Smokin' Joe Kubec and Bnois King Return to Rockford November 18th!

Spencer Bohren BITS 10/5/10

Spencer Bohren http://www.spencerbohren.com/

Blues in the Schools and Community Itinerary
Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Morning BITS
Cherry Valley ES
619 East State Street
Cherry Valley, Illinois 61016
Phone (815)332-4938
Time: 8:45 AM (set up 8:00 AM)
Duration: 60 minutes
Contact: Principal Rori Regan, reganr@rps205.com
Equipment Needed: None

Lunch TBD

Afternoon BITS
Beyer ES
333 15th Avenue
Rockford, IL 6
Phone: 815-229-2800
Time: 1:00 PM
Duration: 60 minutes
Contact: Principal David Sanders, sanderda@rps205.com
Equipment Needed: PA and one mike/stand

Dinner TBD

Evening
Venue: Just Goods Listening Room
905 East State Street
Rockford, IL 61104-1023
Phone: 815-965-6026
Time: 7:30 PM (set up 6:30 PM)
Duration: 2 sets
Event: Blues in the Schools evening show for community; $10 cover advanced, $12 at door, free for students with an adult
Contact: Mark Thompson, 5414-416-1884 kahunablues@aol.com
Equipment Needed: None

Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott Rockford
7676 East State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
Phone: 815-397-6222

Crossroads Blues Society Contacts: Steve Jones 779-537-4006, sub_insignia@yahoo.com; Harmonica Joe Poluyanskis 815-962-8638, harmonicajoe@comcast.net. Others will accompany and attend varying portions.

Crossroads Blues Society Membership Meeting Friday, September 17, 2010

Crossroads Blues Society Membership Meeting

Friday, September 17, 2010

Big Cities Lounge

7:45 pm meeting called to order by President Mark Thompson. Officers in attendance were:
Mark Thompson President
Karl Dahlin Vice President
Steve Jones Secretary
Joe Poluyanskis Board
Rich Gordon Board
Rick Davis Board

Treasurer reported $4553 in account with bills paid.

Doug MacLeod Sunday, 7:30 PM at Just Goods. Crossroads cosponsors with Charlotte’s Web. Hopefully no cost to club.

Spencer Bohren Tuesday, October 5, 2010 7:30 PM at Just Goods after two school programs for BITS. Need to pay for programs and for room.

Secretary posted minutes to internet (all Blues Fest planning). Agreed to skip review.

Byron Crossroads Blues Festival reviewed by Mark and Steve. Steve has PowerPoint with all details. Volunteer efforts were recognized. Karl Dahlin singled out for his effort and was given a framed and matted poster from fest by Steve. A volunteer recognition party is to be held Sunday October 17th from 3 PM to 6 PM at a venue TBD in Byron. We are tentatively looking for 2nd annual fest to be August 27, 2011.

Joe Geraghty is sponsoring Smoking Joe Kubek and Bnois King at Big Cities Thursday November 18th $15 advanced/$20 at door.

November 19th Friday Crossroads fundraiser at Artale Wine Company on Spring Creek.

Nino wants to run an outdoor festival with Crossroads help on State Street Saturday May 16th Armed Forces Day. Pistol Pete, Reverend Raven, Magic Slim and Kim Wilson are the bands he wants us to help him get. Costs are possibly very high. City will do liquor license and insurance, park district to do fence and stage. Need to get all specifics.  Red, White and Blues Festival.

Lyran Society contact Mark about a festival at Lyran Park with our assistance. Steve and Mark to meet with them and evaluate.

Held election of officers and board. Rick Hein and Rick Davis stepping down. Bob Haendler and Denny Barker agreed to run. Slate elected by written ballot:
Mark Thompson President
Karl Dahlin Vice President
Steve Jones Secretary
Al McNary Treasurer
Joe Poluyanskis Board
Rich Gordon Board
David Stine Board
Denny Barker Board
Bob Haendler Board

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM.

Big Bull Falls Blues Fest August 19, 20 & 21, Fern Island Park, Wausau, WI

Freeport Music on Chicago Friday August 13th

Blues Music returns to the summer monthly Music on Chicago Avenue event for August.  Friday the 13th at 6 PM Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames take the stage and at 830 PM The Cashbox Kings will play.  Only $5 gets you in for a night of great music!

Blues at the Clock Tower August 7th!

Kim Wilson Encore Performance! August 17, 7 PM, $15 in advance.

