The entertainment begins at 1pm and the 2010 lineup is as follows:
THE BOA CONSTRICTORS (1:00pm)
The Boa Constrictors are a hand-assembled band of Detroit's very best musicians. All of the members came from the cores of many of the very best Blues bands that Detroit has to offer. and have with a true Detroit pedigree. When you come to their show, you are hearing PURE Detroit Blues with a PURE Detroit attitude. Members of the Boa Constrictors have been fortunate to share the stage and to open shows for Luther Allison, Junior Wells, Sugar Blue, Charlie Musselwhite, Jason Ricci and New Blood, and the legendary Motown session-band, the Funk Brothers, as well as acting as backing musicians for ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Jeremy Spencer. Thier main course recipe comes from the harmonica bands of Little Walter, Jerry Portnoy, Junior Wells, Paul Butterfield, and Sonny Boy Williamson (1 and 2). They have a heaping helping of Detroit Blues influence as well. The members of the band have played with legendary Detroit artists like Billy Davis, The Sharecroppers of Soul, John Watkins, Lazy Lester, Little Junior Cannaday, the Butler Twins, Harmonica Shah, and Uncle Jesse White. Each and every member of the Boa Constrictors brings their unique life experiences to the table, both musically and personally. From large festival venues, to the smallest bar, or juke-joint, our shows are always spontaneous, energetic, loads of fun, and full of the ingredients that make Blues one of the most exciting American musical art forms.
THE BROKEN ARROW BLUES BAND (2:15pm)
Broken Arrow Blues Band is over 100 years of combined stage experience, consisting of 4 Venerated Veteran Blues Musicians. Together we are the hottest "new" Blues & Boogie Band in the "D"... DETROIT! that is.. for you other D people. The styling of this band could be described as DETROIT STYLE ELECTRIC BLUES & BOOGIE with some ROCK salt rubbed into the wound and then smoothed out from time to time with some FUNKY SALVE.... Our latest CD "Given Right" is all original and , well it smokes... The are two new CD's " Broken Arrow Live @ Cally's", and a newer yet un-named CD to also be released through Motor City Josh's Label soon. Both should be released in the Summer of 2010 on Ford Music Co.{ Motor City Josh's Label} Check us out on the web or common down & see the band , you'll be Happy Pappy !!!! We are!!!! Broken Arrow is everything we dreamed it would be... The HOTTEST Blues Band around!!!!
DIRTY BOULEVARD WITH BARRY FORSTER (3:30pm)
Barry Forster was born in Flint, MI; Now, 16 years old, and currently taking part in Mandi Layne & the Lost Highway and his own band, Barry Forster & Green Bottle Fly. Barry has been in the music industry for 9 years, playing in many bands across Michigan and performing many genres of music. It all started when his father took Barry for the first time to see a live band play when he was eight. "I remember being so focused on the lead guitar player (John Lorrison, a family friend) the whole night," Barry recalls, "It made the hair on my neck stand up when I heard Johnny play, I told my dad that night that I wanted to play the guitar." That Christmas his father bought him a little Abilene acoustic to practice on. He began taking lessons from local musicians for a couple years then began his band experience, sitting-in with many local bands picking up tips & tricks of the trade along the way. Ever since Barry has been in many bands discovering all types of music no matter which it is. Some of the Artists he has been featured with are the Brian Schram Band, Motor City Josh and The Big Three, Larry McCray, Rebel Heart, Charles Wilson, The Craig John Band, Copper Ridge, Canned Heat, Jones'n, Ace High, Accel/Accelerate, The Remshotz, and many more.
KNUCKLEHEADS BLUES BAND (4:45pm)
In 2004 The Knucklehead Blues Band was founded by musicians, Jeff Birrell and Jim Klimo, with the intent of doing a few local gigs per year. The word has spread and the Flint, Michigan, six-piece band has now logged numerous gigs, including a prime slot at the 2009 I Chews The Blues Music Festival along with, supporting artist, Larry McCray, Carl Weathersby and Thornetta Davis, at the recent Flint Valley Gator Blues Festival. They have also performed regularly at the Genesee County Bar Association Block Party, as well as many other private parties, including one at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste Marie. Blues fans love the mix of original music and blues classic covers performed by this Chicago style band. The Knucklehead Blues Band is composed of hard-working, hard-playing family guys that can deliver the goods for your event in a professional and entertaining fashion.
