Doc’s Juke Joint

Updated: 8/30/2010

Doc’s Video Pick of the Week: Cedric Watson Live at the Blue Moon Lafayette LA, catch Cedric at the Harmony House in Webster, NY on September 18th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvqh7FLx5z0

Listen to new Interview with Eden Brent on her new release: http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=129300778&m=129342165

REVIEW OF THE CHENANGO BLUES FESITVAL: http://jukejoint.sundayblues.org/archives/1268

8/30/2010: Monday: John McConnell @ Dino BBQ,

Tues: Open Jam w/ Too Tall @ Dino BBQ, Open Jam w/ String Theory (Bluegrass) @ Johnny’s, Teagan Ward & @ Beale St. –South ave,

Wed: Harper (from Australia) @ Dino BBQ, Steve West hosting: Acoustic Open Mic at Muddy Waters Coffee House,  53 Main Street, Geneseo  from 7-10, Grand Canyon Rescue Episode @ Abilene,

Thurs: Tim Herrron Corp. @ Dino BBQ,

Friday: Park Ave. Band @ Dino BBQ, John & Mary (of 10,000 Maniacs) @ Village Gate, Mysterious Blues Band @ Carey Lake, The Electro Kings @ Beale St/Webster, Jim Bolger Band @ Beale St./South Ave., Billy Joe @ Six Pockets, Big T’s House Party @ Smokin’ Joe’s

Sat: Coupe De Villes @ Dino BBQ, Table Top Three @ Beale St. /South Ave.,

Sept. 3, 4th & 5th: Rhythm & Roots Festival, Ninigret Park in Charlestown, R.I. this Labor Day Weekend. http://www.rhythmandroots.com/general/home.php

13TH  ANNUAL RHYTHM & ROOTS FESTIVAL, Sept 3-5 2010

Ninigret Park, 4890A Old Post Rd, Rt 1, Charlestown, RI

Fri: 5:00 pm – 12:00 am; Sat/Sun: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am

Featuring Robert Randolph & the Family Band,  The Texas Tornados,  Geoff Muldaur & the Texas Sheiks,  Marcia Ball, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys,  Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women,  Donna the Buffalo,  CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band,  Johnny Nicholas & the Texas All-Stars, Little Freddie King,  Danny Barnes Trio,  Red Stick Ramblers, Uncle Earl,  Horace Trahan & the New Ossun Express, Jeffery Broussard & Creole Cowboys,  Bonerama,  Planet Zydeco,  Magnolia,  Occidental Gypsy Jazz Quartet,

Ed Poullard & Preston Frank

Sept 5th: Deke Dickerson @ The Sportsmen’s Tavern http://www.sportsmenstavern.net/party.html

Sept. 8th: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women w/ Hi-Risers opening @ Montage http://www.rochesterevents.com/news#dave-alvin-date-announced ** Listen for Ticket Giveaways for this., The Nighthawks @ Dino BBQ

Sept. 9th: The Rhythm Devils @ Water Street Music Hall, Chris Knight @ Sportsmen’s Tavern,

Sept. 10th: Niagara Falls Blues Festival (Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY USA: Lineup: Billy’s Blues Band with a host of special guests, including Dr. Z, Rip & the Bandogs, The Nighthawks., www.niagarafallsbluesfest.com for more information, Mark Stuart & Stacey Earle @ Sportsman’s Tavern

Sept 11th: Niagara Falls Blues Festival: (Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY USA: Lineup: Speedy Parker Blues Band, The Loco-Motives,  Doubletake Blues Band, and the Jony James Blues Band, Shrimp Daddy and the Sharpshooters, Richard Ray Farrell, with Steve Guyger.

Eddie “House Rockin” Shaw and the Wolf Gang and Hubert Sumlin, former members of Howlin Wolf’s Band, Matt “Guitar” Murphy of Blues Brothers fame, and from Muddy Waters Band, Bob Margolin and two of the last great Delta bluesmen still performing, Willie “Big Eye” Smith and the legendary PINETOP Perkins @ (Niagara Falls, NY), www.niagarafallsbluesfest.com for more information, Mark Hummel & the Blues Suvivors w/Steve Freund, Magic Dick(J. Giels Band), Billy Branch, James Harman @ the Tralf (same day in Buffalo).

Sept. 14th: Hank Williams III & Assjack @ Water Street Music Hall, JOHN FOGERTY @ Auditorium Theater at 8PM

September 16th: Evening of Wine and Jazz 2010, presented by Greece Community Broadcasting Inc. This event is a gala fundraiser to benefit Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM. The event will take place Thursday, September 16 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. in the Waterside room at Pier 45 – located at the Port of Rochester in Charlotte. www.jazz901.org, Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social

w/ Moneybrother @ Water Street Music Hall

Sept. 17th: Guy Davis @ Huntington Hills (Irondequoit) email: ricmon31@aol.com,

Sat: Sept. 18th: Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole @ Harmony House (Webster) *** Listen for Giveaways!!!!!!!

Sept. 21st: Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

Sept. 23rd: John Hiatt @ State Theatre (Ithaca, NY)

Sept. 25th: Eilen Jewell @ German House, The Strawbs @ Lovin’ Cup

Sun. 9/26 Gurf Morlix @ Sportsman’s Tavern (Buffalo), Ramblin’ Jack Elliott @ Bethel Woods

Oct 1st: The Ginn Sisters w/ the Fred Eagelsmith Band & The Stone Country Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

Oct. 2nd: Doug MacCleod @ Harmony House (Webster)

Sun. 10/3 Professor Louie & The Crowmatix @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct 5th: Maria Muldaur @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct: 6th Joanne Shaw Taylor @ Dino BBQ

Fri. 10/8 Dallas Wayne & The Stone Country Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct. 16th: Lil’ Pookie and Zydeco Sensation @ Harmony House (Webster)

Oct 20: Marshall Crenshaw  @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

Oct. 21: 40 Rod Lightning @ Star Alley Park (next to Lux)

October 23rd: Joan Baez @ Auditorium Theatre, The Bruce Katz Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

Nov. 7th: Arlo Guthrie w/ the Burns Sisters @ Harro East Ballroom

Nov. 12th: Leon Redbone @ Bethel Woods, The Posies and Brendan Benson

with Aqueduct @ Club @Water Street Music Hall

Nov. 16th: Joe Bonamassa @ Auditorium Theatre (Rochester)

Wed. 11/17 Asleep at The Wheel @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Nov. 18th B.B. King @ Shea’s Buffalo, Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band @ the Tralf (Buffalo),

Nov. 19th: Donna the Buffalo @ The Tralf (Buffalo)

Nov. 20th: Lil Anne & Hot Cayenne @ Harmony House (Webster)

Dec. 1: Debbie Davies @ Dino BBQ

Dec. 12th: The Pine Leaf Boys @ Harmony House, Chip Taylor &  Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

January 8, 2011 – Eden Brent @ Otesaga Hotel (Cooperstown, NY)

“Doc’s Juke Joint” Sunday Nights 7-10pm on WGMC

Greg “Doc” Lefebre Jazz 90.1 FM www.Jazz901.org

Doc’s Juke Joint August Ads 2010 – Living Blues Magazine & Roots Report

1. John Nemeth/Name The Day!/Blind Pig
   1. Rob Stone/Back Around Here/Earwig
   2. Bob Corritore and Friends/Harmonica Blues/Delta Groove
   3. Charlie Musselwhite/The Well/Alligator Records
   4. Albert Castiglia/Keeping On/Blues Leaf
   5. The Steve Wiggins Band/Precious Cargo/Independent
   6. Piano Red/The Lost Atlanta Tapes/Landslide Records
   7. John Lee Hooker Jr./Live in Istanbul Turkey/Steppin Stone
   8. Mitch Kashmar & the Pontiax/100 Miles to Go/Delta Groove
   9. Dr. John/Tribal/429 Records
   10. Monkey Junk/Tiger In Your Tank/Beefy Productions
   11. Davis Coen/Jukebox Classic/Soundview
   12. Broken Arrow Blues Band/Good Times/Independent
   13. JJ Grey & Mofro/Georgia Warhorse/Alligator Records
   14. Marc Benno and the Nightcrawlers/Crawlin/Blue Skunk Music
   15. James Day/Firecracker/Neon Blue Records
   16. Steve Grills /After Hours/Independent
   17. Pinetop Perkins & Wille Big Eyes Smith/Joined At the Hip/Telarc Blues
   18. Chris James & Patrick Rynn/Gonna Boogie Anyway/Earwig
   19. Mitch Woods/Gumbo Blues/Club 88
   20. Travis Moonchild Haddix/A Dozen Times/Benevolent Blues
   21. Alabama Mike/Tailor Made Blues/JukeHouse Records
   22. Latvian Blues Band/Unreal/BlueSkunk Music
   23. T-Model Ford/The Ladies Man/Alive Natural Sounds
   24. JW Jones/Midnight Memphis Sun/Ruf Records

Roots Only:

Oli Brown/Heads I Win Tails You Lose/Ruf Records

Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue/Set Two/Independent

Robert Cray Band/Cookin’ In Mobile/Nozzle Records-Vanguard

Gov’t Mule/Mulennium/Evil Teen

The Derek Trucks Band/Roadsongs/Sony

Chris Beard/Who I Am & What I Do /Electo Glide Records

Cindy Bullens/Howling Trains and Barking Dogs/MC Records

Big Daddy-O/Used Blues/Rabadash

Chatham County Line/ Wildwood/Yep Roc

Los Lobos/ Tin Can Trust /Shout Factory

Dierks Bentley /Up On The Ridge/Capitol

Honey Island Swamp Band/Good To You/Independent

Marty Stuart/Ghost Train (The Studio B Sessions)/Sugar Hill

Eric Gales/Relentless/ShrapnelRecords

Rick Derringer/The Three Kings of the Blues/Blues Bureau International

Defibulators/Corn Money/City Salvage Records  ** New

Various Artists/This Is the Blues Volume Three/Blue Storm Music

LeVee Town/Levee Town/Independent

David Brinston/Beat It Up/Ecko Records

The Steve Miller Band/Bingo!/Road Runner Records

Hank III/Moonshiner’s Life/Rebel Within/Curb

*** Important Disclaimer: Doc’s Juke Joint & Jazz 90.1FM are not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained within this newsletter. Note shows often cancel. Please consult with the festival, club or other venue to make sure performances are still happening.

