Featured Articles

Mt. Rainier R&B Festival Preview Big Sky Blues: A Review of the Big Sky Blues Festival in Montana Dry Side Blues: Reviews from
the drier side of Washington

Redefining the Word Favorite: A Review of

the Rock Cut and Backyard Blues Bash Festivals

In This Issue...

Letter from the President 6 Blues Foundation Elections 7 Mt. Rainier R&B Festival Preview 8 Safeway Waterfront Blues Pics 10

Pinetop Perkins Youth Workshop Mt. Baker Blues Fest Big Sky Blues Dry Side Blues

11 12 14 16

August Blues Bash 17 Redefine the Word Favorite 18 CD Reviews 20 Talent Guide 24

Letter from the Editor

Dear Bluesletter Readers, Have you noticed a thing or two about this months issue? Apart from the typos I may have missed along the way, whats new? Notice anything different about our cover or interior layout? Do you notice an improvement over last months issue? I sincerely hope so. For the visual innovations, spark, and layout, we have Jesse Phillips to thank. Shes ontrack to graduate in graphic design this year at The Art Institute of Seattle, and her journey to the Bluesletter began at this years Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Oregon. We met in Belltown last month, and she immediately found ways to put her skills to use for our publication. I am deeply grateful and humbled that shes including our publication in her professional graphic design portfolio. I hope that our August issue will be a before picture, and subsequent editions will have her own unique visual presentations to make the Bluesletter the best local, all-volunteer blues society publication it can be.

With Jesse volunteering her time to help, we can only get better. Well get better by looking like a more professional publication, and provide a valuable service in promoting, preserving and capturing one of the most vibrant blues communities in the world. Welcome aboard Jesse, and well hope well be on your dance card for as long as youll have us! Speaking of volunteers, I am always looking for writers and photographers to donate their time, expertise and talent to the Bluesletter. If you have a CD review, picture, concert review or preview, or suggestions on how we can improve as a blues society, please send them to me at president@ wablues.org. I am especially interested in pictures that show blues fans having fun, because a night out on the town seeing live blues at the Highway 99 Blues Club, Dimitrous Jazz Alley, or our Blues Bash at the Red Crane is a recipe for fun. Please enjoy the September issue, and I extend a special welcome to Jesse Phillips, our newest Bluesletter Art Director and volunteer! Eric Steiner,
Acting Editor Washington Blues Society Bluesletter

Cover Art:
WHO WE ARE:
Tim & Michelle Burge Self-proclaimed Blues Addicts ... if theres a cure for this, we dont want it!

WHAT WE DO:
We love to support and promote Blues Musicians, local clubs & festivals through our photography, as well as network with other Blues Addicts.

PROUD MEMBERS OF:

Washington Blues Society, South Sound Blues Association & The Blues Foundation

CONTACT INFO:
blueslover206@comcast.net

Celebrating 22 Years of Blues

1989 - 2011

September 2011 Bluesletter

Volume XXIII, Number IX
Publisher Editor Art Director Calendar Advertising Printer Washington Blues Society Eric Steiner, Acting Editor (editor@wablues.org) Jesse Phillips (jesse@jessephillipsdesigns.com) Maridel Fliss (mflissm@aol.com Malcolm Kennedy (advertising@wablues.org) Pacific Publishing Company www.pacificpublishingcompany.com

Blues on the Radio Dial Jam Guide Venue Guide Calendar

26 26 27 30

Contributing Writers
Robert Horn, Eric Steiner, Jerry Peterson, Baggs Groove, Cindy Dyer, Malcolm Kennedy, Rick J. Bowen and Son Jack, Jr.

Contributing Photographers
The Blues Boss, Jim Salisbury, Eric Steiner, Tim and Michelle Burge, Suzanne Swanson

Across the Membership Directors Desk...

Greetings! First of all, my sincerest apologies for not being around much this Summer. As most of you know, I went back to school in the Spring and shortly thereafter, got a job. Both have kept me very busy. However, I have missed being a part of the Washington Blues Society. I have asked the Board of Directors if I might be reinstated as your Membership Director and they were kind enough to welcome me back into the fold. So, I will work diligently to get things caught up during my break (Fall Quarter begins 9.26.11) and enlist the help of a couple of Volunteers to assist me going forward. If youre interested in helping out, please email me at membership@wablues.org. Until next month, safe journey as you travel that Blues Highway, my friends ... Michelle Burge
Membership Director

Cover Photo
Cover Photo of Buddy Guy at the 2011 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival (Photo by Tim & Michelle Burge) The Bluesletter welcomes stories and photos from WBS members! Features, columns and reviews are due by the 10th of each month in the following formats: plain text or Microsoft Word. Graphics must be in high-res 300 dpi .pdf, jpg, or .tiff formats. We encourage submissions. All submissions become the property of the WBS and will be used at our discretion. We reserve the right to edit all content. The Bluesletter is the official monthly publication of the Washington Blues Society. The WBS is not responsible for the views and opinions expressed in The Bluesletter by any individual. WBS 2011

Mission Statement
The Washington Blues Society is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote, preserve, and advance the culture and tradition of blues music as an art form. Annual membership is $25 for individuals, $35 for couples, and $40 for overseas memberships. The Washington Blues Society is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible. The Washington Blues Society is affiliated with The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.

Washington Blues Society P.O. Box 70604 Seattle, WA 98127 www.wablues.org

Washington Blues Society Hotline: 1-888-90BLUES 1-888-902-5837

Proud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation 2011 Officers
President Vice President Eric Steiner
president@wablues.org

Vacant
vicepres@wablues.org

Letter from the Presi dent

Hi Blues Fans, In this months Letter from the President, Id like to thank my volunteer Board of Directors, our Officers, and Street Team members for the work they have done in what may be our busiest blues year in the short five years Ive been involved with the Washington Blues Society. Under the direction of Merchandising Director Tony Frederickson, weve held a statewide International Blues Competition this year that concluded with our finals at the Taste of Music in historic downtown Snohomish. This journey began in Spokane when we were hosted by the Inland Empire Blues Society, and continued to the UnTapped Blues Festival in partnership with the Walla Walla Blues Society. The Highway 99 Blues Club hosted a great competition, as did the Oxford Saloon in Snohomish. Rhea Rolfe staffed the events with able volunteers, and Board Members Michelle Burge, Antoinette Trizuto, and Chad Creamer helped out to make each event a successful one. By the time this Bluesletter hits members mailboxes or a club near you (especially the Highway 99 Blues Club, Jazz Alley, or the Oxford Saloon), we will know which solo/duo act and which band will represent the Washington Blues Society at the 2012 International Blues Challenge. I hope that we can maintain this years momentum that we achieved through our local International Blues Challenge competitions statewide, and based on the enthusiastic reception we received at each event, I am confident that we can grow each event next year. Thanks to Tonys leadership and commitment, weve worked together to ensure that we are a statewide blues organization. While we have more than a few detractors in the local blues community, I hope that they will come back if they see a place at our monthly Blues Bash at Shorelines Red Crane Restaurant, or participate at special events like the outstanding Blues for Food, which is growing to be (pun intended) a full-fledged blues festival within the Seattle city limits. I encourage you to learn more about the International Blues Challenge and put it on your to-do list next February. That weekend is like a gathering of the blues tribes from around the world. Over the past three years, over 90 people from the Evergreen State have either attended or performed at this annual Blues Foundation event. Over 90 people blues lovers all who made the pilgrimage to Memphis and the Mississippi Delta in some of the most difficult economic times since the Great Depression. I plan to be there next year and I hope that many more will join me. If you work for wages, please consider setting aside an affordable amount each paycheck, or change your drinking habits from a triple tall flavored Muy Grande latte to a drip coffee. Im sure thatll save a few bucks a day. If I dont see you in Memphis at the IBC next year, I hope to see you at the Red Crane in Shoreline on the second Tuesday of September for our Blues Bash. Were fortunate to have Bassic Saxx Lissa Ramaglia and Scotty Harris open up the meeting, and the Tim Turner Band take us til our 9:00 PM closing time. Until then, go see some live blues! Eric Steiner
President, Washington Blues Society Proud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award, Member, Blues Foundation Board of Directors

Secretary

Antoinette Trizuto
secretary@wablues.org treasurer@wablues.org

Treasurer (Acting) Chad Creamer Editor (Acting) Eric Steiner

president@wablues.org

2011 Directors
Music Membership Education Volunteers Merchandise Advertising Suze Sims
music@wablues.org

Michelle Burge
membership@wablues.org

Jim DiIanni
education@wablues.org

Rhea Rolfe
volunteers@wablues.org

Tony Frederickson
merchandise@wablues.org

Malcolm Kennedy
advertising@wablues.org

2011 Street Team

Downtown Seattle Tim & Michelle Burge
blueslover206@comcast.net

West Seattle Eastside Northern WA Peninsula South Sound Central WA Eastern WA Ballard Lopez Island Middle East

Rev Deb Engelhardt

deb@revdeb.com

Jim DiIanni
education@wablues.org

Lloyd Peterson
freesprt@televar.com

Dan Wilson
allstarguitar@centurytel.net

Smoke
smkndrms@aol.com

Steven J. Lefebvre
s.j.lefebvre@gmail.com,

Cindy Dyer
cindalucy@hotmail.com

George Jordy Sigler

jordysigler@yahoo.com

Carolyn & Dean Jacobsen

cjacobsen@rockisland.com

Rocky Rock Khan Nelson

rocknafghanistan@gmail.com

Editorial Advisory Board & Proofeaders

Mary McPage Carolyn Kennedy Eric Steiner Son Jack Jr.

Special Thanks
Webmaster Web Hosting WBS Logo The Sheriff
(webmaster@wablues.org) Adhost (www.adhost.com)

Phil Chesnut
(philustr8r@aol.com)

ATTENTION BLUES MUSICIANS: WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LATEST CD REVIEWED IN THE BLUESLETTER? GOT A BLUES CD FOR US? Need help in getting the word about your music? Wed like to help. While we cannot predict when or if a review will land in the pages of the Bluesletter, wed like to encourage musicians to consider the Washington Blues Society a resource. If you would like your CD reviewed by one of our reviewers, please send two copies (one for the reviewer and one for our monthly CD giveaways at the Blues Bash) to the following address: Washington Blues Society ATTN: CD Reviews PO Box 70604 Seattle, WA 98027

Advertising Rates:
Space Reservations 5th of the month Camera Ready Art 12th of every month Graphics: 300 dpi PDF, TIF or JPG Text: Plain .txt or Word Full Page: $260 (7 x 9.5) Half Page: $150 (7 x 4.5) Back Half Page: $200 (7 x 4.5) Quarter Page: $90 (4.5 x 3.5) Fifth Page: $65 (3.5 x 3.5) Business Card: $25 (3.5 x 2.00) ADD COLOR: ADD 25%

September 2011 DEADLINES:

Advertising Space Reservations: September 5th malcarken@comcast.net Calendar: September 10th
calendar@wablues.org

Editorial Submissions: September 5th editor@wablues.org

Camera Ready Ad Art Due: September 12th malcarken@comcast.net THANK YOU FOR READING THE BLUESLETTER AND SUPPORTING LIVE BLUES IN THE EVERGREEN STATE!

20% off- 12 month pre-payment 15% off- 6 month pre-payment 10% off- 3 month pre-payment Contact: advertising@wablues.org

Weve Got Discounts!