Mississippi Valley Blues Festival July 2-4, 2010

For twenty-six years, volunteers of the Mississippi Valley Blues Society have been organizing and presenting the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. The three-day festival is held each year over the 4th of July weekend in picturesque LeClaire Park on the banks of the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa. After flooding conditions last year forced the Festival to be relocated to the streets of Downtown Davenport, the festival will again be held in LeClaire Park this year for the 26th Annual edition of the IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival.

Through the care and attention paid in selecting performers to represent a variety of blues styles and the down-home non-commercial atmosphere of the fest, over the years the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival has become recognized as one of the finest blues fests in the country. This year’s edition will be held from Friday, July 2 through Sunday, July 4. We hope you’ll join us for a great weekend of blues music!

Many Crossroads members are also members of MVBS and/or attend the fest.  We will have a Crossroads table in the Blues Central Tent all three days.  Come on out and have a great time and listen to some super music.

Fest Lineup

Friday, July 2
Bandshell/Tent Stage
5:00 p.m. The Kinsey Report/5:00 p.m. Little Pink Anderson
7:00 p.m. Mud Morganfield/6:30 p.m. Caroline Shines
9:00 p.m. Bernard Allison/8:30 p.m. Lurrie Bell Chicago Blues Band
11:00 p.m. Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials/10:30 p.m. Shirley King

Saturday, July 3
Bandshell/Tent Stage
1:00 p.m. Iowa Blues Challenge winner/1:30 p.m. Little Brother Jones
2:45 p.m. Ana Popovic/3:30 p.m. Olga Wilhelmine with Cody Dickinson
4:30 p.m. Zac Harmon/5:30 p.m. Little Joe McLerran
6:15 p.m. Vasti Jackson/7:30 p.m. Ruthie Foster
8:00 p.m. Quad City Symphony Orchestra/9:30 p.m. Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues
                                                /10:30 p.m. Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys

Free Workshops
1:00 p.m. Olga Wilhelmine with Cody Dickinson
2:30 p.m. Little Pink Anderson
4:00 p.m. Rosie Ledet
5:30 p.m. Billy Branch

BlueSKool
2:30 p.m. David Berntson
3:45 p.m. Winter Blues Academy Kids w/Hal Reed & Ellis Kell
5:00 p.m. Charles Wsir Johnson and the MLK Center kids

Sunday, July 4
Bandshell/Tent Stage
2:00 p.m. The Jimmys/2:00 p.m. Bill Sims Jr and Mark LaVoie
4:00 p.m. Shawn Kellerman/3:30 p.m. Dave Riley and Bob Corritore
6:00 p.m. Lucky Peterson/5:30 p.m. David Boykin Expanse
8:00 p.m. Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue featuring Tommy Castro,Debbie Davies, Magic Dick and Sista Monica/7:30 p.m. Kim Massie
9:30 p.m. The Nighthawks with Hubert Sumlin

Free Workshops
1:00 p.m. Dave Riley and Bob Corritore
2:30 p.m. David Horwitz, Blues Photography
4:00 p.m. Bill Sims Jr. and Mark LaVoie
5:30 p.m. Little Brother Jones

BlueSKool
2:30 p.m. Charles Wsir Johnson and the MLK Center kids
3:45 p.m. Winter Blues Academy Kids w/Hal Reed & Ellis Kell
5:00 p.m. David Berntson

Crossroads Members at Blues on the Fox

Photo by Rick Davis

Grammy Association Kicks off Chicago Blues Fest by Mark Thompson with Steve Jones

The Recording Academy, Chicago Chapter held their 8th annual Kick Off Jam on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at Buddy Guy’s famous club Legends, that recently opened at its new location a block north of the old site. Featuring an expanded stage, more tables and clean sightlines, the new Legends is a state-of-the-art facility with an outstanding sound system that certainly was put to the test on this night of celebration.

Opening the festivities was Billy Branch and the Son of Blues, who laid down a boogie beat with Branch using his harp to create a variety of train sounds. After a strong rendition of “Scratch My Back”, Branch brought eleven children to the stage. They were members of a harmonica class Branch had been teaching at a local Chicago neighborhood youth program. The kids showed plenty of spirit and enthusiasm in their playing of their harps as well as their singing on “Stormy Monday” and “Shake, Rattle & Roll”; they even added a bit of hip-hop flavor at one point.

Next up was Vino Louden, the lead guitar player for many years for the late KoKo Taylor. Louden made a point of thanking the Music Cares program, an affiliate of the Recording Academy, which helped arrange transportation home for Vino after a near-fatal auto accident two years ago. He showed his appreciation on an emotionally charged version of “I’ll Take Care of You”, one of the evening’s highlights.