Make sure you tell them you heard about it on

“Doc’s Juke Joint” Sunday Nights 7-10pm on Jazz 90.1 FM.

Listen Live!!! www.Jazz901.org

Website for the show: http://jukejoint.sundayblues.org/

5 HOURS OF BLUES ON SUNDAY NIGHTS – Starting with Big Road Blues from 5-7pm. http://sundayblues.org

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Doc’s Juke Joint 7pm Hour

Artist/Song/Album Title/Record Label

Little Walter/Juke/Greatest Hits/Chess

Walter “Wolfman” Washington/I’m Back/Doin’ The Funky Thing/Zoho Records  * five years since Katrina

Eric Lindell/It’s A Pitty/Low on Cash, Rich In Love/Alligator ** Look for a new release on his website.

Anders Osborne & Big Chief Monk Boudreaux/Summertime In New Orleans/Bury the Hatchet/Shanachie

Alabama Mike/Tailor Made/Tailor Made Blues/JukeHouse Records  ***NEW from the West Coast Singer

Latvian Blues Band/No More Doggin’ (Roscoe Gordon)/Unreal/Blue Skunk Music  * a band of blues musicians from Latvia

JW Jones/Kissin’ In Memphis/Midnight Memphis Sun/Ruf Records  **NEW from Guitarist/vocalist

Oli Brown/Keeping My Options Open/Head I Win Tails You Lose/Ruf Records ***NEW from Guitarist/vocalist

T-Model Ford/Two Trains/The Ladies Man/Alive Natural Sounds **New from Blues legend in his 80′s that never picked up a guitar until he was in his 50′s.  Interviews and new versions of old classics from Guitarist/vocalist T-Model Ford.

Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue/Let The Teardrops Fall/Set Two  **New release from New Orleans’ hottest country act.  Feel the routes here and enjoy the great vocals of Vanessa Niemann aka Gal Holiday.

The Nighthawks/Where Do You Go?/American Landscape/Powerhouse Records ** at the Dino BBQ in Rochester on Sept. 8th and headlining the Friday night lineup of the Niagara Falls Blues Festival on September 10th.

8pm Hour

Robert Cray/Sitting On Top Of the World/Cookin’ In Mobile/Nozzle Records-Vanguard **NEW LIVE 2 CD/DVD Set

Gov’t Mule/When the Blues Comes Knockin’ (with blues legend Little Milton)/Mulennium  **New release, originally recorded on New Years Eve 1999 in Atlanta, GA.  Three disc set.  Little Milton on all of Disc 2.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers/Jefferson Jericho Blues/Mojo  * New release

The Derek Trucks Band/Down In the Flood/Roadsongs/Sony  * New Two-Disc Live Set

Travis “Moonchld” Haddix/Down Home Blues/A Dozen Times/Benevolent Blues **GREAT NEW LIVE CD

Billy Flynn/Talk About It/Blues Drive  *** instrumental under our Juke Joint Music Calendar, get on the email list for your copy.

The Daddy Mack Blues Band/Blues Highway/Bluesfinger/Inside Sounds *NEW Blues from Memphis, TN

Johnny Moeller/BlooGaLoo/BlooGaloo/Severn Records  ** currently on tour as lead guitarist with the Fabulous Thunderbirds.  Solo record, instrumental title track.

Karen Lovely/Cold Man Cold/Still The Rain/PrettyPear Records   – latest from vocalist Karen Lovely

Rob Stone/No Strings Attached/Back Around Here/Earwig Records  *great Chicago Blues – harp & vocalist.

Steve Grills/Look Whatcha Done (featuring Ernest Lane on the keyboards)/After Hours/Independent  Steve Grills.com

Mark Hummel/Roller Coaster/Retro-active/Electro-Fi Records ***in Buffalo at the Tralf on Sept. 11th.  with lots of blues guest stars.

Mississippi Heat/Daggers & Spears/Let’s Live It Up!/Delmark

Harper/You KnoWhat You Got/Stand Together/Blind Pig** at the Dino BBQ this Wed. night

Steve Guyger & T. Leino Band/Oh Baby/Keep It Moving/Harp-O-Phone Records (import) *Steve will be at the Niagara Falls Blues Festival

Magic Slim and the Teardrops/Do You Mean It?/Raising the Bar/Blind Pig

Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith/Cut That Out (Sonny Boy Williamson)/Joined at the Hip  **catch them at the Niagara Falls Blues Festival on Sept. 11th in Niagara Falls, NY.

Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women/Marie Marie/Dave Alvin and the Guilty Woman/Yep Roc **at the Montage Grill on Sept. 8th with the Hi-Risers Opening

Willie Buck/She’s All Right/The Life I Love/Delmark  **reissue

Guy Davis/Sweetheart Like You (Bob Dylan)/Sweetheart Like You/Red House Records ** in Irondequoit on Sept. 17th.

Hank III/Moonshiner’s Life/Rebel Within/Curb  *** Hank III will be at the Water Street Music Hall on Sept. 14th.

Doug MacLeod/The Addition To Blues/The Utrecht Sessions/Black & Tan Records *** at the Harmony House on October 2nd.

Thank you for listening to Doc’s Juke Joint, check us out on Facebook.

Marcia Ball

It’s the third Friday of August which means one thing: time to make the three hour drive to Norwich, NY for the annual Chenango Blues Festival.  After five or six years of taking different routes, Google maps produced yet another way for myself and the Rochester, NY crew to head down to our favorite blues festival in New York State.  This year it was off the New York State Thruway at the Canastota/Oneida exit.  We were not disappointed by the nice ride down Rt. 46 going by upstate institutions like Colgate University and splitting right through the dairy farm rich area of Central NY. Before we knew it we were in Norwich, NY pulling into the much improved Super 8.

Food is always important when you are on the road and experience lends itself to knowing where the good spots are.  A family favorite has always been Pasquale’s Pizza.  Right in the heart of downtown Norwich you’ll find this great New York City style pizzeria.  The food there goes well beyond just pizza and the Italian dishes are not only tasty but very reasonably priced. I was in luck for Friday meant manicotti was on the special menu.  More than a meal for just $6.99, and it included homemade Italian bread and a salad.  On our way out of the restaurant we even found out that Pasquale’s would be more than happy to deliver one of their special pies right to the Chenango County Fairgrounds where the festival is held each year.

John Nemeth

Friday night is the kick off of the 18th annual Chenango Blues Fest and in true Chenango style it is a free night of music.  A beautiful day lent itself to a cool but rain free night.  The crowd was in great numbers as Syracuse favorite Los Blancos had the honor of opening this year’s festival.  After a well received set which got the crowd in the mood, it was time to give way to the headliner of the evening, the Honey Island Swamp Band. Honey Island turned the Chenango tent into a Louisiana Friday night with their funky grooves and well timed solos.  Bass player, Sam Price, dressed the part of a cajun man in barefeet and overalls with no shirt underneath.  Besides dressing the part, Price laid down the groove which gave the Norwich crowd plenty to dance to and turned the tent into Norwich’s version of New Orleans’ Maple Leaf club.  I picked up the lastest release by Honey Island,Good To You, on their own Underwater/Audio label in a partnership with Threadhead Records.  During the show they featured many tracks off this new release including: Chocolate Cake, Country Girl, 300 Pounds and the Eric Lindell co-written, Josephine.  I highly recommend this band and their new release.

Saturday at noon is when the Chenango County Fairgrounds reawakens for the 18th annual event.  Saturday is also the last day of the festival, since it is the main and only paid day of the festival.  It’s hard to believe that this festival still prices out at just $15 per ticket in advance and $20 the day of the show.  Besides the ticket prices being incredibly reasonable, the price for food and drink is just as easy on the wallet.

Hailing from Grand Rapids, MI, the Asamu Johnson Project opened to a growing Chenango crowd.  Featuring Asamu Johnson on bass and lead vocals, other band members included Michael & Mike Howe on guitar and Deshawn Wilkerson on drums.  The Michigan blues combo worked their way through their independent release, Blues You Can Use.

Next up on the main stage was the most anticipated act of the day, West Coast soul/blues singer and harp player John Nemeth.  With television apprearances on the show “Memphis Beat” and a hot new release, John has been tearing up the blues world. Nemeth’s latest disc is Name The Day! (Blind Pig Records).  Many critics including this one already have Nemeth’s new CD as one of the best of 2010.  Simply backed by guitar, bass and drums John tore up and woke up the Norwich crowd.  Nemeth’s vocals were in true form as we worked his way through his latest release and blues classics like Junior Wells “Come On In This House.”  It was a shame that John didn’t have a full horn section behind him, but his set didn’t lack as he turned in one of the best sets of this year’s festival.

