11th Edition

RIVERHEAD BLUES FESTIVAL 2009

 

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ARCHIVED PERFORMERS

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RIVERHEAD BLUES FEST

ARCHIVED PERFORMERS Click year: 2009 / 2008

 

2009

 

 

Saturday July 18 Outdoor Stages
11am -11pm
11:00 - 12:00 River stage  RBS Singers
12:10 - 1:00 Marina stage Blue Wild Angel
1:00 - 1:50 River stage Who Are Those Guys
1:50 - 2:40 Marina stage The Jim Moran Band
2:40 - 3:30 River stage Lil' Cliff & The Cliffhangers
3:30 - 4:20 Marina stage Bobby Nathan Band
4:20 - 5:10 River stage The Pat Hunter Project
5:10 - 6:00 Marina stage MSB Featuring Chrissie O'Dell
6:00 - 7:00 River stage Little Toby Walker
7:00 - 8:00 Marina stage Nicole Hart
8:00 - 9:15 River stage Savoy Brown
9:15 - 9:45 Marina stage RBS Singers
9:45 - 11:00 River stage Rage & Beyond

RAGE & BEYOND

Featuring former members

of Ace Frehley's Comet, Billy Joel and Dokken

www.rageandbeyond.com

 


 

Sunday July 19 Outdoor Stages
11am - 11pm
11:00 - 12:00  Marina stage  T-Bone & Franny Mae
12:00 - 1:00 River stage Misspent Youth
1:00 - 2:10 Marina stage Andre & the Night Hounds
2:10 - 3:10 River stage Little Sammy Davis
3:10 - 4:00 Marina stage Johnny Zarrow
4:00 - 4:50 River stage Memphis Soul Review
4:50 - 5:45 Marina stage Doug "Harmonica" McLean
5:45 - 6:45 River stage A Band Called Sam
6:45 - 7:45 Marina stage Kim Simmonds
7:45 - 9:00 River stage Frank Latorre & The King Bees
 

 

 

Vail-Leavitt stage - Saturday July 18
11:45am - 9pm

11:45 - 12:35 Hitman Blues Band
12:55 - 1:45 Little Toby Walker & David Jacobs-Strain
2:05 - 2:55  Le Swingtet
3:15 - 4:05 Ken "The Rocket" Korb
4:25 - 5:15  David Jacobs-Strain
5:35 - 6:25 Robert Ross
6:45 - 7:35 Tommy Keys

7:55 - 8:45

EEAC Duo


 

Vail-Leavitt stage - Sunday, July 19
11:45am - 7:35pm
11:45 - 12:35 Jessie Haynes & Friends  Featuring Digger T.
12:55 - 1:45 Ahmad Ali
2:05 - 2:55  Bob Westcott & The Daydreamers
3:15 - 4:05  The Nomos
4:25 - 5:15 Phil Minissale
5:35 - 6:25  Bruce MacDonald
6:45 - 7:35  Jacks O'Diamonds

 

Performers may email the webmaster links here.


 

KIM SIMMONDS & THE SAVOY BROWN BLUES BAND

If you find yourself strolling along Hollywood’s Rock Walk of Fame you’ll see names like Aerosmith, Dylan, Hendrix, Simmonds… Simmonds? That’s right, Kim Simmonds, the enduring front man for the famed British blues/rock band Savoy Brown, has earned his place among Rock and Roll royalty. From his humble beginnings in small clubs in London to sharing some of the world’s biggest stages with international stars like Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and Fleetwood Mac, Simmonds has helped form the British rock sound prevalent in so many artists today. In the mid 1960’s Simmonds and the Savoy Brown Blues Band were not only one of the first racially mixed bands to tour, they were also one of the first blues band to record. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

 

 

 

 

NICOLE HART

 

