Best Built
Performance Sport Watch...period!
✩✩ Ad in Blues Festival Guide and Web Ad
✩✩ Great gigs, including:
▪▪ Traditional Acoustic Blues
Festival - Columbus, OH
▪▪ Heritage Blues Festival - Wheeling, WV
▪▪ Alonzo’s Memorial Day Picnic - Baltimore, MD
▪▪ Hot Springs Blues Festival - Hot Springs, AR
▪▪ 2015 Legendary Rhythm &
Blues Caribbean Cruise
2nd Place Solo/Duo
✩✩ $1000 cash
Best Guitarist H Solo/Duo
✩✩ Saint Blues Cigar Box Guitar features
a hard-rock maple neck, custom Piezo,
volume knob, bone nut and bridge and
Grover gears & well-padded hemp gig bag
Best Self-Produced CD
Best Guitarist H Band
✩✩ Gibson Custom ES-335 guitar with
The Blues Foundation logo
✩✩ Autographed 30th Anniversary limited
edition Lee Oskar Harmonica
✩✩ Set of Lee Oskar harmonicas
✩✩ Additional set of Lee Oskar reed
plates & accessories
✩✩ $750 cash
✩✩ The CD will receive airplay on:
▪▪ Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s
B.B. King’s Bluesville
▪▪ Music Choice, your cable and
satellite TV Blues channel
▪▪ Blues Breaker status on The House of
Blues Radio Show with Elwood Blues
▪▪ Other radio shows hosted by our
deejay judges around the country.
H 157
11 Mile Band. . . . 125
Abe Lincoln & the
Log Lawyers. . . . 151
A Different Shade
of Blue . . . . . . . . 125
Adriano Viterbini . . 23
AJ Gaither. . . . . . . . 23
Alex Wilson. . . . . . 125
Alonzo Pennington.23
Andrew & Joel . . . . 23
Annie Mack . . . . . 125
Anthony & the
Conqueroos. . . . 125
Arsen Shomakhov
Band. . . . . . . . . . 126
Arthur Migliazza. . . 23
Back Pack Jones.126
Bad Brad & the
Fat Cats . . . . . . . 126
Bakin’Phat. . . . . . 126
Baldwin Street
Blues . . . . . . . . . 151
Balkun Brothers. . . 24
Bare Bones . . . . . . 24
Ben Rice & the
iLLamatics. . . . . 127
Between Dead
Stations . . . . . . . . 24
Big Jim Adam. . . . . 24
Big Mike Aguirre &
the Blu-City
All-Stars . . . . . . . 127
Billion Dollar
Blues Band . . . . 127
Billy the Kid & the
Regulators. . . . . 127
BK Smith Blues
Band. . . . . . . . . . 127
Black River Bluesman
& Bad Mood
Hudson. . . . . . . . . 25
Blue Ruin. . . . . . . 128
Bluesboy Jag &
the Juke Joint
Zombies. . . . . . . 128
Blues Power
Band. . . . . . . . . . 128
Blues Tonight
Band. . . . . . . . . . 128
Blu Fonk. . . . . . . . 128
158 H
Bob “Bumble Bee”
Kamoske. . . . . . . 25
Boogie Boys. . . . . 129
Boogie Patrol. . . . 129
Boogie Shoes. . . . . 25
Boscoe France
Band. . . . . . . . . . 129
Brad Absher &
Swamp Royale. . 129
Brandon Isaak (Yukon
Slim). . . . . . . . . . . 25
Brat Pack. . . . . . . 129
Brenda Meyer
Band. . . . . . . . . . 130
Bret Bunton
Project . . . . . . . . 130
Brewer & Stevo . . . 25
Brian Keith Wallen.26
Brick Fields & the
Chosen Ones. . . 130
Brimstone. . . . . . . 151
Brooke Thomas &
the Blue Suns . . 130
Buck Hoffman &
Paul McQuade. . . 26