Wilhelmine, a New Orleans-based performer. Board members who were elected to a second term are: Thomas Cain, BMI, Nashville, TN; Thomas Ruf, Ruf Records, Germany; Joey Sichting, FedEx Services, Memphis, TN; Ricky Stevens, a Blues fan from Coldwater, MS, and Cassie Taylor, a Boulder, CO-based performer. The new Board selected the following Board members to leadership positions: Bill Wax, Host and Program Director of Sirius XMs B.B. Kings Bluesville channel, Washington, DC, and Eric Simonsen, a retired corporate executive and blues fan, Ivins, UT, were elected President and Vice-President, respectively. Additional members of the Executive Committee are: Gary Anton, a Tallahassee, FL, attorney and owner of the Bradfordville Blues Club; Kevin Kane, President and CEO of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Dorothy Moore, a Jackson, MS Grammynominated singer. Clay Purdom, an attorney with the Memphis law firm of Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, was elected Treasurer. The newly-elected members and officers join fellow Board members Phil Barkett III, Kathy Bolmer, Jostein Forsberg, Zac

Harmon, Stefan Levy, Jerry Boogie Mason, Ron Partain, Hugh Southard, Eric Steiner, Bob Trenchard and Laurie Tucker.

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 4500 individual members and 195 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, contact information and news.

Memphis, TN August 16, 2011. The annual election of The Blues Foundations Board of Directors and its officers has been completed. The eight recently-elected members will join the 25-member Board and begin three-year terms at the next Board meeting on August 27 in Memphis, TN. The Board Development Committee was especially interested in individuals in a position to assist The Blues Foundation with ongoing plans to establish a Blues Hall of Fame at its new permanent home at 421 South Main in downtown Memphis. New members elected to the Board are: Alan Maites, Robinson & Maites Marketing Agency, Chicago, IL; Les Walgreen, Peaux Deaux Productions, Chicago, IL; and Olga

PREVIEW:

5th Annual Mt. Rainier R & B Festival

The 5th Annual Mount Rainer Rhythm and Blues Festival at the Mineral Lake Event Center on September 24th will be truly international, and will feature three bands that were in the finals this year at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis and performed at the historic Orpheum Theater. Another band performing in Mineral this year is heading to Memphis next year to represent the South Sound Blues Association (SSBA) at the 2012 IBC, and even another band will be competing in the regional IBC finals to represent the Washington Blues Society (WBS) next year at the IBC. This years Festival also showcases Pacific Northwest legends of the stage who will make this festival a day of music not to be missed. Starting things off with a bang will be Nick Vigarinos Back Porch Stomp, who were in the IBC finals this year and have been in high demand around the country since then. Nick is a master of the slide guitar and has developed a style of his own that continues to amaze fans and fellow musicians alike. Legendary Pacific Northwest Band Little Bill and the Blue Notes follow Nick, and Little Bill has been in the over 55 years and has performed more than 10,000 shows in his career. Bill continues to be one of the busiest performers on the scene today. Little Bill is a genuine music legend around these parts and the City of Tacoma has even dedicated a day to him for eternity. Deb Rhymer starts off our international showcase after Little Bills set. Debs the president of the Victoria Blues Society in Canada and has performed internationally for many years. She is well known for her Bette Midler tribute shows, but she can also flat out sing the blues like very few women can. A real powerhouse vocalist in the blues and beyond! The Randy Oxford Band an internationally touring band with IBC finalist experience will be up next. Randys band features musicians from four different countries, making this a truly international and diverse set. After their recent success at the IBC in Memphis, they continue to be in demand as far away as Quebec where they recently performed at the world famous Festival International du Blues de Tremblant. They were the first band from Washington state to ever play this prestigious festival. They are currently putting together additional tours around the U.S. and beyond. Things will continue to heat up with the Red Hot Blues Sisters for a hour of power blues. These dynamic performers will be representing the South Sound Blues Association at the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. You will see why they are headed back to Memphis when you watch them perform. Featuring the recipient of the BB award from the WBS harmonica, have brought their unique blues style to the forefront of contemporary blues. Last but not least, the Rafael Tranquilino Band will close the festival with a guitar driven musical journey. Rafaels hot new band will be competing in the Washington Blues Society finals to represent the WBS at the 2012 IBC. Rafaels style of playing guitar and singing are like nothing else in the music world today. Rafael has been on tour with the Randy Oxford band for several years now. When he is not touring with Randy, he has time to create his own kind of show that is full of energy, passion and spirit, that makes this band the perfect closing act to an amazing day of international style Blues. You will not want to miss this world class closing act. Join us for a 12 hour Musical Extravaganza on Saturday September 24th at this beautiful place on Earth, near the foot of Mt. Rainier. The Mineral Lake Event Center is just 90 minutes or less from most major metro areas in Western Washington and Portland, Oregon. Rain or Shine. Indoor stages. Camping and RV on site. Plenty of additional lodging nearby. There will be a legendary bonfire onsite, and there will be open jamming around the bonfire for all musicians. Come early on Friday and stay through Sunday if youd like as there will be plenty of activities to do in the area for the entire family.

Join us for a 12 hour Musical Extravaganza on Saturday September 24th at this beautiful place on Earth, near the foot of Mt. Rainier.
for female vocalist of the year, Suze Sims, The Red Hotz continue to tour the U.S. and Europe regularly. Now that the stage will have been set on fire, Maia Santel and Her All Star Band will bring the swing or throw down the blues like nobodys business. Maia put this amazing all-star Blend together exclusively for this festival. This is a show with so much going on, you wont want to leave the dance floor. Continuing in an international vein, Germanys Georg Schroeter and Marc Breitfelder will be up next. They made music history this year as the first European act to win the IBC. They are traveling with a quartet and and they are ending their North American tour at this festival. This will be the bands only Washington State appearance on this tour! Georg on Piano and vocals and Marc playing world class

Tickets and all festival related info at minerallake.com and visitrainier.com

Randy Oxford at Oxford Entertainment at 253-973-9024 oxfordentertainment.com Gary Johnson, Mineral Lake Event Center at 360-492-5039 minerallakeeventcenter.com
Sponsored in part by: The Dispatch in Eatonville, Mount Rainier Regional Visitor Center at Mineral, Oxford Entertainment, and Teninos Scatter Creek Winery. Special thanks to the Washington Blues Society and the South Sound Blues Association.

10

PINETOP PERKINS
FOUNDATION
EXPANDS THE YOUTH WORKSHOP SERIES FOR 2012
Building off the great success of the first two years, The Pinetop Perkins Foundation plans to expand their workshop offerings next year to include a harmonica master class, along with the piano and guitar workshops. The overall goal of the workshops is to preserve Pinetops legacy by bringing support and encouragement to young musicians at the beginning of their careers. The 2012 Workshops will be held from June 13 to 15 at the Shack Up Inn and Hopsons Commissary in Clarksdale, Mississippi. This will be followed by a performance and jam at the world famous

Ground Zero blues club in Clarksdale. While the workshops will continue to be available to both the young and the young at heart, scholarships will be available to youth ages 12-21 only. The harmonica workshop will be led by Gary Allegretto. Winner of the 2011 Keeping the Blues Alive award for Blues Education from The Blues Foundation, Allegretto has decades of experience performing, recording and especially teaching harmonica to youth around the world. Since 1985, through his nonprofit organization Harmonikids, he has provided music therapy and harmonicas to many thousands of children around the world with a wide range of physical, emotional, and/or economic disadvantages, Bob Margolin returns to lead the guitar workshops. A Pinetop Perkins Foundation board member and recording artist Margolin, is widely recognized as one of the best blues guitar players in the country. A member of the Muddy Waters band for seven years, he has won numerous awards and active performance schedule. As an educator, he has taught blues guitar workshops, has an instructional video on Muddy Waters guitar style, and has given

workshops at Blues Festivals and events worldwide. The piano workshop leader will be announced in the next few months. The cost remains at $395 which includes a meet and greet dinner and jam on the evening of June 12th, two and a half days of instruction, nightly jams, and lunch for two days. It does not include lodging. Bob Margolins deep passion, knowledge and incredible ability to play Delta style blues guitar coupled with the accommodations in Clarksdale, make this workshop unlike any musical experience I have ever had. John Sillaman Workshop Attendee The workshop was a great opportunity for my kids! They expanded their musical horizons, learned new ways to play the blues and gained a greater appreciation for the stories behind the blues. Dara Bigger Parent of Attendees Further information; please visit the Pinetop Perkins Foundation website at www. pinetopperkinsfoundation.org.

11

I told the vendor at the BBQ booth that I would mention to readers of this article that they need to put the ribs he cooks on their bucket list.
I told the vendor at the BBQ booth that I would mention to readers of this article that they need to put the ribs he cooks on their bucket list. His ribs were most amazingly good ribs I remember ever eating. Try to pull a piece of meat by the bone and it wont move as the bone comes out. You then find out that you have a huge amount of meat in front of you. Guys bigger than me had a hard time finishing their plate because of how much meat was there. I came back from Mt Baker three pounds heavier, and I only ate at two food vendors there. Wait. This is the Bluesletter. This is is supposed to be a music review. OK. I will say that you must go to the Mt Baker Blues Festival next year to get those ribs, and to get some of the best music on this planet. I got some emails from festival goers who said that this may have been the best Mt Baker Blues Festival ever because of the lineup, the talent who dropped in on the jams, and the great beer servers in the beer garden (Note to Editor: I made up the statement about the beer servers because of my own beer serving ego). From Friday through Sunday and into Monday morning (or maybe the jam went on till Tuesday so someone who was sober the whole time needs to be consulted on that). Friday at about 5:30 Jesse James and the MOB started playing. These young blues musicians showed a little of the future of the blues. Someday they will be old enough to have a beer in nightclubs, and by then, they will have had many years of experience playing at events like this. The Chris Eger Band followed, and Chris showed guitar greatness at the afterhours jams each night as well. I was impressed and told him that when I caught up with him to have a conversation sometime around 2 AM Sunday morning.

If you havent seen Hamilton Loomis perform live, you need to. Whether hes in Texas or Washington State, or some other part of the world, Loomis is worth the trip! He is a good singer, great guitar player, and great entertainer. He also jammed after hours with good guitar players like

Mt. Baker reached great Heights in 2011

A Review of the Mt. Baker Blues Festival
By Robert Horn

band has no weak links. After his set, CD said the band will review some of the flaws they noticed. I point this out only to mention that, as part of the audience, I sure didnt notice any imperfections. CD has decidedly high standards, this is one example of the attention to detail and professionalism that of many of our blues bands, band leaders, and guitar players are around here. Mid-afternoon the band that is sometimes called The House Band at Mt Baker took the stage and showed why The Fat Tones are often the most popular band at this festival. The Fat Tones have a singing bass player, a guitar player that shares have amazing harmonies, and they also put on a great visual show. Bobby Patterson has won some major awards as a guitar player, and has to be seen as well as heard to be fully appreciated. There were two performances this year that made about half the crowd fall deeply in lust. For straight women, it was Shane Dwight. For straight men, it was Ana Popovic. Ana Popovic comes on stage after her band gets the crowd going. Her bass player is an entertainer at A level that can steal the show from almost anyone but Ana. After a song or two he introduced her with rivers of sweat already running down his face and tight black clothing. Ana came out wearing just a pair of black leather pumps with 5 high heels with little silver chains, (oh, and a tight short purple dress, I guess). Her guitar playing was good, and she did some blues classics along with some original songs. Her band is very good at making sure the crowd is entertained. I was talking to Al Owen (a good harmonica player himself) later and told him that deaf people could still have loved her performance. He then pointed out that blind people could have loved her performance too. So we agreed that it was good for many.

Chris Eger. Each performer sold CDs through the Washington Blues Society booth, and the booth was busy morning, noon and night. Tony Frederickson and Chad Creamer were busier retail clerks than I ever see at a Starbucks location at daybreak, and Hamilton Loomis CD sales were very, very popular. Bright and early at 11:30 Saturday morning, Jumpin Josh and Felicia kicked things off with a good set, followed by James King and the Southsiders. James King has a good, new band and Im confident that they will be recognized by our societys membership at BB Awards events. Look at the schedule in The Bluesletter each month to find out where to go see them play live. Those who have seen the CD Woodbury Band perform know why he wins BB Awards for Best Electric Guitar. His

He then pointed out that blind people could have loved her performance too.