Coming to national attention in 2008 on the Blues, Roots, Soul & R&B scene, Nicole Hart made an impressive beginning completing three highly successful tours: she was the featured female performer of Jacksonville Beach, Florida's “Springing the Blues”; the featured female headline act of Laconia, New Hampshire's Big Three Motorcycle Week; she performed many more prominent festivals, including the Jersey Shore Red Bank Jazz & Blues Fest, among other renowned venues on the national circuit. Her initial independent CD release, “NICOLE HART & THE NRG BAND, LIVE!” received airplay on radio stations worldwide & continues to receive airplay to this day.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

 

 

LITTLE TOBY WALKER

 

If he doesn't get them with his phenomenal guitar playing or catchy songs, he gets them with his wonderful stories. True entertainers have an engaing spirit that puts a smile on your face. Arlo Guthrie has it. David Bromberg has it. And so does Toby. "
- John Platt - WFUV

"When Toby Walker straps the guitar on, the notes fly at a rate that is dizzying. They dance with speed, grace and precision. The effect is one of steel-like strength. His blues are a flash of muscle and his gentle fingerstyle ballads speak poetry."
-Richard Cuccaro - Acoustic Live CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

 


 

KIM SIMMONDS AND THE SAVOY BROWN BLUES BAND

Legendary....a blues/rock institution....true innovators....These are just a few of the ways SAVOY BROWN has been described over the past thirty years by music critics and fans.

One of the earliest of British blues bands, SAVOY BROWN (with founder guitarist and longtime member Kim Simmonds at the helm) helped launch the UK blues/rock movement that paved the way for such acts as Led Zeppelin.

The band recorded their first singles for Mike Vernon's Purdah label in 1966 and quickly followed up with the landmark album Shakedown. Singer Chris Youlden joined the band in 1968 and many classic records appeared with songs such as "I'm Tired" and "Louisiana Blues" becoming radio staples. Blues/rock and boogie music always was the band's calling card and they captured, forever, the spirit of the music on the live side of A Step Further ( 1969) with a twenty minute boogie "The Savoy Brown Boogie" dedicated to fans in Detroit.

By 1971, Youlden had departed on a solo career and band members Dave Peverett, Roger Earle and Tony Stevens had left to form their own group Foghat.

Simmonds rebuilt the band using former members of the blues band Chicken Shack and vocalist Dave Walker. That year, Street Corner Talking brought the band its best chart success up to that date. "Tell Mama", "Street Comer Talking", "All I Can Do Is Cry" and the band's funky re-make of the Motown classic, "I Can't Get Next To You", took the band to platinum status and placed them in front of wildly enthusiastic rock audiences in arenas all over the world.

 "It was a great time", says Simmonds "such commercial success doesn't come to everyone and I also felt we were making important music too, which made it doubly satisfying"

After the successful run of the early to mid 70's Simmonds moved operations to the USA and continued making the kind of records he wanted to make with a succession of line-ups. Records as diverse as the acoustic blues, Slow Train, on Relix and the hard rocking Rock And Roll Warriors appeared and all were eagerly accepted by the fans.

A three record deal with Crescendo, in 1987, took the band into a more rock direction, with records such as Live 'n ' Kicking placing the group in a live setting, one in which they have always excelled.

In the nineties, Let It Ride was released and then turning things around in 1994, Simmonds enlisted Pete McMahon for vocal and harmonica duties and ex Robert Gray drummer Dave Olson and recorded Bring It Home for Viceroy Records. This set the tone for the next five years.

Following that successful record, Nathaniel Peterson was brought in to handle the bass playing and singing and after touring the world extensively for three years, in 1999, The Blues Keep me Holding On was released on Mystic Music. This modern blues record brought the band's epic music journey full circle.

In 2001, Kim took over the front singer responsibilities himself adding Gerry Sorrentino on bass and Mario Staiano on drums. He recorded Strange Dreams with his own production company and Blind Pig Records released the record.

Now in 2005 Kim has changed the sound once again, continuing towards 2006 as a three-piece power trio along with Sorrentino and Staiano. A new release is planned for 2006.

"The music of SAVOY BROWN has never really got that far away from the blues", Simmonds says. "Today, I can still do a show that does straight traditional blues along with rock hits like "Tell Mama" and it all seems to fit.