BX2. . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Carl Henry &
Tony Berci. . . . . . . 26
Carlos Elliot Jr. &
the Cornlickers. 130
Cary Morin. . . . . . . 26
Chad Elliott with
Bonita Crowe. . . . 26
Chad Lore. . . . . . . . 27
Charlotte Taylor &
Gypsy Rain. . . . . 131
Chase Walker
Band. . . . . . . . . . 151
Chaz Humley &
the Effects. . . . . 131
Chris O’Connor. . . . 27
Chris Sutton. . . . . . 27
Christine Jude Duo.27
Chuckee Zehr. . . . . 28
Chuck & Leo . . . . . 27
Clarence “The
Blues Man”
Turner Band. . . . 132
Cleveland Blue. . . . 28
Coco Butter Band. 28
Colin John. . . . . . . . 28
Crimson Sky. . . . . 152
Crooked Eye
Tommy . . . . . . . . 132
Cumberland Blue.152
Dan Doiron Band.132
Dani Dorchin . . . . . 29
Danny Draher
Band. . . . . . . . . . 132
Dave Bostwick. . . . 29
Dave Muskett. . . . . 29
David Pinsky &
Phil Newton. . . . . 30
David Shelley &
Bluestone. . . . . . 132
Detour 91. . . . . . . 152
D&G Boogie Blues .29
DieDra & the Ruff
Pro Band . . . . . . 133
Dirty Basement
Dirty Old Men. . . . . 30
D.J. Rice. . . . . . . . . 29
Doug Wright &
the Nomads. . . . 133
Dunavent & Hood. 30
Erik Ray. . . . . . . . . 30
Fatty Waters. . . . . 134
Felix Slim . . . . . . . . 31
Flamin’ Crows . . . 134
Gary Applegate . . . 31
Gary Prisby &
Matt Barranti. . . . 31
Gary Small & the
Coyote Brothers.134
Gary Wright . . . . . . 31
Ghost Town
Greg Burgess. . . . . 31
Gregg Wright . . . . 135
Grits from Dumplin
Valley . . . . . . . . . 135
Herbie D & the
Dangermen. . . . 135
Herbie & the
Guitarguy. . . . . . . 32
Holly & Evan Trio. 135
HooDoo. . . . . . . . 135
Hubert Szczesny
& Kuba
Kleinschmidt. . . . 32
I Am Jack’s Band.152
In Layman Terms.153
In the Pocket. . . . 136
Jack Gaffney. . . . . 153
Jake Kulak & the
LowDown. . . . . . 153
James Groves Blues
Machine. . . . . . . 136
James Painter. . . . 32
Jarekus
Singleton . . . . . . 136
Jenie Thai. . . . . . . . 32
Jennifer B & the
Groove . . . . . . . . 136
Jerome Godboo. . 137
Jigsaw Mud. . . . . . 137
Jimmy Pritchard
Band. . . . . . . . . . 137
Jimy Graham . . . . . 33
J J Rue. . . . . . . . . . . 32
Joe Elbaz & the
Blues Angels . . . 137
Joel DaSilva & the
Midnight Howl. . 137
John Carl Escue. . . 33
John Egan. . . . . . . . 33
John F.. . . . . . . . . . 138
John Latini & JamieSue Seal. . . . . . . . 33
Johnny & Zep. . . . . 34
Josh Hoyer & the
Shadowboxers. . 138
Juke Joint Jackson.34
Juke Rockets
Katie Schanze. . . 153
Katy Guillen &
the Girls. . . . . . . 139
Kevin Purcell & the
Nightburners. . . 139
Kev Nichols &
Blue Tuesday. . . 139
Kim Pollard Band.140
Kingpin Trio . . . . . 153
King & Stiles . . . . . 34
Lane Baldwin. . . . . 34
Lawyers Guns &
Money. . . . . . . . . 140
Leeboy . . . . . . . . . . 35
Lee Delray Band. 140
Levonda Kids. . . . 154
Lightnin’ James. . . 35
Lightnin’ Willie. . . 141
Lisa Hutchinson
Lit’l Chicago. . . . . 141
