A partnership between MelodyVision, Films 4 Good, Jamey’s House of Music, and Superior Guitar Works The podcast provides an in-depth exploration of guitars, guitar players, and the music for which each guitar is renowned.... FWe will have a special musical guest to show what that guitar can do. We will also have guests: Guitar and guitar gear Manufacturers We will take questions and comments from the audience.

Your hosts are Rodney Whittenberg, Emmy award-winning composer, songwriter, producer, guitarist, and filmmaker, and Tim Huenke, a guitar luthier and TEDx presenter.

Rod and Tim will take you into the history of the instrument, share anecdotal stories, and offer guitar maintenance tips. So come out and join us for our premier episode.

https://www.melodyvision.com

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One Dime Band is a dynamic and talented acoustic duo who have crafted their unique sound and songwriting approach by blending influential styles of Blues, R&B and Soul. They have played in and around the Boston/New England area as a duo and as a 4-piece electric band for many years. ... Paul and John’s love of American Roots music started in New York State where they first met in High School, teaching each other Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly songs at the age of fifteen. The next year they formed their first band and began to incorporate Blues numbers into their repertoire.

Musical fate led them to Boston, MA in 1986. Their goal was to write and perform music professionally, so they formed a Blues band called The Roadhouse Sheiks, playing live extensively (even hosting a Blues jam at Jonathan Swift’s in Brighton, MA) into the early nineties. The two eventually went on to pursue separate musical endeavors, ultimately reuniting as a duo in early 2000, focusing on acoustic Blues.

In June of 2017, after more than 2 years of writing, recording, and mixing, they released their debut album of twelve original songs, Gonna Take Sweet Time, on their own label, Toneblanket Records.

Hoodoo and Holy Water, their follow up album, was recorded at Woolly Mammoth Sound in Waltham, MA. Engineered and co-produced by Rob Ignazio, released in February of 2020, it received notable recognition, including Blues Music Fan Radio’s Top 20 albums of the year and Blues Music and Metronome Magazine’s Top 20 lists of 2020.

Winners of the 2022 Boston Blues Society Blues Challenge solo/duo category and the 2023 Granite State Blues Society Challenge. The Duo returned to Memphis and made it to the Semi-Finals at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January 2024. On

February 9, 2024 they released their 3rd album, “Side Hustle” and on November 1, 2024 a live recording of the CD release party was released as their 4th album, “Live Hustle”.

https://onedimeband.com/

The Porkroll Project, from the greater Philadelphia, PA area is hard rocking 5 piece blues band who play a high energy blend of fresh covers and originals. The music is blues, but it's done up Porkroll style. Little bit of grease, good dose of funk, whole lotta drive and grind. Throw that together with some dangerous lead guitar and harmonica, powerful organ, and rippin' piano, and you have a recipe for a night where anything can happen!

The band has a collective experience that runs deep and wide, having played together in various other projects for over ten years. They are well seasoned veterans of events such as the Philadelphia Jam on the River, the Annual Chameleon Club Blues Festival, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Riverfront Blues Festival, the Billtown Blues Festival, the Paoli Blues Festival and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.

So if you and your crew are craving some hard rocking, foot stomping, hip shaking, earthquaking entertainment, give an ear to a heaping helping of The Porkroll Project. It's the right thing to do, and a tasty way to do it. It's Porkalicious!!

https://www.porkrollproject.com/

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Six albums into their lauded career, the Claudettes (of Chicago) continue to put a fascinating new spin on American roots music.... Blues and RandB are laced with punk spirit and film-noir moods to create the band’s singular “garage cabaret” sound. The Claudettes have earned worldwide acclaim with their recordings and concerts that are equal parts heart, musicianship and theatrical flair. Force-of-nature vocalist Rachel Williams (who dominates the stage like a glam-rock rebirth of Annie Lennox and renowned pianist/songwriter Johnny Iguana join the positively heroic rhythm section of Zach Verdoorn (bass, guitar, vocals) and Michael Caskey (drums). Outside the Claudettes, Iguana has toured with Junior Wells and Otis Rush, played on many Grammy-nominated albums and recorded with Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Derek Trucks, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Johnny Winter and more. Johnny is also composer of the score for the Emmy-winning smash FX/Hulu series “The Bear.”

“Chicago’s original recipe band…The Claudettes’ sonic playing field is the blues and everything after, all tastefully and artfully blended together….Perhaps the band’s greatest super power: songwriting.”—NPR Music

“A skewed cabaret band of blues, jazz and rockabilly…a sensibility that feels equal parts James Dean and David Lynch.”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“Holy Mackerel…I hear so many levels of what I consider amazing creativity…I hear touches of Jerry Lee Lewis at his most manic…of cinema…of multiple genres wrapping around one another…These guys are the B-movies of the music world—maybe not understood now, but in the future, the kings and queens of the universe!”—Frank Gutch Jr., No Depression

“The Claudettes Go Out! shows the band’s mastery of every era of American music, from the roots of the blues to today’s modern pop….the Claudettes pen standards for a new generation.”—J. Poet, Rock and Roll Globe

https://theclaudettes.com/

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Jamey's is one of the longest running blues jams in the region, as well as the #1 original Sunday Blues Brunch and Jam..... Blues lovers and players know that this is THE place to come for some really indescribably delicious all-day breakfast cooked to order by Chef Suyun, a dozen thirst-quenching ice-cold beers on tap from Conshohocken Brewing Company as well as wines and mixed drinks, fresh ground coffee and espressos, superb live blues music, great service and friendly people. The vibe is home-like and cool, and the sound is second to none.

Jamey's provides a full professional grade backline, so players only need to bring their instrument to jump up on stage and jam.

The open mic jam runs from 1 pm to 3 pm, and the host band lays down a set from noon to 1 pm to get things rolling and then supports guest jammers as needed. The always rocking SUNDAY BLUES BRUNCH rocks a HAPPY HOUR from noon to 1pm. Featuring two bucks off draft beers and hard ciders, and a dollar off wines and mixed drinks, and a 10% discount on all menu items!

Admission is 100% free! Plus, it is wheelchair accessible, and has plenty of free local parking. Being right in the center of downtown Lansdowne, next to the train station, there is abundant public transportation as well.

Blues lovers new and old can come to play, eat, drink, chat and enjoy a day soaked in the blues. Guests also like to host gatherings or parties during the brunch, as there are tables and chairs for dining in our stage side Little Art Gallery, and comfortable seats to listen to the music - and it does not cost them a thing to meet up there! No reservations are needed. Just load up some friends and head on down!

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AC Steel is a revered name on the Philadelphia blues scene after perfecting his chops in London's blues heyday in the 70's, now surrounded by an all star band of heavy hitters.... Five veteran bluesmen with long and storied careers playing America's original musical artform as handed down through the years by the black men and women whose lives were shaped by tribulation and hardship in the American south, largely at the hands of slavery, and refined and electrified in the big citys up north after emancipation. Long is the list of greats who formed and influenced these gentlemen today, and fortuitous circumstance brought them together while performing at Jamey's House of Music in Lansdowne PA, where they played with other well known blues acts. Featuring Glenn Bickel on voice, Hammond and piano, Jamey Reilly on Fender bass, Frank McKitty on tenor sax and Paul Albrecht on drums.