Otis Clay quickly raised the energy level in the room, showcasing his tender side on “I Can Take You to Heaven Tonight” with his full band in support. On “A Nickel and A Nail”, Clay sang in the intense, gritty style that epitomized his legendary career. The raw emotion that Clay draws on and transmits to his audience is powerfully spiritual.

The Chicago Stone Lightning Band showed their appreciation for the original Fleetwood Mac by starting their set with a cover of “Stop Messin’ Around”, led by led by lead singer and guitarist Ben Pirani. They closed with an original tune, “Do Yourself a Favor” they will be featured on an upcoming release.

The talented Dave Herrero was another highlight with his animated performance. Herrero is a soulful vocalist and a fine guitar player who laid down a rocking slice of Texas-style blues on “Halo” and “Nacogdoches”.

The evening took a detour to the dark corner of the world that Otis Taylor inhabits. Backed by members Of Umphrey’s McGee plus Billy Branch on harp and Chicagoan Anne Harris on violin, Taylor strapped on a guitar and took the audience on an intense ride through the gamut of human experience. His searing version of “Hey Joe” mixed sexual overtones with a surging musical accompaniment for another high point of the evening.

Blessed with a powerful voice, Nellie “Tiger” Travis entertained the crowd with her original material including a touching tribute to KoKo Taylor, “Queen of the Blues”. Following her was another woman with a big voice, Cathy Richardson. Her tough, soulful voice brought to mind images of Janis Joplin, a role Richardson once played in an off Broadway production. The blues world has some fine up and coming female singers to continue to carry the torch.

Harmonica ace Matthew Skoller brought the party back to the traditional Chicago blues style with the help of Carlos Johnson on guitar, Marty Sammons on keyboards and Marty Binder on drums. Skoller’s set served up proof that he is one of the top harp players on the Chicago scene. Just after the conclusion of his performance, the Chicago BlackHawks won the Stanley Cup, much to the delight of the crowd.

Then it was star time as Miller brought the legendary club owner to the stage. Buddy Guy graciously acknowledged the compliments and appreciation from friends and fans alike for the new club, thanking everyone for their continued support with a special mention for the city of Chicago. Then Buddy gave a big shout-out to the champion BlackHawks. Guy then did a short set without his guitar, reminding the audience that he is still a superb singer, as he weaved together a medley of classic blues tunes. He finally relinquished the stage, stating that he wanted the other acts to get their time and that no one ws there to see him; I certainly must disagree since it is always a huge pleasure to listen to Buddy.

It is never easy to follow a legend but the next group found Carlos Johnson leading the band that backed the dynamic pairing of Billy Branch and Sugar Blue. The two harmonica wizards showcased their contrasting styles – Branch bending and contorting his body, his hands caressing his harp as he tried to blow the house down while Sugar Blue stood almost motionless, his hands barely moving while he blew intricate lines, improvising like a master jazz musician. The contrast of styles of play impressed both Carlos Johnson and the crowd, woth both harp players laying out intricate licks in their own unique styles and tones.

The big finale started with Ronnie Baker Brooks and his brother, Wayne Baker Brooks, on guitar and vocals with his band in support. They traded guitar licks through a rousing “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” and then slowed the pace on ‘Long Distance Call”. Then the patriarch of the family, Lonnie Brooks, arrived on stage to the cheers of the appreciative audience. Brooks, a recent inductee to the Blues Hall of Fame, tore into “Watch Dog” as the three guitarists took turns showcasing their individual styles. Next, Lonnie started a train rhythm on his guitar, steadily building the pace until the band joined in as Lonnie continued to squeeze notes out of his guitar; he gave the audience quite a show. Finishing with a brief chorus of “Sweet Home Chicago”, Lonnie picked his guitar with his tongue before leaving the stage.

But the evening wasn’t quite over as Wayne called Carlos Johnson and Billy Branch back to the stage for a final jam that ended the evening six hours after it started. The finale was a raucous and wild adventure, with the younger Brooks offering his guitar out to audience members to pluck as he fingered notes and chords.

Congratulations to the Recording Academy for another outstanding party and a truly fitting opening for another Chicago Blues Fest weekend. And a tip of the hat to the Legends staff for the great job they did of taking care of their guests all night long. The new Legends is truly a marvelous venue that will provide a true showcase for celebrating blues music for years to come.

Review by Mark Thompson, photos by Steve Jones

Some short videos from the show:

The Brooks Family at the Chicago Blues Fest Kickoff- "Watchdog"

Billy Branch School Harmonica Project
Otis Clay
Otis Taylor with Billy Branch, Anne Harris and Umphrey's McGee
Cathy Richardson
Buddy Guy
Sugar Blue
Carlos Johnson with Billy Branch and Sugar Blue