SAVOY BROWN MEMBERS...

Kim Simmonds - Guitar/Vocal
For over thirty years, Kim Simmonds has been synonymous with "Legendary British Blues Guitar," mentioned in the same breath as Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor in the hierarchy of England's best guitar slingers from the 60's golden era of British Blues.
Kim started his career in London, England in 1966 by forming the group Savoy Brown and since has enjoyed international fame. He has been featured on the front cover of Guitar Magazine, made over three dozen records and performed around the world. He has an international fan club based in Wales and a web site www.savoybrown.com Kim's records with Savoy Brown (many produced by himself) have sold millions with albums such as Looking In and Hellbound Train reaching the Billboard top forty charts. Many of his songs have been covered by such diverse artists as Rare Earth, Hugo Montenegro and Great White. In 1995, a two CD boxed set, "The Savoy Brown Collection" released by Polygram Records, chronicled his and the bands astonishing career. As a solo artist and in the acoustic field Kim has released three CD's. Savoy Brown's 1986 Slow Train and his own 1997 Solitaire and the 2001 release Blues Like Midnight. Born in Wales in 1947 and playing the pubs of London with Savoy Brown at the very tender age of eighteen Kim Simmonds recorded albums that helped start the 60's blues boom.
While others have strayed from their roots, Simmonds has stayed the course; a true journeyman and road warrior, who's comfortably settled into an elder statesman role at the same time he's burning up the fretboard on the concert stage at the top of his game.


Mario Staiano - Drums/ Backing Vocals
Mario hails from Long Island, and has played with such notable artists as Maxine Brown, Robert Charels, Sam Taylor, and appeared on stage or record with Shemika Copeland, Son Seals, Gary US Bonds, The Brigati Brothers and many others. Though there are elements of funk, R&B and jazz in his playing, you can also hear a deep love and respect for the blues that informs his tight grooves.





 



Gerry Sorrentino - Bass
Brooklyn NY born bassist Gerry Sorrentino’s musical influences started early. His father was a violinist, pianist, arranger and composer for CBS television and radio as well as a music professor. First some violin, drums and accordion lessons. Then he saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. That was the beginning for him. Then he heard the sounds of Motown, Stax and Muscle Shoals. He fell in love with soul, r&b, funk, blues and later jazz. He studied upright bass in high school, but was in love with the electric bass. "My influences are many and could probably take up an entire! page". He sites Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Jerry Jemmott, Jack Bruce, Jack Casady, Larry Graham, Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius and Anthony Jackson as "very" influential.
Gerry is very active in the NYC scene doing session work, performing and writing.
Notable artists/groups Gerry is/has performed and/or recorded with include Maxine Brown, Sam Taylor, Robert Charels, Duke Robillard, "Lil’ Mama" Heather Hardy. He has also had live performances with Zakiya Hooker, Shemekia Copeland, Long John Baldry, Rod Price, Jim McCarty, Hubert Sumlin, Popsy Dixon, Leni Stern, Jimmy Vivino, Lou Marini, Michael Hill, "Crusher" Green, Bugs Henderson, Bob Hall, Roy Young, and Frankie Paris to name a few.


 

NICOLE HART

Coming to national attention in 2008 on the Blues, Roots, Soul & R&B scene, Nicole Hart made an impressive beginning completing three highly successful tours: she was the featured female performer of Jacksonville Beach, Florida's “Springing the Blues”; the featured female headline act of Laconia, New Hampshire's Big Three Motorcycle Week; she performed many more prominent festivals, including the Jersey Shore Red Bank Jazz & Blues Fest, among other renowned venues on the national circuit. Her initial independent CD release, “NICOLE HART & THE NRG BAND, LIVE!” received airplay on radio stations worldwide & continues to receive airplay to this day.