The Average White Band was up next, and they are as great now as they were back in the days when they first rose to dominance on the music scene. They started in the British Isles and conquered

12

America. They sounded great at Baker this year. They were followed by another bluesman from Europe, Matt Schofield. Schofield was voted by UKs Guitar & Bass Magazine as One of the Top Ten Greatest Blues Guitarists of All Time from the UK. The crowd at Mt Baker found out why. Someone in the same league as Keith Richards and Eric Clapton on stage showed one more reason why the Mt Baker Blues Festival must be on your blues bucket list. This is the kind of talent we now expect, and get, at this festival. I didnt get much sleep before the music began on Sunday. There was a gospel show in the building at the festival site and my camping neighbors went to it. Mark Whitman and Sweet Talking Jones put on a great show as other campers woke up, and I got some good photos of this good Washington band on stage. One of the great guitar players in this region got on stage on Sunday afternoon. There is a YouTube video of Fat James at Mt Baker that shows what I am talking about. He put on a great performance people talked about all day. Late Sunday night (actually Monday morning) Fat James, Chris Eger, and Shane Dwight were on the jam stage with Shanes bass player and other festival greats and put on what some sober people say was the hi-light of the year. Three guitar greats playing together, about three inches from each other, and taking each other higher, was something to experience. I was very impressed by the Canadian blues band, The Twisters. The harmonica playing of Dave Hoerl and the guitar playing of Brandon Isaak, along with the humor and bass playing of Keith Picot were very noticeable, but the drumming of Chip Hart was also key to the greatness of the band and its show. What should I tell you about Curtis Salgado and his big band? Curtis is one of the worlds vocal greats and harmonica greats. He brought the horn section and the back-up vocalists too so this show just like he does at his home Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland. I will never forget this show. It doesnt get much better than Curtis on songs like Im Too Loose or Id Rather Go Blind or anything else he

does. We would have rather have gone blind than to watch him go. The whole crowd stayed to hear Shane Dwight. I took some pictures of his fingers on the guitar strings, doing what mere mortals cant do to make the sounds intended for the other world. Shane was great on guitar and vocals. Women seemed to like him for other reasons, too. He asked Who will drive me to my hotel? and a lot of women standing next to husbands and boy-friends raised their hands. I found out later who was supposed to have answered his question. If shes reading this Bluesletter, I need to get her Facebook contact again, largely because my memory was not perfect because I had a beer in my hand at, I forget, 2:30 AM or 3:00 AM.

I was ready to come back to Earth by Monday afternoon (worn out) but it was sure a great party.
I was ready to come back to Earth by Monday afternoon (worn out) but it was sure a great party.
Ana Popovic at Mount Baker by the Blues Boss

13

Big Sky Blues

A Review of the 2nd Annual Big Sky Blues Festival
By Baggs Groove
The 2nd Annual Big Sky Blues Festival, held on August 6th and 7th in Noxon, Montana - a beautiful little town nestled in the mountains, on the Clark Fork River. Montanas Vista Power was kind enough to allow this festival to return to their property, which is also a public park and recreation area. When we first crossed the bridge over the Clark Fork River into Noxon, there was a very special feeling that this could be one of those really big annual events, once the word got out about how beautiful this place really is. There appears to be unlimited room for camping and RVs. Promoters Lorne Riddell and Randy Oxford with Buzz Productions and Oxford Entertainment were thrilled with the increased attendance over last years debut festival. It was obvious the word was spread around by last years attendees, said Riddell, we saw many returnees who brought many more friends with them this year, and this is what we needed to keep this young festival going into its 3rd year (now set for August of 2012) People came from as far away as New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Southern,California and San Francisco. There was a particularly large showing from Washington state. Oxford, who recruited the entertainment, said I hired bands from Washington, Idaho and Montana, who all had good followings of their own, and they delivered by spreading the word to their fan base, and many of those fans showed up. When you are trying to develop something new like this in the mountains of Montana, you really need a joint promotional effort by the bands, the fans who were there last year, the regional media and the festival promoters, to pull it off, said the award-winning Oxford. The weather was perfect, the water was just right for swimming, the dogs were chasing Frisbees and retrieving their thrown toys and the quality of the stage, lighting and the sound were top notch. A new band from Everett and Arlington, RJ Knapp and the 21st Century Bluzmen kicked things into high gear on Saturday by making a dramatic entrance on their Harleys. The crowd went wild over that grand entrance, and their great set of music that featured RJs sizzling guitar work and great singing, plus the bands two female vocalists. The bar was set high for the weekend, next up was an exciting band from Sand Point, Idaho, The John Kelly Band. John is an accomplished guitarist and singer and had the crowd lined up to buy his CDs. Another relatively new band from Kalispell, The Smokehouse Blues Band, wowed the crowd with authentic, original blues. Just when the crowd thought they knew what this festival was all about, next up was Tacomas 13 year old guitar sensation, Nolan Garrett and His Trio. Oxford first met Nolan at Jazzbones youth jams when Nolan was just nine years old. The Big Sky Blues Festival has vowed to always showcase at least one youth band each year; Nolan didnt disappoint. The main comment during Nolans set and well after, was, hes only 13? Amazing! Now that the festival goers were blown away by the kid, The Fat Tones were up. These guys continue to deliver high energy sets of music night after night and year after year, and they always bring their fans, Fat Heads, with them. Now that everybody was Toned, the road-tested and International Blues Challenge veterans of the Randy Oxford Band

The weather was perfect, the water was just right for swimming, the dogs were chasing Frisbees and retrieving their thrown toys and the quality of the stage, lighting and the sound were top notch.

Riddell, who also owns the Naughty Pine Saloon 15 minutes east of Noxon, in Trout Creek, hired The Fat Tones for a pre-festival party Friday night at the saloon. The band set the Tone for the weekend. Everybody did Get Toned and they were ready for two more days of great music and sunshine under the big Montana sky.

14

took the stage as the sun was setting. Montanas Severson Productions provided great sound and lights, and complemented Randy Oxfords excellent set. Closing out the night was another relatively new band from Kalispell, the Kenny James Miller Band. This band made it to the Washington Blues Society finals last month at the Taste of Music in Snohomish. Its not easy for a trio to put on a 90 minute show that keeps an audience on their feet and leaves them wanting more. Very few trios can pull this off the way these guys did. Their set was full of great originals and each performer showcased his considerable blues chops. The festivals last day featured perfect weather day and it started with a bang: two other Washington Blues Society International Blues Challenge finalists started it up. The Vaughn Jensen Band and the Coyote Kings with Mush Morgan show that the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla definitely have blues powerhouse talent. Spokanes Big Mumbo Blues Band followed, and each of these acts brought their A Game to Noxon. The ultimate ending to the 2nd Annual Big Sky Blues Festival was the closing jam session. Many players from throughout the weekend jammed together many for the first time together and it made a great festival even better! The festival was supported by the little town of Noxon, a solid and multi-state

fan base, great sponsors, hard working volunteers, fabulous food and beverage vendors from Idaho and Montana, and many arts and crafts vendors. The Washington Blues Society set up camp with Tony, Al and Susie doing what they do so well: promote the music we all love and sell blues merchandise. Tony helped Oxford with the MC duties throughout the weekend, and did a fantastic job letting the festival crowd know about upcoming blues shows around the region and on the high seas.

that the blues societys president, Eric Steiner, will encourage them to join the constellation of blues societies that make up the Blues Foundation. This combined support is sure to help build this festival into a big annual event under the big sky of Montana. You can visit www.bigskybluesfestival. com in the coming months for more information about next years August 2012 festival. Make it a part of your 2012 blues festival plans as I highly recommend the Big Sky Blues Festival.

Many players from throughout the weekend jammed together many for the first time together and it made a great festival even better!
Each band at this festival, and many bands who werent, benefited from the Washington Blues Societys booth and presence. Tony and his volunteers promoted CDs on consignment from artists throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. One additional benefit from the blues societys support is that it appears to have sparked a local blues organization, The Flathead Blues Society, to regroup and to return to the blues scene. I know

Nolan Garrett at Big Sky by Jerry Peterson

15

Dry Side

Blues
By Jerry Peterson, Vice President Inland Empire Blues Society

A Review of the Rock Cut and Big Sky Blues Festivals

Uncle Bobs borrowed bass dropped to the stage, but Gary Yeoman leaped up and repaired the guitar without missing a beat. Way to go, Yo! The Tones were followed by the Pat Coast Band, led by the singer-songwriter-guitar master himself who called guitarist Bobby Patterson of the Tones up. I enjoyed Big Mumbos set, and Pat Barclays six-pack of awardwinning players showed the crowd why they are in the our societys Hall of Fame as the Best Blues Band. Jennifer Kemples vocals from their new album, How Blue Can Blue Get? shows that shes the next Etta James. The Randy Oxford Band played last, and provided the crowd with an exciting nightcap. Randys sextet, led by guitarist Rafael Tranquilino, took solos to the next level, with each player doing whatever was necessary to show just how good he/she was, and the crowd responded by shaking what their mammas gave them. The Second Annual Big Sky Blues Festival was held in Avistas Pigeon Creek Park, just across the Clark Fork in Noxon, Montana. Friday night, we headed into Trout Creek for the festival prefunction with the Fat Tones at the Naughty Pine Saloon. We showed the locals how the FatHeads roll and they were eager to see Tones set on Saturday.

the Fat Tones didnt disappoint. The set seared with red-hot blues, and the encore, Illustrated Man, blew the whole thing wide open. The sweaty masses surged

The sweaty masses surged once again to the sounds of the Randy Oxford Band, who soloed on until it was time for the Kenny James Miller Band to close the festival.
once again to the sounds of the Randy Oxford Band, who soloed on until it was time for the Kenny James Miller Band to close the festival. Ken Sederdahl led his powerhouse trio though most of their latest CD, Revelator, and expressed his appreciation for having the privilege of playing this event. I want to express my thanks to Bill Holmes, Randy Oxford, and all of the attendees for putting together two immensely pleasurable and memorable social and musical experiences. On the Dry Side of the Evergreen State!