Little Roy Gene &
Grayson Goff. . . . 35
Low Society . . . . . 141
Lucas Blues
Project . . . . . . . . 154
Lucious Spiller. . . . 35
Macyn Taylor . . . . 154
Mal Eastick & Milena
Barrett Blues
Project . . . . . . . . 142
Malvin Noesen &
the Company. . . 154
Manu Lanvin &
the Devil Blues. . 35
Mark May & the Soul
Satyr Horns . . . . 142
Mark Pentone &
Smoky Greenwell.36
Matt Tedder. . . . . . 36
Matt Weidinger . . . 36
Micah Kesselring. . 36
Michael McCarthy. 36
Mike Seeber Trio. 143
Mikey Mo Band. . 143
Mississippi
Marshall. . . . . . . . 37
Mojo Theory. . . . . 143
Monica Morris. . . . 37
Mo’ Pie. . . . . . . . . 154
Morry Sochat &
Shoji Naito. . . . . . 37
Mr. Sipp . . . . . . . . 144
Ms. Lady Dee “Me
& the Boyz” . . . . 144
Ms. Tabatha &
Bobby. . . . . . . . . . 37
Naffis &
Massarutto. . . . . . 37
Nico Wayne Toussaint
& Michel Foizon. . 38
Old Soul . . . . . . . . 155
Owen Poteat. . . . . . 38
Ozark Mountain
Oysters. . . . . . . . . 38
Pappy Johns
Band. . . . . . . . . . 144
Pete Herzog. . . . . . 38
Peterson Brothers
Band. . . . . . . . . . 155
Pickett Searcy
Coalition. . . . . . . . 38
Rae Gordon Band.145
Rafael Espinoza. . 146
Red Dirt
Revelators . . . . . 146
Rick Tobey . . . . . . . 39
Rock Island
Rollers . . . . . . . . 146
Rod Paine’s Fulltime
Lovers. . . . . . . . . 147
Ron & the
Rumpshakers . . 147
Sam Joyner Band. 39
Sanjin. . . . . . . . . . . 39
Sasha Colette. . . . 40
Satoru Nakagawa. 40
Scale House. . . . . . 40
Seventh Son
Shawn Doré. . . . . . 40
Sister Lucille . . . . 147
Skinny Velvet. . . . 148
Stax Music Academy
Rhythm Section.155
Suitcase Brothers. 40
SwampShaka Duo
with Tony C. . . . . . 41
Sweet Danny
Ray & Rafael
Tranquillino . . . . . 41
Tampa Spatz . . . . . 41
Tastes Like
Chicken. . . . . . . 148
T-Bone Lightnin’. . . 41
Terrie Odabi &
Evolution Blues. 148
Tevis Hodge Jr.. . . . 41
The Bacon Fats . . 126
The Cazanovas. . . 131
The Chain. . . . . . . 131
The Charlley Ward
Band. . . . . . . . . . 131
The Co-Dependents. . . . . . . . . . 28
The Delta Swamp
Rats . . . . . . . . . . . 30
The Doug Hart
Band. . . . . . . . . . 133
The Downtown
Shimmy . . . . . . . 133
The Good the Bad
& the Blues . . . . 134
The Jan Galach
Band. . . . . . . . . . 136
The Juice. . . . . . . . 138
The Juke Hounds.138
The Katz Sass . . . 139
The Kentucky
Gentlemen. . . . . . 34
The Lauren
Mitchell Band . . 140
The Lenny “Fuzzy”
Rankins Band . . 140
The Lucky Doggs. 141
The MacKenzie
The Memphis
Blues Revue. . . . 142
The Michael
Gough Group. . . 142
The Mike Clark
Band. . . . . . . . . . 143
The Miss Jackie
Wilson Band. . . . 143
The Octavia
The Old No. 5’s . . 144
The Paul CruiZe
Blues Crew. . . . . 145
The Pitbull of
The Porkroll
Project . . . . . . . . 145
The Preacher . . . . . 39
The Randy Oxford
Band. . . . . . . . . . 146
The Rick Hammond
The Riddle ’n’
The R. Mutt