Jamey's is one of the premiere blues rooms in the northeast with regular appearances by major national and international blues artists as well as regional and local players. AC Steel and the Perpetrators is one of the featured groups that calls Jamey's home. They are all highly accomplished players, and the band is tight and well oiled. AC Steel provides crisp guitar work and handles the vocals along with Glenn Bickel, and the combination of Hammond organ and Frank McKitty's tenor sax gives a distinct Chicago feel to the sound. Bassist Jamey Reilly and drummer Paul Albrecht drive a deep pocket for the band to swing in. We hope you'll join the loyal fans and visit Jamey's to hear AC and the Perps some Thursday night!

https://www.acsteelperps.com/

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Halley Neal is an award winning folk singer and songwriter whose live shows center on themes of positivity and peace. The formerly-Nashville-currently-Boston-based artist is often joined by her backing band of upright bass and fiddle.... Halley’s lyrical folk-Americana songs are met with her soaring vocals and an upbeat bluegrass inspired instrumentation. Halley has gained national recognition from touring across the country to listening rooms and folk music venues and from her performances at festivals, notably the Kerrville Folk Fest, Rocky Mountain Folks Fest and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Halley released her most recent solo record “Beautiful and Blue” to critical acclaim on September 30th, 2022. Her live shows are remembered for her effortless vocals and honest lyrics.

Graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2019, Halley was chosen from the graduates to perform a song at Berklee’s Commencement Concert at Agganis Arena. The concert honored the 2019 Berklee honorary doctorates, Missy Elliot, Justin Timberlake, and Alex Lacamoire, who all attended the show. In her final semester at Berklee, Halley collaborated with artist Plot Twist and her former band Rose and Kennedy to write and release a single called “Lover” which shortly after gained notable traction on Tik Tok. Since it’s release in July 2019, the song has gained over 27 million streams and has seen global acclaim with covers and Tik Toks of the song posted by people from all over the world.

Shortly after graduating from college, Halley moved to Nashville, TN where in her first few months, she was a chosen finalist for “Nashville Rising Song,” a premiere songwriting competition. In Nashville, Halley also hosted house concerts in her backyard bringing together a community of independent musicians. In 2020, Halley became an official Guild Guitars artist, and performed a set of original music at the 2021 NAMM Show with Guild. She is also one of the first artists to participate in Guild’s “Factory Sessions” YouTube series, where she performed an original set of songs live in the Guild Guitars factory in Oxnard California. Currently, Halley tours nationally to house concert and listening room venues.

Halley’s debut self-titled record was released on June 4th, 2021. Halley Neal blends sounds that Neal picked up throughout her time studying at her alma mater, Berklee College of Music, as well as in the city she now calls home, Nashville, TN. The record includes a collaboration with artist Plot Twist and her former band, Rose and Kennedy, in an acoustic version of their song “Lover,” and another which was produced by guitarist for Zac Brown Band and former John Mayer co-writer and producer, Clay Cook.

Halley released her second album, "Beautiful and Blue" on September 30th, 2022. She made the record while grieving the loss of her grandmother to dementia. Dedicated to her Gram, on “Beautiful and Blue” Neal discovers the joyful parts within sorrow. Her recent sound blends effortless layered vocals with Americana production, and is deeply rooted in ideas of positivity and peace with a throwback to classic folk production.

https://halleyneal.com/

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Winners of the 2025 New Hampshire State Blues Challenge, Bees Deluxe are headed to Memphis, Tennessee to compete in the International Blues Challenge, January 2026.... Hell-bent on their mission to bring the blues into the 21st century, Bees Deluxe pushes the limits, colors outside the lines of convention and bends the genre to create a sound that is distinct, highly musical and yet deeply respectful of the blues tradition.

Fronted and founded by British guitarist Conrad Warre, the band’s repertoire includes addictive originals, as well as fresh takes on tunes by artists ranging from Billie Holiday to Jimi Hendrix. Bees Deluxe has toured from Maine to Miami winning fans, amazing audiences and sharing the stage with headliners like: Ronnie Earl, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Mike Zito, Walter Trout, Joanna Connor, Matt Schofield, Mike Welch and Roomful of Blues.

Warre was in a high school band with Paul Kossoff, of the band Free. He toured Europe with Joe Jackson and The English Beat, then moved from London to New York where he became a fixture on the stage at the legendary CBGB’s. In Boston, he formed Bees Deluxe to celebrate the music he fell in love with while touring and playing legendary London clubs like Rainbow Theatre, Ronnie Scott's, Dingwalls, The Music Machine and the Moonlight Club. Before forming Bees Deluxe he was Production Manager for Rykodisc the first music audio CD company in the States where he worked directly with Frank Zappa, Yoko Ono, Richard Thompson, David Bowie, Mickey Hart and others.

Carol Band is a classically trained pianist who was recruited while playing jazz in Boston’s club scene. She also writes tunes and wows audiences with her blazing harmonica solos.

Paul Giovine studied at Berklee College of Music and cut his chops playing rock and punk with The Darling Picassos and Trick Wallace in clubs and festivals all over the states. He is also a contemporary songwriter in his own right.

Bridging the chasm between the discerning connoisseur and casual blues fans, Bees Deluxe is equally adept at filling a dive bar dance floor or commanding a festival stage.

With a contagious enthusiasm, sense of fun and impeccable musicality, Bees Deluxe breaks all the rules and the blues are better for it.

This is Blues Power. If you want Pure Blues, from men who respect the history and the craft of the music - with the unflinching ability to take that music from the dirt of the delta to the outermost regions of the stratosphere... look no further than, 'THE CORTY BYRON GANG'.

Corty is a longtime fixture of the local music scene in Lancaster, PA. He started gigging in his teens, and the road just keeps on going. His performances are eclectic and ever-changing. His sound is americana roots-driven, vintage, bluesy, soul drenched, and authentic. Corty performs as a solo acoustic artist, as well as a seasoned rock n' roll band leader. The trail behind him includes tours of Ireland, prison concerts, a life in Venice Beach, opening for various classic rock legends, social activism, and service in the community. In March 2024, he was given the 'Best Blues Artist Award' by the Central PA Music Hall Of Fame. He is also a proud father. Corty has been called a 'chameleon' by his musical peers. He works to remain in a constant 'state of becoming'... one day at a time.

"I'm a Michael Bloomfield disciple... I wanted to be in a band that he would have approved of. There aren't words to describe what happens when we all get together and start playing. The sum is much greater than the individual parts. It's incredible, really. It's almost mysterious - spiritual. When we're really cookin', it's like we're levitating." - Corty Byron

Kevin Gannon (harp) is better known as; 'Moe Blues'. He's got the stage presence of a man completely possessed by his instrument.... it's as if the ghost of the late great Paul Butterfield himself, decided to take the form of James Brown or Joe Cocker for an evening. Or, as Corty once said; "He'd make Elwood blush."

Josh Kanusky (drums) spent the majority of his live performance career as David Brombeg's backbeat; until the legendary guitarist retired last year. Josh is one of the best rock-solid foundations any bandleader could ask for.

Mike Mink (keyboards) is the other half of Corty's musical heartbeat. Imagine combining the piano stylings of Otis Spann, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Bruce Hornsby - that's pretty wild - but, that's what you can expect when Professor Mink starts walking his fingers.

