Ironing Board Sam and Drink Small perform together for the first time!

Want our Annual Magazine? Sign up now and get it!   Want to know what Music Maker is all about - and what we're up to - with stories, artist news, and more? If you don't currently get mail from us, sign up to receive our Annual Magazine by emailing corinne@musicmaker.org. It's coming out in early October, so you still have time! And if you want several copies to give to your friends to let them know about Music Maker's mission to preserve Roots music and sustain the artists who make it, we'll send you your copies early! Listen:  Drink Small - Drink Blues  Diggin': "Drink Blues" "I wanna say somethin' to y'all. You ain't heard the piedmont blues played right 'til you hear Drink Small." If you're on an ear diet, you can't get more raw and organic than the rough guitar picking of the blues doctor Drink Small. The tune dances up and down the strings and his voice adds a classic counterpoint, making him feel like he's right next to you. (This feeling is compounded if you're listening to it on headphones.) A close listen and you can hear muted "yeah!"s in the background, the signal of someone -- not Drink -- getting way into what's going on. It's easy when the playing is so free and the singing so genuine to be transported to a drink house or a front porch, where the tones of the guitar aren't stripped down to their bare essentials by overwrought digital production and you can't tell the difference between a mistake and an embellishment. There's something about it that makes you feel right at home, even if you're like me and you're discovering this world one song at a time. Drink Small will be sharing the stage with Ironing Board Sam at the Sweet Palmetto Blues Festival in Columbia, SC this weekend. - Whitney Sweet Palmetto Blues - Ironing Board Sam and Drink Small perform together for the first time! Ironing Board Sam and Drink Small will perform together at  Sweet Palmetto Blues at the Richland Fashion Mall this weekend. The two blues artists have more in common than just their South Carolina heritage and unique nicknames - they have both embarked on decades-long music careers that started in their teens, and both have a quirky, distinct view of the world that comes out in their songs. (See "BBQ World," or "Seesaw.") Drink Small called after meeting Sam and let us know he wants to record an album together called "Drink's Jam and Ironing Board Sam." We're not sure when that will be on the schedule - but we do know they're going to make a fabulous pair on the Sweet Palmetto Stage! More info about the event on 9/29 here!   Ironing Board Sam & Sadie Sweitzer daughter of Roots N Blues N BBQ Founder Steve Sweitzer Photo of the Week by Tim Duffy Keep up with Music Maker!      Support Music Maker, and help keep the music alive!     Boo Hanks receives standing ovation at CCD's show! We headed to Raleigh last week to see the Carolina Chocolate Drops in concert. The show was amazing as always, and there was a surprise (to Whitney and I) guest! Boo Hanks took the stage mid-way through the first set to play a song with Dom. Raleigh got to experience a little of what audiences in NYC, Philly, DC and Galax did on the Boo & Dom tour this summer. We were thrilled to see Boo there, and at the end of his song the crowd jumped to their feet, obviously as thrilled as we were. We saw Boo after the show, and he said he loved the crowd - and he wished he'd brought more CDs to sign for them!  - Corinne

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events    9/29 - Ironing Board Sam & Drink Small - Sweet Palmetto Festival, Columbia, SC 10/4 - 10/7 - Deer Clan - Shakori Hills Music Festival, Pittsboro, NC    10/6 - George Higgs - St. Anne's Chapel, Tarboro, NC  10/11 - Pura Fé - 8th Annual Dreamcatcher Awards Gala, Hamilton, Ontario  10/12 - Big Ron Hunter - The Depot, Hillsborough, NC  10/13 - Ironing Board Sam, L.C. Ulmer, Ben Peyton, Drew Young Band - Music Maker Stage, Southern Mississippi Roots Festival, Hattiesburg, MS     10/13 - John Dee Holeman - Richmond Folk Festival, Richmond, VA 10/14 - Ironing Board Sam - Crescent BBQ and Blues Festival, NOLA  10/19-10/21 - Robert Lee Coleman, Ironing Board Sam, Nashid Abdul Khaaliq, Big Ron Hunter, Ardie Dean- Blues at the Crossroads, Salina, KS 10/27- 11/2- Ironing Board Sam, Carolina Chocolate Drops - Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise 11/11 - George Higgs -  Pinecone Music of the Carolinas, NCMoH, Raleigh, NC 11/19 - Lakota John and Kin - American Indian Heritage Festival, NCMo, Raleigh, NC   Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. helps the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain  recognition and meet their day to day needs. We present these musical traditions to the world so American culture will flourish and be preserved for future generations.

Bishopville (My Home Town) - Drink Small

Born January 28, 1933 in Bishopville (Lee County), SC, Drink Small (his real name is South Carolina's last great bluesman. A master of guitar, downhome piano, and basso profundo vocals, Drink Small is the No. 1 blues point of reference for many Carolinians. ***************************************** He made his first recorded appearance in 1956 on Vee Jay Records (same label as Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, et. al.) as a member of The Spiritualaires of Columbia, SC. He later recorded one blues single ("I Love You, Albertha" b/w "Cold Cold Rain") in 1959 for the Sharp Records subsidiary of Savoy. His other releases include platters on Ichiban, Southland, Erwin Music, Mapleshade, and of course his own imprint, Bishopville Records. Known for his over-the-top showmanship, ribald sense of humor, and virtuoso guitarwork, Drink Small is unique in his field...a true American original. ********************************************* Drink Small has played many of the major music festivals in North America, including Chicago Blues Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage, King Biscuit Blues Festival, Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival, Lowcountry Blues Bash, Carolina Downhome Blues Festival, The Border Festival, Smithsonian Folklife Fest, World's Fair etc. ************************************************ At the age of 77 years old, Drink Small is still full of piss & vinegar and ready to play for you.
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