The Rockin’ Jake
Band. . . . . . . . . . 147
The Sad Sam
Blues Jam . . . . . 155
The Social
Bandits. . . . . . . . 156
The Stacy Brooks
Band. . . . . . . . . . 148
The ThrowDown
Band. . . . . . . . . . 148
The Timo Arthur
Duo. . . . . . . . . . . . 42
The Tommy Z
Band. . . . . . . . . . 149
The Triple Threat
Blues Crusade. . 149
The Understudies.156
The White
Lightnins . . . . . . 156
The Will Wesley
Band. . . . . . . . . . 149
Tim Bastmeyer. . . . 42
Tim Lothar &
Holger Daub. . . . . 42
Tim Williams. . . . . . 42
Tracy K & Jamie
Steinhoff Blues
Duo. . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Wayne Watson &
Bluescake . . . . . 149
Wendy DeWitt with
Kirk Harwood. . . . 43
Wholehearted
Halfwits . . . . . . . 156
Wicked Grin. . . . . 149
Wild Will
Williamson. . . . . . 43
Willie Green. . . . . . 43
Zakk & Big Papa
Binns . . . . . . . . . . 43
Zamba . . . . . . . . . 150
Zoe Zielinski. . . . . 156
H 159
Our thanks
to the
following
entities &
individuals
who have
helped to
make the
30th IBC
a success:
160 H
✩✩ Arrowhead Health Centers
& Dr. Janice Johnston
✩✩ Beale Street Caravan
✩✩ Beale Street Merchants
Association &
member clubs
✩✩ Big City Rhythm & Blues
✩✩ Blues Festival Guide
✩✩ Category 5 Amps
✩✩ Comfort Inn
✩✩ Crowne Plaza Hotel
✩✩ Courtyard by Marriott
✩✩ Denker Awards
✩✩ Doubletree Memphis
Downtown
✩✩ Downtowner
✩✩ Elwoods’ Bluesmobile
✩✩ First Tennessee
Foundation
✩✩ Flying Saucer
✩✩ Gibson Guitar
✩✩ Mike Glenn/New
Daisy Theater
✩✩ Holiday Inn
✩✩ Keyboards in
Black & White
✩✩ Kooky Canuck
✩✩ Leading Edge Wireless
✩✩ Lee Oskar Harmonicas
✩✩ Legendary Rhythm
& Blues Cruise
✩✩ Living Blues
✩✩ Memphis Blues Society
✩✩ Memphis Flyer
✩✩ Music on the Couch
✩✩ Orpheum Theatre
✩✩ Peabody Hotel
✩✩ Profound Sound
✩✩ River City Productions
✩✩ RJ Stillwell,
SoundHealthcare
✩✩ Sleep Inn
✩✩ Spring Hill Suites
✩✩ St. Blues Guitars
✩✩ Tas Cru
✩✩ Tater Red’s
✩✩ Vine Print Group
✩✩ Vista Inn
✩✩ VividPix & Design
✩✩ Yarbrough’s Music
✩✩ Clayton Andrus
✩✩ Paul Averwater
✩✩ Chuck Barber
✩✩ Matt Berichon
✩✩ Ed Bosch
✩✩ Mike Bounds
✩✩ Megan Brook
✩✩ Michael
Ciaramitaro
✩✩ JaNae Cook
✩✩ Ryan Cooper
✩✩ Catherine
Crismon
✩✩ Tammy Davis
✩✩ Kyle Deibler
✩✩ Carlynn Diersing
✩✩ Tim Diersing
✩✩ Penny Lane
Diersing
✩✩ Cathi Gilman
✩✩ Steve Grushkin
✩✩ Megan Hanna
✩✩ Bill Harbin
✩✩ Marty Hawkins
✩✩ Mary Henderson
✩✩ Linda Henry
✩✩ Andrew Hinson
✩✩ Jimmy Holliday
✩✩ David Hughes
✩✩ Sherree Hughes
✩✩ Greg James
✩✩ Greg Johnson
✩✩ Caffi Kirk
✩✩ Kristine Kozar
✩✩ Barbara Lavoie
✩✩ Joel Laybourn
✩✩ Steve Mack
✩✩ Mary Maxson
✩✩ John Mazzello
✩✩ Sandy McCann
✩✩ Roy McCann
✩✩ Beth McCasland
✩✩ Elizabeth
MontgomeryBrown
✩✩ Sara NegriWhitmer
✩✩ Jenn Ocken
✩✩ Pat and Debby
O’Malley
✩✩ Carol Perel
✩✩ Monte Phillips
✩✩ Roger Plourde
✩✩ Chuck Porter
✩✩ Mark Puskarich
✩✩ Peter Pyszka
✩✩ Rick Rabe
✩✩ Connie C.
