Live Music (duh), Hiking, biking, canoing, and spending time with my best friend: my wife.
Here is a partial list of musicians/bands that we saw last year:Jeff Beck, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Robert Cray, Vince Gill, Buddy Guy, BB King, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Sonny Landreth, Albert Lee, Los Lobos, John Mayer, John McLaughlin, Willie Nelson, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Robbie Robertson, Hubert Sumlin, The Derek Trucks Band, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Steve Winwood, Tal Wilkenfeld, Susan Tedeschi, Boots Roots, Yonrico Scott, Shemekia Copeland, Blues Harmonica Blowout with Mark Hummel, Magic Dick & Lee Oskar, Fiona Boyes, The Sean Carney Band, The Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Sue Foley, Deborah Coleman, Roxanne Potvin, Otis Taylor, Sean Costello, Pops Walker, The Tommy Castro Band, Coco Montoya, Rich DelGrosso, Dave McKenzie, Guitar Shorty, Jason Ricci & New Blood, Lurrie Bell, Kelley Hunt, Billy the Kid & the Regulators, Lola Gulley, Bill Sheffield, Donny McCormick, Blues Baron's Band, Loni Walker Band, Deb Callahan Band, Geoff Achison, Ralph Roddenbery, Jess Franklin, Delta Moon, Donna Hopkins, Breeze Kings
I'd like to meet:
Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi , Derek Trucks, Susan Foley, Ana Popovic , and the list could go on and on and on.
Hey, check out http://www.myspace.com/bootsroots for one fine ....Chattanooga street.... performer that a group of us produced a CD for. And, yes, he is keeping all rights and profits. The CD's are in his hands now and are also available on CD Baby: www.cdbaby.com/cd/bootsroots .
Born Robert Montgomery in Miami, Florida on January 14 th ,1935. Boot Roots performed many years in Miami and traveled extensively performing the Blues with many bands. While traveling through Chattanooga, TN, doing gigs, he thought it would be a great location to “Retire.†Since “retiring†30 years ago in Chattanooga, he has entertained thousands of local residents and tourists passing through town. One can find Boots on the street corner near the Chattanooga aquarium on most fine Spring, Summer, and Fall days and on the warmer days of Winter. Boots has five grown children in the Miami area and one “hook up†of 40 years.
Boots Roots influences include the greats of Wes Montgomery, Alex Stevens, WC Baker, and Leon Demon. Listening to his music you will find it is a cross between Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters.
This CD is in celebration of Boots Roots phenomenal contribution to the Blues and the Chattanooga music culture. Thank you Boots Roots!
It is our pleasure to preserve some Blues history and bring this great music to you.
Music:
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Heritage Blues Festival - Wheeling, WV
True to form, Bruce Wheeler put together an outstanding lineup for the Heritage Music Bluesfest this year. This year appeared to bring a record attendance. While I have not seen the official report, the stage was much more crowded than previous years; and the seats were near capacity.
The main stage lineup included Debbie Davies, Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets w/ James Harman, Sugar Blue, Delta Guitarslingers, Michael Burks - Sherman Robertson & Carl Weathersby, Lionel Young, The Soul of John Black, Barbara Blue, Blue Bella Revue w/ Nick Moss and the Flip Tops, Bil Lupkin & Kilborn Alley, Watermelon Slim & the Workers, Ana Popovic, The Mannish Boys, Trampled Under Foot, Seth Walker, Tinsley Ellis, Deanna Bogart, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, and Johnny Winter & James Cotton.
The second stage featured some very fine local talent: Sarah’s KickStart Blues, Adrian Niles, The Biscuit Rollers, Billy The Kid & the Regulators, Amanda McCoy, and The Catch Blues Band.
As is true with most festivals, there is nearly always a surprise. For this one, Deanna Bogart was the surprise to me. I have heard her on XM Radio before, but to see her performance in person is out of this world. Her energy on stage is amazing. The audience obviously knew what to expect as they crowded the stage. She captivated our attention as she and her band performed some fabulous Blues.
Thank you again Bruce for putting this together and to all the fans out there who support Live Music and the Blues.
Next year it is August 7, 8 & 9, 2009. You might just need to put this date on your calendar now and check out http://heritagemusicfest.com/ often.
Will E. Clopein's Fork Art
Another thing worth checking out any time of year is Will E. Clopein's Fork Art: http://www.forkman.net/ Will always attends this festival and has done many fine pieces of jewelry and artwork for me.
Will and his lovely wife Toby...
Thanx for the great friendship
Peace, Love, and Blues,
Steve
Crossroads Guitar Fest 2007
Was unbelievable!!
Bill Murray MCing followed by an incredible lineup. My hat is off to Eric Clapton and his support of musicians all around him.
So many great reviews have already been written. It was a great pleasure to see so many wonderful musicians in one place. New to me for a live performance were Jeff Beck, Doyle Bramhall II, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Alison Krayss, Los Lobos, John Mayer, John McLaughlin, Willie Nelson, Robert Randolph, Jimmie Vaughn, Johnny Winter, and Steve Winwood. So I managed to add so many great artists to my list of "seen live."
When attending a show like this, one expects a great show; and we certainly got it. The performers were right on and tight. But in this show there was one great surprise: Tal Wilkenfeld. She played bass for Jeff Beck and blew the crowd away. I could not believe my ears and eyes. She is phenominal and certainly was the icing on the cake. You can check her out at MySpace or on her own site www.talwilkenfeld.com/Tal.html . I already bought her CD and will be watching for her again. All I can say is WOW.
Thank you Eric and all the great artists that made the Crossroads Fest sooo fabulous!!!
Peace, Love, and Blues
Steve
It's all about the Blues . But in my spare time I also enjoy Jazz, Rock, Alternative, Electronica, New Age, Folk, and ... you name it. I love music. There is a time and place for most all of it.
Here are some links worth checking out
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..Deborah Henson-Conant
You likely have not seen Blues like this before
"Way You Are Blues" by Deborah Henson-Conant
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Ruby James
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Ana Popovic
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Tom Rush
Remember (you've gotta hear this one)
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Movies:
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2004 Crossroads...
Well, if you can call it a movie. It is the best darn DVD out there, almost. My only criticism is there is only one female guitarist on it as I recall, and she was playing backup.
2007 Crossroads... Eric: You have redeemed yourself
Not that Eric needs to really redeem himself. He has given so much to so many in the music community. My hat is off to him and his many accomplishments.
The 2007 Crossroads Fest did much better with female artists: Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Tal Wilkenfeld, and Alison Krauss just to name the ones that jump out at me. And the DVD is AWESOME... A must see.
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Television:
Yup, I have one. Don't get to it much unless it has a music DVD in it.
Heroes:
11/21/2006 - Robert Jr Lockwood.Another great loss to the Blues world. I will miss him. It was an awesome pleasure to meet him and hear him perform in Wheeling, WV a couple years ago.