Scott Frenchek (bass/vocals) has been playing with Corty for over 20 years. He's one hell of a musician.... with a lot of vintage 'Motown' in his groove. His vocal harmonies have come from a lifetime of singing together with Corty. When they're really" hittin' the note" - It's like they're one person.

https://www.beesdeluxe.com/

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This special one-off show featuring one of the hottest young swing & jump blues belters up from Memphis to dazzle your senses, back to back with Clarence and the boys, will pre-empt the usual blues jam.... Jad Tariq, a Memphis-based Rhythm and Blues guitarist/vocalist, is making waves in the national music scene. Primarily performing in the jump blues idiom, Jad's guitar style is characterized by a swinging jazz rhythm that merges seamlessly with the raw emotional intensity of the blues. His vocal style is in the tradition of the blues shouters of the ‘40s and ‘50s, while also boasting the ability to croon heartfelt jazz ballads.

Originally hailing from Trumbull, Connecticut, Jad began his music career at just 12 years old, cutting his teeth in local bars across the tri-state area. At age 18, he moved to Memphis to immerse himself in the rich musical heritage of the blues, and has since become a mainstay on the scene. Jad has garnered national attention through collaborations with multiple blues music award-winner John Németh and renowned musician Tony Holiday.

Jad has also been nominated for two Blues Blast Music Awards in 2025, one in the category of New Artist Debut Recording, and one for the Sean Costello Rising Star Award. In Memphis he performs frequently leading his own band, and also as sideman to artists such as John Paul Keith, Wyly Bigger, Benton Parker, Earl “The Pearl” Banks, Jon Hay, and many others.

An accomplished songwriter, Jad's creativity shines on his debut album, Jad Tariq Sings. The album features a blend of 1950s style rhythm and blues influences while also incorporating modern pop sensibilities, highlighting his versatility and unique artistic voice. With his powerful performances and heartfelt songwriting, Jad Tariq is a significant force in the contemporary blues scene.

https://www.facebook.com/jadtariqmusic/

The Philly Blues Kings has been around for a minute. This band represents the best that the contemporary blues has to offer. The lineup is fronted by internationally acclaimed Nola Blue recording artist Clarence Spady on guitar and vocals and backed by Mr. Saxman Frank McKitty on tenor, Hammond ace Joey Stout at the Hammond organ, piano and vocals, and driven by the powerful rhythm team of Jamey Reilly on bass and Paul Albrecht on drums. Our newest member, Kate Gaffney, is a stunning alto singer/guitarist with a national presence on the singer-songwriter circuit. She has released several acclaimed albums and has toured widely across the USA. She is a fearless performer who has embraced the blues with passion and brings a whole new polished feel to the raw edginess of the Kings.

Musically, they are first rate, combining the powerful impact of electric blues with skilled musicianship and stellar vocals. Their sets feature a mix of beloved standards, modern covers, originals and obscure relics that only a music historian would recognize. True to their music-first ethos, the group eschews fame and fortune, and indeed has never even recorded an album together. These performers love the blues - and love to play!

Like so many other blues artists before them, you need to go hear them live if you want to hear them at all. You can find them performing for their loyal fans every 1st, 4th and 5th Sunday at their home base, Jamey's House of Music, where they are the house band. The Sunday Blues Brunch is a Philly institution and features local, national and international blues artists and guests who jam at the club.

Philadelphia has long been known for "The Philly Sound" with numerous world beating soul and RandB groups, as well as being a nexus for top jazz and blues artists and a strong supporting community. The Philly Blues Kings is honored to take its place alongside these giants, and contribute "The PBK Sound" to the world of blues!

https://www.phillyblueskings.com

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“The Wages of Spin” chronicles the Philadelphia music scene from 1952 through 1963..... The film focuses primarily on Dick Clark, “Bandstand,” the Teen Idols, and payola. This is the first honest, comprehensive look at the inner workings of the music industry during this time frame.

Director: Shawn Swords
Writers: Shawn Swords, Conrad Zimmer
Cast: Dave Appell, Frankie Avalon, Len Barry, Jerry Blavat, Dick Boccelli, Stephen Caldwell, John Carlton, J.T. Carter, Chubby Checker, Dick Clark, Pete Cozzi, Fabian, Connie Francis, Bunny Klein Gibson, Charlie Gracie, Joan Gracie, Ed Hurst.

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Sam Robbins is often described as an "old soul singer songwriter."... A nationally touring musician whose music evokes classic singer songwriters like James Taylor and Jackson Browne, Sam adds a modern, upbeat edge to the storyteller troubadour persona. An avid performer, he has gained recognition from extensive national touring, from sharing the stage with artists like Jason Mraz and David Wilcox, and as a main stage performer at national festivals like the Kerrville and Falcon Ridge Folk Festivals. Leading songwriting workshops and exciting performances across the country, Sam Robbins has gained a reputation as one of the brightest rising stars in the national folk music community.

https://samrobbinsmusic.com/

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TRACY GRAMMER is one of contemporary folk music's most beloved artists. Renowned for her pure, emotive vocals, perfectly intoned violin, and guitar playing that is by turns percussive and delicate, Grammer is also a gifted storyteller whose incantations add a rare mixture of vulnerability, intimacy, and hard-won insight to her performances. As one fan puts it, "With Tracy, it's never just about the music; it's a soul journey." ... And what a journey it has been. Grammer rose to acclaim as half of the "postmodern, mythic American folk" duo, Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer. From 1998-2001, the duo released three internationally celebrated, chart-topping albums featuring Carter's mytho-poetic Americana songcraft and in 2002, toured with Joan Baez, both as featured artists and Baez's band mates. Called “the new voice of modern folk music,” the duo was clearly in its ascendancy when in July 2002, Carter suffered a fatal heart attack mid-tour. He was 49; Grammer, 34. Determined to honor the duo's trajectory and bring Carter's songs and those of other favorite writers to broader audiences, Grammer kept to the road, releasing several solo and archival recordings, including 2012's LITTLE BLUE EGG (Red House Records), the #1 most-played album on Folk Radio in 2012 with that year's #1 most-played song. She also heads the Dave Carter Legacy Project and administers the publishing for Carter’s songs, as well as her own. In 2018 Grammer released LOW TIDE, her first album of original songs. Says Grammer, “Even though I am a practiced writer, I didn’t see myself a songwriter until writing songs became the only way to resolve the pains and unanswered questions of my life. LOW TIDE is an album of revelations, confessions, and ultimately, healing. I am proud of the writing and utterly thrilled with the sounds." Co-produced with long-time musical collaborator Jim Henry, LOW TIDE was released January 19, 2018 on Grammer's own label, Tracy Grammer Music, and was the #9 most-played album on folk radio for the year. Grammer plays theaters, coffeehouses, and festivals across the United States and Canada regularly, and has performed in Europe and Japan as well. She holds the record for the most consecutive appearances at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and performs in a variety of configurations, with Jim Henry (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Burns Sisters, Susan Werner), Paul Kochanski (Lori McKenna, Threesies, Nields), Lorne Entress (Lori McKenna, Catie Curtis, Mark Erelli) and David Chalfant (Nields, Stephen Kellogg) rounding out her ensembles. Since 2020, she and Jim Henry have offered a monthly livestream concert via YouTube and Facebook from Henry's Rubytone Studio. In 2018, Grammer began pursuing the call to act, and has since appeared in numerous community and regional theater productions, three small films, and several staged readings. She completed a rigorous month-long intensive training at Shakespeare and Co. in 2024 and has studied at HB Studio, Greenfield Community College, Hartford Stage, and Happier Valley Comedy. She lives in Greenfield, Massachusetts with a dashing kitten named Mr. Brown.

https://www.tracygrammer.com/

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The Philly Blues Kings has been around for a minute. This band represents the best that the contemporary blues has to offer.... The lineup is fronted by internationally acclaimed Nola Blue recording artist Clarence Spady on guitar and vocals and backed by Mr. Saxman Frank McKitty on tenor, Hammond ace Joey Stout at the Hammond organ, piano and vocals, and driven by the powerful rhythm team of Jamey Reilly on bass and Paul Albrecht on drums. Our newest member, Kate Gaffney, is a stunning alto singer/guitarist with a national presence on the singer-songwriter circuit. She has released several acclaimed albums and has toured widely across the USA. She is a fearless performer who has embraced the blues with passion and brings a whole new polished feel to the raw edginess of the Kings.

