9TH
ANNUAL VENTURA COUNTY BLUES FESTIVAL/SATURDAY, APRIL 26 FEATURING THE
BEST ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP TO DATE; THIS YEAR'S NEW ATTRACTIONS TO
INCLUDE A VERY SPECIAL TICKETED V.I.P. AREA
(MOORPARK, CALIF) - The 9th Annual Ventura County Blues Festival on Saturday, April 26, 2014 returns to Moorpark College and features its best lineup to date with performances by Fabulous Thunderbirds front man, Kim Wilson's Blues All-Stars; premier Southern California-based record label Delta Groove Records' own Delta Groove All-Star Blues Revue featuring Sugaray Rayford with Kid Ramos and friends; soulful vocalist extraordinaire, Sista Monica Parker; festival favorites making a command return appearance, Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers; the stellar band fronted by VCBS President, Michael John and The Bottom Line and friends, including BMA nominee, vocalist Karen Lovely; and VCBS Band Challenge winner, Lightnin' Willie. Returning as Celebrity Emcee is noted actor-musician, Mickey Jones
(Trini Lopez, Bob Dylan, The First Edition; and currently a regular on
FX hit TV series, "Justified"). Food and craft vendors, guitar giveaway,
and, for the first time, a Ticketed V.I.P. area. Benefits the American Diabetes Association
and community charities. Presale General Admission tickets $20. in
advance, $30. at the gate; V.I.P. tickets $100. (limited quantity
available). More information at www.venturacountyblues.com.
"We're
very excited about the 2014 festival,” says festival founder/Ventura
County Blues Society President, Michael John. "This event opens many
doors for service clubs in Ventura County and supports Moorpark College.
New this year we have a Ticketed V.I.P area with private shade,
restrooms and a bar. (The V.I.P. area) also includes a festival t-shirt,
poster, two drink tickets, complimentary water and early entrance into
the festival. We have had so many people ask us to do this, and your
wish is our command.” Past
festivals have entertained more than 4,000 people with acts like Blues
Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Musselwhite, and last year, special guest
George Thorogood.
About The 9th Annual Ventura County Blues Festival Headliners
Kim Wilson's Blues All-Stars:
Kim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best
known as the lead vocalist and front man for The Fabulous Thunderbirds
on two hit songs of the 1980s; “Tuff Enuff”, and “Wrap It Up.” Wilson
was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1951, but grew up in Goleta,
California, where he sometimes went by the stage name of “Goleta Slim.”
He started with the blues in the late 1960s and was tutored by people
like Muddy Waters, Jimmie Rogers, Eddie Taylor, Albert Collins, George
“Harmonica” Smith, Luther Tucker and Pee Wee Crayton and was influenced
by harmonica players like Little Walter, James Cotton, Big Walter
Horton, Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester. Before he moved to Austin, Texas in
1974, he was the leader of the band Aces, Straights and Shuffles in
Minneapolis, Minnesota; this band released one single. In Austin he
formed The Fabulous Thunderbirds with guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, and they
became the house band at the blues club, Antone’s, owned by Clifford
Antone. Muddy Waters called Wilson, “The greatest harmonica player since
Little Walter”. Wilson continues to perform up to 300 concert dates per
year at blues music festivals and clubs all over the world, both as
leader of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and with the Kim Wilson Blues
All-stars. His powerful style of blues harp playing has been described
as “loaded with the textures of a full-blown horn section.” https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kim-Wilsons-Blues-All-Stars/272734382786980.
Delta Groove All Star Revue Featuring Sugaray Rayford & Friends:
When Sugaray belts out a song, you not only hear it, you feel it. The
excitement in the room is palpable when he takes the stage; he is a
superb vocalist and entertainer. His dynamic voice is large just like
the man. With his old school vocal style, echoes of Muddy Waters, Otis
Redding and Teddy Pendergrass can be heard. At 6’5” he is a big man, but
he moves with grace and energy. His fluid dance steps will remind you
of the Legendary James Brown. After moving to Los Angeles several years
ago, Sugaray was asked to host a blues jam at Cozy’s in Sherman Oaks. It
is through this venue that Sugaray met and played with innumerable
world-class musicians. Suga’s desire to explore and expand his musical
vision has been nourished by these musicians while his solo career has
flourished in L.A. Sugaray has fronted his own band since 2010, called
the Sugaray Rayford Band made up of world-class musicians including
Ralph Carter on bass who is also his writing partner, Gino Matteo on
guitar, Leo Dombecki on keyboards, Lavelle Jones on drums, Allan Walker
on Sax, and Gary Bivona on trumpet. But the Sugaray Rayford Band is only
one of his projects. As of May 2011, Sugaray became one of the lead
vocalists for the Mannish Boys, who are under Delta Groove management.
This international act performs 6-8 times a year. He sang lead vocals on
9 songs on Double Dynamite the Mannish Boys latest CD that won Best
Traditional Blues Album in May 2013 at the Blues Music Awards. His first
solo CD Blind Alley was a self-release in 2010, which garnered critical
acclaim. His second solo CD Dangerous, was just released last September
under the Delta Groove label, debuting at # 2 on Blues Debut Chart and
#6 on the Roots Music Chart. http://www.deltagrooveproductions.com/newspost/ventura-county-blues-fest/.