Dom Flemons

Dom Flemons was a perfect pick to open the tent stage at Chenango.  The tent stage at Chenango alternates with the main stage, so you never have to make choices on who you want to see.  The festival also broadcasts the tent stage sound over the main stage PA so those who want to stay put can kick back and listen or visit the many food and craft vendors that encircle the fairgrounds.

Dom Flemons normally does not perform solo.  This was a rare appearance away from his normal gig with the up- and-coming power trio the Caroline Chocolate Drops.  Dom alternated between banjo and guitar and put on a great show as he took the tent stage crowd through some history of the blues.  One highlight of his set included putting down the string instruments and playing the bones (actual cow bones).  It’s good to know that there are young guys like Flemons that are going to keep the history of the blues going and reaching audiences worldwide.  Dom does have a few solo albums on the MusicMaker label.  Besides his performance on the tent stage, Dom also took part in the Friday tradition of answering questions and playing for the blues workshop in town prior to Friday night’s concert.

Traffic and travel issues delayed Guitar Shorty so the festival producers decided to have back to back tent stage performers.  “The Georgia Songbird,” EG Kight took the tent stage next with just her guitar.  EG left her band back home and took full opportunity of her solo shot in front of a crowd of blues lovers.   Highlights of her set included her requesting a pair of “blues glasses” from the audience so she could cover one of her favorite blues songs.  After a lady from the audience brought EG a pair of glasses, EG broke into the Willie Dixon classic, “Evil”, which Kight not only acknowledged as Howlin’ Wolf”s but also her favorite version by Koko Taylor.   EG also played “It’s Hot In Here” the title track off her latest release on M.C. Records which she admitted she wrote during a tour stop in Rochester, NY.  EG worked her way through recorded material and some unreleased numbers.  She also revealed that she had hoped she would be able to do a duet with John Nemeth on her soon to be recorded next CD.

Kight’s rendition of Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads” got the tent going as well as the appearance of special guest, Watermelon Slim on vocals and harp. EG and Watermelon had never played together before but found common ground playing the Johnny Cash classic Folsom Prison Blues.  Kight had revealed that at a very young age she had played this song in school for her teacher and her classmates.  The collaboration took to greater and very special heights when they performed the John Prine classic Angel from Montgomery.

It was time to get Watermelon Slim back over to the main stage for his own performance.  Backstage accounts told of Slim playing his harp the entire golf cart ride from the tent to the main stage so the music never stopped.  Watermelon Slim and the Workers stayed away from the country songs on his last two releases and stuck to the hard driven’ former truckers-blues highway-rockers of his first few records.  Alternating between harp and his own version of the pedal steel guitar, Slim entertained the now full Chenango infield.

Watermelon Slim

Highlights of Slim’s set included: “Hard Times” and “Ash Tray” off his self entitled debut release of 2006, Watermelon Slim and the Workers.  “Truck Drivin’ Man” complete with CB radio shout outs and the sounds of  the horn off his old Freightliner captured the blues crowd into the world that Slim had before the blues.  The most emotional part of Slim’s set was when he had the capacity crowd stand and pay tribute to all of our fighting men and women with an inspiring version of Taps.  Slim followed this up with a simple but true comment, being a veteran of Vietnam himself, “Somebody’s got to do it.”  After some health problems, it is great to see that Watermelon Slim is still traveling the globe bringing his message and version of the blues to so many people.

John Hammond was supposed to take the tent stage next, but like the 17 years prior, the Larsen’s and their volunteer crew that put on this event, always make great musical decisions.  Not to take anything away from Hammond but we lost him from the bill and doubled our pleasure with the insertion of Paul Rishell and Annie Raines.   Rishell and Raines have been a fixture on the blues scene for over seventeen years.  Their latest live CD which has also been released as a DVD, A Night In Woodstock, came to life in front of the tent stage crowd.   Full of blues history, the blues duo keeps the music simple with Paul on guitar and Annie on the harp.  Annie could easily be mistaken for the girl next door until she starts playing her harp or sings the blues.  Songs from the likes of Scrapper Blackwell, Blind Boy Fuller, Tommy Johnson and Bessie Smith reminded the crowd of old but not forgotten blues songs of the past.

Guitar Shorty’s caravan finally made it to Norwich and it was time for the electric blues sounds to once again hit the main stage.  Born in Houston and raised in Florida, Guitar Shorty is a living legend of the blues.  When Shorty was just 16 he hit the road with Ray Charles and by the time he was 17 he was working with Willie Dixon recording on the Cobra label.  Joining up with Guitar Slim and later influencing the late guitar legend Jimi Hendrix round out the impressive Bio of Guitar Shorty.  The days of back flips might be behind Shorty but he still knows how to entertain a crowd.  His set included a 15-20 minute jam and crowd walk where Shorty greeted and played close up for anyone who wanted to see him.  Shorty also played his new blues classic – “Please Mr. President” – off his recently released Alligator Records CD,  Bare Knuckles.  In this song Shorty pleads with the President to send some of that government stimulus money his way.  Shorty finished his set with an impressive ten minute plus version of Hendrix’s “Hey Joe.”

The commitment to non-stop music at Chenango led to a quick scramble and an artist filling the void on the tent stage as the main stage prepared for its return headliner from just a few years before.  I apologize for not getting the name of the artist on the tent stage and don’t want anyone to read this thinking that Chenango often repeats acts or headliners. To take a look at the performers of the past at this festival is like looking at a Who’s Who of the Blues.  It is rare that this festival repeats acts within a time period shorter than 5 years or more.

Guitar Shorty

No one was complaining  when Chenango announced that Marcia Ball was returning to headline this year’s festival.  With an Austin meets Louisiana sound that will not let you sit down, Marcia and her bandmates rocked the Chenango faithful.  Nine plus hours of great music, food and drink had tired many of the Norwich crowd but those who stayed were entertained by one of the best going blues acts for well over 30 years.  A special treat was the addition of “Mighty” Mike Schermer on lead guitar.  Mighty Mike, a well know West Coast sideman, was making his rounds with Marcia on this tour and sounded better than ever.  His presence seemed to add an extra bounce to Marcia and her long time touring band.  One of the best releases of  a few years back was Mighty Mike Schermer’s – Right Hand Man, Vol. 1, featuring: Elvin Bishop, Marcia Ball, Howard Tate and Maria Muldaur.  Marcia cut right through her greatest hits and included songs off her latest studio release, Peace, Love & BBQ on Alligator Records.

Ten plus hours of music and time to hit the sack or check out Asamu Johnson and maybe some special guests down at the local gin mill.  The Chenango experience is circled on my calendar each year, maybe its time to circle it on yours.

Greg “Doc” Lefebre

Blues Writer, Host of Doc’s Juke Joint,

Sunday Nights from 7-10pm EST on Jazz 90.1.

Updated: 8/23/2010

Doc’s Video Pick of the Week: Cousin Joe – classic stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=184bJoYoir4

8/23/2010: Monday: The Coupe De’ Villes show  at The Greece Public Library HAS BEEN CANCELED, Greg Townson @ Dino BBQ,

Tues: Bobbie Henrie & the Goners @ Dino BBQ, Open Jam w/ String Theory (Bluegrass) @ Johnny’s, Teagan Ward & @ Beale St. –South ave,

Wed: Kerry Cannon @ Dino BBQ, Steve West hosting: Acoustic Open Mic at Muddy Waters Coffee House,  53 Main Street, Geneseo  from 7-10, Grand Canyon Rescue Episode @ Abilene, Bryan Lee @ The Hicky Tavern, 96 West Main Steet, Allegany New York 14706

Read more: http://events.myspace.com/Event/6201851/Bryan-Lee#ixzz0uVreVidH

Thurs: Dirty Bourbon Blues Band @ Dino BBQ, Chris Beard (CD Release Party) @ Water Street Music Hall (The Club), George Jones @ Turning Stone Casino, Carolyn Mark, Neko Case’s partner in the duo the Corn Sisters @ Abilene

Friday: Turnip Stampede @ Dino BBQ, Airplay Vaudeville Revue @ Village Gate, Merle Haggard opening for Brooks and Dunn @ Darien Lake, Angelo Rose & Walri @ Abilene

Sat: JOE BEARD @ Dino BBQ, Krypton 88 @ Abilene

Aug. 26-29th: Pickin’ In the Pasture – Lodi, NY get your Bluegrass On! http://www.pickininthepasture.com/

August 27,28 & 29th 2010.The 2nd Annual Vermont Blues Festival, Mount Snow, VT Info @ http://vermontbluesfest.com/

Just 5 ½ Hour Drive from Rochester, NY Mount Snow Resort

39 Mount Snow Road

West Dover, Vermont 05356

Aug. 28th: Savoy Brown @ Ulrich Civic Centre (Lockport, NY), BRYAN LEE @ DOUBLE D’S QUEEN CITY GRILL, 1051 Sheridan Dr. Tonawanda, NY 14150, Tom Petty & CSN @ Darien Lake, Loretta Lynn @ Turning Stone Casino

Aug. 29th: Green Harbor Roots and Blues Festival w/ Chubby Carrier, Los Fabulocos & More, Marshfield, MA http://www.rhythmroomrecords.com/PDF/2010MusicFestivals-Final.pdf

Aug. 31st: CSN @ Bethel Woods (original Woodstock site).