During a recording session for Blues Music Award Nominee Albert Castiglia, she met up with Blues Leaf Records label president Joseph Morabia, who soon signed her to the label. Her 2009 Blues Leaf release, "TREASURE," debuted on the Living Blues charts at # 14, and is currently #5 in rotation on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio, is #20 12 weeks on the national Roots/Blues, and is in rotation on the nationally syndicated Music Choice television channel.  In May 2009, Nicole became an award-winning vocalist, being recognized as "Female Vocalist of the Year" by the 5th Annual Los Angeles South Bay Music Awards. 

"TREASURE" features a duet with label mate Castiglia, is produced by Grammy award winner Jack Kriesberg (Paquito D’Riviera, Elvin Jones), is mixed and mastered by Grammy award winning engineer Ben Elliott (Eric Clapton, Keith Richards), is distributed by Allegro and available nationwide at Barnes & Noble, Borders Bookstores, J&R Music World, Amazon.com, CD Universe, and at every performance.

As a modern day Blues woman, Nicole straddles a diverse musical terrain defined by such icons as Koko Taylor, Susan Tedeschi, Janiva Magness, & Bonnie Raitt. Hart’s impressive resume also includes work in television, film & live performance outside the realm of Blues.

“As an artist, I am influenced by all great music, and inspired by many of the greatest artists of our time. I aspire to create a feeling & a depth of integrity representing those influences, while also conveying a viewpoint toward the world of my own."

 

The New CD, “TREASURE”, on Blues Leaf Records
Release Date April 14th, 2009

TREASURE Currently in rotation on MUSIC CHOICE AMERICA
TREASURE DEBUTED AT #14 ON NATIONAL LIVING BLUES CHARTS

TREASURE Currently #5 on  XM/Sirius  BB King's Bluesville Charts!

TREASURE Currently 11 weeks on National Weekly Blues/Roots Charts

Female Vocalist of the Year, 2009 5th Los Angeles South Bay Music Awards


www.NicoleHart.com

facebook.com/nicolehart8808

myspace.com/nicolehartband

reverbnation.com/nicolehartband

 

Performing Live in the XM/Sirius Studios in Washington, DC on August 13th!
 

"Nicole Hart is one of the best voices in contemporary blues."

- Diego Martinez, History of Blues (Jun 30, 2009)

"A wonderful, sultry voice... with beautiful phrasing, effortlessly competes with Winehouse and Duffy." ~ KEYS AND CHORDS

- KEYS AND CHORDS, KEYS AND CHORDS (Jun 30, 2009)

"In the 16 years that the Blues Summit has been on WMWV, I've heard a lot of Blues singers & bands. Occasionally a singer comes along that perks you ear and makes you think, "Yeah there's something special there." That's Nicole Hart. "

- Roy Prescott, 93.5 WMWV's Blues Summit, Conway, NH (Apr 17, 2009)

"Nicole Hart's new CD, Treasure, sends chills up & down my spine."

- John Tibbs, Detour Blues (Apr 12, 2009)

"I can't recall the last time I couldn't wait to sit down and start writing about a CD. Sure, the fact that the disc is killer always makes it exciting."

- PETER "BLEWZZMAN" LAURO, mary4music.com (Apr 03, 2009)

"Hart unleashes fire and ice that Peggy Lee would’ve been proud to call her own and she can get as downright jazzed as Norah Jones."

- Dr Blues, LIBS (Apr 06, 2009)

"Lowdown and funky, and super vocals"

- Dave Isaac, WKIT Bangor, ME (Mar 17, 2009)

"Thanks for sending the wonderful cd "Treasure" by Nicole Hart - it is superb"

- Dave Barker, STAR FM Radio, Australia. (Mar 16, 2009)

"Clearly, Nicole has the chops to compete in the big time blues and R&B circuits. Her voice harkens back to her gospel roots, exuding blues soul... Nicole is a talent who is on the move up in the biz. I was impressed by her ability to work the crowd into a frenzy with her voice.”

- Rick Grant, Review Springing the Blues, Jax Beach, April 08

"Hart is, er, kinda gorgeous, and she has a big voice with a road-tested backup band that delivers on the band's CD, "Nicole Hart & The NRG Band Live!"