Musically, they are first rate, combining the powerful impact of electric blues with skilled musicianship and stellar vocals. Their sets feature a mix of beloved standards, modern covers, originals and obscure relics that only a music historian would recognize. True to their music-first ethos, the group eschews fame and fortune, and indeed has never even recorded an album together. These performers love the blues - and love to play!

Like so many other blues artists before them, you need to go hear them live if you want to hear them at all. You can find them performing for their loyal fans every 1st, 4th and 5th Sunday at their home base, Jamey's House of Music, where they are the house band. The Sunday Blues Brunch is a Philly institution and features local, national and international blues artists and guests who jam at the club.

Philadelphia has long been known for "The Philly Sound" with numerous world beating soul and RandB groups, as well as being a nexus for top jazz and blues artists and a strong supporting community. The Philly Blues Kings is honored to take its place alongside these giants, and contribute "The PBK Sound" to the world of blues!

https://www.phillyblueskings.com

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Guitarist/songwriter Brad Vickers learned on the job playing, recording, and touring with America’s blues and roots masters: Pinetop Perkins, Jimmy Rogers, Hubert Sumlin, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Odetta, Sleepy LaBeef, and Rosco Gordon—to name only a few. .... Brad cut his teeth backing up these elder statesmen. He had the good fortune to play on Pinetop Perkins’ Grammy-nominated discs, “Born in the Delta” (Telarc), and “Ladies’ Man” (MC Records), and on ‘Pinetop Perkins & Jimmy Rogers, Genuine Blues Legends’ (Elrob), up for a 2017 Blues Music Award. Brad recently backed Mud Morganfield, Diunna Greenleaf, with Bob Margolin and Bob Corretore at the M.E.N.D. Maplewood Festival.

Now his own group, The Vestapolitans, offers a good-time, crowd-pleasing mix of blues and great American roots 'n' roll. Back out touring they were warmly received at the 2021 Blues Bash at the Ranch Festival and at the 2023 Bucks County Blues Fest. Past performances include headlining the 2017 Thouars, France Blues Festival, Bucks County Blues Picnic, and Pennsylvania Blues Festival. Their 7 CDs have met with terrific reviews (Downbeat gives them ****½ stars), “Best Of” lists, and great radio play. Most important, audiences love them!

Brad comes from the Pine Barrens of Long Island’s rural East End. He is the scion of a musical family from the Pine Barrens of Chintoteague, Virginia, where his grandfather played lap steel and drums.

http://www.BradVickers.com

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“Listening to Cotton sing is like watching Simone Biles tumble: You’re going to witness something you’ve not experienced before, and you won’t know what that is until it happens, and you’ll marvel at what seems like a metahuman skill.” – COUNTRY UNIVERSE... This evening at Jamey’s House of Music, two dynamic forces come together for a night of roots, soul, and rock ’n’ roll: Danielia Cotton and The Blue Tarp Wranglers. Danielia, the NYC-based singer/songwriter hailed by The New York Times as “soulful enough to fill a revival tent,” brings her distinctive, fiery voice and genre-blending style. She’s joining forces with songwriter and bandleader Jack Murray and his Blue Tarp Wranglers, a seasoned crew of master musicians known for delivering richly rooted Americana with spirit and shine.

Danielia Cotton is a powerhouse who can do it all. She moves too fast to be pinned down. She’s a great composer and singer/songwriter who has shared stages with Robert Cray, Bon Jovi, and Gregg Allman. Her music is touched by genius and always comes straight from the heart. Cotton fuses rock, soul, gospel, and jazz, for a stunning performance. Her latest EP reimagines Charley Pride classics – yes, she’s tapped in to classic country as well.

Jack Murray and the Blue Tarp Wranglers could well be country cousins to Doug Sahm and Co. -or to NRBQ. There’s nothing in the realm of Americana music that they can't handle comfortably or enthusiastically. The Blue Tarp Wranglers - Alan Landes, Nick Franclik, Josh Kanusky, and Dave Van Allen - deliver masterful, roots-driven American music, combining Jack’s own celebrated songwriting with the band’s dynamic musicianship. A perfect concoction for a memorable performance.

Josh Kanusky (drums) spent the majority of his live performance career as David Bromberg's backbeat; until the legendary guitarist retired last year. Josh is one of the best rock-solid foundations any bandleader could ask for.

Dave Van Allen has played pedal steel for decades in a wide range of musical genres from Country to Punk, New Wave to Americana. Dave has been recording and touring with the band Last Train Home (originated in DC, now based in Nashville) since 1997, and is in high demand for studio and internet recordings, along with sitting in with many local bands.

“Listening to Cotton sing is like watching Simone Biles tumble: You’re going to witness something you’ve not experienced before, and you won’t know what that is until it happens, and you’ll marvel at what seems like a metahuman skill.”
– COUNTRY UNIVERSE

With an equal emphasis on rock, jazz, and soul — and with roots in gospel —singer Danielia Cotton draws on a wide range of influences, from Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones to Mavis Staples and Etta James.
- WXPN

“I love your new record. (“Blue Tuxedo”) The band sounds good, and your songs and singing are the real star. It has the gravitas of Merle Haggard at times, but the de La Rochefoucauld wit is sprinkled in there when most needed.”
~ Richard Stekol California-based singer-songwriter, guitarist (‘Honk’ ‘The Funky Kings’)

“What an incredible honor that one of the world’s greatest songwriters was playing your song. David thought the world of you and your music”
~Peter Cooper Singer-songwriter, music journalist. On hearing that David Olney had passed away, on stage, while singing Jack Murray’s “Bluebonnet Girl".”

https://www.jackmurray.net/

https://danieliacotton.com/

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Philly’s blues and soul drenched singer and songwriter Deb Callahan recently celebrated the March 2023 release of her 6th studio album “Backbone”! The album consists of 12 songs including 10 original new tunes and recently charted #2 for the Roots Music Report Top 50 Blues albums. ... Her music has received some great national and international airplay on blues and triple A radio stations and is beginning to garner great press and reviews. ” The new album was produced by Philadelphia producer, songwriter, and guitarist Chris Arms and recorded live at Morningstar Studios in Glenside, PA. Deb recorded this album with her road tested, all-star band of Allen James on guitar, Garry Lee on bass and Tom Walling on drums. The CD features London producer and songwriter Danny Schogger on keyboards and Arms on slide guitar. There are guest appearances by Great Britain’s Alan Glass on acoustic guitar, and Philly musicians; Jay Davidson on sax, Steve Jankowski on horn/trombone, John Colgan Davis on harmonica and Charlene Holloway on backing vocals. “Backbone” has a blues and funk base and embraces a range of rock, soul, roots and swing styles. The songwriting reflects the intense impact of world events over the past few years exploring themes of uncertainty, vulnerability, being comfortable with and showing up for oneself, taking a stand, polarization in beliefs, freedom and letting go. Deb worked with Arms, Schogger and James to write much of the original material and chose two covers that fit in well with the material including Percy Mayfield’s “Danger Zone” and Sean Costello’s “Anytime You Want”. Deb and her core band’s sixteen years plus of performing and touring together shines through on this CD, creating a unique chemistry and an ability to play with natural, nuanced improvisation.