It is my pleasure to bring you a quick rundown on two Dry Side festivals: the Rock Cut Blues Festival near Kettle Falls, Washington on July 22nd and 23rd, and the Big Sky Festival in Noxon, Montana on August 6th and 7th. Sweetie loves being in the water and spent lots of time in the Kettle and Clark Fork rivers respectively, with blue skies and temperatures in the mid-80s for both events. We have those over here on the Dry Side. The Rock Cut Blues Festival began Friday, July 22nd with Son Jack, Jr. on guitar and vocals and Michael Wilde on harmonica. They were followed by the Sarah Brown, a strong-voiced Colville-area phenomenon that led her trio through a cool arrangement of Stormy Monday, and originals including Im Just Trying to Tell You. Eddie Turner closed the festival on Friday. Eddies a A powerful guitar player, he led his rhythm section through J.B. Lenoirs classic Talk to Your Daughter. He also revealed one of his major influences as he brought out a medley that melded portions of Purple Haze and VooDoo Child. Gary Yeoman and VooDoo Church kicked the festivities off on Saturday. One of Spokanes true blues purveyors, originals 13 Candles and Man Builds a House blended perfectly with Howlin Wolf covers. Next up were the fabulous Fat Tones. In the middle of their set, the strap holding

Jennifer Kemples vocals from their new album, How Blue Can Blue Get? shows that shes the next Etta James.
Saturday started with RJ Knapp and the 21st Century Blues Review, a three-piece with two female singers fronted by RJ Knapp on guitar and vocals. They were followed by the Mike Kelly Band, a trio fronted by Mike Kelly and his very cool straw hat on guitar and vocals. Next up was the Nolan Garrett Trio. Nolan is an amazing 13-year old who led his group through an hour-long set of traditional blues, with a few originals thrown in. The Smokehouse Blues Band, a Flathead Valley quartet fronted by Dick Reed on guitar and vocals, brought some big blues to the festival. The folks that had seen them at the Naughty Pine were ready, and

Leanne Trevayalan by John Salisbury at Rock Cut

16

August Blues Bash

Washington Blues Society Music Director Suze Sims has a lot on her plate these days. Shes a Red Hot Blues Sister, and this band will represent the South Sound Blues Association at the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Shes also part of the innovative group that played our July Blues Bash, the Blues Buskers. The Buskers include fellow Red Hot Blues Sister Teri Anne Wilson, and Best of the Blues (BB Award) winning players Nick Vigarino on guitar and Charlene Grant on bass. Our Blues Bashes have tended to feature an acoustic opening act from 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM, and then we break for announcements and our free monthly raffle. Merchandise Director Tony Frederickson usually recruits a Vanna White for the Night to help draw raffle tickets out of a Red Crane Restaurant champagne bucket, and at least 10 members or fans go home with a new blues CD, t-shirt or Seattle Mariners baseball memorabilia. Well, the August bash was different. Music Director Sims lamented she was having some difficulties recruiting solo, duo, or acoustic acts for our monthly Blues Bashes. If the August meeting of the Washington Blues Society is any indication of the talent that is willing to volunteer to play our meeting, Ill tell Ms. Sims to stop stressin. The opening act, hailing from Vashon Island, was One More Mile, featuring Tom Bean on guitar, Lonesome Mike Nichols on harp and vocals, Jason Lollar on guitar, and an engine room with David Salonen on bass and Sam Veatch drums. One More Miles set featured a range of blues, ranging from the West Coast instrumental vibe of San Ho Zay, to the gritty and nuanced Chicago blues-tinged

One More Mile and the AlleyKatz

By Eric Steiner -President of the Washington Blues Society

interpretations of Willie Dixons That Same Thing, Look On Yonders Wall, and I especially appreciated the free-form

stage. This purrfectly good band worked through a delightful set of music that included blues classics like Aint No Brakeman and Dont Need No Doctor, but I was intrigued with their 6-song/$5 EP that they sold from the bandstand. They played Tobacco Road and Angel From Montgomery from that disc, and I particularly enjoyed the way that lead singer Katy Miller interpreted John Prines lyrics. Slow and sultry, with a just a wistful tinge that put just the right edge on one of that former Chicago postmans signature songs. Jim Barnes on keyboards and Alan Edwards on bass ushered in a great cover of Sweet Home Chicago, which is one of my favorite songs, too, because I grew up in the shadow of the City of Big Shoulders. Dave McCabe and Justin Dean rounded out the AlleyKatz on drums and guitar, and I would recommend this band to fans who like their blues diverse, with just a touch of rock, folk or country. I hope that theyll continue to rehearse and I hope that clubs will take notice of the way Katy Miller can front a talented outfit like the AlleyKatz. The next time I see Music Director Sims, Ill tell that Red Hot Blues Sister not to worry. Tonights show at the Red Crane in Shoreline offered up to solid bands with solid blues sets. Whether you prefer music inspired by Cotton, Butterfield, Mayall,

and extended jam that Jason led during the Paul Butterfield classic, Lovin Cup. Lonesome Mikes harp set the stage for that cover, and they played a rarely-heard James Cotton tune, Boogie Thing to the delight of the dancers on the dancefloor. Lollar is the co-owner of Lollar Guitars, a world-class manufacturing company that makes guitar pickups and other parts for the instrument that Les Paul helped introduce to the world in the 20th century, and his voice and guitar playing at the Red Crane were perfect for the bands blues set. When the worlds blues talent want their guitar pickups done just so, they (meaning Buddy Guy, Steve Miller, and a customer list thats simply awe-inducing) call, text, Skype, phone or email his company. Hes no stranger to the Pacific Northwest blues community having played in the 80s with the likes of Pat Lynch and Ray Varner. Im quite positive that our paths may have crossed back in the day at Astor Park, Parkers (before it was a casino, kittycorner to the Red Crane), or The Hall of Fame on The Ave in the U District. I wish One More Mile had CDs we could sell from the merchandise booth, because these guys can really put on a show. After our raffle, the AlleyKatz took the

...Ill tell that Red Hot Blues Sister not to worry.

Raitt, or Dixon, or venture farther afield in country blues, trance blues or blues that sample rap or hip-hop, youll enjoy the musical diversity of our monthly Blues Bashes. This month, weve got Bassic Saxx the award-winning duo of Scotty Harris and Lissa Ramaglia opening the evening, and one of the finest players to ever pick up a Gibson guitar in the Pacific Northwest, the Tim Sherman Band. All ages. Second Tuesday of each month. First set at seven; free raffle giveaways before the second set that begins at eight. Well finish up at nine, and have a great time. See you there!

17

Redefine the Word Favorite at a Blues Festival

A Review of the Rock Cut and Backyard Blues Bash Festivals
By Cindy Dyer
As the festival season winds down, I am reminded of the great things about going to festivals: there are always several bands on the line-up, the great way they sound in the open air, and even if you go to festivals every weekend (like our Rhea and Tony from the WBS), you are bound to see some new favorite bands while still enjoying your old favorites and, as always adding to your collection of CDs and T-shirts.

setting, with grass and trees, surrounded by musicians and fellow blues lovers. At these smaller festivals, you get the privilege of an entire weekend of unrestricted roaming around and dancing. That freedom allows you to get up close and personal with your favorite musicians, especially if you hang out by the WBS booth! Its fun to visit and get to know the musicians and show them your love and respect for the talent they share with us. At Rock Cut, the July 22-23rd weekend, a local favorite and one of my new favorites is the Sara Brown Band, who played Friday night. I was honored to be able to spend some time between bands to talk with some of the band members. Sara spent some time in Hollywood and won Singer of the Year at Universal Studios in 2002. She gave up those bright lights for her husband and bass player, Jesse Brown, and settled down in the small town of Kettle Falls. She is like a grown-up Shirley Temple with her big smile and bubbly personality. She can sing out the low, growly notes of the Thrill is Gone and the sweetness of one of their originals Lay Me on Down. She sealed the deal with me when she ended the night with an encore of Adeles Rollin in the Deep. Guitar player Dave Kelley, previously with Dr. Mellow and The Mojos, has the clear, clean sound of a seasoned musician. I know Dave on a personal level and I am amazed of his talent for making guitars and violins, they are beautiful works of art. He can cut down a tree and masterfully turn it into a working instrument! He also has a sideline business of repairing string instruments. So you can see from all this extensive musical knowledge, he knows how to handle a guitar and trust me, he doesnt disappoint. To round out the band, they are accompanied by the solid beat of the drummer, Jeff Curtiss. Friday night ended with Eddie Turner, who really ripped it up. As usual, the festival continued on Saturday with a great mixture of new favorites and rediscovering old favorites. The line-up included VooDoo Church, Son Jack, JR, Fat Tones, Pat Coast, and Big Mumbo Blues Band with the sensational sax and killer keys. And ending the night was the Randy Oxford Band who always puts on a great show.

Two weeks later finds me at the Backyard Blues Bash at Pine Springs Resort at the opposite side of the state. An old favorite is Blues Attitude, who is a fun band with some great music. They did an awesome job with the Friday night jam. We heard a preview of Vaughn Jensen, who is also an old favorite from my stomping grounds of Tri-Cities. Leanne Trevalyan (from Junkyard Jane and The Trevalyan Triangle) was also there to sing a little and get us all ready for her acoustical set the next day. Also up was new favorite, and great blues harp player with a lively voice, Tuck Foster and his new band Tuck Foster and The Mossrites , which is named after his old friend and bass player, Patrick Moss lifelong love for the Mosrite guitars, which he plays to this day.

Two weeks later finds me at the Backyard Blues Bash at Pine Springs Resort at the opposite side of the state.
Another talented musician included an acoustical guitar player with half an arm but twice the heart, who put it all out there when she sang. Charlotte Wilson told me of her inspiring story the next day, who credits Vaughn Jensen for getting her out in the music scene again after a life changing accident. She was already an accomplished musician when she fell from a ladder and broke both her wrists two and a half years ago. After already a tragic and career pausing incident, she was thrown another obstacle with an infection in the bone and the loss of her hand. For now, shes figured out how to tape a pick device on so she can strum and I was amazed how much movement and control she has. This is just proof of the power that music can have on ones life and the motivation some have in order to keep it there. Leanne Trevalyan started out our beautiful Saturday, surrounded by good old Mother Nature and talk of the bear sightings the previous night. She braved it out solo with a fun set and created a nice atmosphere for the bands to follow. Another new favorite, Tommy Hogan,

I just attended two of my favorite festivals at opposite ends of the state, Rock Cut by Orient and Backyard Blues Bash by Goldendale.

I just attended two of my favorite festivals at opposite ends of the state, Rock Cut by Orient and Backyard Blues Bash by Goldendale. For $45-50, you get camping and two days of music at an intimate

18

really tore up the stage and got people hopping up off their chairs. Then, an old favorite of many, Billy Roy Danger and the Rectifiers (also of Junkyard Jane) entertained us with his story-telling songs. He ended his set with a fun and provocative I Want Candy while venturing off the stage, kneeling to the women in the audience while serenading them with his guitar, to put it lightly. We were also honored to hear from Two Tone Steiny and the Cadillacs out of California. And what more can I say about a long time favorite, Too Slim and the Taildraggers? The music just gets inside you and EVERYONE has to move young and old (another great thing about festivals the diversity of ages among the people). It must be something about Tommy and Pollys combined beat along with Tims electrifying sound that just keeps you going and going and dancing your ass off and it wasnt only me! The Vaughn Jensen band topped the night off and kept us moving into the late hours. He was joined by an extraordinary harp player who wowed us with his train song story. Vaughns friend, Charlotte, also amazed us again with a few songs at the end.

Great times! Great people! Great music! As you can see, its impossible to label one band a favorite.

Great times! Great people! Great music! As you can see, its impossible to label one band a favorite. So be sure to take advantage of wonderful displays of music and always find the joy in the journey and Dance Away!

19

Blues Reviews

New Blues tha you can Use t

T-Town Aces All In Blues Town Records www.t-townaces.com The T-Town Aces, the 2011 BB Award nominated Best New Band, consists of 2/3 of the multi-award winning Crossroads Band. Their name is a nod to three of the five band members currently living in or near Tacoma, and the Aces refers to blues legends Louis and Dave Myers on guitar and bass with Fred Below on drums (the unit who backed both Junior Wells and Little Walter). To say that their new CD All In deserves attention would be an understatement. In a departure from the three Crossroads CD, All In was recorded at Elliott Bay Recording Company instead of Casa de Bailey Studio. They open All In with Amos Milburns House Party (Tonight) a song that is very popular in the T-Town Aces live sets featuring Dennis Ellis on vocals and wailing sax showing why many consider him one of the best players and vocalists in town. New guitarist Curtis Smith struts his stuff on Earl Hookers classic Guitar Rumba. There are many highlights on this CD, including the two Steve Bailey originals the self explanatory Unemployment Blues with its slow driving beat and warbling harp, and the upbeat Potato Digger, rife with double entendre Steves bottle neck slide playing and Dennis beating sax solo. All In is on my short list for Best Blues CD of 2011, and both Dennis and Steve are on my list for several nominations including Performer of the Year, Hall of Fame and more. - Malcolm Kennedy

Grady Champion Dreamin GSM Music

2010 international Blues Challenge winner Grady Champion proves the blues has a future with the release of fifth album Dreamin. The ten track album of original material, produced by Champion and partners in crime Zac Harmon and Christopher Troy, mixes elements of a variety of styles from traditional blues to sweaty R&B, gospel ,pop and soul, all recorded with finesse rarely found on independent CDs . Although billed as contemporary blues their use of hip hop influenced electronic percussion, soulful backups and effects, alongside gritty guitar and wailing harmonica, Champion and Co. may have created a new genre something akin to Neo-Blues. All the songs feature Champions smoky tenor and hot harp playing reminiscent of a young James Brown or little Walter. Champion knows when to lay it down smooth and when to shout. Strongest among the tracks are the sassy title tune, featuring backups from Sue Ann Carwell who sang on Purple Rain. The foot stomping Same Train, brings the blues in the twenty first century. Make That Monkey Jump, is sure fired to bring the house down, and old school fans get a nod with Thank You for Giving Me the Blues, with its new spin on a twelve bar. Grady Champion proves he is here to stay and worthy of the accolades with Dreamin, a champion indeed. - Rick J Bowen.

