Reminder- Ana Popovic at the Adriatic May 24th!

Friday May 24th at 9 PM at the Adriatic Live Music Bar on 327 West Jefferson St in Rockford.  Advanced tickets are $20 and are expected to sell out, so get yours soon!  Tickets are at the club, available through Steve Jones and at CD Source on State Street.  When they are gone they are gone.  Admission at the door (if any tickets are left) will be $25.  Can you stand the heat???????

Buy Tickets on line!

Linda Valori to Make First Rockford Appearances

Press Release

Crossroads Blues Society is proud to be bringing Italy's female blues sensation Linda Valori to Rockford for two great shows.  Linda has a brand new CD entitled "Day's Like This" with some scorching hot vocals that amazes all listeners!  She was "discovered" in 2005 at Italy's huge San Remo Festival and has gone on to fame in Italy's music and television scene.  This new CD introduces her to the American market and Crossroads is proud to be among the first to host her here.

"Linda's voice is huge and expressed," noted Crossroads President Steve Jones.  "She reminds me a little bit of a young Ruth Brown, with hints of Sarah Vaughn and Martha Reeves woven into the textures of her voice.  I was floored when I put this CD on for the first time and I remain impressed every time I hear her sing."  The two shows are on Thursday, April 18th and Friday April 19th.  Thursday's show is at the Adriatic Bar on 327 West Jefferson Street (the former Jacks or Better Club) at 7 PM with a $5 cover charge.  On Friday night, Linda appears at the Venetian Club on 2180 Elmwood Road with an 8 PM start.  The show is open to the public and is free of charge.

Linda hails from San Benedetto del Tronto of the Province of Ascoli Piceno in the Marches region on Adriatic side of Italy. Her guitar player and mentor for the American blues music scene is Luca Giordano, who was born in Teramo (Province of Teramo in the Abruzzi region) and now splits his time between a home on the Adriatic and Chicago. Luca will join Linda for both of these shows, and backing both of them will be Barstool Bob Levis and his band. Bob lives in Rockford and garnered fame touring and playing guitar for several decades with blues greats Otis Rush and Lonnie Brooks.

Here is a sample of Linda doing Etta James' classic "At Last."

There shows will be huge events and a great opportunity to hear this great vocalist for some of her first shows in the US.  You will not want to miss them!  Call 779-537-4006 for more information on either show.

Goal 800

Goal 800 

What that means our goal is to sell at least 800 advanced tickets for the FOB festival between now and June 1st.  Can we do it?  I don't know but you can help.  Go to our  Field of Blues Festival Web Site.  and purchase tickets on line or send a check for tickets and a SASE to 1043 Kingsway Lane, Byron, IL 61010 to buy tickets on line or by mail.

You can also stop by the Adriatic  Live Music Bar on W Jefferson Street or Kryptonite on W State Street to buy tickets in Rockford.  CD Source on East State also has tickets available now as do many Crossroads members.

Tickets will also be available at the Aviators Box Office and other locations that will soon be announced.

$10 advanced seats. What a deal!

Bobby Messano Returns to the Forest City

Mark Hummel Joins Westside Andy at the Hody March 21st

 Westside Andy will be joined by West Coast harp master and road warrior Mark Hummel at the Thursday show at the Hody Bar and Grill in Middleton WI.

Andy and his bands have been a fixture there at the Hody on Thursday nights and I know that Mark Hummel and he will put on virtuoso harmonica show together. They are also appearing with Billy Flynn on guitar. This should be a great night of blues! The show starts at 9 PM. Bar doors open at 8 AM (it is Wisconsin, after all) so you can go early (even breakfast) and get a good seat.

 Andy is excited about the show and I know it's going to be great as both he and Hummel are fantastic harp players.

 Andy's web site: Westside Andy

Mark's website: Mark Hummel

Hody Bar web site: Hody Bar

It should be a lot of fun. Mark does not get out to the Midwest too often. He's got a couple of nights up in Minnesota after this and his calendar shows nothing nearby for the remainder of the year. Take advantage of this opportunity!

Rob Tomaro BITS Program

Rob will also be at Washington Elementary School in the morning and at St. Bernadette's School in the afternoon in Rockford.

Ana Popavic Coming to Rockford's Adriatic Friday, May 24th

Her latest CD:

Upcoming CD to be released 4/16:

 

Spring 2013 Blues in the Schools

The Spring plans so far...mother nature was not kind to start.

Monday, January 28th- cancelled due to snow and ice

Monday, February 11th- Blues Power Band at McNair Elementary School and Byron Middle School

Thursday, March 14th- Reverend Raven and Westside Andy at Harlem Middle School and Haskell Elementary School

Monday, April 8th- Rob Tomaro at Washington Elementary School and St. Bernadette's School

We might try to squeeze in two more if we can.

March 16th Happy Birthday Bryan Lee- The Big Seven Oh!

Bobby Messano at Mary's Place