Sept. 1st: Harper @ Dino BBQ

Sept. 3, 4th & 5th: Rhythm & Roots Festival, Ninigret Park in Charlestown, R.I. this Labor Day Weekend. http://www.rhythmandroots.com/general/home.php

13TH  ANNUAL RHYTHM & ROOTS FESTIVAL, Sept 3-5 2010

Ninigret Park, 4890A Old Post Rd, Rt 1, Charlestown, RI

Fri: 5:00 pm – 12:00 am; Sat/Sun: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am

Featuring Robert Randolph & the Family Band,  The Texas Tornados,  Geoff Muldaur & the Texas Sheiks,  Marcia Ball, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys,  Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women,  Donna the Buffalo,  CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band,  Johnny Nicholas & the Texas All-Stars, Little Freddie King,  Danny Barnes Trio,  Red Stick Ramblers, Uncle Earl,  Horace Trahan & the New Ossun Express, Jeffery Broussard & Creole Cowboys,  Bonerama,  Planet Zydeco,  Magnolia,  Occidental Gypsy Jazz Quartet,

Ed Poullard & Preston Frank

Sept 3: John & Mary (of 10,000 Maniacs) @ Village Gate

Sept 5th: Deke Dickerson @ The Sportsmen’s Tavern http://www.sportsmenstavern.net/party.html

Sept. 8th: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Menor Women w/ Hi-Risers opening @ Montage http://www.rochesterevents.com/news#dave-alvin-date-announced ** Listen for Ticket Giveaways for this.

Sept. 9th: The Rhythm Devils @ Water Street Music Hall, Chris Knight @ Sportsmen’s Tavern,

Sept. 10th: Niagara Falls Blues Festival (Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY USA: Lineup: Billy’s Blues Band with a host of special guests, including Dr. Z, Rip & the Bandogs, The Nighthawks., www.niagarafallsbluesfest.com for more information, Mark Stuart & Stacey Earle @ Sportsman’s Tavern

Sept 11th: Niagara Falls Blues Festival: (Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY USA: Lineup: Speedy Parker Blues Band, The Loco-Motives,  Doubletake Blues Band, and the Jony James Blues Band, Shrimp Daddy and the Sharpshooters, Richard Ray Farrell, with Steve Guyger.  Eddie “House Rockin” Shaw and the Wolf Gang and Hubert Sumlin, former members of Howlin Wolf’s Band, Matt “Guitar” Murphy of Blues Brothers fame, and from Muddy Waters Band, Bob Margolin and two of the last great Delta bluesmen still performing, Willie “Big Eye” Smith and the legendary PINETOP Perkins @ (Niagara Falls, NY), www.niagarafallsbluesfest.com for more information, Mark Hummel & the Blues Suvivors w/Steve Freund, Magic Dick(J. Giels Band), Billy Branch, James Harman @ the Tralf (same day in Buffalo).

Sept. 14th: Hank Williams III & Assjack @ Water Street Music Hall, JOHN FOGERTY @ Auditorium Theater at 8PM

September 16th: Evening of Wine and Jazz 2010, presented by Greece Community Broadcasting Inc. This event is a gala fundraiser to benefit Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM. The event will take place Thursday, September 16 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. in the Waterside room at Pier 45 – located at the Port of Rochester in Charlotte. www.jazz901.org, Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social

w/ Moneybrother @ Water Street Music Hall

Sept. 17th: Guy Davis @ Huntington Hills (Irondequoit) email: ricmon31@aol.com,

Sat: Sept. 18th: Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole @ Harmony House (Webster)

Sept. 21st: Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

Sept. 23rd: John Hiatt @ State Theatre (Ithaca, NY)

Sept. 25th: Eilen Jewell @ German House, The Strawbs @ Lovin’ Cup

Sun. 9/26 Gurf Morlix @ Sportsman’s Tavern (Buffalo), Ramblin’ Jack Elliott @ Bethel Woods

Oct 1st: The Ginn Sisters w/ the Fred Eagelsmith Band & The Stone Country Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

Oct. 2nd: Doug MacCleod @ Harmony House (Webster)

Sun. 10/3 Professor Louie & The Crowmatix @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct 5th: Maria Muldaur @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct: 6th Joanne Shaw Taylor @ Dino BBQ

Fri. 10/8 Dallas Wayne & The Stone Country Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct. 16th: Lil’ Pookie and Zydeco Sensation @ Harmony House (Webster)

Oct 20: Marshall Crenshaw  @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

Oct. 21: 40 Rod Lightning @ Star Alley Park (next to Lux)

October 23rd: Joan Baez @ Auditorium Theatre, The Bruce Katz Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

Nov. 7th: Arlo Guthrie w/ the Burns Sisters @ Harro East Ballroom

Nov. 12th: Leon Redbone @ Bethel Woods

Nov. 16th: Joe Bonamassa @ Auditorium Theatre (Rochester)

Wed. 11/17 Asleep at The Wheel @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Nov. 18th B.B. King @ Shea’s Buffalo

Nov. 20th: Lil Anne & Hot Cayenne @ Harmony House (Webster)

Dec. 1: Debbie Davies @ Dino BBQ

Dec. 12th: The Pine Leaf Boys @ Harmony House, Chip Taylor &  Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

January 8, 2011 – Eden Brent @ Otesaga Hotel (Cooperstown, NY)

“Doc’s Juke Joint” Sunday Nights 7-10pm on WGMC

Greg “Doc” Lefebre Jazz 90.1 FM www.Jazz901.org

Doc’s Juke Joint – Sunday, August 22, 2010

7pm Hour:  Stevie Ray Vaughan Special – 1 Hour  – I hope you enjoyed it.

8pm – Little Walter/Juke/Best of/Chess

Artist/Song/Album/Label

Savoy Brown/Going to Mobile/Too Much Of A Good Thing (The Savoy Brown Collection 1992-2007) Catch Savoy Brown featuring Kim Simmonds on August 28th up on Lockport, NY at the Ulrich Civic Center

Johnny Adams/One Foot In the Blues/One Foot In the Blues/Rounder (featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith on the Hammond B3 Organ, Jimmy Ponder on guitar, Ed Petersen on Tenor Sax and Shannon Powell on drums) 1996.

Guy Davis/Bring Back Storyville/Sweetheart Like You/Red House Records ** in Irondequoit for a house party on Sept. 17th  at Huntington Hills email: ricmon31@aol.com for more info.

LeVee Town/Chicken Truck/Levee Town/Independent

Honey Island Swamp Band/Josephine/Good To You/Independent (New Orleans band/track co-written by Eric Lindell)  www.honeyislandswampband.com

Marty Stuart/Country Boy Rock & Roll/Ghost Train (The Studio B Sessions)/Sugar Hill  (featuring Kenny Vaughan)

Janis Joplin/Down On Me/18 Essential Songs/Legacy Recordings

Eric Gales/Make It There/Relentless/ShrapnelRecords.com  * new from the guitarist/vocalist

Rick Derringer/Just A Little Bit/The Three Kings of the Blues/Blues Bureau International  *a collection of past releases, this track from 2000.

8pm Hour

The Blues Brothers/”B” Movie Box Car Blues/Blues Brothers/Atlantic (Delbert McClinton song, featuring Matt “Guitar” Murphy on guitar, catch Matt “Guitar Murphy at the Niagara Falls Blues Festival on Sept. 11th.

Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women/Marie Marie/DAve Alvin and the Guilty Women/Yep Roc **at the Montage on September 8th.

Mark Hummel/Funky Way/Retro-Active/Electro-Fi  *coming to the Tralf in Buffalo on Sept. 11th.

Hank III/Gettin’ Drunk & Fallin’ Down/Rebel Within/Curb  * at the Water Street Music Hall on Sept. 14th.

Wanda Johnson/Allergic To Mink/Hold What You Got/Erwin Music featuring Shrimp City Slim

Pinetop Perkins & Willie “Big Eyes” Smith/Eyesight to the Blind/Joined At the Hip/Telarc

Chris Beard/Tied Up, Tied Down and Twisted/Who I Am & What I Do/Electro Glide *** at the Water Street Music Hall on August 26th this thursday. ***CD release party****

Chick Willis & Jacques “Saxman” Johnson/Angel of Mercy/Cookin’ The Blues: A Tribute to Albert King/Old School Productions (2007)

Willie Buck/I’ve Got A Right To Love My Baby/The Life I Love/Delmark * from 1982.  Chicago Blues legend – vocalist.

Cindy Bullens/Whistles & Bells/Howling Trains and Barking Dogs/MC Records

Elvin Bishop/Neighbor Neighbor/Red Dog Speaks/Delta Groove

Big Al Carson/Don’t Look Any Further/3 Phat Cats and 1 Skinny Dog/Rabadash Records  (out of New Orleans)

Thank you for listening to Doc’s Juke Joint!!!!!!!!

Back in the saddle again – Thank you to Mike Caito for opening and closing the Juke Joint last Sunday Night.

Doc’s Juke Joint 7pm Hour

Opening theme – Little Walter/Juke/Greatest Hits/Chess Records

ARTIST/SONG/ALBUM/RECORD LABEL

Piano Red/Doctor Feelgood/The Lost Atlanta Tapes/Landslide Records * New release of music recorded back in 1984 featuring vocal/piano legend the late great Piano Red

Charlie Musselwhite/Where HWY 61 Runs/The Well/Alligator Records *NEW

Bob Corritore and Friends/Things Have Changed/Harmonica Blues/Delta Groove **NEW – this track features Henry Gray on piano/vocals.  The CD is a collection with all sorts of blues greats over the years.

