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LINEUP 2025!
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The Fabulous Thunderbirds!
Saturday Headline
That is an amazing statement from Kim Wilson, the band’s leader, main songwriter, vocalist, and harmonica player. This is the group that created classic albums like T-Bird Rhythm and Tuff Enuff. Powered by hits like the title track and “Wrap It Up,” Tuff Enuff went platinum, selling more than one million copies.
Wilson has been nominated for Grammy Awards six times and for Blues Music Awards more than 20 times. Muddy Waters called Wilson his favorite vocalist and the greatest harmonica player since Little Walter. Artist Official website
Shemekia Copeland!
Sunday Headline
“Shemekia Copeland is the greatest blues singer of her generation.” – The Washington Post
“Shemekia Copeland has established herself as one of the leading blues artists of our time.” - NPR Music
Award-winning blues, soul and Americana singer Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. She is beloved worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory music, as well as for delivering each song she performs with unmatched passion. Copeland — winner of the 2021 Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year— connects with her audience on an intensely personal level, taking them with her on what The Wall Street Journal calls “a consequential ride” of “bold and timely blues.”
Copeland is used to the spotlight. Born and raised in Harlem, New York in 1979, she first stepped on stage with her famous father at New York’s Cotton Club when she was eight. As soon as Copeland released her Alligator Records debut Turn The Heat Up in 1998 at age 18, she instantly became a blues and R&B force to be reckoned with.
Artist official Website
Vanessa Collier
Singer/songwriter Vanessa Collier’s sixth album Do It My Own Way comes out September 13 via Phenix Fire Records. Recorded on analog gear with the musicians largely in one room, Do It My Own Way is sonically inspired by the classic Memphis soul sound of Stax and Hi Records, especially that of the Staples Singers. Second single “Wild As a Rainstorm,” which dives deep into soul territory, powerfully gives advice to women and people who feel left out to ignore the naysayers and “Be a
tapestry of dreams.” The track been added to Spotify’s official Retro Soul playlist. The groove and horns would make Willie Mitchell proud, and indeed features legendary Hi Records organist Rev. Charles Hodges. The vocals are powerful, awe-inspiring, and undeniably soulful vocals.
Talking about the album, Collier adds, “It’s a warmer and darker sounding a record, recorded intentionally to reflect a throwback to older school soul, R&B, blues, and to the days of great songs and songwriters, tube amps and analog gear.”
Blues Blast Mag said, “Vanessa is an important part of the future of the blues.” Born in Texas, growing up in Maryland, launching her career in Philadelphia, and now residing in South Carolina, Collier grew up listening to an eclectic variety of music.
“There’s a young lady [Vanessa Collier] came onstage with me, I forget where I was, but she’s playing an alto saxophone, and man, she was amazing.” – Buddy Guy
Vanessa Collier blends rock, soul and blues and is a winner of three Blues Music Awards including a win for 2022 Award for Contemporary Blues Female Artist. Artist Official Website
Selwyn Birchwood
Florida's Own! “No one in blues compares to young Florida-based guitarist Selwyn Birchwood. With the quality of his material, combined with a vibrant stage persona, there’s no need to borrow tunes from the greats who went before him. Lean yet mean and tough…lyrically and musically intense” —American Songwriter
“Rising blues star Selwyn Birchwood is the real deal. Birchwood puts his own fresh spin on the blues, taking the tradition and making it into something new.” —Guitar World
Although award-winning Florida musician Selwyn Birchwood is firmly rooted in the tradition, the young guitarist, lap steel player, songwriter and vocalist sets a course for the future of the blues with his visionary, original music. Birchwood, whose band features the pulsating interplay of his blistering guitar with Regi Oliver’s driving baritone sax, deploys a singular sound and style all his own. He calls it “Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues,” an intoxicating mix of deep blues, blistering, psychedelic-tinged rock, booty-shaking funk and sweet Southern soul, played and sung with the fire-and-brimstone fervor of a revival tent preacher with a hellhound on his trail. Tastemaker Americana music magazine No Depression says, “Selwyn Birchwood reaches back in the blues tradition to launch something out of this world.”
On his new release, Exorcist (his fourth for Alligator and sixth overall), Birchwood delivers the most far-reaching, musically adventurous album of his career. Artist Official Website
Toronzo Cannon
“Among the most inspiring southpaws to ever pick up a six-string…Cannon shows the Windy City is not done teaching us about electric blues. He’s a real deal blueser, combining social commentary in his songs with heartfelt guitar playing topped off with killer vibrato.” –Guitar World
“Confident and spot-on…Cannon is an explosive guitarist, a one-man champion of Chicago blues…an influential star capable of carrying the traditions of this music and city to the contemporary realm.” –Blues Music Magazine
“I want my songs to be heard and experienced, not just listened to,” says cliché-defying, internationally beloved Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon. With his richly detailed, truth-telling original songs, blistering, inventive guitar work and impassioned vocals, Cannon is on the cutting edge of today’s contemporary blues scene, and is known as one of the genre’s most creative artists. His sound is inspired by his heroes, including Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Albert King, Son Seals and Jimi Hendrix.