Rasberry
✩✩ Penny Recker
✩✩ Arleen
Reifschneider
✩✩ Karl
Reifschneider
✩✩ Melanie Rice
✩✩ Jim Richmond
✩✩ Chris Sabie
✩✩ Richard A.
Schaefer
✩✩ Dennis Schaibly
✩✩ Wendy Schumer
✩✩ Leah Seebon
✩✩ Michele
Seidman
✩✩ Billie Snow
✩✩ Christian
Stanfield
✩✩ Vera Stanfield
✩✩ Nigel Strudwick
✩✩ Joy Terral
✩✩ David Waddell
✩✩ Jennifer Weaver
✩✩ Rick Wills
...and of course, all
the judges, volunteers
and silent auction
donors and bidders!
Clay Purdom
Treasurer
Memphis , TN
Board of
Directors
Eric Simonsen
Chair
Ivins , UT
Mick Kolassa
Vice-Chair
Ox ford, MS
Paul Benjamin
Exec CommitTee
Rockland, ME
Kathy Bolmer
Exec CommitTee
Fr anklin, TN
Joey Sichting
Exec CommitTee
Memphis ,TN
Kuji Chahal
S an Fr ancisco, CA
Mike Donahue
Lexing ton, VA
Michael Freeman
B arring ton, IL
Janice Johnston
Phoenix , A Z
Alan Maites
Highland P ark , IL
Karl Maurer
New Lenox , IL
Gary Nicholson
Nashville, TN
Gary Paradis
O t tawa, C anada
Ron Partain
L akeland, TN
Meg Ramos
Luis Viada
Newpor t Coast, CA
Washing ton, DC
Jonathon Richards
Kent, WA
Olga Wilhelmine
New Orleans , L A
Thomas Ruf
Nashville, TN
Cassie Taylor
Chilhowee, MO
Alex Thomas
Jackson, MS
Paul Tischler
Chev y Chase, MD
Laurie Tucker
Germantown, TN
Eddie Turner
Boc a Raton, FL
Fr anklin, TN
Little Boogaloo
Houston, T X
Jeff Syracuse
Kathy Bolmer
O ccidental, CA
Gail Singer
Coldwater, MS
Roger & Joey Finck
Annapolis , MD
Noah Bolmer
Lindewerr a, Germany
Ricky Stevens
Blue Waters
Foundation
Greenville, MS
Charter
Members
Dan Brouillette
Shavano P ark , T X
Steve Bryson
Torr anc e, CA
Shirley Adams
Bob Corritore
Jim Allchin
Z. David & Sharon
DeLoach
Lula, GA
Seat tle, WA
Donovan Allen
Houston, T X
Robert Blake
Scot tsdale, A Z
Por t Allen, L A
Elizabeth Drewry
South D eer f ield, MA
Jesse Finkelstein
Peter Fleming
Nashville, TN
Mark Goodman
Hudson, FL
Mark & Chris Jordan
Meadville, PA
Moira Kneeshaw
Calvin & Amy
McKenzie
Fran Scott
Memphis , TN
Clint Morgan
Jay Sieleman &
Priscilla Hernandez
Dr. Chris Patterson
Eric Simonsen
Ray ville, L A
Olympia, WA
Inman, SC
Barbara Peikin
Holger Petersen
Edmonton, AB
Mick Kolassa
Brian LaPrade
Pat Robertson
Lori Leo
James Robertson
Ox ford, MS
Tupelo, MS
O elwein, IA
L andrum, SC
B ar tlet t, TN
Andy T
Fr anklin, TN
Chev y Chase, MD
Shonda Warner
Clarksdale, MS
Coolidge, A Z
Chris Sabie
Columbia, MO
Paul Tischler
Eureka Springs , AR
Keller, T X
Ivins , UT
LA Smith
Fr anklin, TN
Charles & Lori
Ragsdell
Nanaimo, BC
Memphis , TN
Peggy Whalley
Austin, T X
Allen J. Wiltz, Jr.
