Bryan Lee at Big Cities with SSGT Ryan Miller

Brian and Ryan on Facebook

Crossroads member Staff Sgt Ryan Miller just returned from a tour overseas in Iraq and met up with Bryan Lee at Big Cities Tuesday, 1/19/10 during one of the breaks.  Bryan is a big supporter of our military!

IBC Coming this weekend to Memphis- January 20-23, 2010

Hamilton Loomis- Monday, Januray 25th at Big Cities Lounge

Another not-to-miss show!  This hot Houston-based rocker played the blues at last years' Waterfront on the Left Bank and wowed the crowd!

Brian Lee- Tuesday, January 19 at Big Cities Lounge

Brian Lee is your braille blues daddy!  This blind blues rock guitar slinger puts on a great show.  Come check him out!

3rd Kim Wilson Show set for Feb 11, 2010!!!

Minutes of Crossroads Blues Society Meeting December 18, 2009.

Crossroads Blues Society Board and Membership Meeting

Friday, December 18, 2009 at Big Cities Lounge in Rockford, IL

1. The meeting was called to order at 8:05 PM by President Mark Thompson. VP Karl Dahlin, Secretary Steve Jones, Treasurer Al McNary and Board Members Joe Poluyanksis and Rick Davis were in attendance. Absent were Board Members Rich Gordon, Rick Hein and David Stine.

2. Secretary Steve Jones posted the last meeting minutes of 10/9/09 online at: http://crossroadsbluessociety.blogspot.com/2009/10/minutes-of-crossroads-blues-society.html

3. Treasurer Al McNary reported $175 in the treasury with $100 to be added for Tee Shirt profits and $50 for Mandolin Madness Show profits. Of the total $325 available, $120 profit from the Thackery show is designated for future shows.

4. Mark Thompson explained that personal funds were used to back shows, not club money. Profits made from some shows were given to the club to hold and use for future show backing. He explained that all Crossroads funds were used for Blues in the Schools (BITS), Newsletter printing and postage and memberships in the Blues Foundation and Rockford Area Arts Council (RAAC). He stressed that all members of Crossroads should consider joining the Blues Foundation.

5. Mark noted the RAAC had met to discuss 2010 grant awards and we were hoping to continue to receive funding from the RAAC. He and Steve had prepared and submitted the grant proposal to the RAAC.

6. Crossroads did not win the Blues Foundation Keeping the Blues Alive Award for Best Organization but will try again next year.

7. Mark also described the BITS Program for the new members in attendance. New members were urged to attend programs and get involved.

8. A benefit concert needs to be held to fund Spring BITS. Bands will be scheduled to perform free of charge, profits from ticket sales, silent auction items and a 50-50 raffle will go to cover our BITS programs. We are targeting a show in late February or early March at the American Legion Hall in Byron, IL.

9. Our Fall BITS with Joe Filisko and Eric Noden was very successful. Two programs at RESA MS of 450 students each were held the first day and shows at Spring Creek ES and Montessori Magnet ES had 340 and 450 in attendance respectively for a total of 1,690 students at all 4 shows. The evening show at Big Cities had several Montessori school teachers and a few area students attending with their parents and was quite successful, too.

10. We discussed Spring BITS needed to be looked at for scheduling but we still have time. Other scheduled shows at Big Cities include Kim Wilson with Billy Flynn and Barrelhouse Chuck on February 11^th, Brian Lee on January 19^th and Hamiliton Loomis on January 25^th.

11. Steve Jones reported a last check for $100 had been turned in for tee shirt profits, for a total of $365 donated to the Crossroads club for the two batches of shirts. A third order is going in soon with long and short sleeve tees, polos, and regular and zippered hooded sweatshirts.

12. The last item of business was the tentative Byron Crossroads Blues Festival on July 24^th in Byron on Second and Union Streets. The 8 bar and restaurant owners approached Crossroads to advise and assist them in setting this up. The current plan is to close off a cruciform shaped part of Second and Union Streets where they cross, with three access points. Fencing will be provided by Dach Fence. Crossroads will coordinate security for the event. The 8 bars and restaurants will provide beverages and food for the event; no outside food and beverage vendors will be brought in. 4 bands are to be scheduled to perform 90 minute sets at 4, 6, 8 and 10 PM. A stage and sound system will need to be brought in. Steve Jones met initially with the bar and restaurant owners and then the Crossroads Officers and Board visited the potential site to scope out the area and plans. Next steps are to approach the Mayor and City Council in Byron and see what Police, insurance, portable restrooms and other requirements need to be arranged for. A meeting is set for January 5^th in Byron to discuss this further. The officers, board and club members are excited about this and are ready to support this effort.

13. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM. The 6th Annual Crossroads Christmas Party and a performance by he Westside Andy/Mel Ford Band with Barrelhouse Chuck followed the meeting.

Submitted by Steve Jones, Secretary, Crossroads Blues Society

Filisko and Noden Blues in the Schools (BITS)

It’s once again time for Blues in the Schools (BITS) and Joe Filisko and Eric Noden will be returning to the Rockford area for another round of programs and events. They will be in town for two days, Wednesday November 18th and Thursday November 19th.

The first day will be two afternoon programs due to travel and other gigs. The sessions are at RESA Middle School at 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM respectively. That evening we will be hosting an evening show at Big Cities Lounge at 7:30 PM. The show is $7 in advance and for members, $10 at the door, and free for students accompanied by adults.