THE FABULOUS WINDBREAKERS (6:00pm)
Local guitarist Stu Selesky has brought storytelling to life with his style and humor. Stu brings with him local Percussionist John Seiner, John provides a pulsating foundation on which the group builds. Another local, Joe Wright brings his Sax and what comes out is full of fire & soul. Nick Colandro on Bass brings blues & funk to the group adding depth and emotion.
ARGENTUCKY BLUES BAND (7:15pm)
Bassist Johnny Michael King of Argentine Michigan had a vision in the summer of 2005, but he knew it would take some time and patience to put all the right pieces of the puzzle together. Johnny had been touring the previous three summers with a blues band that was fun, but the music was just not the style he felt burning in his soul. Johnny recruited Jimmy Pryor on Percussion not only because of his great playing ability and great vocals but also because of Jimmy's great passion for the blues. Once he had the rhythm section, he had to find a vocalist and guitarist that loved and played the blues as much as he and Jimmy did. Now the hunt for a new guitarist Johnny didn't have to look too far. A close friend and fellow guitarist from a different group he had played with Duffy King was perfect, his guitar playing style and vocals was a perfect fit for what Johnny was looking for. Also playing guitar is long time friend Reichlin Small that filled in for Timothy Jon Lamb. Now only leaving one more piece needed to complete the puzzle Johnny was at a blues jam that a old high school and fellow musician held every Tuesday night and met keyboard player Ronnie Robinson. After playing several songs with Ronnie that night Johnny knew he had to look no further, now his group was complete.
JONESN’ (8:30pm)
JONES’N was formed in April of 2006, after Heather and Donny Jones departed from a long relationship with another band, and the wanting to have something to call “their own”. Now they’ve developed a “musical family”.
Jones’n is currently working on their songwriting and recording, in preparation for their CD release next year. They perform all over the surrounding areas at different venues. From Fenton to Davison, Flint, Owosso, Waterford, and Mt. Morris. They also host a “Jam Night” every Tuesday @ The Roadhouse in Flint, and have been for almost a year now. “And the turn out has been phenomenal!”, says Heather Jones.
Every year this group donates their time and talents to the American Cancer Society’s-Relay For Life, held in Flint. They’ve also had the pleasure of performing at the annual “I Chews The Blues” festival each year in Davison. This August will be their 5th performance.
GREG NAGY (9:45pm)
GREG NAGY, formerly with the Root Doctor Band, took his rightful place among today’s leading American roots musicians with the 2009 release of his first feature album, Walk That Fine Thin Line. His songwriting, singing, and guitar playing were at high levels, the ten tracks evidencing a personalized blues music refreshingly infused with elements of soul, r&b, rock, and gospel. Greg’s album earned him a prestigious Best New Artist debut nomination from the Blues Foundation in Memphis, as well as favorable reviews from hard-to-please critics at top media outlets like All About jazz, Blues Revue, DownBeat, and Elmore. Blues/roots DJs throughout North America, Europe, and Australia responded enthusiastically to Greg’s music, with Walk That Fine Line added to enough playlists to appear on the Living Blues radio chart. At XM satellite radio, the album peaked at number three, no small achievement. Blues societies all over joined notables like Living Blues 2009 "Producer of the Year" Jeff Konkel and writer-Producer Dick Shurman (who contributed the liner notes) in praising Greg’s stellar release on the Big O label (www.big-o-records.com). Born in 1963, in Flint, Michigan, the “Auto City” birthplace of once-mighty General Motors, young guitarist Greg was fortunate to grow up with friends whose older siblings encouraged them to explore soul, rock, funk, jazz, and the Motown Sound originating down Interstate 75 in Detroit. The emotional blues of Muddy Waters and Albert King made a particularly strong mark on the Kearsley High School student who went on to college and military service before, in the early-1990s, working regularly seven nights a week in blues and funk bands. There probably hasn’t been a better blues or soul band than Root Doctor in the Wolverine State, and Greg happily signed on with that long-established group in 2004. He prompted singer Freddie Cunningham and the other three guys to record their debut album, the aptly titled Been a Long Time Coming. Two more discs, Change Our Ways (2007) and Live At The Cadillac Club (2008), followed. All three were critically acclaimed, played frequently on blues radio, and turned out to be favorites of award-show nominating committees. Word about the superior talents of the Root Doctor group quickly spread far beyond the Midwest. Not too long after Cadillac Club appeared and the band performed at the highly regarded Pocono Blues Festival, Greg left the band on good terms for a solo career. Walk That Fine Thin Line marks its auspicious beginning.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Maggie King – I Chews The Blues
(810) 412-4693
Steve Allen – Detroit Blues Society
(248) 249-5287