- Tad Dickens, The Roanoke Times

"This vocalist can be hotter than hot, or cooler than cool, but make no mistake, Nicole Hart & NRG lights up the phone lines like a x-mas tree. She has a tremendous future in the music industry...A major star."

- Biill Nolan, WPKN-FM 89.5, Bridgeport, CT

"Nicole Hart belts out some seriously soulful and very bluesy vocals... She really gets to show her broad and versatile range ." ~ Blues Revue, Blueswax & Mary4Music.com

- Peter Lauro, Mary4Music.com

"What a stage presence! Gorgeous Nicole Hart sings with power, passion, and incredible range... (her) BIG voice hits all the right notes...but it's the emotion in her voice that really grabs you." ~

- Jim Hynes, WDVR-FM NJ

"Nicole Hart leads the band with an incredible voice similar to that of Susan Tedeschi, but with a sound very much all her own."

- Al Lundy - Nebraska, KZUM-FM

"Nicole Hart whipped up some of the most soulful vocals of the evening, supported by a few of the most critically accredited musicians around, including the Grammy nominated guitarist Gil Parris and the quick paced harmonica solos of Stanley Behrens."

- Good Times Magazine Review

""With a vocalist who can sing practically anything she wants, and who helps write her own material along with a tight, hard working band; the Nicole Hart Band is ready for the next level of national stardom." "

- Ben Cox, Juke Joint Soul (Mar 03, 2009)

"Nicole sings her ass off, and she gets strong musical support from a group of New Jersey's A-listers, on "Treasure" her major label debut on Blues Leaf Records, she has captured all that Nicole Hart magic on one disc." "

- Bruce Edwards, Sunday Night Blogspot (Mar 10, 2009)

"Imagine Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies swinging to a Bonnie Raitt groove. That's Nicole Hart "

- ROBERT BIESELIN, THE BERGEN RECORD

"Imagine that classic band fronted by a beautiful blonde with a gospel voice and all the moves of Tina Turner. Get the picture?"

- THE WORKING MUSICIAN, THE WORKING MUSICIAN


 


LITTLE TOBY WALKER

Toby Walker is an unique, accomplished fingerstyle guitar virtuoso. Toby is adept at blues, rags, hot country picking, and coaxes more out of a guitar than anyone can imagine, but the originality doesn't end there. He is also a skilled singer and songwriter who draws inspiration from traditional and contemporary music. Toby takes that musical foundation and creates something uniquely his own and has been eagerly received in various venues including concert halls, festivals and coffeehouses throughout the U.S., England and Europe.

Toby’s passion for blues, rag, folk, and other traditional American music drove him to leave an apartment crammed full of recordings, books and instruments for the
Mississippi Delta, Virginia and the Carolinas where he tracked down some of the more obscure - but immensely talented - music makers of an earlier era. He learned directly at the feet of Eugene Powell, James "Son" Thomas, Etta Baker, and R.L Burnside, among others.
 
The talent, passion, and soul of a Toby Walker performance reflects these travels. Whether it is telling the humorous and heartwarming tales of other masters, talking about his inspirations, or astounding you with his mastery, his performances are a feast for the senses. The audience is moved in ways that delight them long after the encores. You can catch a taste of these stories on his Web site in the
"Blues Travels" section. But make no mistake about it - he is to be experienced live. Those fortunate enough to attend one of his shows will vouch for that.

The love Toby has for his craft pushes him to share his history and experience where he has performed in libraries and schools allowing others to share the sounds, sights, and emotions of his unique abilities. His teaching credits include, among others, 
Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch in Ohio. In 2006, Carnegie Hall acknowledged his rare talents and  hired him to augment and teach in their "American Roots" program aimed at honor level middle school students. This one-of-a-kind series demonstrates the history of blues music and traditions, while teaching the history of African Americans as they migrated from the south into the north.
 
His mastery of the blues was recognized in Memphis when he won the
International Blues Challenge Award.