Guy Davis/Payday/Legacy/Red House Records (2004)  ***performing in Rochester at a house party in Irondequoit on September 17th at Huntington Hills – email: ricmon31@aol.com  for more info and tickets

Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women/Boss of the Blues/Dave Alvin& the Guilty Women/Yep Roc *** Dave Alvin will be in Rochester at the Montage Grill on September 8th.

Watermelon Slim/Please Take This Cup/Ringers/Northernblues ** at Chenango Blues Festival next weekend – Norwich, NY

Hank III/Moonshiner’s Life/Rebel Within/Curb              *** at the Water Street Music Hall on September 14th.

John Lee Hooker Jr./Funky Funk/Live in Istanbul Turkey/Steppin Stone Records  ** also includes a DVD (NEW)

Mitch Kashmar & the Pontiax/100 Miles to Go/100 Miles to Go/Delta Groove ***New reissue *** featuring harp great Mitch Kashmar.

Dr. John/Them/Tribal/429 Records  **NEW featuring Mark Mullins on trombone

Monkey Junk/Give Me Time/Tiger In Your Tank/Beefy Productions  www.monkeyjunkband.com  *** NEW

Davis Coen/Cool With Me Tonight/Jukebox Classic/Soundview  ** NEW

Broken Arrow Blues Band/Flat Feets/Good Times/Independent  ** from Detroit

The Steve Miller Band/All Your Love (I Miss Loving)/Bingo!/Road Runner Records  ** NEW (Otis Rush cover)

John Nemeth/Heartbreak With A Hammer/Name The Day!/Blind Pig Records ** at Chenango Blues Fest. next weekend.

JJ Grey & Mofro/All/Georgia Warhorse/Alligator Records ***NEW

The Rolling Stones/I’m Not Signifying/Exile on Main Street ***NEW 2 CD collection featuring never released stuff and alternate takes.

David Brinston/Back On the Backstreet/Beat It Up/Ecko Records

Teeny Tucker/Make Room for Teeny/Keep The Blues Alive/TeBo Records *** at the Vermont Blues Festival at Mt. Snow on Aug. 29th.  2nd Annual.

Marc Benno and the Nightcrawlers/Love Is Turnin Green/Crawlin/Blue Skunk Music **NEW

James Day/Fish Where They Bite/Firecracker/Neon Blue Records

Steve Grills/Frosty/After Hours/Independent  ***Albert Collins cover ** at the Dino BBQ this Saturday night (Aug. 21)

Defibulators/Your Hearty Laugh/Corn Money/City Salvage Records  ** New

Jack Bruce, Clem Clempson, Mark Feltham, Ronnie Leahy, Neal Wilkinson/I’ve Got News For You/This Is the Blues Volume Three/Blue Storm Music    ** Compilation

Andy Cohen/Railroad Blues/Built Right On the Ground/Earwig Music

Peter Case/House Rent Jump/Wig!/Yep Roc

Chris Beard/Gotta Find My Baby/Who I Am & What I Do/Electro Glide Records * featuring Joe Beard, Chris will be at the Water Street Music Hall on August 26th. – CD Release Party

Bettye LaVette/The Word/Interpretations:The British Rock Songbook/Anti

Doc’s Basement – Chenango Blues Festival Performers:

Marcia Ball/Watermelon Time/Peace, Love & BBQ/Alligator

Guitar Shorty/Please Mr. President/Bare Knuckle/Alligator

Los Blancos/Honky Tonk Night Time Man/Cookin With The Cats: Salt & Pepper Sessions/Independent

Paul Rishell & Annie Raines/It’ll Be Me-I’ll Be Looking For You/A Night In Woodstock/Mojo Rodeo Records

John Nemeth/Why Not Me/Name The Day!/Blind Pig Records

NEXT WEEK FROM 7-8PM – STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN SPECIAL, THEN THE REGULAR DOC’S JUKE JOINT PROGRAMMING FROM 8-10PM.  Thank you for listening!!!!!!!!!!

Doc’s Video Pick of the Week: Marcia Ball – Catch her at the Chenango Blues Festival:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2yxnEIUrio

8/16/2010: Monday: John Ackers @ Dino BBQ,

Tues: Open Jam w/ Too Tall @ Dino BBQ, Open Jam w/ String Theory (Bluegrass) @ Johnny’s, Teagan Ward & @ Beale St. –South ave,

Wed: Ezra & the Storm @ Dino BBQ, Steve West hosting: Acoustic Open Mic at Muddy Waters Coffee House,  53 Main Street, Geneseo  from 7-10, Grand Canyon Rescue Episode @ Abilene, Beale St. Blues Band @ Pelican’s Nest, Deep Blue Dream w/ the Fools @ Water St.

Thurs: 40 Rod Lighning @ Dino BBQ, 19th: Alfred St. John’s Trinidad and Tobago Steelband @ Garden Vibes (GEORGE EASTMAN HOUSE) http://www.eastmanhouse.org/Main/events/music.php, Hi-Risers @ South Wedge (Star Alley Park, near Lux 8pm-10pm),  Miss Tess @ Lovin Cup, AKOS @ Beale St.

Friday: Dave Viterna Band @ Dino BBQ, Marcia Ball @ Seneca Casino, The Chinchillas @ Village Gate, Coupe de Villes @ Public Market, Girls Guns and Glory @ Abilene, Third Degree @ Beale St, Billy Joe @ Six Pockets, AKOS @ Beale St. (Webster),  Soul on Tap @ Johnny’s

Sat: Steve Grills and the Roadmasters: the new CD is out!!!! @ Dino BBQ, Also Catch Steve Grills and other local greats at WedgeStock – Aug. 21st in the South Wedge Section of Rochester: http://www.wedgestock.org/ , Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros @ Abilene, Jeff Riales – CD release party @ the Flipside Bar, Dan Schmidt & the Shadows @ Beale St. (South Ave),
August 20, 21st: Chenango Blues Festival Norwich, NY http://www.chenangobluesfest.org/ Bands for Friday Night, August 20, 2010

Workshops Dom Flemons (of the Carolina Chocolate Drops)

7:15 – 8:15 pm Chenango Co. Fairgrounds Los Blancos

8:30 – 10:00 pm Chenango Co. Fairgrounds Honey Island Swamp Band
Main Stage Artists, Saturday August 21, 2010

Chenango County Fairgrounds

12:00 – 1:00 pm Asamu Johnson Project

1:20 – 2:40 pm John Nemeth

3:40 – 5:00 pm Guitar Shorty

6:10 – 7:30 pm Watermelon Slim

8:40 – ?? Marcia Ball
Acoustic Stage Artists – Saturday

2:40 – 3:40 pm Dom Flemons

5:00 – 6:10 pm EG Kight

7:30 – 8:40 pm Paul Rishell and Annie Raines

August 21-22, 2010 North River Blues Festival, Marshfield Fairgrounds, Marshfield, Massachusetts, 781.834.6629, www.rhythmroomrecords.com Mannish Boys, Mississippi Heat, Tommy Castro, Guitar Shorty, more.

AUGUST 22ND: RADIO NOTE: ONE HOUR: STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN SPECIAL FROM 7-8PM ON DOC’S JUKE JOINT www.jazz901.org The regular Doc’s Juke Joint programming will follow from 8-10pm.

Aug. 22nd: Paul Thorn @ Sportsman’s Tavern (Buffalo), Bethel Woods Bluegrass Jamboree with: Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, The Travelin’ McCourys and Dan Tyminski, Rhonda Vincent, Cherryholmes @ Bethel Woods

Aug. 25th: Bryan Lee @ The Hicky Tavern, 96 West Main Steet, Allegany New York 14706

Read more: http://events.myspace.com/Event/6201851/Bryan-Lee#ixzz0uVreVidH

Aug. 26th: Chris Beard (CD Release Party) @ Water Street Music Hall (The Club), George Jones @ Turning Stone Casino, Carolyn Mark, Neko Case’s partner in the duo the Corn Sisters @ Abilene

Aug. 27th: Airplay Vaudeville Revue @ Village Gate, Merle Haggard opening for Brooks and Dunn @ Darien Lake

Aug. 26-29th: Pickin’ In the Pasture – Lodi, NY get your Bluegrass On! http://www.pickininthepasture.com/

August 27,28 & 29th 2010.The 2nd Annual Vermont Blues Festival, Mount Snow, VT Info @ http://vermontbluesfest.com/

Just 5 ½ Hour Drive from Rochester, NY Mount Snow Resort

39 Mount Snow Road

West Dover, Vermont 05356

Friday August 27, 2010
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm	Paul Rishell & Annie Raines	Tent Stage
9:00 pm – 10:00 pm	James Armstrong	Tent Stage
10:30 pm – 11:45 pm	Alexis P. Suter	Tent Stage

Saturday August 28, 2010
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm	Andrew Jr Boy Jones	Town of Dover Main Stage
2:45 pm – 4:15 pm	Ryan Shaw	Tent Stage
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm	Ruthie Foster	Town of Dover Main Stage
6:15 pm – 7:45 pm	Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue	Tent Stage
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm	Johnny Winter	Town of Dover Main Stage

Sunday August 29, 2010
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm	Big James Montogomery	Tent Stage
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm	Teeny Tucker	Town of Dover Main Stage
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm	Joe Louis Walker	Tent Stage
4:45 pm – 6:15 pm	Marcia Ball	Town of Dover Main Stage
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm	Kenny Neal	Tent Stage

Aug. 28th: Savoy Brown @ Ulrich Civic Centre (Lockport, NY), BRYAN LEE @ DOUBLE D’S QUEEN CITY GRILL, 1051 Sheridan Dr. Tonawanda, NY 14150, Tom Petty & CSN @ Darien Lake, Loretta Lynn @ Turning Stone Casino

Aug. 29th: Green Harbor Roots and Blues Festival w/ Chubby Carrier, Los Fabulocos & More, Marshfield, MA http://www.rhythmroomrecords.com/PDF/2010MusicFestivals-Final.pdf

Aug. 31st: CSN @ Bethel Woods (original Woodstock site).