On his third Alligator Records album, Shut Up And Play!, Cannon blazes his own path with 11 emotionally-charged originals. From serious to humorous, his imaginative songs are fueled by his powerful, cathartic guitar solos and his soulfully authoritative voice. Artist Official Website
Victor Wainwright & the Train
In truth, Wainwright has always been an artist that sets the pace. Born into a musical family in Savannah, Georgia, the formative influence of his father's vocals and grandfather's rolling boogie-woogie piano compelled him into a life of music. By 2005, he'd announced his talent with solo debut, Piana' From Savannah, while his central role in Southern Hospitality and partnership with Stephen Dees in WildRoots has seen him ignite stages and stereos for over a decade.
“Wainwright serves as an electrifying guide to a good time-spinning tales, telling his listeners how to beat the blues, and meticulously conjuring raw soul and energy out of his acoustic piano. He displays a sharp sense of humor and a knack for storytelling... every track is brilliant." -Living Blues Magazine
"Victor Wainwright is a world champion piano player, two times over! Not only is Victor one of the greatest blues piano players in the business, he’s also a world class entertainer and vocalist." - Blues Revue Magazine. Victor Wainwright is a raucous high-octane, dynamic performer and crowd pleaser with soul to spare. Artist Official Website
Gypsy Blue Revue
Feat. J.P. Soars and Anne Harris
Roots, Blues, Americana, Jazz… JP Soars prides himself with having one of the tightest bands on the scene, with Red Hots bassist Cleveland Frederick and longtime drummer Chris Peet. The trio was nominated for 4 Blues Music Awards in 2022 including BB King Entertainer of the year, Band Of The Year, Instrumentalist Of The Year (Guitar & Drums). Add to the trio, violinist extraordinaire Anne Harris and what you get is, “A magical, almost religious musical experience,” Soars says. The passion she brings to the stage, the excitement in her playing and the sheer power she exudes forces one to stop in their tracks and pay attention.
Every time Harris and I wind up on a festival together I always invite her up to play and it it’s always an amazing, inspiring experience."
“Musical Magic that takes us out of the realm of the everyday and onto a brand new journey!”- Harty H. Wiedemann
Artist Official Website J.P Soars Artist Official Website Anne Harris
Chris O’Leary
Chris’s musical background includes duties as lead singer and front man for rock and roll hall of famer and Grammy award winner Levon Helm’s band, The Barnburners. During the 6 years that Chris and Levon played together they toured across the US and Canada lighting up stages everywhere they went.
Chris has appeared on stage with: Legendary Rolling Stones sideman Bobby Keys, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmy Vivino, Jeff Healy, Dan Akroyd, Albert Lee, Dave Edmunds, Dave Maxwell and the great James Cotton to name just a few. Chris has also recorded with Bill Perry and Hubert Sumlin, among others.
BACKTRACK BLUES BAND
Florida's Own Backtrack Blues Band is one of America’s longest running and most accomplished blues bands. The group is now booking world-wide festivals and concerts. A six-piece, authentic, energetic blues band with harp, guitar, B3 organ, vocals and a relentless rhythm section that will get your crowd on their feet! These guys have a Grammy Award, two Blues Music Awards, and a Keeping the Blues Alive Award among them.
Since 1980, a resume that includes concert appearances with Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, Junior Wells, John Lee Hooker, Jeff Healey, Robert Cray, James Cotton, Little Milton, Johnny Winter, Delbert McClinton, Gregg Allman, Albert Collins, Dave Mason, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and many more. Backtrack Blues Band’s history of top concert appearances make them well-suited for festival and large venue appearances.
Seven albums of original blues music that have charted in the top 10 on Living Blues and Roots Music radio charts. Their 2018 album was nominated by Downbeat Magazine as one of the best blues albums of the year. Artist Official Website
D.K. Harrell
As a Blues artist, D. K. Harrell is dedicated to the preservation of the Traditional Blues created and performed by B.B. King, Little Milton and other great Blues artists. D.K. is an artist who wants to bring his perspective of the Blues to the world with the message that younger generations have the blues too.
D.K. was also featured in the November 2022 edition of the Living Blues Magazine.D.K. released his debut album ,”The Right Man”, on June 30,2023 under the Little Village Label by Jim Pugh. Currently, D.K. is touring domestically and internationally
D.K. Harrell is an emerging Blues artist from Ruston, Louisiana. In 2019, he performed at the B.B. King Symposium and was given the honor of playing one of B.B. King’s signature Lucille guitars. He competed in the 2022 International Blues Challenge and finished in 3rd place out of over 200+ international Blues acts. D.K. has shared the stage with some of the Blues’ most recognizable contemporary artists; Gary Clark Jr. Mr. Sipp, Tedeschi-Trucks band, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. He is the Jus Blues awards 2022 B.B. King, King of the Blues award recipient. Harrell made his international debut in Brazil November of 2022 at the Mississippi Delta Blues Festival. Artist Official Website