There is no doubt that Toby Walker has found his life's calling, and as a result everyone keeps calling for more Toby Walker.

 

WWW.LITTLETOBYWALKER.COM

 


 

2008

BERNARD ALISON ~ ANA POPOVIC  ~ LIL' BRIAN & THE TRAVELERS  

Main Stage ~ Vail-Leavitt Music Hall Stage ~ Club 91 Stage

 


Bernard Allison

 

SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008 - MAIN STAGE - 9:45pm

Bernard Allison: HIStory

     Bernard Allison totes the same smokin’ six string shooter that his late father Luther Allison assaulted the blues with. And he is blessed with his father’s soulful voice, spiritual devotion, and a musical freedom which experiments with the blues. Born in Chicago on November 26th, 1965, the youngest of nine children Bernard was first introduced to the roots of black music and the art of the electric guitar by his father, the late great Luther Allison. Like Ken Griffey Jr. hanging out in baseball locker rooms as a youth, Luther’s son was the kid running on-stage throughout the band’s set. Experiences like that profoundly effect one’s aspirations. “That’s when I decided I wanted to be up there like him. I think I was seven.”
     “I didn’t start to play ‘til I was maybe 10 years of age” Bernard recalled “I picked up the guitar and listened to his records.” While Luther was absent, his record collection played a major role in shaping the son’s direction. Bernard listened to his dad’s influences like Magic Sam, Otis Rush, T-Bone Walker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and B.B. King. He also got into the next generation that followed, people like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, and Jimi Hendrix.
     Bernard made his first appearance on record at age 13, when he played on a live LP his father recorded in Peoria, IL. “When we moved to Peoria, Dad came home preparing to do his live album in Peoria, I hooked up the amplifier and guitar in the basement and started playing his first record, Love Me Mama, note for note. He freaked out and said tonight you’re gonna record with me. That was my first recording. I played “You Don’t Love Me Know More” and “Sweet Home Chicago.”
     Luther brought Bernard my first guitar, a Fender Stratocaster, and told him to first get an education. At 18, Bernard joined his father on-stage at the 1983 Chicago Blues Festival. Then, one week he graduated from high school, Bernard got a call from Koko Taylor asking to be her lead guitar player.
     He joined Koko Taylor’s Blues Machine for three years. “Koko and Pops Taylor taught mew the do’s and don’t’s of the road. Bein’ really careful and watching people. They were like my mom and pops. It was a great education, I was able to tour the world and see different cultures. We backed Willie Dixon, Koko was the only group I played in besides my father.”
     The 1980’s became Bernard’s classroom as both learner and teacher. Relationships in the 80’s with Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan expanded Bernard’s guitar foundation. For a year and a half, Bernard lived and played in London, Ontario. Then, in 1989, Bernard flew to Europe to record with his father, was asked to lead the band, and, like his father, adopted permanent residence in Europe. A recording of the furious collaboration between Luther and Bernard at the 1989 Chicago Blues Festival can be heard on the Luther Allison album Let’s Try It Again, on RUF Records.
     One year later, Bernard released his first solo album in 1990 with the significant title The Next Generation. Allison followed that in 1993 with Hang On, then Funkifino, No Mercy. Bernard’s other titles during the 1990’s included Born With The Blues, Keepin' The Blues Alive, and Times Are Changing. In the new millennium, Bernard’s recordings  include Across The Water, Storms Of Life, Kentucky Fried Blues, the highly personal Higher Power, and Energized, a live recording and DVD from a 2005 show. 