John Mayall Tough Eagle Records www.eaglerockent.com

20

After Mayalls 2007 tribute album to Freddie King, he laid off his band of many years and slowed down his pace somewhat. For Tough John hired a completely new outfit only bringing back Tom Canning on keys and much of this project has a decidedly more rocking than his recent offerings. John Mayall has been making records since 1965 there have been some good ones, some not so much and some great ones. Along the way Mayall has written many great songs and here on Tough he includes three originals along with covers by Harper, ex-Bluesbreaker Walter Trout, Dave Fields, Gary Nicholson, Curtis Salgado and more. In my opinion, although well versed at all the instruments he plays, Mayall is often at his best when playing the harmonica as on Trouts Playing With A Losing Hand and the original That Good Old Rockin Blues which is reminiscent of the Stones at their best. I am trying to decide if Mayall titled this CD Tough because of the hard rocking stance that many of the tracks have or as a nod to his composition Tough Times Ahead, about the trying times of the aftermath of the global financial meltdown. The Dave Fields cut Train To My Heart has a driving beat and blazing guitars that is sure to appeal to fans of hard blues rock. The mid tempo blues shuffle Eye For An Eye is a sure winner as is his own Slow Train To Nowhere, a mellow piano shuffle about leaving the fast and wild life behind. The up beat piano driven shuffle The Sum of Something composed by Curtis Salgado will have you snapping your fingers and tapping your toes. Overall Tough is a good album with a few gems that Mayall fans are sure to enjoy. Malcolm Kennedy

Marcia Ball Roadside Attractions Alligator Records www.alligator.com

Marcia Ball needs no introduction with the numerous BMAs she has received, not to mention three Grammy nominated CDs, nor does her brand of rollicking boogie piano driven blues. Marcia is supported by a crack outfit on her fifth Alligator Records CD Roadside Attractions with Colin Linden and Mike Schermer alternating on guitar and Reese Wynans adding his deft touch on B-3 to a pair of selections. The dozen tracks are all penned or co-written by Marcia (a first in her 40+ year 15 album career) and they are a delight. The second line beat of We Fell Hard is accent by the Mingo Fishtrap Horns of Dan Bechdolt-tenor sax, Steve Butts-trumpet and Greg Wilson-baritone sax. The bluesy shuffle of Look Before You Leap again has the Fishtrap Horns and an adroit solo by Schermer. Marcia also shows another side on the slower cuts like Between Here and Kingdom Come This Used To Be Paradise, a heartfelt song about the Louisiana wetlands and I Heard It All with lyrics that reprise the theme of Robert Crays Right Next Door adding yet another dimension to this multi faceted artist. The upbeat swinging sounds of Sugar Boogie will have them dancing in the aisles and highlights some clever interaction between Schermers six string and Thad Scott on sax. There is not a dud in the bunch so if you enjoy piano boogie blues at its finest get yourself a copy of Marcia Balls Roadside Attractions! - Malcolm Kennedy

Terry Garland & Lil Ronnie Live at the Canal Club Eller Soul Records www.ellersoulrecords.com On Live at the Canal Club you have the duo of master guitarist and vocalist Terry Garland along with blues harpist extraordinaire and vocalist Lil Ronnie Owens (Lil Ronnie & the Grand Dukes) swaggering their way through 11 tracks with six originals sprinkled in amongst some choice cover selections like Stagger Lee, I Cant Be Satisfied, Willie Dixons Crazy Mixed Up World and a pair of lesser known Jimmy Reeds songs. Terrys Trouble On the Way is gritty low down in the dirt blues while Ronnies Bettin On My Baby has a slicker uptown vibe and some reed bending harp too. Ronnies foot stomping harp fueled instrumental Think Big elicited a rousing response from the audience that harp players and enthusiasts like me are sure to enjoy. Of special note is Terrys buzzing slide on Muddys I Cant Be Satisfied, front porch blues at its best. If you like blues duos then Live at the Canal Club is for you. - Malcolm Kennedy

Marion James Essence Eller Soul Records www.ellersoulrecords.com

Lauren Jordan Dreams Bloo Productions

Dreams is not a blues CD; but when you hear her you agree that the lush voice of the 23 year old Bay Areas Lauren Jordan will be making its mark for some time to come. The percolating short opening Warm Up is just that, and shows that the supporting cast has some chops. There is plenty of good R&B on these 10 original songs. I found them to be lyrically weak at times, but Laurens vocal affectations are not overdone. Thats quite unlike what is so common with R&B chanteuses these days. The mellow As I Am was a standout as Lauren sings about angels flying high, and with a a tasteful guitar solo by Anthony Paule. Smokin Train seems a little incongruous with its C&W shuffle emulating a moving train; but it is still a good track. The guitar playing develops a pleasingly deep groove on Heaven or Hell driven by a pulsing beat, the solo crisp and sweet and Laurens beautiful vocals. - Malcolm Kennedy

Nashville isnt exactly known as a hot bed for the blues; but there is a blues scene there and there are a couple studios and a few good musicians there, too. Marion had a top 10 hit back in 1966 and also for a brief time in the early 60s her band included 2/3 of the Band of Gypsys, Hendrix and Billy Cox. Husband Jimmy Stuart is a trumpet player and arranged horn charts for Bobby Bland and Junior Parker among others (although hes not on this CD). Essence was originally recorded in 2003 and features a bevy of Nashvilles finest studio musicians and it shows on the CD. Essence opens with a cool 70s style R&B number called Tables as in the tables gonna turn on you, you, you with a Tower of Power horns groove. Give Me Love opens with a mellow groove with a horn section. Lets Straighten It Out has a Barry White feel, a relationship song about fixing things before they fall apart. Marion shows another side in the jazzy 24 Hours and then the sultry cocktail lounge jazz of Until The Real Thing Comes Along. The displays vocal range as the piano plays tastefully behind and guitarist Jack Pearson (Allman Brothers) adds an artistic touch. The horns are back for the blues of Please Dont Waste My Time which features a gritty slide solo. From smoky sax and/or piano driven jazz to tough R&B, Essence brings a lot to the table without feeling disjointed. Well worth checking out. - Malcolm Kennedy

Steve Dawson Nightshade Black Hen Music www.blackhenmusic.com

Steve Dawson is the British Columbia-based mastermind behind the BMA nominated Mississippi Sheiks Tribute CD and concert DVD projects, and Nightshade shows him to be a very adept tunesmith and an amazingly talented multi instrumentalist playing both electric and acoustic on large variety of instruments. His music his not exactly blues yet it is; but it is so much more. Nightshade is possibly the best CD I have heard in awhile. From the opening bars of the infectious Torn and Frayed I was hooked. The haunting harmonies with Alice Dawson and the rousing bass lines provided by Keith Lowe along with Steves dazzling picking and engaging vocals make Darker Still stands out. Walk On, a mid-tempo lope, reminds me of something JJ Cale would do with the line times are better ahead, so walk on and Fairweather Friends could be a rootsy breakout single AAA radio. The moody slow paced The Fray again features great harmonies this time with Jeanne Tolmie and a Neal Young-esque feel to the languid electric guitar solos. The only cover song here is a reprise of the Sheiks Gulf Coast Bay one of the standouts from both tribute projects and it stands out here too with a toe tapping beat, outstanding musicianship and vocals, it is positively vibrant. I can not recommend Nightshade highly enough; its not all blues; but these songs deserve to be heard in heavy rotation. - Malcolm Kennedy

21

Elvin Bishops Raisin Hell Revue

More...

Live on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise

Delta Groove Music www.deltagroovemusic.com

The Twisters Come Out Swingin NorthernBlues Music www.northernblues.com

The CD Woodbury Band Sunbanks Live! Self released www.cdwoodbury.com There have been several really good live albums recorded at the multi BB Award winning Sunbanks R&B Festivals and the 2011 release by the CD Woodbury Band, Sunbanks Live! is another distinguished example. Clint has been plying his trade for years playing in Polly OKearys Rhythm Method, The Mark DuFresne Band as well as other projects. Woodburys band is the former rhythm section from Tim Caseys Bluescats; Chris Kliemann on keys, Don Montana on drums, Mike Fish on bass, and rounding things out is multi instrumentalist Mike Marinig on sax, flute and more. Sunbanks Live! contains ten selections including Two Wheels an ode to the open road sung and penned by Don. Mike provides a polished sax solo to which CD ads some slick guitar and Chris some tinkling ivories. The covers start with a tune I never tire of, Bobby Blue Blands Further On Up The Road on which CD and his cohorts dazzle. Freddy Kings Pack It Up positively struts and Woodburys guitar solo sears while the jazzy Prisoner of Love puts some focus on Mikes ripping saxophone and Chris keyboards. CD and company show even more diversity on the soulful version of Can I Change My Mind, which is definitely one of the highlights of the set, and I am certain it had the Sunbanks crowd up dancing. Speaking of BB Awards, Clint has racked up a few recently with back to back Best Electric Guitar awards in 2010 and 2011 plus Best New Band in 2010. Pick up a copy Sunbanks Live! and find out what all the fuss is about. - Malcolm Kennedy

From the ambling blues, smooth harmonica of Dave Hurricane Hoerl, silky guitar and satin vocals from Brandon Isaak on the opening track Ill Make It Up To You, I had my toes tapping. I knew right away that the Twisters that this 2009 follow up to their highly acclaimed After the Storm (NorthernBlues) would be another one fat with killer tunes, and that is certainly the case. It was nominated for the 2009 Blues Album of the Year by the Western Canada Music Awards and the Twisters also received five 2009 Maple Blues Award Nominations including Best Recording and Electric Act. Known for their understated yet lively playing, the Twisters play a swinging West Coast Blues style; but they can play a tough and gritty Chicago style as the do on Dirty Boy Blues. Somethings Gotta Give has a 50s style pop ballad feel to it that has a sweet groove and is one of five tracks that feature Hoerl on vocals. Kenny Blues Boss Wayne guests on keys as does Jerry Cook on sax filling out the sound. I Refuse To Get Old is a Delta style solo acoustic with harp accents and Long Overdue is a harp burner that is sure to please. The Twisters tore it up at at the 2011 Mt Baker R&B Festival and will be back down on September 17th at the Highway 99 Blues Club and I highly recommend this CD and this band. I would be remiss if I didnt mention the Twisters Theme, a catchy number where they sing: Were the Twisters/playing in your townwe like to jump and swing, having a blast, laying it down. - Malcolm Kennedy