Sista Monica Parker:
She’s Blues! She’s Soul! She’s Gospel! and She ROCKS!Sista Monica
Parker ‘The Blues Lioness’ is an award-winning singer/songwriter and
performer. Her eleventh CD release “Living In the Danger Zone” recently
earned a 2012 and 2013 BMA nomination for “Best Soul Blues Female
Artist of the Year” by the Blues Foundation. Since then, she has
traveled and toured worldwide and has been recognized for her
captivating stage presence and rich contralto vocal power. Born in Gary,
Indiana, Monica developed her vocal chops between Chicago and Detroit
singing in church choirs and listening to singers on the city streets.
Since those days she has stormed through the music scene traveling and
performing major festivals and concerts venues in countries such as
Italy, France, Holland, Greece, Canada, Norway, Mexico, and Spain. Sista
Monica is dynamic string of melodies from up tempo Chicago style blues,
heartfelt soulful ballads to feel good gospel – She brings her roots
and connects with the audience with her own unique charisma. She sings,
coos, belts, croons, and shouts according to her hearts delight and her
fan’s amazement. She’s considered to be one of the best soul blues
female performers in the country. Come see, hear and enjoy Sista Monica. http://www.sistamonica.com/.
Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers: Whether
Jimmy Thackery headlines a festival in South Dakota or jams for hours
in one of numerous blues bars that dot the musical landscape, he’ll
always unleash an intense volley of rockin’ blues guitar guaranteed to
leave crowds emotionally spent. His double edged guitar dynamics allow
him to fire off tracer missiles, bend a note so it will fit under a
limbo bar, run off dive bomber riffs, and find space within the
trembling of one stinging note. “I put all my senses on hold and find
the zone and follow what’s inside. There’s an electricity from your mind
to your heart to your fingers. You just try and remember to breathe.”
He’s one of the few blues guitarists who learned first hand from the
masters of the blues, not off a blues record or DVD. Though most
associate Jimmy with his 15 years as the co-founder of the Nighthawks,
he ended his time with them in 1987. Since then, Jimmy has been on the
road as a solo musician for 15 years doing nearly 300 shows a year
proving each night that he is still the guitar powerhouse in the blues.
Thackery has lived the life of a true road warrior; he’s absorbed the
artistic lessons of life and filtered them into his guitar playing and
song writing. To get where he is today, Jimmy has journeyed a highway of
life filled with a series of twists and turns. He met all the right
people and they have had a permanent influence on him.
It was Thackery’s time on stage with Muddy Waters that is branded deep
within his musical soul. “Muddy was one of those guys who was constantly
encouraging. He never told you what to do, but he always told you what
you were doing wrong. He never minced words about that." http://www.jimmythackery.com/.
Along With Very Special Performances By
Michael John & The Bottom Line And Friends With Karen Lovely: Michael
John, Founder and President of the Ventura County Blues Society, is
also the Founder of the Ventura County Blues Festival and leads his band
The Bottom Line. Since the festival’s inception, Michael John & The
Bottom Line have performed and donated their music which now has become
an annual tradition for the festival kick off. When you combine family
and lifelong friends you get a special musical bond that touches the
hearts and souls of all music lovers alike. The band consists of Michael
John (lead singer, guitar, harmonica), Michael John’s son Mikey Mo
(lead guitar), Steve Nelson (electric, stand-up Bass), Eddie Z (tenor,
alto sax), Jeff Dellisanti (tenor, baritone sax), and Tom “T-Bone”
Broderick (drums, backup vocals). The group attracts people of all ages
with their blend of Swing to more contemporary rocking blues. They have
received national airplay and have won multiple awards including placing
in the top ten bands in the finals for the International Blues
Challenge in Memphis Tennessee. Michael is a past recipient of the All
Access Magazine award for Best Male Vocalist. http://www.michaeljohnandthebottomline.com/. Special guest vocalist Karen Lovely
shot onto the blues scene out of the Pacific Northwest like Stack O'
Lee's .44 placing second at the 2010 International Blues Challenge followed
by three 2011 Blues Music Award Nominations for BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES
FEMALE ARTIST, BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM and BEST SONG for her sophomore release STILL THE RAIN.
Karen is a two time “#1 Pick to Click” artist on XM Radio
Bluesville and has just been selected as the 2014 Featured Blues artist
by KJZZ FM in Los Angeles. Lovely’s records have topped the national
blues and roots charts and made the Top 10 favorite artist list for
dozens of nationally syndicated radio stations.
Known for her passionate, driven performances and always backed by
stellar musicians, this powerhouse vocalist delivers a blistering mix of
contemporary & old school blues. Lovely's standout performances
have garnered awards, critical acclaim and standing ovations at
festivals and venues throughout the US, Canada and Europe. www.karenlovely.com.
Lightnin' Willie: Emerging
from the clubs and bars of the U.S Blues scene, Lightnin’ Willie is an
accomplished and hard-working guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Now
based in Los Angeles, Willie is a seasoned musician who has paid his
dues. With four albums under his belt, this eloquent storyteller has his
own story of time on the road, personal loss, fresh beginnings and an
over-riding love of playing the “Devil’s Music.”
Originally
from Texas, this blues-man’s years of steady gigging have given him as
much polish as his performance. He is tall, with an expressive face,
piercing eyes, and the kind of confident all-American swagger that
allows you to walk up to total strangers on the street and introduce
yourself. Lightnin’ Willie and the Poorboys are by no means destitute.
In fact the musical vein they mine is rich indeed. They steer away from
dry academia and combine a seductive exchange of swinging Blues and
R&B with a hint of Rockabilly. A lively, interactive, face-to-face
approach to their music has had audiences waving their banner throughout
the United States and Europe for over ten years. http://www.lightninwillie.com/.
9th Annual Ventura County Blues Festival Media/Photo Passes Available.
No comments:
Post a Comment