     One look at that DVD and it’s obvious that Bernard has inherited Luther's knack for igniting audiences; but he's no clone of his famous father. He is definitely blazing his own path with a style that reflects a unique mix of traditional and modern influences. The Allison torch has been passed, and it's clear that Bernard takes his role as its bearer very seriously. He's assumed the challenge of keeping the blues alive and growing - a commitment he renews every time he takes the stage.
     “I’m gonna try my best to pick up where he left off, but I can’t be Luther Allison, I can only be myself. In the beginning everyone expects me to be exactly like him, but we are two different musicians.”
     As a true “son of the blues,” Bernard possesses the requisite guitar feel and vocal intonations necessary to push his blues into the next century. He knows the energy level necessary to hold audiences and combines a enough showmanship and spontaneity to push the performance in fresh, innovative directions each night.
     “In order for anything to expand, you have to take a risk,” says Bernard. “Blues is about experimenting and getting your feelings across to someone else. And if you want to keep it going, people are going to have to give it all a chance because we’re losing all our creators. Because I’ve been taking risks on every album I’ve recorded, this record is just a logical progression from everything else I’ve done. Instead of playing rippin’ 12 bar blues guitar over and over, there are bluesy songs, soul, funk, R&B songs and a couple of rock things which shows the overall musicianship of Bernard Allison.”
     That musicianship is no clearer than on his current record, Chills And Thrills. After 17 years of recording experience, Bernard has perfected his sound. Instead of just using his guitar, Bernard has become mature the artist who uses the full palate of musical colors in his band to paint his stories.
     If there ever was a CD for all occasions, this is it. It’s got the chill songs to curl up with on a rainy day, or the thrill music you’ll blast when you’re driving late at night. By adding the rhythm guitar of Bernard’s guitar soulmate Eric Gales, every song explodes into a guitar player's head trip. The title cut opens the record with Bernard’s trademark funk meets blues sound. that signature sound permeates other tunes like “Compromising For Your Need,” “Heart of St. Paul,” and “Groove With Me,” Bernard’s treatise on the modernesque blues he’ll continue to play around the world. But Bernard’s got so much more. On “So Devine” Bruce McCabe’s piano and Jose James’ alto sax steals the show. On “Just Me And My Guitar,” Bernard shows off the frantic slide techniques he learned in the 1980’s from Johnny Winter. For slow  blues, Bernard and pianist Rusty Hall turn in a first rate guitar and piano performance on “That’s Why I’m Crying.”  But any fan of Bernard Allison knows that every show or record comes with one of his father’s songs. Here, Bernard reprises Luther’s 1980’s tune “Serious,” played with Bernard’s errie, Luther-like vocal attack. In addition, Bernard strips “Serious” down to just piano and guitar in his after hours styled closer.
     Amid all the daily pop culture pressures to be the next American Idol why does Bernard stay rooted in the blues? “The blues is my roots. Regardless of how far outside of the blues I reach for tones, I can’t ever leave the blues. Whenever I play, all those guitar parts are Luther Allison coming through me. My dad was the same way, he wasn’t all blues. He loved Otis Redding or Chuck Berry. I’m just showing where my influences come from. And respecting the people who got me to this point.”