10

Well, if the formula for an excellent live blues album wasnt already completely certified with Tommy Castros Delta Groove LRCB Revue release or Joe Louis Walkers Blues Conspiracy then Elvin Bishop Live on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise has certainly confirmed it with this offering. If you want to make a kick ass CD all you have to do is get yourself booked as a the headliners on one of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruises, pick out a few of your biggest hits, and a nice selection of choice blues standards and grab your favorite fellow LRBC entertainers to lend their talents and then just let the tapes roll. Elvin picked Finis Tasby (Mannish Boys) John Nemeth, Kid Andersen (Rick Estrin & the Nightcats) and longtime bandmate and BMA nominated sax man Terry Hanck. Live on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise opens with a fun Elvin Bishop classic Callin All Cows with help on vocals by his band, Steve Willis on accordion and both Elvin and Bob Welch on slide guitar. John Nemeth (who sings on four cuts) lends his elite vocal talents to Elvins 75 hit Fooled Around and Fell In Love, and in my very biased opinion is even better than the original. Elvin Bishops Raisin Hell Revue-Live on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise is a fantastic CD. - Malcolm Kennedy

11

Roomful of Blues Hook, Line & Sinker Alligator Records www.alligator.com

Roomful has again made some line-up changes since their 2008 Alligator Records release Raising A Ruckus with Phil Pemberton taking over on vocals, Doug Woolverton taking over the trumpet chair from the late great Bob Enos and John Turner on bass. This years Hook, Line & Sinker opens with the signature Roomful Horn Section and Chris Vachons brilliant, yet underrated, guitar playing and shows Pemberton to be a first class vocalist on par with Roomful alumni like Salgado, Norcia and DuFresne.) Roomful of Blues is synonymous with upbeat jumping, bouncy, swinging tunes played with gusto and the dozen well chosen covers included on Hook, Line & Sinker fit the bill to the tee. On Gatemouth Brown classics like She Walks Right In and Gate Walks To Board, Vachons considerable skills on guitar, with that of the consistently dazzling and in demand Roomful horn players, shine brightly. This band just keeps cranking out great releases and for Hook, Line & Sinker the dig deep into the songbooks to pull out another batch of winners. Highly recommended. - Malcolm Kennedy

12

22

Tad Robinson Back in Style Severn Records www.severnrecords.com

Tad Robinson, 2010 BMA Soul Blues Artist of the Year Nominee released an exceptional record last year. If hes an unfamiliar name, there is no better place to start than Tads Back In Style (Severn Records). The velvety smooth Rained All Night is backed by the Memphis Horns Wayne Jackson on trumpet with Jack Hale-trombone and Tom McGinley-baritone sax; Kevin Anker-Hammond organ and Alex Schultz on guitar; but it is Robinsons vocals that really get it sounding like a gem from the Stax vaults. Tad takes it into the blues for the mid tempo Full Attention Blues and demonstrates some of his chops on the blues harp while Harold Flood plays sparse yet stinging guitar and the three piece horn section rounds out the sound. Just Out of My Reach has a Motown groove and I easily envision the slick matching suits of the back up singers with them all doing the synchronized dance moves. Another one that had me grooving was Turn To The Music with Anker on Hammond and Wurlitzer, Dan Hovey providing the jazzy guitar; Kenny Rittenhouse-trumpet and Jerry Queene-tenor sax. If your thing is the real deal 1960s to 1970s soul and I do mean soul, then get yourself a copy of Back In Style and while your at it, pick up Tads 2007 Severn CD, A New Point Of View. - Malcolm Kennedy

15 13 14 16
Tempa & the Tantrums Voodoo & Angels Self released www.revebnation.com/tempaandthetantrums Strummin Dog Signify (Self-Released) You know that anyone who pursues a musical path based on country and delta blues is doing so out of a love for the music and not for the money, but this new release from Strummin Dog out of Sitka, Alaska might just buck that trend. He declares his intentions right out the gate with a powerful arrangement of Muddys I Cant Be Satisfied that is akin to a Charley Patton/Alvin Youngblood/John Hurt mash up and is one of the most original arrangements of this blues standard to have come along in many years.The CD features 12 tracks including 4 self-penned songs (more on those later) and the cover artist selection would make any roots blues fan salivate, featuring Son House, Robert Johnson, Charley Patton and more. Strummin Dogs guitar chops are unquestionable and are showcased beautifully here, in songs that span the spectrum of juke joint foot stompers (for example, Son Houses County Farm) to gentle fingerpicked ballads (such as Robert Johnsons Travellin Riverside Blues). While there are high watermark versions of some classic blues on this album, the original material is strong and varied, and provides perhaps just a glimpse of a the real man inside the gruff exterior called Strummin Dog. In the impassioned Locked Into Something you can palpably feel his yearning for change anything but this. Theres a nice skipping- down-the-country-lane feel to Bring Her Back Home and theres a definite hint of Sonny & Brownie on Good Woman Blues as Gary Gouker adds some tasteful harp without the duo being slavish to the form. Gouker plays on 4 tracks and plays it like a pro just enough in all the right places. If these guys ever wanted to hit the road as duo, theyd be working every night. The raw authenticity on this album is undeniable, compelling and a joy to the ears. This is a must buy album for lovers of real downhome blues. Son Jack, Jr. http://strummindog.bandcamp.com/releases Although only a 5 track EP from 2007, Voodoo & Angels shows that Tempa & the Tantrums is a roots band with enormous potential. Opening with the original Zydeco Jam what becomes immediately apparent is that the guest musicians like Gerry Cavagnaro on accordion and Mike Cutler on scrub board are essential to filling out the sound of the band, which are guitarist Joseph Barton, David Foret-bass and Phil Bassist-drums. They take Zydeco Jam far into the dark swamps. Next is Misty Blue a deep soul, torch song featuring Dave Camp on tenor sax and Joe Sellars on keys and showcasing Tempas remarkable, expressive and untamed vocals. They offer up an inspired reading on the Supremes first Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit Where Did Our Love Go on which Barton cuts loose a little with some spicy guitar lines. Tempa is now currently working with a new line-up featuring Naor Nave and Jon Woodhead on guitars, vocals and songwriting, and I am looking for their next CD, which I understand is in the works. -Malcolm Kennedy The Forty Fours featuring Kid Ramos Boogie Disease Rip Cat Records www.ripcatrecords.com There are several really good blues bands out there who who have taken the tough post-war Chicago sound and pumped new life into it. Updating the music; but keeping the raw core of it. Well, add to this list the 44s 2010 debut on Rip Cat Records featuring Kid Ramos. Boogie Disease is a monster with nine tracks that clocks in at a short 39 minutes of unpretentious full on blues. The LA-based band features Johnny Main on guitar, vocals; Tex Nakamura on harp, Mike Turturro on upright bass, J.R. Lozano on drums and producer Kid Ramos guitar on four cuts. I like every song from the first note to the last; but, a few stand out like the propulsive, raw to the bone, methodic band original title cut Boogie Disease with Kid Ramos and Lester Butlers harp driven So Low Down which just plain smokes. Texs cracker jack reed bending harp playing is barely contained on William Clarkes incendiary instrumental Blowin Like Hell. They breath fresh life into Wolfs Commit A Crime performing it at a slow and deliberate pace which allows the song to maintain much of the menace without attempting to out-wolf the Wolf, which some have tried; only to come not even close. If it sounds like Im raving about Boogie Disease well thats because I am. It is 100% solid blues and I recommend it extremely highly. - Malcolm Kennedy

23

Daddy Treetops (206) 601-1769 Double Cookin (253) 945-7441 Double Scotts on the Rocks (206) 418-1180 Dudley Taft (206)795-6509 Roger Enders Road to Ruin (206) 369-7616 Sammy Eubanks (509) 879-0340 Richard Evans (206) 799-4856 Fat Cat (425) 487-6139 Fat Tones (509) 869-0350 Julie Duke Band 206-459-0860. Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone (206) 295-8306 Gary Frazier (206) 851-1169 Free Reign Blues Band (425) 823-3561 Fil Gumbo (425) 788-2776 Nicole Fournier & Her 3 Lb Universe (253) 576-7600 Jimmy Frees Friends (206) 546-3733 Charlene Grant & the Love Doctors (206) 763-5074 Paul Green & Straight Shot (206)795-3694 Dennis Juxtamuse Hacker (425) 512-8111 Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band (425)576-5673 Tim Hall Band (253) 857-8652 Curtis Hammond Band (206) 696-6134) Ryan Harder (253) 226-1230 Scotty Harris & Lissa Ramaglia/Bassic Sax (206) 418-1180 Terry Hartness (425) 931-5755 Ron Hendee (425) 280-3994 JD Hobson (206) 235-3234 David Hudson / Satellite 4 (253) 630-5276 Hungry Dogs (425) 299-6435 Brian Hurst (360) 708-1653 K. G. Jackson & the Shakers (360) 896-4175 Jeff & the Jet City Fliers (206) 469-0363 Junkyard Jane (253) 238-7908 Stacy Jones Band (206) 992-3285 Harry The Man Joynes (360) 871-4438 Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937 Virginia Klemens / Jerry Lee Davidson (206) 632-6130 Mick Knight (206) 373-1681 Bruce Koenigsberg / The Fabulous Roof Shakers (425) 766-7253 Kolvane (503) 804-7966 Lady A & the Baby Blues Funk Band (425) 518-9100 Leanne Trevalyan (253)238-7908 Scott E. Lind (206) 789-8002 Little Bill & The Bluenotes (425) 774-7503 Loose Gravel & The Quarry (253) 927-1212 Dana Lupinacci Band (206) 860-4961 Eric Madis & Blue Madness (206) 362 8331 Bill Mattocks Band (206) 601-2615 Albritten McClain & Bridge of Souls (206) 650-8254 Brian Jelly Belly McGhee (253) 777-5972 Doug McGrew (206) 679-2655 Mary McPage Band (206) 850-4849 Mike Wright and The Blue Sharks (360) 652-0699 (425) 327-0944 Blues Playground (425) 359-3755 Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely (425) 239-3876 / (425) 359-3755 Randy Norris & The Full Degree (425) 239-3876 Sean Denton Band (425) 387-0620

Washington Blues Society Talent Guide

A.H.L. (206) 935-4592 Annieville Blues (206) 994-9413 AlleyKattz (425) 273-4172 Al Earick Band (253) 278-0330 Author Unknown (206) 355-5952 Baby Gramps Trio (425) 483-2835 Back Porch Blues (425) 299-0468 Badd Dog Blues Society (360) 733-7464 Bay Street Blues Band (360) 731-1975 Billy Barner (253) 884-6308 Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin Daddies! (360) 357-5454 Norm Bellas & the Funkstars (206) 722-6551 The Black River Blues (206) 396-1563 The Blackstone Players (425) 327-0018 Blackie Jo James & The Natives (206) 634-1431 Blues Attitude (360) 701-6490 Blue 55 (206) 216-0554 Blue Healers (206) 440-7867 BluesBerry Marmalade (206) JAY-WARD Blues To Do Monthly (206) 328-0662 Brian Lee & the Orbiters www.brianleeorbiters.com Brian Lee Trio (206) 390-2408 Blues Playground (425) 359-3755 Blues Redemption http://www.bluesredemption.com (The) Blues Sheriff (206) 979-0666 Blues to Burn (253) 945-7441 Bill Brown and The Kingbees 206-276-6600 Bump Kitchen (253) 223-4333, (360) 259-1545 Brian Butler Band (206) 361-9625 Tim Casey & The Bluescats (425) 531-1793 Charlie Butts & the Filtertips (509) 325-3016 Malcolm Clark Band (253) 853-7749 Colonel (360) 293-7931 Coyote Blues (360) 420-2535 Kimball Conant & the Fugitives (206) 938-6096 Jack Cook & Phantoms of Soul (206) 517-5294 Rod Cook & Toast (206) 878-7910 Cooke & Green (253) 945-7441 John Scooch Cugnos Delta 88 Revival (360) 352-3735 Crossroads Band (206) 935-8985