Deb and her band have been performing, touring, recording and entertaining music fans both regionally and around the United States since the late 1990s. Deb has released 5 prior CDs since 2002: If the Blues Had Wings, The Blue Pearl, Grace and Grit, Tell It Like It is, Sweet Soul and a limited edition World Café Live DVD. She has graced the stages of many festivals nationwide from The Monterey Bay Blues Festival in Monterey, CA, The Springing the Blues Fest in Jacksonville, FL, The Bayfront Blues Fest in Duluth, MN to WXPN’s XPonential Music Festival in Philly.

https://www.debcallahanband.com/

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Jamey's is one of the longest running blues jams in the region, as well as the #1 original Sunday Blues Brunch and Jam..... Blues lovers and players know that this is THE place to come for some really indescribably delicious all-day breakfast cooked to order by Chef Suyun, a dozen thirst-quenching ice-cold beers on tap from Conshohocken Brewing Company as well as wines and mixed drinks, fresh ground coffee and espressos, superb live blues music, great service and friendly people. The vibe is home-like and cool, and the sound is second to none.

Jamey's provides a full professional grade backline, so players only need to bring their instrument to jump up on stage and jam.

The open mic jam runs from 1 pm to 3 pm, and the host band lays down a set from noon to 1 pm to get things rolling and then supports guest jammers as needed. The always rocking SUNDAY BLUES BRUNCH rocks a HAPPY HOUR from noon to 1pm. Featuring two bucks off draft beers and hard ciders, and a dollar off wines and mixed drinks, and a 10% discount on all menu items!

Admission is 100% free! Plus, it is wheelchair accessible, and has plenty of free local parking. Being right in the center of downtown Lansdowne, next to the train station, there is abundant public transportation as well.

Blues lovers new and old can come to play, eat, drink, chat and enjoy a day soaked in the blues. Guests also like to host gatherings or parties during the brunch, as there are tables and chairs for dining in our stage side Little Art Gallery, and comfortable seats to listen to the music - and it does not cost them a thing to meet up there! No reservations are needed. Just load up some friends and head on down!

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Singer-songwriter Kate Gaffney honed her skills in her native Philadelphia, jumped from coast to coast, and laid musical roots in Northern California. Pennsylvania has since called her back home.... Kate has been a blur of creativity since coming home, with becoming a Philadelphia Folksong Society board member, joining the fabulous Philly Blues Kings, performing at numerous venues, running an open-mic at Poppy's Tavern, and now launching Kate Gaffney's Corner every second Thursday at Jamey's to feature her own great body of work, welcome guest artists from Philly's vibrant music community, and host an open-mic on many nights.

Pete Gustavson (née Scapegrace) is a multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter residing in southeast Pennsylvania. He writes songs about love and life and death and the ache of regret, and enjoys reinterpreting well-known classics from the American songbook.

From 1997 to 2008, he won some regional acclaim north of the Mason-Dixon Line as a founding member of the countrifunked jazzabilly band The Unpronounceable, performing and recording under the name Jorgé Beefalo.

As an acoustic soloist, he calls upon influences ranging from '40s torch songs to '90s Alternative Rock, and pulling at the strings that tie Old-time Country to '60s Folk-Rock. The resulting Americana mash-up evokes the sweetness of Jim Croce, the plaintive croon of Chris Isaak, and the resonant energy of Richie Havens.

“There’s something about Kate…something a little 80’s, a little 90’s, with a touch of the modern day, all steeped in the Summer of Love. You get a feeling, when you listen to Kate, that she understands the blues, but serves as a muse to keep the blues away. She’s a songwriter who songwriters write songs about. Watching her perform is somehow comforting and her honest vulnerability lends a welcome tone to her concerts. She has found a nice rapport with her audience and is one of the few performers with whom I welcome the banter. Kate is both disarming and razor sharp at the same time.” - Aaron Redner, musician/writer

Singer-songwriter Kate Gaffney honed her skills in her native Philadelphia, jumped from coast to coast and toured everywhere in between. She laid musical roots in Northern California, building a loyal following in Sacramento and within the San Francisco Bay Area music community. Pennsylvania has since called her back home. Gaffney’s festival nods include Philadelphia Folk Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and Hangtown Music Festival. She has opened for a variety of touring acts including Richie Havens, Todd Snider, Xavier Rudd, Chris Smither, Carolyn Wonderland, Jackie Greene, Karl Denson, Kaki King, Elephant Revival, and Dead Winter Carpenters. Kate Gaffney has released four albums: Highways, The New Then, The Coachman, Here by the Ocean.

https://kategaffney.com/

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BLUESTIME! House rockin', juke joint jumpin’ electric blues played by folks that grew up listening, watching and learning from the Golden Age Blues Masters. ... "After connecting only a few short years ago, BLUESTIME! has become a standout in the local/regional scene. If you caught our shows at the regional blues/roots festivals this past summer then you know we leave the stage with no gas left in the tank! Anglesea Blues Festival in North Wildwood, Gypsy Moon Blues Festival in East Petersburg (3 years running), Lancaster Roots and Blues -We tore 'em all up. Our local Philly area gigs include multiple appearances at the Grape Room including the Philly Blues Society Bluesfest, Liberty Musicfest, Parx Casino, Dawson’s Pub, Great Barn Taproom and Taphouse, Crooked Eye Brewery, Mermaid Inn, Pickering Creek Inn. We played multiple gigs at Tellus 360, the premier live music venue in Lancaster, Pa. Our mix of original music combined with covers of some of our favorite artists’ work create a blend that “don’t need no hot sauce” to get you off your hands, out of your seats and on the dance floor. We may be old, but we are bold and we leave nothing untold. Not the flower but the roots - workout!

https://www.bluestimephilly.com/

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Kelli Baker may be the biigest thing to come down the blues highway in decades... Kelli Baker is in the majors now. No more clubs or small halls. She has put in the hard work and tears to climb the slippery mountain of national success, and stands triumphant at the pinnacle. And she deserves every bit of that wonderful recognition. Despite huge crowds clamoring for her on big stages, she remains loyal and true to her friends who have stood by her on her journey. We are most fortunate that she once again will return with her amazing band to our humble stage - to be with friends, who truly love her. Please join us for a show that will leave you drained and delighted.

“Kelli Baker headlined the Paxico Blues Festival and it was one of the best decisions we’ve made in 20 years of running our event. Her talent, stage presence, connection with our community, professionalism, performance and passion set a new gold standard. Anyone considering booking her should do it right away before it’s too late and she’s selling out Madison Square Garden. Do it and I promise you won’t regret it”. - Michael Hund, Promoter and MC, Paxico Blues Festival

Recently signed to Gulf Coast Records by blues legend Mike Zito, powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Kelli Baker continues her meteoric rise as one of the most electrifying voices in modern blues-rock. With a voice that commands attention and lyrics that cut to the bone, Baker has earned a reputation for setting stages ablaze across the country.