Sept. 1st: Harper @ Dino BBQ

Sept. 3, 4th & 5th: Rhythm & Roots Festival, Ninigret Park in Charlestown, R.I. this Labor Day Weekend. http://www.rhythmandroots.com/general/home.php

13TH  ANNUAL RHYTHM & ROOTS FESTIVAL, Sept 3-5 2010

Ninigret Park, 4890A Old Post Rd, Rt 1, Charlestown, RI

Fri: 5:00 pm – 12:00 am; Sat/Sun: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am

Featuring Robert Randolph & the Family Band,  The Texas Tornados,  Geoff Muldaur & the Texas Sheiks,  Marcia Ball, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys,  Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women,  Donna the Buffalo,  CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band,  Johnny Nicholas & the Texas All-Stars, Little Freddie King,  Danny Barnes Trio,  Red Stick Ramblers, Uncle Earl,  Horace Trahan & the New Ossun Express, Jeffery Broussard & Creole Cowboys,  Bonerama,  Planet Zydeco,  Magnolia,  Occidental Gypsy Jazz Quartet,

Ed Poullard & Preston Frank

Sept 3: John & Mary (of 10,000 Maniacs) @ Village Gate

Sept 5th: Deke Dickerson @ The Sportsmen’s Tavern http://www.sportsmenstavern.net/party.html

Sept. 8th: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men @ Montage http://www.rochesterevents.com/news#dave-alvin-date-announced

Sept. 9th: The Rhythm Devils @ Water Street Music Hall

Sept. 10th: Niagara Falls Blues Festival (Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY USA: Lineup: Billy’s Blues Band with a host of special guests, including Dr. Z, Rip & the Bandogs, The Nighthawks., www.niagarafallsbluesfest.com for more information, Mark Stuart & Stacey Earle @ Sportsman’s Tavern

Sept 11th: Niagara Falls Blues Festival: (Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY USA: Lineup: Speedy Parker Blues Band, The Loco-Motives,  Doubletake Blues Band, and the Jony James Blues Band, Shrimp Daddy and the Sharpshooters, Richard Ray Farrell, with Steve Guyger.  Eddie “House Rockin” Shaw and the Wolf Gang and Hubert Sumlin, former members of Howlin Wolf’s Band, Matt “Guitar” Murphy of Blues Brothers fame, and from Muddy Waters Band, Bob Margolin and two of the last great Delta bluesmen still performing, Willie “Big Eye” Smith and the legendary PINETOP Perkins @ (Niagara Falls, NY), www.niagarafallsbluesfest.com for more information, Mark Hummel & the Blues Suvivors w/Steve Freund, Magic Dick(J. Giels Band), Billy Branch, James Harman @ the Tralf (same day in Buffalo).

Sept. 14th: Hank Williams III & Assjack @ Water Street Music Hall, JOHN FOGERTY @ Auditorium Theater at 8PM

September 16th: Evening of Wine and Jazz 2010, presented by Greece Community Broadcasting Inc. This event is a gala fundraiser to benefit Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM. The event will take place Thursday, September 16 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. in the Waterside room at Pier 45 – located at the Port of Rochester in Charlotte. www.jazz901.org, Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social

w/ Moneybrother @ Water Street Music Hall

Sept. 17th: Guy Davis @ Huntington Hills (Irondequoit) email: ricmon31@aol.com,

Sat: Sept. 18th: Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole @ Harmony House (Webster)

Sept. 23rd: John Hiatt @ State Theatre (Ithaca, NY)

Sept. 25th: Eilen Jewell @ German House, The Strawbs @ Lovin’ Cup

Sun. 9/26 Gurf Morlix @ Sportsman’s Tavern (Buffalo), Ramblin’ Jack Elliott @ Bethel Woods

Oct 1st: The Ginn Sisters w/ the Fred Eagelsmith Band & The Stone Country Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

Oct. 2nd: Doug MacCleod @ Harmony House (Webster)

Sun. 10/3 Professor Louie & The Crowmatix @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct 5th: Maria Muldaur @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct: 6th Joanne Shaw Taylor @ Dino BBQ

Fri. 10/8 Dallas Wayne & The Stone Country Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct. 16th: Lil’ Pookie and Zydeco Sensation @ Harmony House (Webster)

Oct. 21: 40 Rod Lightning @ Star Alley Park (next to Lux)

October 23rd: Joan Baez @ Auditorium Theatre

Nov. 7th: Arlo Guthrie w/ the Burns Sisters @ Harro East Ballroom

Nov. 12th: Leon Redbone @ Bethel Woods

Nov. 16th: Joe Bonamassa @ Auditorium Theatre (Rochester)

Wed. 11/17 Asleep at The Wheel @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Nov. 18th B.B. King @ Shea’s Buffalo

Nov. 20th: Lil Anne & Hot Cayenne @ Harmony House (Webster)

Dec. 1: Debbie Davies @ Dino BBQ

Dec. 12th: The Pine Leaf Boys @ Harmony House

January 8, 2011 – Eden Brent @ Otesaga Hotel (Cooperstown, NY)

“Doc’s Juke Joint” Sunday Nights 7-10pm on WGMC

Greg “Doc” Lefebre Jazz 90.1 FM www.Jazz901.org

Updated: 8/9/2010

Doc’s Video Pick of the Week: Guitar Shorty – Catch him at the Chenango Blues Festival:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pmAOvORp_4

8/9/2010: Monday: John McConnell @ Dino BBQ,

Tues: Dave McGrath @ Dino BBQ, Open Jam w/ String Theory (Bluegrass) @ Johnny’s, Teagan Ward & @ Beale St. –South ave, Zydeco Vacation @ Buckland Park (Brighton)

Wed: The Scandels @ Dino BBQ, Steve West hosting: Acoustic Open Mic at Muddy Waters Coffee House,  53 Main Street, Geneseo  from 7-10, Grand Canyon Rescue Episode @ Abilene, Robert Cray Band with George Thorogood and the Destroyers & the Fabulous Thunderbirds @ CMAC, Gap Mangione New Blues Band @ Webster United Church of Christ (Lawn)

Thurs: GUITAR SHORTY @ DINO BBQ, Dark Star Orchestra @ Party in the Park (Rochester), The Fabulous Thunderbirds with special guest Hit & Run @ Thursday in the Square (Buffalo),

Friday: TABLE TOP THREE @ BEALE STREET,   the Shakedown @ Dino BBQ, PETER CASE @ SPORTSMAN’S TAVERN (BUFFALO), The Years @ the Village Gate

Sat: Fabulous Ripcords @ Dino BBQ, Blues in the Valley featuring: John Cole Blues Band, Rod Nickson Project, Double Take & More @ Warsaw Village Park, Warsaw, NY, Tom Petty @ Darien Lake, Michael Charles (Australian Blues Guitarist) @ Cruise on Seneca Lake (Stiver’s Marina 315-789-5520 for info.), Hinkley @ Abilene

Aug. 15th: Willie Nelson and Family @ Seneca Allegany Casino, Campbell Brothers @ City Pier – Canandaigua

Aug. 19th: Alfred St. John’s Trinidad and Tobago Steelband @ Garden Vibes (GEORGE EASTMAN HOUSE) http://www.eastmanhouse.org/Main/events/music.php, Hi-Risers @ South Wedge (Star Alley Park, near Lux 8pm-10pm), the Hi-Risers @ Star Alley Park (next to Lux)

Aug. 20th: Marcia Ball @ Seneca Casino, The Chinchillas @ Village Gate, Coupe de Villes @ Public Market

August 20, 21st: Chenango Blues Festival Norwich, NY http://www.chenangobluesfest.org/ Friday: Los Blancos, Honey Island Swamp Band, Saturday-Aug. 21st: MARCIA BALL, John Nemeth, Watermelon Slim, Guitar Shorty, EG KIGHT, Paul Rishell and Annie Raines. LISTEN AND WATCH YOUR EMAILS FOR TICKET GIVEAWAYS!!!

August 21-22, 2010 North River Blues Festival, Marshfield Fairgrounds, Marshfield, Massachusetts, 781.834.6629, www.rhythmroomrecords.com Mannish Boys, Mississippi Heat, Tommy Castro, Guitar Shorty, more.

AUGUST 22ND: RADIO NOTE: ONE HOUR: STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN SPECIAL FROM 7-8PM ON DOC’S JUKE JOINT www.jazz901.org

The regular Doc’s Juke Joint programming will follow from 8-10pm.