24

25

KUGS 89.3FM Bellingham: Highway 61 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kugs.org - DJ, Chalkie McStevenson KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: Blues On Rye 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Val Vaughn Northwest Convergence Zone Online Radio: NWCZradio.com: Dave Samsons BluesShow 7:00pm - 10:00PM

Monday

Blues on the radio Dial

PLEASE SEND ANY RADIO UPDA TES TO CALENDAR@WABLUES.ORG

Tuesday

KBCS 91.3FM Bellevue: Eh Toi! 11:00PM - 1:00AM www.kbcs.fm - DJ, DJ Marte

Wednesday Thursday

KEXP 90.3FM Seattle: The Roadhouse 6:00PM to 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Greg Vandy KSER 90.7FM Everett: Clancys Bar and Grill 8:30PM - 10:30PM www.kser.org - DJ, Clancy Dunigan KSER 90.7FM Everett: The Blueshouse 10:30PM - 12:30AM www.kser.org - DJ, Jonathan Oogie Richards KEXP 90.3 Seattle Preaching the Blues with Johny Horn Sunday Mornings 9am to Noon KYRS 92.3 FM, KYRS.org Blues Now and Then 6-8 PM. DJ, Patrick Henry and Jumpin Jerry. KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler KWCW 90.5FM Walla Walla: Blues Therapy 7:00PM - 9:00PM www.kwcw.net - DJ, Biggdaddy Ray Hansen and Armand The Doctor Parada KKZX 98.9FM Spokane: Blowtorch Blues 7:00PM - 10:00PM www.kkzx.com - DJ, Ted Todd Brion Foster. KSER 90.7FM Everett: The Juke Joint 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kser.org - DJ, Jon Noe KSER 90.7FM Everett: Audio Indigo 11:00PM - 1:00AM www.kser.org - DJ, Robin K

Sunday

Friday

KEXP 90.3FM Seattle: Shack The Shack 6:00PM - 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Leon Berman

Saturday

KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: Blues For Breakfast 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Jerry Drummond KSER 90.7FM Everett: Audio Indigo 7:00PM - 9:00 PM www.kser.org - DJ, Robin K KPBX 91.1FM Spokane: Blues Kitchen 10:00PM - 12:00AM www.kpbx.org - DJ, Tina Bjorklund KZPH 106.7FM Wenatachee: The Blues 11:00PM - 12:00AM www.therock1067.com - DJ, Dave Keefe

Washington Blues Society Blues Jams

Sundays
Alki Tavern: Jam hosted b y Manuel Morais Dawsons, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7PM Eastlake Zoo Tavern: Eastlake Zoo Social Club & Jam featuring the Seattle Houserockers: 7PM FUBAR Mount Vernon: Gary Bs Church of the Blues Lighthouse Des Moines: Tim Turner Band Sept. 4 Sept. 18 Northpoint Tacoma: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 7PM Pegasus Pizza, Kirkland: acoustic jam w/ HeatherBBlues, 8-11PM Raging River: Tommy Wall Silver Dollar: Big Nasty, 8PM Uncle Mos Renton, 5PM

Mondays
88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Star Drums & Lady Keys host Blue Monday Jam JRs Hideway: Malcolm Clark, 8PM Oxford Saloon: All ages open jam, 7 11PM

Tuesdays
Barrel Invitational: w/Doug McGrew, 8pm Sept. 27 Tim Turner Bishops Alehouse, Kirkland: acoustic jam w/HeatherBBlues, 9PM-12AM J & M Cafe Jam with Justin Kasual Hayes & Andrew Cloutier Pacific Rim Marysville Best Western: Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks, 7 11PM Snohomish Spirits & Sports: Sean Denton & friends Summit Pub: Tim Hall & the Realtimes, 7:30PM Yuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake): HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8PM

26

Washington Blues Society Venue Guide

Seattle
Clearwater Casino Suquamish (360) 598-6889 Destiny Seafood & Grill Port Angeles (360) 452-4665 Halftime Saloon Gig Harbor (253) 853-1456 Junction Tavern Port Angeles (360) 452-9880 Little Creek Casino Shelton (360) 427-7711 Seven Cedars Casino Sequim (360) 683-7777 Sirens Port Townsend (360) 379-1100 Upstage Port Townsend (360) 385-2216

South Sound Tacoma, Burien, Federal Way, etc

Al Lago, Lake Tapps (253) 863-8636 2 Wheel Blues Club Tacoma Barnacles Restaurant, Des Moines (206) 878-5000 The Barrel Burien (206) 244-7390 The Burien Eagles (206) 246-3350

CCs Lounge, Burien (206) 242-0977

Capitol Theater/Olympia Film Society (360) 754-3635 Charlies Olympia (360) 786-8181 Cliff House Restaurant Tacoma (253) 927-0400 Destination Harley Davidson Fife (253) 922-3700 Druids Glen, Covington (253) 638-1200 Blues Vespers at Immanuel Presbyterian (253) 627-8371 Jazzbones in Tacoma (253) 396-9169 (The) Junction Sports Bar, Centralia (360) 273-7586 Lake Wilderness Golf & Country Club, Maple Valley (425) 432-9405 Lighthouse Des Moines (206) 824-4863 Maggie OTooles Lakewood (253) 584-3278 Magnolia Caf Poulsbo (360) 697-1447 Mick Kellys Irish Pub Kent (253) 856-5170 Mint Alehouse Enumclaw (360) 825-8361 Pats Bar & Grill Kent (253) 852-7287 Pick & Shovel Wilkeson (360) 829-6574 River Rock Grill & Ale House Renton (425) 430-0311 Riverside Pub, Sumner (253) 863-8369 Roberts 99th St. Lounge - Tacoma (253) 536-1464 Seafarers Sports Bar & Grill Tacoma (253) 572-8141 Silver Dollar Pub Spanaway (253) 531-4469 The Spar Tacoma (253) 627-8215 The Swiss Tacoma (253) 572-2821 Tugboat Annies Olympia (360) 943-1850 Uncle Sams Bar & Grill - Spanaway (253) 507-7808 Wine Cellar Pizzeria Bonney Lake (253) 863-9535 Wurlitzer Manor Gig Harbor (253) 858-1749

Peninsula

Bad Alberts (206) 782-9623 Blarney Stone Pub and Restaurant (206) 448-8439 China Harbor Restaurant (206) 286-1688 Dimitrious Jazz Alley (206) 441-9729 x210 EMP Liquid Lounge (206) 770-2777 North Sound EMP Sky Church (206) 770-2777 Fiddlers Inn (206) 525-0752 Bellingham, Anacortes, Whidbey Island, etc Galway Arms (206) 527-9868 China Beach Langley (360) 530-8888 Grinders (206) 542-0627 Just Moes Sedro Woolley (360) 855-2997 Highliner Pub (206) 283-2233 LaConner Tavern LaConner (360) 466-9932 Highway 99 Club (206) 382-2171 Little Roadside Tavern Everson (360) 592-5107 J & M Cafe (206) 467-2666 Old Edison Inn Edison (360) 766-6266 Kaosamai (206) 925-9979 Rockfish Grill Anacortes (360) 588-1720 Lock & Keel (206) 781-8023 Stump Bar & Grill Arlington (360) 653-6774 Magnolia Village Pub (206) 285-9756 Watertown Pub Anacortes (360) 293-3587 Maple Leaf Grill (206) 523-8449 Wild Buffalo Bellingham (360) 312-3684 Mr. Villa (206) 517-5660 Viking Bar and Grill Stanwood (360) 629-9285 New Orleans (206) 622-2563 Paragon (206) 283-4548 Pike Place Bar and Grill (206) 624-1365 Eastside The Rimrock Steak House (206) 362-7979 Bellevue, Kirkland, etc. Salmon Bay Eagles (206) 783-7791 Central Club Kirkland (425) 827-8808 St. Clouds (206) 726-1522 Crossroads Shopping Center Bellevue (425) 644-1111 Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park (206) 366-3333 Damans Pub Redmond Triangle Tavern (206) 763.0714 Forecasters Woodinville (425) 483-3212 Tractor Tavern (206) 789-3599 Ice Harbor Brewing Co - Kennewick (509) 582-5340 Triple Door (206) 838-4333 Raging River Caf & Club Fall City (425) 222-6669 Time Out Sports Bar Kirkland (425) 822-8511 Central & Eastern Vino Bella Issaquah (425) 391-1424 BBQ & Blues Clarkston (509) 758-1227 Wild Vine Bistro, Bothell (425) 877-1334 Breadline Caf Omak (509) 826-5836 Wilde Rover Kirkland (425) 822-8940 Club Crow Cashmere (509) 782-3001 Valhalla Bar & Grill, Kirkland (425) 827 3336 CrossRoads Steakhouse Walla Walla (509) 522-1200 Lakeys Grill Pullman (509) 332-6622 Main Street Tavern Omak (509) 826-2247 Peters Inn Packwood (360) 494-4000 Pine Springs Resort - Goldendate (509-773-4434 Rams Ripple Moses Lake (509) 765-3942 Rattlesnake Brewery Richland (509) 783-5747

North End (Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, etc.):

Anchor Pub Everett (425) 252-2288 Balefire Everett (425) 374-7248 Bubbas Roadhouse Sultan, (360) 793-3950 Canoes Cabaret Tulalip (888) 272-1111 The Conway Muse in Conway (360) 445-3000 Demetris Woodstone Taverna, Edmonds (425) 744-9999 Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse Mukilteo (425) 355-4488 Engels Pub Edmonds (425) 778-2900 Historic Spar Tree Granite Falls (360) 691-6888 Madison Pub - Everett (425) 348-7402 Mardinis Snohomish (360) 568-8080 Mirkwood & Shire Caf Arlington (360) 403-9020 North Sound:Star Bar, Anacortes (360) 299-2120 ( The) Oxford Saloon Snohomish (360) 568-3845 Prohibition Grille, Everett (425) 258-6100 Stanwood Hotel & Saloon Stanwood (360) 629-2888 Stewarts Snohomish (360) 568-4684 Timberline Caf Granite Falls (360) 691-7011 Traceys Place Everett (425) 259-0811 Wicked Rack BBQ Everett (425) 334-3800

Red Lion Hotel Wenatchee (Tomasz Cibicki 509-669-8200)

Tumwater Inn Restaurant and Lounge Leavenworth (509) 548-4232

Wednesdays
Burien Eagles: Rod Cook, Rich Sysinger & Bernie Nitro (2nd, 3rd &4th Wed) Open to the Public, 7:30 11PM Caseys Grll & Sports Bar, Kent: hosted by Roger Enders Band, 8PM Charlies Olympia: Blues Attitude Conor Byrne: Broomdust presents Blues of the Past Jam (1st Wed) Damans Pub: 8PM Dogghouse Tavern, Mt. Vernon Alan : Hatley Trio, 7PM Half Time Saloon: Billy Shew & Billy Barner Jazzbones Tacoma: Randy Oxford Band (Adults) Madison Pub, Everett: hosted by Unbound w/special guests 7:30PM Sept. 7 - Chuck Evans Sep 14 - Katy Miller & Alan Edwards Sep 21 - Mark Dufresne Sep 28 - Andy Badd Dog Koch 13 Coins, Seattle: Brian Lee w/ the Astrocats Jam, 8:30PM

Thursdays
Bad Albert Invitational w/Annieville Blues CCs Lounge Burien Conway Pub Dawsons: Billy Shew, 8PM J Bar: Main Street Band, 8PM Junction Grand Mound: Blues Attitude Mojos (1st Thursday) Cashmere: 7:30PM OCallahans: Tim Hall, 7PM Oxford Saloon: Invitational Jam w/Steve Ater, 8PM Rhythm & Brews: Al Earick Band an all ages jam, 7-10:30PM Ruston Inn: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 8PM