On Thursday they will be at Spring Creek Elementary School at 9 AM and Montessori Magnet School at 2 PM, both in Rockford. That evening we will hold both a harmonica and guitar lesson workshop. Joe will school those who sign up on blues harp while Eric will instruct attendees on blues guitar. This will be held at Katie’s Cup on 7th Street in Rockford at 7 PM. Lessons are $20 per person.

Joe Filsiko & Eric Noden’s first CD“Live” featured versions of early blues and roots songs by Sonny Terry, Daddy Stovepipe, Fred McDowell and the Gwen Foster. The CD’s success led to several European tours as well as festival and workshop appearances in the US. Their new release “I.C. Special” continues to draw on American music from the 1920’s & 30’s. All 15 tunes on “I.C. Special” were written by either Joe or Eric and each represents a different branch of American roots music. This new work brings Joe & Eric into a realm that embraces their influences while blending them together in unique ways. This fall the duo will be performing at the World Harmonica Festival in Trossingen, Germany as well as the Harmonicales festival in Condat, France. For more information on the two artists, visit: www.ericnoden.com/Filisko_Noden/bio.html.

Contact Steve Jones at 779-537-4006 for information, evening show tickets or to sign up for the workshops. We hope to see a lot of members at the show, workshops and, if you’d like, at the school programs!

Complete schedule:

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

BITS School Programs at 1:30 and 2:30 PM

RESA Middle School

Address: 1800 Ogilby Rd , Rockford , IL (near Klehm Arboretum).

Dinner: TBD

Evening Show at 7:30 PM

Big Cities Lounge

$7 in advance and for members, $10 at door; tickets available at Big Cities or call steve Jones a4r 779-537-4006

Address: 905 E..State St., Rockford , IL

Thursday, November 19, 2009

BITS School Program 9:00 A.M. -10:00 A.M

Spring Creek Elementary School

Address: 5222 Spring Creek Road , Rockford , IL 61114

Lunch : TBD

BITS School Program 2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M

Montessori Magnet School

Address: 4704 N. Rockton rd, Rockford , IL 61103

Dinner: TBD

Guitar adn Harmonica Workshop 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Katie’s Cup

$20 per attendee- constact Steve Jones at 779-537-4006 to sign up

Address: 502 7th St , Rockford , IL 61104-1215

Nino's birthday. He's gonna be 74 and doesn't look a day over 69. Or something like that.

Nick Moss and the Fliptops in Rockford at Big Cities Lounge. It doesn't get any better than this, people! Be there early, get a good seat. It will be a packed house!

Minutes of Crossroads Blues Society Meeting 10/9/09

1. Called to order at 8:05 PM by Steve Jones at Big Cities Lounge, Rockford, IL. Board/Officers present: Karl Dahlin, Steve Jones, Al McNary, Joe Poluyanskis, Rick Hein, David Stine. Board/Officers absent: Mark Thompson, Rich Gordon, Allison Johnson
2. Secretary reviewed minutes of 8/4/09 meeting.
3. Treasurer reported $1448 was in our checking account.
4. Blues Mandolin Madness was discussed. Rich DelGrosso, Billy Flynn and Gerry Hundt will perform at Big Cities on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 7 PM. Tickets $10 in advance and $15 at door.
5. Keeping the Blues Alive Award nomination submitted. Awards given out at annual IBC Finals in Memphis in February.
6. BITS discussed for fall. Desire to use Eric Noden and Joe Filisko. 2 days, evening show and workshop as we did last time they were here.
7. Discussed BITS Fundraiser. Byron is a better location to raise funds. American Legion available most weekends, cost may be free to $100; if they do well at bar no coast. Need to pick date, get silent auction items. Have tickets for 50-50 raffle. Also need to get bands.
8. Nino discussed his calendar for November and December. They will be added to Newsletter.
9. Windy City Blues Society held second round of their Blues Challenge at Buddy Guy’s Legends. David Stine was a judge. He reported on the event. Mark Thompson will judge the finals on November 15.
10. Second annual Illinois Blues Blast Music Awards show at Buddy Guy’s Legends on Thursday October 29th at 7 PM. Tickets $25 in advance.
11. October-November 2009 newsletter will feature interview with Gerry Hundt. Need to get reviews done.
12. Election of Officers and Board for 2009-2010 term held. Allison Johnson indicated she did not desire to serve as a board member. Steve Jones nominated Rick Davis to fill her spot on the board, seconded by Rick Hein. Passed unanimously by voice vote. Al McNary moved that the slate of officers for 2009 be:
Mark Thompson- President
Karl Dahlin- Vice President
Steve Jones- Secretary
Al McNary – Tresurer
Joe Poluyanskis, Rick Hein, David Stine, Rich Gordon and Rick Davis- Board Members
Seconded by David Stine. Passed unanimously by voice vote.
13. Karl Dahlin volunteered to scan and send our Constitution to the Board so they can review it.
14. Club likes tee shirts. Desire expressed for polo shirts, hooded sweat shirts and long sleeve tee shirts. Steve Jones will investigate. $265 profit on tee shirts so far.
15. Got 10 new members to sign up at Paramount Blues Fest in Grafton, WI.
16. Meeting closed at 9:10 PM.

Submitted by Steve Jones, Secreatary

Blues Mandolin Madness! 12/6/09- get tickets early!