 

 

Ana Popovic

SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2008 - MAIN STAGE - 7:45pm

FIREWORKS TO FOLLOW ANA POPOVIC!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

Lil' Brian & The Travelers

The undisputed capitol of Lil’ Brian’s world, is the hamlet of Barrett Station, Texas—B.S.T. to those in the know. This unprepossessing, well kept, Texas crossroads, just outside Baytown and not far from H-Town (Houston), is smack dab in the middle of East Texas Zydeco country. The Creole people of this part of the country, most with strong Louisiana roots, are at least as ardent about Zydeco as their neighbors across the border in Louisiana. The clubs, festivals and radio pulse with Zydeco rhythms both traditional and new, enjoyed by young and old.

It was at Buckwheat Zydeco’s wild shows in Houston’s Catholic Church halls that the young Lil’ Brian was first spellbound by the big piano note accordion played by the Maestro, Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural. Dural encouraged the youngster and was instrumental in launching his career. Lil’ Brian responded by absorbing Dural’s musical lessons and developing his ability to take Zydeco where it had never been before. Brian even had a picture of Buck’s accordion tattooed on his right biceps!

Lil’ Brian also benefited from exposure to his relatives, the father and son Zydeco Greats, John and Geno Delafose, whom Lil’ Brian would visit in Louisiana on summer vacations. With help from Mom and Dad, Lil’ Brian outfitted a band and began playing local gigs. A year later, at the suggestion of Dural, he sent the first of several demo tapes to Rounder Records’ Scott Billington. Longtime Buckwheat Zydeco bassist, Lee Allen Zeno, began working with the band, and went on to co-produce with Billington Lil’ Brian & The Travelers’ first two albums, Fresh (1995 Rounder) and Z-Funk (1997 Rounder).

In this milieu, for the past decade and more, Lil’ Brian & The Travelers have developed a reputation as the most innovative and musically accomplished Zydeco band on the scene. Brilliantly drawing upon contemporary urban black sounds while remaining respectful and true to their Zydeco roots, Lil’ Brian and The Travelers have created an incredibly exciting modern form of Zydeco music that is both rhythmically and lyrically sophisticated and just plain unbelievably funky! They have dubbed their music Z-Funk


MAIN STAGE 2008

SATURDAY, JULY 19

SUNDAY, JULY 20

Riverhead Building Supply Choir 11 - 11:40am

Kingpins 11 - 11:40am

Blue Wild Angel 11:55 - 12:35

Misspent Youth 11:55 - 12:35

Jim Moran 12:50 - 1:30

Who Are Those Guys 12:50 - 1:30

Sly Geralds 1:45 - 2:25

Bobby Nathan 1:45 - 2:25

T-Bone and Franny Mae 2:40 - 3:20

Sweet Suzi & The Blues Experience 2:40 - 3:20

The Mojos 3:35 - 4:15

Joe Vicino 3:35 - 4:15

Hackensack Men & The Trenton Horns 4:30 - 5:20

Tommy Keys 4:30 - 5:20

Pamela Betti 5:35 - 6:15

Lil' Brian & The Travelers 5:35 - 6:15

Kane Daily 6:30 - 7:15

Gary Sellers 6:40 - 7:30

Toby Walker 7:25 - 8:05

Ana Popovic 7:45 - 9:00PM

MISbHAVIN 8:15 - 8:55

FIREWORKS TO FOLLOW ANA POPOVIC SUNDAY!!!

Frank Latorre & The King Bees 8:55 - 9:45

 

Bernard Allison 9:45 - 11:00PM

 

 

 

Vail-Leavitt Music Hall Stage Schedule 2008

 

SATURDAY, JULY 19

SUNDAY, JULY 20

Mulligans 11:45am - 12:35

Big Daddy & The Bulldogs 11:45 - 12:35

Toby Walker & Pat Wictor 12:55 - 1:45

Phil Minnisale 12:55 - 1:45

Johnny Zarrow 2:05 - 2:55

Bob Greene 2:05 - 2:55

Phil Minnisale 3:15 - 4:05

Gail Storm 3:15 - 4:05

Bruce MacDonald 4:25 - 5:15

Robert Ross 4:25 - 5:15

Pat Wictor 5:35 - 6:25

Ken "The Rocket" Korb & Dee Harris 5:35 - 6:25

Daydreamers 6:45 - 7:35

Sunnyland Jazz Band 6:45 - 7:35

Stevie & The Bluescasters 7:55 - 8:45pm

 

 

 

Club 91 Stage Schedule 2008

 

SATURDAY, JULY 19

SUNDAY, JULY 20

Highway 49 12:10 - 1:00

Little Stevie & the Sons of the Dessert 12:10 - 1:00

Park Avenue Blues Band 1:20 - 2:10

Lonesome Dan & The Curmudgeons 1:20 - 2:10

Vendettas 2:30 - 3:20

Bluesbox 2:30 - 3:20

Moondogs 3:40 - 4:30

Buttered Soul 3:40 - 4:30

Crazy Helen & The Blues Collar Band 4:50 - 5:40

Defibrillators 4:50 - 5:40

Jack O Diamonds 6:00 - 6:50

Doug 'Harmonica' McLean 6:00 - 6:50

Blue Roots 7:10 - 8:00

Sam Taylor 7:10 - 8:00pm

 

 

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