Crowned the winner of the 2024 615 Blues Revival Competition in Nashville—judged by blues icons like Kenny Wayne Shepherd—Kelli is more than a performer; she’s a reckoning. Her July tour included support dates for Grammy-winning guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and genre-defying Samantha Fish, placing her alongside the most influential names in contemporary blues. August ‘25 brings a full week at the world-renowned Sturgis Bike Rally.

From her early days singing in Phoenix gospel choirs to lighting up New York’s legendary venues like The Bitter End and The Cutting Room, Kelli’s sound is an arresting fusion of rock grit, blues soul, and siren-like poetry. Her music has topped the Roots Music Report, and her live shows are known for leaving audiences breathless.

https://www.kellibaker.com/

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Jamey's is one of the longest running blues jams in the region, as well as the #1 original Sunday Blues Brunch and Jam..... Blues lovers and players know that this is THE place to come for some really indescribably delicious all-day breakfast cooked to order by Chef Suyun, a dozen thirst-quenching ice-cold beers on tap from Conshohocken Brewing Company as well as wines and mixed drinks, fresh ground coffee and espressos, superb live blues music, great service and friendly people. The vibe is home-like and cool, and the sound is second to none.

Jamey's provides a full professional grade backline, so players only need to bring their instrument to jump up on stage and jam.

The open mic jam runs from 1 pm to 3 pm, and the host band lays down a set from noon to 1 pm to get things rolling and then supports guest jammers as needed. The always rocking SUNDAY BLUES BRUNCH rocks a HAPPY HOUR from noon to 1pm. Featuring two bucks off draft beers and hard ciders, and a dollar off wines and mixed drinks, and a 10% discount on all menu items!

Admission is 100% free! Plus, it is wheelchair accessible, and has plenty of free local parking. Being right in the center of downtown Lansdowne, next to the train station, there is abundant public transportation as well.

Blues lovers new and old can come to play, eat, drink, chat and enjoy a day soaked in the blues. Guests also like to host gatherings or parties during the brunch, as there are tables and chairs for dining in our stage side Little Art Gallery, and comfortable seats to listen to the music - and it does not cost them a thing to meet up there! No reservations are needed. Just load up some friends and head on down!

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A partnership between MelodyVision, Films 4 Good, Jamey’s House of Music, and Superior Guitar Works The podcast provides an in-depth exploration of guitars, guitar players, and the music for which each guitar is renowned.... Tonight's selected guitar is the ubiquitous world favorite, the Les Paul. AC Steel and the Perpetrators will be the special musical guest, performing a full set to show what that guitar can do. Guitar and guitar gear Manufacturers We will take questions and comments from the audience. We will highlight the evening with a special guitar riff-off competition amongst the guitar players present in the audience, with the winner taking home AC Steel's personal tricked out Leas Paul guitar!

Your hosts are Rodney Whittenberg, Emmy award-winning composer, songwriter, producer, guitarist, and filmmaker, and Tim Huenke, a guitar luthier and TEDx presenter.

Rod and Tim will take you into the history of the instrument, share anecdotal stories, and offer guitar maintenance tips. So come out and join us for our premier episode.

https://www.melodyvision.com

https://www.acsteelperps.com/

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Three-time Blues Music Award (BMA) nominee including the ‘Koko Taylor’ and Best Soul Blues Female Artist award categories, Alexis P. Suter is an American blues, and soul blues singer-songwriter. Raised in Brooklyn, NY by a musically gifted family, Alexis P Suter was infused with the passion and belief that music is to be an emotional and spiritual experience.... Miss Suter brings an abundance of love and energy into each of her performances.

Alexis P. Suter owns that big, booming voice heard roaring out of Brooklyn and straight into the heart of North America and beyond. Her voice ranges from a pained passion to explosive and soul bearing. She and her backing band have released six albums to date.

The Alexis P. Suter Band, a powerful and unique six-piece ensemble, artfully blends the lines between Blues, Soul and Rock music. The band burst on to the music scene with regular performances at Levon Helm’s legendary Midnight Rambles in Woodstock, NY.

Alexis and her core band, fellow Brooklyn natives Ray Grappone (drums), Jimmy Bennett (guitar), Daniel Weiss (keyboard), Peter Bennett (bass) and Vicki Bell, (producer, vocals and percussion) have been making music together for almost three decades. Grappone and Bell own and operate the Hipbone Records label. They met Alexis soon after Alexis signed with Epic/Sony Records Japan in the 1990's. At the time, Alexis was performing House Music, Funk and RandB. Impressed with her incredible and unique talent, Grappone and Bell invited her to record vocals on a Hipbone project. A life-long collaboration ensued which culminated in the Alexis P. Suter Band.

APSB live shows bring audiences across the globe to their feet to dance and sing along to rollicking Roots songs one minute or funky Blues the next. Then a few songs in, are brought to tears from an awe-inspiring version of "Let it Be" or the kind of songs that reach deep down inside clenching the very heart of our souls. Alexis and her band are not just another musical act, but an energetic and emotional experience to which fans of all ages flock time after time. Their touring schedule spans across venues and festivals on both East and West US Coasts to parts of Europe such as France and The Netherlands.

Critics struggle to find words to describe her powerful yet velvety, deep voice and unique style. Elmore Magazine summarized it well, "Suter is as fascinating to watch as to hear. A stunning, ample woman with the face of a cherubic African queen, her molasses contralto can whisper and purr, then swell into a pulsating wave of sound that radiates from the depths of her being".

The band continues to harvest a fresh sound to their catalog by exploring new songs with a variety musical genres. They are selling out venues, receiving rave reviews, and filling their calendar with national and international performances.

Now, during an exciting and transformative time, the band is exploring new musical creations, fusing genres with creative expression into fresh and innovative sounds. Led by producer Byron Issacs (Lumineers, Levon Helm Band), work is complete on a new album releasing June 6, 2025.

Meanwhile, a taste of what’s to come is the single, “4 Wheels Beats 2 Heels.”

The Alexis P. Suter Band recently signed with Nola Blue Records. "We are incredibly inspired to join the team supporting the Alexis P. Suter Band during this exciting new chapter,” says Sallie A. Bengtson, Nola Blue Records president. “Her BMA nominations from the traditional, soul and contemporary blues categories provides but one example of the breadth and diversity of musical offering we can expect from Alexis and her band. We’re shifting into overdrive in preparation to share ‘4 Wheels’ with the worldwide music community.”

"Thank You Sallie Bengtson and Nola Blue Records for signing us, believing in us, and ultimately for including us into your family of talented musicians."

Suter has garnered nominations at the Annual Blues Music Awards for the Suter's repertoire ranges from old-time Delta blues like "John the Relevator" to classic electric blues like "Got My Mojo Working" to vintage soul including "Take Me to the River" and even to the Beatles - watch her rendering of "Let It Be" and marvel how she finds the soul song that always lurked inside of this ballad you've heard a million times - and Jimi Hendrix. She's like the entire diverse history of the blues wrapped up into one soulful package.

https://alexispsuter.com/

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Winners of the 2025 New Hampshire State Blues Challenge, Bees Deluxe are headed to Memphis, Tennessee to compete in the International Blues Challenge, January 2026.... Hell-bent on their mission to bring the blues into the 21st century, Bees Deluxe pushes the limits, colors outside the lines of convention and bends the genre to create a sound that is distinct, highly musical and yet deeply respectful of the blues tradition.