Aug. 22nd: Paul Thorn @ Sportsman’s Tavern (Buffalo), Bethel Woods Bluegrass Jamboree with: Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, The Travelin’ McCourys and Dan Tyminski, Rhonda Vincent, Cherryholmes @ Bethel Woods

Aug. 25th: Bryan Lee @ The Hicky Tavern, 96 West Main Steet, Allegany New York 14706

Read more: http://events.myspace.com/Event/6201851/Bryan-Lee#ixzz0uVreVidH

Aug. 26th: George Jones @ Turning Stone Casino

Aug. 27th: Airplay Vaudeville Revue @ Village Gate, Merle Haggard opening for Brooks and Dunn @ Darien Lake

Aug. 26-29th: Pickin’ In the Pasture – Lodi, NY get your Bluegrass On! http://www.pickininthepasture.com/

August 27,28 & 29th 2010.The 2nd Annual Vermont Blues Festival, Mount Snow, VT Info @ : www.mountsnow.com

FRIDAY AUGUST 27: TENT STAGE:

>

> Harrison Kennedy & Julian Fauth 7.30pm – 8.30pm

> James Arnstrong 9.00pm -

> 10.00pm

> Alexis P.Suter Band 10.30pm -

> 11.45.pm

>

> SATURDAY AUGUST 28:

>

> Main Stage: Andrew Jr Boy Jones 1.00pm – 2.30pm

> Tent Stage: Ryan Shaw 2.45pm – 4.15pm

> Main Stage: Ruthie Foster 4.30pm – 6.pm

> Tent Stage: Trombone Shorty 6.15pm – 7.45.pm

>

> HEADLINER; MAIN STAGE : JOHNNY WINTER 8.00PM – 9.30PM

>

> SNOW BARN – “AFTER PARTY”

> Andrew Jr Boy Jones 9.30pm to 1.30am.

>

> SUNDAY AUGUST 29:

>

> Tent Stage: Big James Montgomery Noon – 1.15pm

> Main Stage: Teeny Tucker 1.30pm – 2.45pm

> Tent Stage: Joe Louis Walker 3.00pm – 4.30pm

> Main Stage: Marcia Ball 4.45pm – 6.15pm

>

> HEADLINER; TENT STAGE; KENNY NEAL 6.30PM – 8.00PM

Aug. 28th: BRYAN LEE @ DOUBLE D’S QUEEN CITY GRILL, 1051 Sheridan Dr. Tonawanda, NY 14150, Tom Petty & CSN @ Darien Lake, Loretta Lynn @ Turning Stone Casino

Aug. 29th: Green Harbor Roots and Blues Festival w/ Chubby Carrier, Los Fabulocos & More, Marshfield, MA http://www.rhythmroomrecords.com/PDF/2010MusicFestivals-Final.pdf

Aug. 31st: CSN @ Bethel Woods (original Woodstock site).

Sept. 1st: Harper @ Dino BBQ

Sept. 3, 4th & 5th: Rhythm & Roots Festival, Ninigret Park in Charlestown, R.I. this Labor Day Weekend. http://www.rhythmandroots.com/general/home.php

Sept 3: John & Mary (of 10,000 Maniacs) @ Village Gate

Sept 5th: Deke Dickerson @ The Sportsmen’s Tavern http://www.sportsmenstavern.net/party.html

Sept. 8th: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men @ Montage http://www.rochesterevents.com/news#dave-alvin-date-announced

Sept. 9th: The Rhythm Devils @ Water Street Music Hall

Sept. 10th: Niagara Falls Blues Festival (Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY USA: Lineup: Billy’s Blues Band with a host of special guests, including Dr. Z, Rip & the Bandogs, The Nighthawks., www.niagarafallsbluesfest.com for more information, Mark Stuart & Stacey Earle @ Sportsman’s Tavern

Sept 11th: Niagara Falls Blues Festival: (Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY USA: Lineup: Speedy Parker Blues Band, The Loco-Motives,  Doubletake Blues Band, and the Jony James Blues Band, Shrimp Daddy and the Sharpshooters, Richard Ray Farrell, with Steve Guyger.  Eddie “House Rockin” Shaw and the Wolf Gang and Hubert Sumlin, former members of Howlin Wolf’s Band, Matt “Guitar” Murphy of Blues Brothers fame, and from Muddy Waters Band, Bob Margolin and two of the last great Delta bluesmen still performing, Willie “Big Eye” Smith and the legendary PINETOP Perkins @ (Niagara Falls, NY), www.niagarafallsbluesfest.com for more information, Mark Hummel & the Blues Suvivors w/Steve Freund, Magic Dick(J. Giels Band), Billy Branch, James Harman @ the Tralf (same day in Buffalo).

Sept. 14th: Hank Williams III & Assjack @ Water Street Music Hall, JOHN FOGERTY @ Auditorium Theater at 8PM

September 16th: Evening of Wine and Jazz 2010, presented by Greece Community Broadcasting Inc. This event is a gala fundraiser to benefit Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM. The event will take place Thursday, September 16 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. in the Waterside room at Pier 45 – located at the Port of Rochester in Charlotte. www.jazz901.org

Sept. 23rd: John Hiatt @ State Theatre (Ithaca, NY)

Sept. 25th: Eilen Jewell @ German House, The Strawbs @ Lovin’ Cup

Sun. 9/26 Gurf Morlix @ Sportsman’s Tavern (Buffalo), Ramblin’ Jack Elliott @ Bethel Woods

Oct 1st: The Ginn Sisters w/ the Fred Eagelsmith Band & The Stone Country Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern

Oct. 2nd: Doug MacCleod @ Harmony House (Webster)

Sun. 10/3 Professor Louie & The Crowmatix @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct 5th: Maria Muldaur @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct: 6th Joanne Shaw Taylor @ Dino BBQ

Fri. 10/8 Dallas Wayne & The Stone Country Band @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Oct. 21: 40 Rod Lightning @ Star Alley Park (next to Lux)

October 23rd: Joan Baez @ Auditorium Theatre

Nov. 7th: Arlo Guthrie w/ the Burns Sisters @ Harro East Ballroom

Nov. 12th: Leon Redbone @ Bethel Woods

Nov. 16th: Joe Bonamassa @ Auditorium Theatre (Rochester)

Nov. 18th B.B. King @ Shea’s Buffalo

Wed. 11/17 Asleep at The Wheel @ Sportsmen’s Tavern (Buffalo)

Dec. 1: Debbie Davies @ Dino BBQ

January 8, 2011 – Eden Brent @ Otesaga Hotel (Cooperstown, NY)

“Doc’s Juke Joint” Sunday Nights 7-10pm on WGMC

Greg “Doc” Lefebre Jazz 90.1 FM www.Jazz901.org

Doc’s Juke Joint July Ads 2010 – Living Blues Magazine & Roots Report

1. Pinetop Perkins & Wille Big Eyes Smith/Joined At the Hip/Telarc Blues
2. The Vincent Hayes Project/Reclamation/North 61 Records
3. Teeny Tucker/Keep The Blues Alive/TeBo Records
4. Chris James & Patrick Rynn/Gonna Boogie Anyway/Earwig
5. Mitch Woods/Gumbo Blues/Club 88
6. Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps/You Know You Love It/Jesi-Lu
7. Elvin Bishop/Red Dog Speaks/Delta Groove
8. Chris Beard/Who I Am & What I Do /Electo Glide Records
9. Cathy Lemons and Johnny Ace/Lemonace/Vizztone
10. Cindy Bullens/Howling Trains and Barking Dogs/MC Records
11. The Derek Trucks Band/Roadsongs/Sony
12. Ron Hacker and the Hacksaws/Burnin’/Blue Skunk
13. Rob Stone/Back Around Here/Earwig
14. Grady Champion/Back In Mississippi Live/GSM Music
15. Karen Lovely/Still the Rain/Pretty Pear Records
16. Mark Hummel/Retro-active/Electro-Fi Records
17. John Nemeth/Name The Day!/Blind Pig
18. Mississippi Heat/Let’s Live It Up!/Delmark
19. Daddy Mack Blues Band/Bluesfinger/Inside Sounds
20. Travis Moonchild Haddix/A Dozen Times/Benevolent Blues
21. Alabama Slim/Blue & Lonesome/MusicMaker
22. Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans/Stuck With The Blues/Independent
23. Big Daddy-O/Used Blues/Rabadash
24. Walter Trout/Common Ground/Provogue
25. Jimmy Dawkins/The Leric Story/Delmark

Roots Report Only:

Peter Case/Wig!/Yep Roc

Lee Ritenour/6 String Theory/Concord

Ann Savoy/Black Coffee/Merless Records

Ghostown Blues Band/Dust the Dust/Inside Sounds

Various Artists/This Is The Blues Vol. 2/Blue Storm Music

Watermelon Slim/Ringers/NorthernBlues

Lee Shot Williams/I’m The Man For the Job/CDS Records

Bettye LaVette/Interpretations/Anti

Morry Sochat & the Special 20′s/Eatin’ Dirt/Galaxie Records

Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King/Have Blues Will Travel/Alligator

Troy Turner/Whole Lotta Blues/Evidence

Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin’ Daddies!/Big Rockin’ Boogie/Underworld

Big Al Carson/3 Phat Catz and 1 Skinny Dog/Rabadash

Warren Haynes/The Benefit Concert Vol. 3/Advance Music

Various Artists/A Musical Tribute to Shel Silverstein/Sugar Hill Records

Willie May/Grand Mal Indigo/Independent

Cee Cee James/Seriously Raw/Independent

Paul Thorn/Pimps and Preachers/Perpetual Obscurity Records

Foghat/Last Train Home/Foghat Records

Back Alley Players/Beyond The Blues/Independent

Deadstring Brothers/Sau Paulo/Bloodshot Records

Gerome Durham/Blues After Dark/Independent

Darrell Scott/A Crooked Road/Full Light Records

7:50pm  – Late Start Tonight – sorry.

