Blue Heart Records artist: Tony Holiday - Porch Sessions Volume 2 - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Porch Sessions Volume 2, from Tony Holiday and it's a great Chicago style blues party. Opening with She's Tuff, Victor Wainwright and his rhythm section really get things rolling with Wainwright on vocal and piano and Holiday on harmonica. With plenty of attitude in presentation and this dynamic duo, this is a strong opener. Willie Buck has the mic on Honey Bee with Rusty Zinn on slide and Kim Wilson on harmonica. Zinn really conjurs Muddy's tone on guitar and Wilson's sound is fat and rich. Excellent! In more of a Delta styling on Recipe for Love Master, Bobby Rush on vocal and Vasti Jackson on guitar really make a great team serving up a heavy helping of blues. Very nice. Going to Court is a real hot number with James Harman on harmonica and Kid Ramos and Landon Stone laying down pure fire on guitar. Lurrie Bell teams up with harpmaster Mark Hummel on a shortened take on Everyday I Have The Blues but not without playing some blistering riffs. Ace guitar man Johnny Burgin and Holiday play Bad Bad Girl with Kid Andersen on bass. With it's 2 step rhythm, this track is a nice change up. Rae Gordon adds a lot of spice on lead vocals on shuffle,  Find Me When The Sun Goes Down complimented by Holiday on harmonica and backed by her own band. Ben Rice does a real nice job on That's How I Learned with his ultrasoulful vocals and deft acoustic steel resonator accompaniment. Very nice. Mark Hummel & Dennis Gruenling do a great duet on Cake Walk a terrific harmonica shuffle. One of my favorites on the release. JD Taylor on harmonica and vocal and his son Alex do a really nice on Family Tree with harmonica/ guitar backing of a great blues vocal. I particularly like the way Alex plucks his guitar accents. Excellent! Wrapping the release is the lush gospel fused Peace Will Come by Memphis based Southern Avenue. To say that this release is packed with goodies would be an understatement. Very strong release.

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16th Annual Blues From The Top Festival, Star-Studded Lineup

16TH ANNUAL BLUES FROM THE TOP FESTIVAL FEATURES STAR-STUDDED LINEUP, 2 DAYS OF BLUES BLISS IN WINTER PARK, COLORADO  Saturday, June 23 & Sunday, June 24 - Music Starts 11am Both Days 2018 Blues Music Awards Winners Southern Avenue (and) Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, North Mississippi All-Stars, Nick Moss Band w/ Dennis Gruenling, Vintage Trouble, Plus More

(WINTER PARK, CO) - If it’s Summertime in Colorado, that can only mean one thing for blues lovers in the know: The 16th Annual Blues from The Top Festival is right around the corner!    Taking place Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24, Blues From The Top is jam-packed with great artists both days: Saturday, June 23 includes performances by, among others, guitar ace Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band; harp great (and 2018 Blues Music Awards "Traditional Blues Male Artist" and "Blues Song" winner), Rick Estrin And The Nightcats; 2018 BMA "Best Emerging Artist Album" winner, Memphis soul/blues band, Southern Avenue. On June 24, the North Mississippi All-Stars; popular L.A.-based guitar-powered R&B band, Vintage Trouble; and Nick Moss Band with harp virtuoso, Dennis Grueling. Hideaway Park, 78820 US Highway 40. Gates open 10am; music from 11am to 6pm (Saturday) and 11:00am to 6pm (Sunday). Currently, General Admission tickets are $35. (one day), $60. (2 days). V.I.P. Experience: $100.00 per day per person, $185. for two days. V.I.P. Seating features Stage Right starting at the Front Row; Daily Buffet; Private Bar with two Complimentary Drinks each day; free water and soft drinks; Shade Tents with tables and chairs; and Private Restrooms. Kids 12 and under, free (when accompanied by an adult). Tickets/info: www.BluesfromtheTop.org. Presented with pride by the Grand County Blues Society.   Expect some diversity of sounds at this year's Blues From The Top. "Until recently, Blues From The Top primarily has been straight-up blues music," explains Maria Chavez, President of the Blues from The Top Festival, in a recent Blues-E-News interview. "However, we realized that if we want the festival to grow and diversify and to also reach a younger audience, we needed to add more blues “roots” music into the mix – indie blues, blues rock, rock and soul. This includes bands such as Honey Island Swamp Band, North Mississippi All-Stars and Vintage Trouble that help break down what “blues” music is. Blues is the seed, creating roots and watching other musical forms grow from these musical blues roots, " adds Chavez. "We also are very prideful of our program Blue Star Connection which provides musical instruments for children with life threatening illness in over 57 hospitals nationally."                                        www.bluesfromthetop.org facebook.com/bluesfromthetop #BFTT #ElevateYourBlues There's no hotter band on the Festival circuit at the moment than Southern Avenue, who took home "Best Emerging Artist Album" at the 2018 BMA in Memphis earlier this month. They play Blues From the Top Saturday, June 23. L.A.-based musical powerhouse Vintage Trouble channel the vitality of their live show into a fresh and urgent take on guitar-powered rhythm & blues. They stage the stage Sunday, June 24 at Blues From The Top 16. 2018 Blues Music Awards "Traditional Blues Male Artist" and "Blues Song" winner), harp great Rick Estrin And The Nightcats, play BFTT on June 23.