Natchitoche s , L A
Garden Cit y, N Y
The Blues Foundation Affiliates
D enver, C O
Alabama Blues Project
Arkansas River Blues Society
Asociación Musical
Blues Hondarribia
Association of Blues
& Rock ‘70
Auckland Blues Club
Baltic Blues
Baltimore Blues Society
Barcelona Blues Society
Baton Rouge Blues Society
Blue Ridge Blues Society
Treasure Coast
Blues Association of Geneva
Blues Association of South
East Queensland
Blues at Bridgetown
Incorporated
Blues Baltica
Blues Blowtorch Society
Blues Club Luxembourg
Blues Lovers United
of San Diego
Blues Oan Daa Stoazze
Blues Society of Central
Pennsylvania
Blues Society of
Northwest Florida
Blues Society of Omaha
Blues Society of the Ozarks
Blues Society of
Western New York
162 H
Blues Society of Western
Pennsylvania
Blues Society on Taiwan
Blues Sur Seine
Boise Blues Society
Bruce County Blues Society
Brussels Blues Society
Buffalo River Blues Society
Calgary Blues Music
Association
Canada South Blues Society
Canal Bank Shuffle
Canberra Blues Society
Capital Region Blues Network
Central Delaware
Blues Society
Central Iowa Blues Society
Central Mississippi
Blues Society
Chippewa Valley Blues Society
Cincy Blues Society
Collingwood Jazz and
Blues Society
Colombian Blues Society
Crossroads Blues
Society of Illinois
DC Blues Society
Decatur Blues Society
DeltaBlues
El Paso Blues Society
European Blues Union
Finnish Blues Society
Fort Smith Riverfront
Blues Society
France Blues
German Blues Network
Grand County Blues Society
Great Northern Blues Society
Gulf Coast Blues Society
Harvest Jazz and
Blues Festival
Illinois Blues Coalition
Inland Empire Blues Society
Blues Foundation
Kalamazoo Valley
Blues Association
Lake of the Ozarks
Blues Society
Las Vegas Blues Society
Lebanese Blues Foundation
Lehigh Valley Blues Network
Lizard Creek Blues Society
Los Angeles Blues Society
Lowcountry Blues Club
Madison Blues Society
Maine Blues Society
Marquette Area Blues Society
Massachusetts Blues Society
Melbourne Blues
Appreciation Society
Mile High Blues Society
Mississippi Valley
Blues Society
MO Blues Association
Mohawk Valley Blues Society
Mojo Station
Montreal Blues Society
Natchel Blues Network
Nature Coast Friends of Blues
New Mexico Blues Society
Norsk Blues Union
Blues Society
Northeast Ohio Blues
Association (NEOBA)
Northern Arizona
Blues Alliance
Orange Blossom Blues Society
Orange County Blues Society
Ottawa Blues Society
Ozark Blues Society
of NW Arkansas
Panama Blues
Paris Blues Society
Phillipine Blues Society
Phoenix Blues Society
Piedmont Blues
Pikes Peak Blues Community
Polish Blues Association
Pomeroy Blues + Jazz Society
Prairie Crossroads
Blues Society
Raising the Blues
Reno Blues Society
Rhode Island Rhythm and
Blues Preservation Society
River City Blues Society (IL)
River City Blues Society (VA)
Rowan Blues and Jazz Society
Russellville Blues Society
Sacramento Blues Society