27

28

29

Calendar 9 17 1 2 10 18 19 3 11 20 21 12 4 13 22 5 14 6 15 23 7 24 8 16
T hursday
h ighway 99: John Scooch Cugno & the Delta 88 Revival featuring. The Blues Sheriff J azz a lley : Music from HBO series Treme i ssaquah a rT w alk : Fil Gumbo, 5pm N orThlake T averN & P izza h ouse : Bill Blackstone & Tim Turner, 7pm s almoN B ay e agles : Money Jungle silver sPooN, redmoNd: Norm Bellas, solo piano, 5:30pm ColumBia CiTy arT walk (Columbia City Fitness Center), Brian Butler Blues Band, 7pm h ighway 99: James King & the Southsiders J azz a lley : Music from HBO series Treme m el s o ld v illage P uB : the Mark Whitman band moose lodge, mouNT verNoN: Eli Mosquito Westin, 6:30pm oxFord salooN, sNohomish, BriaN lee & The orBiTers r oCkFish g rill , a NaCorTes : Randy Oxford Band TriPle door: Charle Musselwhite, NBCs The Sing Offs GROOVE FOR THOUGHT wa N ighT s uPermarkeT , B ellevue C omm .C ollege : Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie, 6pm

Blues

F riday

BaleFire, evereTT: Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie C eNTral T averN , k irklaNd : Lady A & the Baby Blues Funk Band, 8pm C haTeau , B elliNgham : Eli Mosquito Westin, 5pm h ighway 99: Robbie Laws Bigger Blues Band N ew o rleaNs : Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott r oCkFish : Thornton Creek T alariCo s , w.s eaTTle : Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band 13 C oiNs , s eaTaC : Astrocats w/ Brian Lee, 8:30pm wBs B lues B ash , r ed C raNe : Tim Turner, Scotty Harris, Lissa Ramaglia

F riday

B arell T averN : Mark Whitman Band Blues for Food Fest. Magnusen Park: Alice Stuart, 12pm, Wired, 1pm, Rectifiers, 2:30pm, Avey Brothers, 4pm, James King &the Southsiders, 5:30pm, Linda Meyers Portland Allstars, 7pm desTiNaTioN harley, FiFe: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 12pm e Ngles P uB : Tim Turner Band h ighway 99: T-Town Aces J azz a lley : Music from HBO series Treme Pig Out in the Park, Riverfront Park, Spokane: Fat Tones Pogacha, Issaquah: Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 8pm Prohibition Grille, Everett: Fil Gumbo Trio (+Gaby for some songs), 8pm r oCkFish : Bobby Holland & the Breadline

s aTurday

Beeksma Park, miliTary aPPreCiaTioN, day oak harBor: el Colonel & doubleshot, 12pm B lues aNd B rews F esT , d es m oiNs : Little Bill & the Blue Notes, 12am desTiNaTioN harley, FiFe: the Mark Whitman band, 11:30am doCk oF The Bay Blues FesT, wesTPorT: Fil Gumbo, 4:15pm g riNders , s horeliNe : Little Bill & the Blue Notes, 8pm h ighway 99: Randy Oxford band r oCkFish : Stacy Jones s almoN B ay e agles : Star Drums & Lady Keys wa NighT suPermarkeT, Bellevue Comm. College: Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie, 4pm

s aTurday

deStination Harley, FiFe: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 12pm elmerS reStaurant & lounge, Burien: Tim Turner Band H igHway 99: the Twisters J azz a lley : Branford Marsalis la Crema muSiC & artS FeStival: La Conner, Eli Westin Blues Band, 1pm n ew o rleanS : Brian Lee & the Orbiters nw d anCe , S wediSH C ulture C enter : Little Bill & the Blue Notes, 8:30pm o ld e diSon i nn , e diSon wa: WIRED! 8pm r oCkFiSH : Bill Mattocks Band t Hird P laCe B ookS , l ake F oreSt P ark : Jack Cook & Phantoms of Soul, 7:30pm vino Bella, iSSaquaH: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 7:30 pm

S aturday

immaNuel PresByTeriaN ChurCh Blues vesPers: Jerry Miller, Jay Mabin & Tom Murphy w/special guest Alice Stuart Jazz Alley: Branford Marsalis l ouie g s , T aComa ssBa iBC eveNT : Randy Oxford band , 6pm m arCo s . l yNNwood : Dirty Rice, 8pm s Par , T aComa : Little Bill & the Blue Notes, 8pm

s uNday

m oNday

N ew o rleaNs : New Orleans Quintet silver sPooN, lyNNwood: Norm Bellas, solo piano, 6pm

immaNuel PresByTeriaN ChurCh, a BeNeFiT For haBiTaT For h umaNiTy : featuring Bill Sims Jr.& Mark LaVoie, Adam Levy, Rod Cook & Toast, 5pm m arCo s . l yNNwood : Dirty Rice, 8pm s Par T averN : Loose Gravel & the Quarry , 7pm s uNBaNks r hyThm & B lues F esTival : Electric City: Road Dawgs, Drummerboy w/Brandon Santini from Memphis, 5:30pm w esTPorT F esTival : Little Bill & the Blue Notes

s uNday

T uesday

N ew o rleaNs : Holotradband, 7pm skylark, BelliNgham: Eli Westin & Arbogast Jazz Band, 7pm s uNBaNks C aNTiNa , B aNks l ake : Lil Bill Trio, 11pm y uPPie T averN , T oTem l ake : HeatherBBlues, 8pm

N ew o rleaNs : New Orleans Quintet silver sPooN, lyNNwood: Norm Bellas, solo piano, 6pm

m oNday

s uNday

J azz a lley : Music from HBO series Treme Johnnys Dock, Tacoma: Lil Bill Trio, 5pm m arCo s l yNNwood : Dirty Rice, 8pm s Par : Road Dawgs ToNaskeT musiC FesTival, ToNaskeT: Randy Oxford Band, 5pm

N ew o rleaNs : Holotradband, 7pm y uPPie T averN , T oTem l ake : HeatherBBlues, 8pm wa B lues s oCieTy m oNThly B lues B ash m eeTiNg , s horeliNe : Tim Turner Band, 7pm

T uesday

CeNTral TaverN, kirklaNd: Lady A & the Baby Blues Funk Band, 8pm h ighway 99: Lisa & the Pok Chops m r . v illa , l ake C iTy /s eaTTle : Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie, 7pm N ew o rleaNs : Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm P ike P laCe B ar & g rill : Tim Turner Band, 6pm r oCkFish : Spoonshine Duo

w edNesday

T hursday

m oNday

w edNesday

N ew o rleaNs : New Orleans Quintet silver sPooN, lyNNwood: Norm Bellas, solo piano, 6pm

T uesday

h ighway 99: Folichon N ew o rleaNs : Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm r oCkFish : Stilly River Band

d esTiNaTioN h arley , F iFe : Lil Bill trio, 12am h ighway 99: Volker Strifler band J azz a lley : Dr. John & the Lower 911 N ew o rleaNs : Ham Carson Quintet s almoN B ay e agles : Joe Barton Trio silver sPooN, redmoNd: Norm Bellas, solo piano, 5:30pm

N ew o rleaNs : Holotradband, 7pm y uPPie T averN ,T oTem l ake : HeatherBBlues,8pm

h ighway 99: Drummerboy m r . v illa , l ake C iTy /s eaTTle : Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie, 7pm N ew o rleaNs : Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm r oCkFish : Savage Jazz Trio

w edNesday

h ighway 99: Drummerboy J azz a lley : Branford Marsalis N ew o rleaNs : Skelbred /Jackson N orThlake T averN & P izza h ouse : Bill Blackstone & Tim Turner, 7pm s almoN B ay e agles : Bare Roots silver sPooN, redmoNd: Norm Bellas, solo piano, 5:30pm

T hursday

F riday

h ighway 99: Nearly Dan J azz a lley : Dr. John & the Lower 911 k risTos oN e asTlake : Brian Butler Blues Band N ew o rleaNs : Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott r oCkFish : Volker Strifler 13 C oiNs , s eaTaC : Astrocats w/ Brian Lee, 8:30pm

h ighway 99: Ron Hendee Band kser l ive PerFormaNCe , kser PerFormaNCe h all , e vereTT : Randy Oxford Band, 10pm P ike P l . B ar & g rill : John Stephan Band, 6pm r oCkFish : Trish Hatley, 6pm s almoN B ay e agles : Gin Creek silver sPooN, redmoNd: Norm Bellas, solo piano, 5:30pm s mokiN P eTe s BBq: Seattle:Gumbo Twins, 7pm

T hursday

F riday

Crossroads Bellevue: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 7:30pm elmers resTauraNT & louNge, BurieN: Tim Turner Band highway 99: Sammy Eubanks band, Kevin Self & the Tornadoes J azz a lley : Branford Marsalis N ew o rleaNs : Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott r oCkFish : Mark Dufresne s almoN B ay e agles , B allard : Heather & the Nearly Homeless Comb, 8pm 13 C oiNs , s eaTaC : Astrocats w/ Brian Lee, 8:30pm

desTiNaTioN harley, FiFe: the Mark Whitman band, 11:30am e Ngel s P uB : the Mark Whitman band h earT o F a NaCorTes : el Colonel & doubleshot, 5pm h ighway 99: Terry Evans band issaquah Farmers markeT: Eric Madis Swing Trio, 11am J azz a lley : Dr. John & the Lower 911 mT.raiNier rhyThm & Blues FesTival, miNeral: Randy Oxford Band, 4pm Little Bill & the Blue Notes New orleaNs Creole resTauraNT: Jeff & the Jet City Fliers o xFord s alooN , s Nohomish : WIRED! r oCkFish : Blue & Lonesome

s aTurday

30

25 26 27 28 29 30
s uNday m oNday T uesday w edNesday T hursday F riday

CorNer PuB, oysTer ruN ParTy: el Colonel & doubleshot, 12pm J azz a lley : Dr. John & the Lower 911 m arCo s . l yNNwood : Dirty Rice, 8pm

N ew o rleaNs : New Orleans Quintet silver sPooN, lyNNwood: Norm Bellas, solo piano, 6pm

N ew o rleaNs : Holotradband, 7pm y uPPie T averN , T oTem l ake : HeatherBBlues, 8pm

h ighway 99: Hot Rods Blues Revue N ew o rleaNs : Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm P ike P laCe B ar & g rill aT The m arkeT : Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie, 6pm

h ighway 99: the Three Guitars w/ Brian Butler, Jack Cook & Chris Stevens m adisoN P uB : Dirty Rice N ew o rleaNs : Ham Carson Quintet Quintet Northlake Tavern & Pizza House: Bill Blackstone & Tim Turner, 7pm s almoN B ay e agles : Dana Lupinacci Band silver sPooN, redmoNd: Norm Bellas, solo piano, 5:30pm h ighway 99: Lee Oskar & Friends JazzBoNes, TaComa: Randy Oxford Band CD release party, 8pm k risTos e asTlake : Tim Turner Band, 7:30pm 13 C oiNs , s eaTTle : Astrocats w/ Brian Lee, 9:30pm r oCkFish : Nick Vigarino y uPPie T averN , k irklaNd : WIRED

In Your October Blues Letter:

Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Preview, A 2011 Winthrop Festival Photo Essay, CD Reviews & much more!

1 2 3 4
s aTurday s uNday m oNday T uesday

Oct
31

raiNier arTs FesTival. ashFord: Randy Oxford Band, 4 pm r oCkFish : Little Bill & the Bluenotes

CeNTral CluB, kirklaNd: Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 8:30Ppm m arCo s . l yNNwood : Dirty Rice, 8pm N ew o rleaNs : New Orleans Quintet

N ew o rleaNs : Holotradband, 7pm

Non-Profit U.S. Postage Paid Seattle, WA Permit No. 5617

P.O. Box 70604 Seattle, W 98127 A Change Service Requested

The WBS is a proud recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive A ward