Fronted and founded by British guitarist Conrad Warre, the band’s repertoire includes addictive originals, as well as fresh takes on tunes by artists ranging from Billie Holiday to Jimi Hendrix. Bees Deluxe has toured from Maine to Miami winning fans, amazing audiences and sharing the stage with headliners like: Ronnie Earl, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Mike Zito, Walter Trout, Joanna Connor, Matt Schofield, Mike Welch and Roomful of Blues.

Warre was in a high school band with Paul Kossoff, of the band Free. He toured Europe with Joe Jackson and The English Beat, then moved from London to New York where he became a fixture on the stage at the legendary CBGB’s. In Boston, he formed Bees Deluxe to celebrate the music he fell in love with while touring and playing legendary London clubs like Rainbow Theatre, Ronnie Scott's, Dingwalls, The Music Machine and the Moonlight Club. Before forming Bees Deluxe he was Production Manager for Rykodisc the first music audio CD company in the States where he worked directly with Frank Zappa, Yoko Ono, Richard Thompson, David Bowie, Mickey Hart and others.

Carol Band is a classically trained pianist who was recruited while playing jazz in Boston’s club scene. She also writes tunes and wows audiences with her blazing harmonica solos.

Paul Giovine studied at Berklee College of Music and cut his chops playing rock and punk with The Darling Picassos and Trick Wallace in clubs and festivals all over the states. He is also a contemporary songwriter in his own right.

Bridging the chasm between the discerning connoisseur and casual blues fans, Bees Deluxe is equally adept at filling a dive bar dance floor or commanding a festival stage.

With a contagious enthusiasm, sense of fun and impeccable musicality, Bees Deluxe breaks all the rules and the blues are better for it.

This is Blues Power. If you want Pure Blues, from men who respect the history and the craft of the music - with the unflinching ability to take that music from the dirt of the delta to the outermost regions of the stratosphere... look no further than, 'THE CORTY BYRON GANG'.

Corty is a longtime fixture of the local music scene in Lancaster, PA. He started gigging in his teens, and the road just keeps on going. His performances are eclectic and ever-changing. His sound is americana roots-driven, vintage, bluesy, soul drenched, and authentic. Corty performs as a solo acoustic artist, as well as a seasoned rock n' roll band leader. The trail behind him includes tours of Ireland, prison concerts, a life in Venice Beach, opening for various classic rock legends, social activism, and service in the community. In March 2024, he was given the 'Best Blues Artist Award' by the Central PA Music Hall Of Fame. He is also a proud father. Corty has been called a 'chameleon' by his musical peers. He works to remain in a constant 'state of becoming'... one day at a time.

"I'm a Michael Bloomfield disciple... I wanted to be in a band that he would have approved of. There aren't words to describe what happens when we all get together and start playing. The sum is much greater than the individual parts. It's incredible, really. It's almost mysterious - spiritual. When we're really cookin', it's like we're levitating." - Corty Byron

Kevin Gannon (harp) is better known as; 'Moe Blues'. He's got the stage presence of a man completely possessed by his instrument.... it's as if the ghost of the late great Paul Butterfield himself, decided to take the form of James Brown or Joe Cocker for an evening. Or, as Corty once said; "He'd make Elwood blush."

Josh Kanusky (drums) spent the majority of his live performance career as David Brombeg's backbeat; until the legendary guitarist retired last year. Josh is one of the best rock-solid foundations any bandleader could ask for.

Mike Mink (keyboards) is the other half of Corty's musical heartbeat. Imagine combining the piano stylings of Otis Spann, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Bruce Hornsby - that's pretty wild - but, that's what you can expect when Professor Mink starts walking his fingers.

Scott Frenchek (bass/vocals) has been playing with Corty for over 20 years. He's one hell of a musician.... with a lot of vintage 'Motown' in his groove. His vocal harmonies have come from a lifetime of singing together with Corty. When they're really" hittin' the note" - It's like they're one person.

https://www.billyprice.com/

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The Philly Blues Kings has been around for a minute. This band represents the best that the contemporary blues has to offer.... The lineup is fronted by internationally acclaimed Nola Blue recording artist Clarence Spady on guitar and vocals and backed by Mr. Saxman Frank McKitty on tenor, Hammond ace Joey Stout at the Hammond organ, piano and vocals, and driven by the powerful rhythm team of Jamey Reilly on bass and Paul Albrecht on drums. Our newest member, Kate Gaffney, is a stunning alto singer/guitarist with a national presence on the singer-songwriter circuit. She has released several acclaimed albums and has toured widely across the USA. She is a fearless performer who has embraced the blues with passion and brings a whole new polished feel to the raw edginess of the Kings.

Musically, they are first rate, combining the powerful impact of electric blues with skilled musicianship and stellar vocals. Their sets feature a mix of beloved standards, modern covers, originals and obscure relics that only a music historian would recognize. True to their music-first ethos, the group eschews fame and fortune, and indeed has never even recorded an album together. These performers love the blues - and love to play!

Like so many other blues artists before them, you need to go hear them live if you want to hear them at all. You can find them performing for their loyal fans every 1st, 4th and 5th Sunday at their home base, Jamey's House of Music, where they are the house band. The Sunday Blues Brunch is a Philly institution and features local, national and international blues artists and guests who jam at the club.

Philadelphia has long been known for "The Philly Sound" with numerous world beating soul and RandB groups, as well as being a nexus for top jazz and blues artists and a strong supporting community. The Philly Blues Kings is honored to take its place alongside these giants, and contribute "The PBK Sound" to the world of blues!

https://www.phillyblueskings.com

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Born and raised in greater-Philadelphia area, Steve Shanahan, started his musical journey with guitar at the conservatory level at the age of eleven... Through the years, Steve has honed his craft listening to and emulating his musical influences including BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Duane Allman, Roy Buchanan and more.

After his graduation from the University of Delaware, Steve became a family man and then returned to music playing local jams, blues clubs and performing in Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Kansas. After a ten-year relationship with Mikey Jr. that evolved from the local jam and performance venues, the next logical step was to produce Steve’s inaugural release, Blue Ranchero, on 8th Train Records. Steve’s guitar tone and playing have an authentic sound which is true to the blues and a tribute to the players he has emulated over the past 50 years. “Blue Ranchero”, an original instrumental by Steve, is the title track on the record and evokes the magic of electric guitar and the feel of speed common to the muscle-car years of the 1960s. His slow blues ballads exude the richness of the original vocal versions while up-tempo shuffles and standards are filled with tuneful guitar, harp, piano and saxophone solos. Steve’s goal in his live performances is to pay homage to the originators of the form while informing his audiences with the history and the connections between artists from one generation to the next that keep our Blues alive and ever evolving January 2024