San Antonio Blues Society
San Luis Obispo Blues Society
Santa Barbara Blues Society
Santa Clarita Valley
Blues Society
Saskatoon Blues Society
Scandanavian Blues
Association
Second Story Blues Alliance
Sierre Blues Association
Slovakblues
Smoky Mountain Blues Society
Sonny Boy Blues Society
South Africa Blues Society
South Florida Blues Society
South Skunk Blues Society
South Sound Blues
Association
Southeast Iowa Blues Society
Southern Arizona Blues
Heritage Foundation
Southern California
Blues Society
Southwest Florida
Blues Society
Stekense Rhythm & Blues Club
The Blues, Jazz and
Folk Music Society
The Golden Gate Blues Society
The Music Preservation
Society
Toronto Blues Society
Valencia Blues Society
Ventura County Blues Society
Victoria Blues Society
Voodoo Blues Krewe New
Walla Walla Blues Society
West Michigan Blues Society
Wyoming Blues & Jazz Society
H 163
P ainting by H . C . P o r t e r • hcp o r t e r . c o m
Nominees
Acoustic Album
++ There’s a Time -
Doug MacLeod
++ Juba dance - Guy
Davis featuring
Fabrizio Poggi
++ Soulscape Harrison Kennedy
++ Avalon - Rory Block
++ Unleashed - The
Hound Kings
Acoustic Artist
++ Doug MacLeod
++ Guy Davis
++ Harrison Kennedy
++ Little G Weevil
++ Rory Block
Album
++ Get Up! - Ben
M e m p h i s • M ay 8 , 2 0 1 4
If you are a member of The Blues
Foundation, you already know that
you are entitled to vote for the
Blues Music Awards®. If you
are not a member, you can still join
and vote. So sign up this weekend
or do it online when you get home.
Voting ends February 28, 2014.
Level of membership and date
of ticket purchase are factors
determining your seat!
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i n f o at b l u e s . o r g
Harper with Charlie
Musselwhite
++ Remembering
Little Walter - Billy
Boy Arnold, Charlie
Musselwhite,
Mark Hummel,
Sugar Ray Norcia
& James Harman
++ Rhythm & Blues
- Buddy Guy
++ Cotton Mouth Man
- James Cotton
++ Blues in My Soul
- Lurrie Bell
B.B. King
Entertainer
++ Bobby Rush
++ Buddy Guy
++ John Németh
++ Kim Wilson
++ Rick Estrin
Band
++ Lil Ed & the
Blues Imperials
++ Rick Estrin &
the Night Cats
++ Tedeschi
Trucks Band
++ The Mannish Boys
++ Trampled
Under Foot
Best New
Artist Debut
++ Double Crossing
Blues - Adrianna
Marie and Her
Groovecutters
++ Rooster - Clay
Swafford
++ Proof of Love Gracie Curran & the
High Falutin’ Band
++ What’s the
Chance... - Paul
Gabriel
++ Daddy Told Me
- Shawn Holt &
the Teardrops
++ Pushin’ Against a
Stone - Valerie June
Contemporary
Blues Album
++ Get Up! - Ben
Harper with Charlie
Musselwhite
++ This Time Another
Year - Brandon
Santini
++ Rhythm & Blues
- Buddy Guy
++ Magic Honey Cyril Neville
++ Badlands
- Trampled
Under Foot
Contemporary
Blues Female
Artist
++ Ana Popovic
++ Beth Hart
++ Bettye LaVette
++ Candye Kane
++ Susan Tedeschi
Contemporary
Blues Male
Artist
++ Buddy Guy
++ Gary Clark, Jr.