The blues greatest songwriter Willie Dixon proclaimed “The blues are the roots of all American music. As long as American music survives so will the blues.” The 14 tunes on guitarist/vocalist Steve Shanahan's auspicious debut are a testament to Dixon's quote and exemplify the continuity and adaptability of the blues. A Philadelphia area native and University of Delaware graduate, Shanahan has played guitar since he was five and along the way developed a love for blues and American music. He's been friends with producer/harmonica ace Mikey Junior for ten years. Shanahan is a frequent visitor to Mikey Junior's Sunday blues jam at the Twisted Tail in Philly which ultimately led to their collaboration here. Mikey Junior's regular band of guitarist Matt Daniels, bassist Jimmy Pritchard, and drummer Scott Stump are augmented by tenor saxophonist Steve Kirsty and keyboardist Judd Nielsen on the 12 covers and two original instrumentals (Shanahan's “Blue Ranchero,” a slashing ode to his beloved Blue Ranchero, Ford's precursor to Chevy's El Camino, and Mikey Junior's loping “Speedway Shuffle” featuring muscular harp evocative of Little Walter). Half of the covers come from the crème de la crème of Chicago blues legends (Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Little Walter) Texas, California, West Coast, and the Delta are also covered. The lone contemporary track is Keb Mo's “Dangerous Mood.” The opening track “Train Kept A-Rollin'” further underscores Dixon's quote. Originally a R and B hit from 1951 for jump blues maestro Tiny Bradshaw, then a hit for rockabilly progenitors Johnny Burnette and the Rockabilly Trio, then further popularized by the Yardbirds and Aerosmith, and now by Steve Shanahan. Thomas J. Cullen III, Bucks County Blues Society and Blues Music Magazine

Blue Ranchero is available on all digital platforms, CD at show, and is supporting Steve’s live show, “100 Years of the Blues”. The “100 Years” show explores the impact of blues music through performances of some of the most well-known blues, r and b, and rock artists/labels of the 20th Century such as Muddy Waters, BB King, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, MOTOWN, Stevie Ray Vaughan and more. The live performance features The Hit Men consisting of: Philadelphia Journeyman vocalist and keyboardist Joe Mass, drummer Eric Scatteregia and bassist Dave Giorgio.

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The Wilmington Delaware music scene flourished in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. Bands that made the rounds in northern Delaware and beyond included favorites such as the Melton Brothers, Sin City Band, Johnny Neel and the Shapes of Soul, the Watson Brothers, The Bullets, Tommy Conwell and his Young Rumblers, Lisa Jack, The Drinkers, Larry Tucker Band, Rockett 88, and the big dog in the neighborhood, George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers. ... It’s a time Mark Kenneally remembers fondly, mainly because he was one of the stars of that music scene, or at least his alter ego was — Dr. Harmonica.

Kenneally is the front man and lead singer — and harmonica virtuoso — for Rockett 88, a band that has been around since the late 1970s and was inducted into the Delaware Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Dr. Harmonica is now in his mid-70s, but he’s still chugging along, albeit more slowly than he did in his prime. That physical decline really began four years ago, when he was injured while rescuing his dog from traffic. Kenneally fell and tore both of the quad muscles in his legs and he’s still unable to walk without assistance, even though the injury was repaired using transplanted muscle from a cadaver.

“I’m doing all right, but I’m really not happy with my progress,” Kenneally says. “I’m doing much better than I was after it first happened, and therapy has really helped and continues to help. But it was a devastating injury — I could hear the muscles snap when it happened.

“So, it’s been a long road and it’s still a long road. I’m just trying to do the best I can with what I have to work with.”

Also, Kenneally was born with cerebral palsy, a disability he learned to cope with a long time ago and which, indirectly, led him to the harmonica. His condition prevented him from playing most team sports when he grew up in the Brandywine Hundred neighborhood of Devon in the 1960s, although he played rugby for a while. So, he turned his focus to cars and music, and even his music choices were limited because of his cerebral palsy. He tried the trumpet and trombone, but they didn’t excite him.

A harmonica was handed to Kenneally at 13. The rest is history.

Then one day, when he was 13, a friend stopped by his house and handed him a couple of harmonicas. And from there Mark Kenneally eventually morphed into Dr. Harmonica.

It didn’t hurt that one of Kenneally’s best friends was George Thorogood, who was in his class at Brandywine High in the late 1960s. Thorogood’s star hadn’t started to rise yet. In fact, Kenneally says that when he first started playing with Thorogood he didn’t even play guitar — he was the band’s singer.

Later, Kenneally joined Rockett 88, whose lead guitarist at the time was Tommy Conwell before he became a Young Rumbler. Rockett 88 was just one of many great local bands at the time, and Kenneally says he played with just about all of those musicians at one time or another, including the late Johnny Neel, who went on to greater fame as a member of the Allman Brothers Band.

“I actually got to make a living doing it, so I got to do what I love and I never got up before noon,” Kenneally says. “I didn’t care who I was playing with or where we were playing. All I wanted to do was play music with like-minded people, and there were a lot of them around here back then. We were all into the music.”

And music has helped him deal with the many crosses he’s had to bear over the years. Because of his physical limitations, Rockett 88 only plays a couple of times a month, but even that bare-bones schedule has been great mental and emotional therapy for him, even though it can be physically demanding

“It gives me something to focus on besides my problems,” he says. “I still love it, even though I don’t enjoy it as much as I did when I could jump around and be much more animated. But playing, and practicing to get ready to play, gives me a goal, something to shoot for, something to look forward to. And we’re getting great crowds whenever we play, and that helps my outlook, too.”

Those crowds don’t see the hyperactive Dr. Harmonica of the old days, but he still gets the people on their feet and dancing.

“What I love about Mark the most is his enthusiasm, and that hasn’t changed at all,” says Paula Wolkind, who, along with her husband George Wolkind, founded the Delaware Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“He doesn’t just play — he puts on a show, and the crowd really responds to him,” Paula Wolkind says. “Some people are natural entertainers, natural showmen, and that certainly describes Mark.”

George Wolkind certainly knows rock and roll, especially the local variety — he was the lead singer for the popular band Snakegrinder in the early 1970s. He and his wife decided that the music scene in Delaware needed to be recognized, and that led to the creation of the Delaware Rock and Roll Society (which begat the Delaware Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) in 2018, and recently the organization found a permanent home in the Smyrna Opera House.

And there was never a doubt that Dr. Harmonica and Rockett 88 would be among the first bands to be inducted.

“Mark loves music and he loves sharing that music with the crowd,” George Wolkind says. “People sense that and they send that energy back to the band. That’s the beauty of live music, and nobody brings that energy like Mark, even with all the hardships he’s had to deal with.”

Other members of the ever-evolving Rockett 88 include Alan Yandziak on tenor saxophone, Quentin Jones on guitar, Danny Bendig on drums and Patrick Redding on bass. Jeff Simon occasionally sits in on drums when he’s not touring with Thorogood. And adding something extra to the mix for Rockett 88 is new guitarist Nick Kane, who played with the Mavericks from 1993-2000 and was part of that internationally-known band when it was nominated for five Grammy Awards and won once.

Rockett 88 has cut back on its performing schedule and they rarely play in Delaware anymore. They do show up at the St. George’s Country Store on occasion — they last played there in March. Kenneally said his band mostly plays in the Lancaster, Pa., area.

“For some reason, there’s a big music scene up there,’ he says.

It’s been a long time since Dr. Harmonica wailed at the Barn Door in Wilmington or the Blue Boar Inn in Arden, or George Thorogood walked along the top of the bar while playing his guitar at the Buggy Tavern in Brandywine Hundred (none of those venues exist anymore).

Kenneally, who now lives in Milford, holds onto those memories even while crafting new ones as an elder statesman of rock and roll in Delaware. He makes the best of his current circumstances, even though he’s had to sacrifice because of them — Thorogood has played in our area just twice in recent years and both times he asked Kenneally to join him on stage, but Dr. Harmonica had to decline because of his health.

But even though the flesh is weak, the spirit continues to boogie.

“I’ve had it tough, but a lot of people have a lot tougher than me, and I always try to remember that,” Kenneally says. “And I have something most people don’t have — my music.”

- Kevin Noonan

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