++ Johnny Sansone
++ Kim Wilson
++ Otis Taylor
DVD
++ High John Records
- Time Brings
About a Change
(Floyd Dixon)
++ J&R Adventures
- An Acoustic
Evening at the
Vienna Opera
House (Joe
Bonamassa)
++ Shake-It-Sugar
Records – Live
(Murali Coryell)
++ Ruf Records Songs from the
Road (Royal
Southern
Brotherhood)
++ Blue Star
Connection - Live
at Knuckleheads
(The Healers)
Historical
++ The Sun Blues Box
(Various Artists)
- Bear Family
++ The Original
Honeydripper
(Roosevelt Sykes)
- Blind Pig Records
++ The Jewel/Paula
Blues Story
(Various Artists)
- Fuel Records
++ Death Might Be
Your Santa Claus
(Various Artists) Legacy Recordings
++ The Complete
King/Federal
Singles (Freddie
King) - Real
Gone Music
Rock Blues
Album
++ Gone to Texas
- Mike Zito &
the Wheel
++ Made Up Mind
- Tedeschi
Trucks Band
++ Can’t Get Enough
- The Rides
++ John the Conquer
Root - Toronzo
Cannon
++ Luther’s BluesWalter Trout
Instrumentalist
Bass
++ Bill Stuve
++ Bob Stroger
++ Danielle
Schnebelen
++ Larry Taylor
++ Patrick Rynn
Instrumentalist
Drums
++ Cedric Burnside
++ Jimi Bott
++ Kenny Smith
++ Tom Hambridge
++ Tony Braunagel
Song
++ “Blues in My
Soul” - Lurrie Bell
++ “He Was There”
– James Cotton,
Tom Hambridge &
Richard Fleming
++ “That’s When the
Blues Begins” James Goode
++ “The Entitled Few”
- Doug MacLeod
++ “The Night the Pie
Factory Burned
Down” - Johnny
Sansone
Soul Blues
Album
Traditional
Blues Album
++ Driftin’ from
Town to Town Barrelhouse Chuck
& Kim Wilson’s
Blues All-Stars
++ Remembering
Little Walter - Billy
Boy Arnold, Charlie
Musselwhite,
Mark Hummel,
Sugar Ray Norcia,
James Harman
++ Cotton Mouth Man
- James Cotton
++ Blues in My Soul
- Lurrie Bell
++ Black Toppin’ - The
Cash Box Kings
Instrumentalist
Guitar
++ Down In Louisiana
++ Anson
++ Soul Changes
Traditional
Blues Male
Artist
++ Soul for Your
++ Anson
Funderburgh
++ Gary Clark, Jr.
++ Kid Andersen
++ Lurrie Bell
++ Ronnie Earl
Instrumentalist
Harmonica
++ Brandon Santini
++ Charlie
Musselwhite
++ James Cotton
++ Kim Wilson
++ Rick Estrin
Instrumentalist
Horn
++ Big James
Montgomery
++ Eddie Shaw
++ Jimmy Carpenter
++ Sax Gordon
++ Terry Hanck
Pinetop Perkins
Piano Player
++ Barrellhouse
Chuck
++ Dave Keyes
++ Marcia Ball
++ Mike Finnigan
++ Victor Wainwright
- Bobby Rush
- Dave Keller
Blues - Frank
Bey & Anthony
Paule Band
++ Remembering O.
V. - Johnny Rawls
++ Truth Is (Putting
Love Back Into the
Music) - Otis Clay
Funderburgh
++ Billy Boy Arnold
++ James Cotton
++ John Primer
++ Lurrie Bell
Soul Blues
Female Artist
Koko Taylor
Award
(Traditional
Blues Female)
++ Barbara Carr
++ Denise LaSalle
++ Dorothy Moore
++ Irma Thomas
++ Sista Monica
++ Diunna Greenleaf
++ Lavelle White
++ Teeny Tucker
++ Trudy Lynn
++ Zora Young
Soul Blues
Male Artist
++ Bobby Rush
++ Frank Bey
++ John Nemeth
++ Johnny Rawls
++ Otis Clay
&
n
i
o
J
!
e
t
Vo
167

2014 - The Blues Foundation

Transcription

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