Solomon Burke – Stupidity – Home In Your Heart – The Best of Solomon Burke

Los Lobos – Burn It Down – Tin Can Trust (with Susan Tedeschi on backing vocals) (Shout Factory) ** New

8pm Hour

Albert Castiglia – Sweet Southern Angel (with Toby Walker on dobro) – Keeping On (Blues Leaf) *** New – check the video below in our latest calendar.

Steve Grills – The Telephone Is Ringing (Pee Wee Crayton) – After Hours **New first release from Steve Grills (Ernest Lane on keyboards)

Chatham County Line – Crop Comes In – Wildwood (Yep Roc) *** New

Guitar Shorty – Please Mr. President – Bare Knuckle (Alligator) ** at the Chenengo Blues Festival and also coming to the Dino BBQ

Marcia Ball – Party Town – Peace Love & BBQ (Alligator) * at the Chenengo Blues Festival on August 21st. also at Seneca Casino on August 20th.

John Nemeth – Breakin’ Free – Name the Day! (Blind Pig Records) at the Chenengo Blues Festival

Robert Cray – Chicken in the Kitchen – This Time ** at CMAC on August 11th.

Dierks Bentley – Bad Angel (Featuring Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson) – Up On The Ridge (Capitol)

Cyril Neville – The Blues Is Here to Stay – The Essential Cyril Neville (MC Records) at Party in the Park on Aug. 5th

Los Straitjackets – Fortune Cookie – The Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets (Yep Roc) ** at Party in thePark on August 5th

9pm Hour

Galactic – Boe Money (featuring the Rebirth Brass Band) – Ya-Ka-May (Anti) at the Party In the Park on Aug. 5th.

The Steve Wiggins Band – Doin’ My Thing – Precious Cargo (www.stevewiggins.com) NEW *****

The Sadies – 10 More Songs – Darker Circles (Yep Roc) *** at Garden Vibes at the George Eastman House this Thursday.

Blind Boys of Alabama – Wade In The Water – Higher Ground

Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King – Sleeping With One Eye Open – Have Blues Will Travel (Alligator)

George Thorogood & the Destroyers – Born Lover – The Dirty Dozen *** at CMAC on Aug. 11th.

Pinetop Perkins & Willie “Big Eyes” Smith – Lord, Lord, Lord – Joined At the Hip (Telarc) * at the Niagara Falls Blues Festival on Sept. 11th.

Rob Stone – NoStrings Attached – Back Around Here (Earwig Records)

Grady Champion – 1-800-Blue – Love – Back in Mississippi at the 930 Blues Club featuring Eddie Cotton Jr.

Karen Lovely – Blues Ain’t Far Behind – Still the Rain (Pretty Pear Records)

The Blues Masters featuring: Big Al Carson – Hip Shakin’ Mama – 3 Phat Cats and 1 Skinny Dogg (Rabadash Records)

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Main Stage, Pocono Blues Festival 2010

Jimmy “Duck” Holmes opened the 19th annual Pocono Blues Festival in true delta style.  Jimmy “Duck” Holmes performed solo on guitar featuring Mississippi Blues Classics from his Broke “n Hungry and Fat Possum releases.  You can also check out Jimmy on the “M” for Mississippi Soundtrack & Movie.

The weather was perfect and so were the ribs.  Part of the Friday night festivities at the Pocono’s is a buffet which includes admission to the three Friday night bands.  All performances on Friday happen under the Tent Stage that is used for the remainder of the weekend.  The weather was perfect since the threatening lighting in the distance that lit up the surrounding mountains stayed far enough away for all three performances to take place.

Next on the bill was Mr. Johnny Rawls.  Johnny was joined by the Nutmeg Horns which really filled out his sound.  Rawls mainly played songs off his last two releases, Ace of Spades and Red Cadillac.  Highlights of Johnny’s set included a cover of his idol Tyrone Davis “Turn Back the Hands of Time” and a great version of the Robert Parker classic “Barefootin’” which brought the house down and got the Pocono crowd on their feet.  The show closer was the  Rawls’ juke joint classic “Juicy Lucy” from his JSP recording days.

Chick Willis, 2010 Pocono Blues Festival

Lady Bianca was the headliner on Friday night.  A real highlight of this set was her guitar player, formerly from London, England but Oakland, CA  based for many years, Steve Gannon.  Steve was also part of the band that backed Sugar Pie DeSanto a few years back at the Pocono’s.  Though Lady Bianca didn’t have the stage antics of Sugar Pie she did lay it down on the keyboards and provided the crowd with a rich variety of blues originals.

So much to do, so much to see and hear at the premier blues festival in the Northeast.  Saturday opened with an up and comer Marquise Knox.  From St. Louis, Knox certainly knew his way around his guitar and some blues classics.  His set included: How Blues Can You Get, Howlin’ For My Darlin’, Good Morning Little School Girl, The Sky Is Cryin’, Born Under a Bad Sign, Hootchie Cootchie Man, Night Fishin’, How Long, How Many More Years and I Got a Problem.

Georgia native, Veronika Jackson opened the tent stage with a nice mix of solo acoustic blues.  Highlights of her set included a real nice version of John Prine’s Angel of Montgomery and Little Walter’s My Babe.  I stopped by the merchandise table and had to laugh at the warning tag on one of her cd’s “Warning: Soul Stirring Conditions.”

Stage 2 opened with South Carolina native, Ms. Wanda Johnson.  She opened with Can You Handle This?  She wore a white dress fitting for an up and coming blues queen.  Wanda sounded a lot like Irma Thomas as she sang through a great set of originals off her independent releases.  Wanda was backed by keyboardist/band leader Shrimp City Slim.  Saturday was turning out to be a beautiful day.  The mountain was starting to heat up as blue skies gave way to a few puffy white clouds rolling over the ski mountain.  Sun block was a must and breaks for shade were definitely needed.

AJ Diggs was up next on the main stage as he opened with a nice version of the Spinners “I’ll Be Around.”  He then kicked into “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now”.   He was the first act on this triple bill which he shared with Roy Roberts and Barbara Carr.  Diggs played a real nice version of “Rabbit Got A Gun” off his CD Already In Progress.

My favorite part of the festival came early, as Chick Willis hit the tent stage.  Chick was on guitar, backed by drums, bass and a vetern sax man, Jacques Johnson.   75 year old Chick Willis didn’t look a day over 50 as he opened with “Rib Shack”, one of his best tunes.  The tent crowd was immediately on their feet and Willis rocked the crowd on and off the stage.  Two Ray Charles songs kept his set tight and rollin’ (What I Say & I Can’t Stop Loving You).  Chick took us down to the Juke Joint with I Want a Big Fat Woman.  Other highlights of the Willis set included Tampa Red’s “Let  Me Play With Your Poodle” and Lightnin’ Hopkins “Hello Central Give Me 209.”  In Chick’s own words, he took it “Deep down in the alley” with the Hopkins cover.  Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better Willis broke out his all-time classic – Stoop Down Baby.

Detroit guitarist/vocalist Johnnie Bassett was up next on Stage 2.  A great front man and a great band will always make for a quality blues set and this was no exception.  Johnnie played cuts off his latest disc The Gentleman is Back.  The song, Keep Your Hands off My Baby, was part of one of my favorite sets of the festival.

Willie “Big Eyes” Smith & Hubert Sumlin, 2010 Pocono Blues Festival

Theodis Ealey was really the unknown quantity at this years festival.  Many might have questions why he was given the slot of performing on the Main Stage in the middle of the festival’s biggest day.  Well Theodis is a showman and the show put Ealey on the blues map for many new fans.  Theodis on guitar himself was back by two keyboard players, bass, guitar, a back up singer.  The Ealey band was right on with a JB groove that often bordered on a KC 70′s funk.  From Mississippi, Theodis assured us that he would take us from the mountains of PA to the Juke Joints of his home state with his version of I’m The Man You Need off his latest CD.

Ealey then worked his way through a 10 minute version of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” which was met with an almost out of control response from the mainly fifty year old plus Pocono crowd.  Ealey then performed “Kiss” by that Prince guy who I can’t remember if he is Prince again or some symbol.  The finale was an unbelievable you had to see it to believe version of Ealey’s signature song “Stand Up In It.”  Theodis left us with the quote of the weekend – “Anything can happen at the Juke Joint,” which he repeated throughout his set.

Chick Willis started his 2nd set under the tent stage with a fine version of his “Houdini Lover.”  This song was followed by Voodoo Woman, CC Rider, Everyday I Have the Blues and  Big Fat Woman (where one found her way on stage).  The crowd was soon on their feet and Chick treated them to another version of “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”

The Chicago Blues Legends closed out the main stage on Saturday night.  Lifetime achievement awards were given to former Muddy Water’s bass player Bob Stroger and drummer/harp/vocalist, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith.  After meeting Willie Smith at an after festival party he revealed to me that he had always been a harp player.  He merely took up the drums during the 1950′s when rock n’ roll was coming alive to get work.  If you hear Willie play the harp and sing you will quickly realize that this guy is a true blues legend and should be right up there with the other big names of blues past frontmen.  Bob Margolin joined Stroger and Smith to start and then Hubert Sumlin was brought out to a huge audience applause.

Though Hubert had to be be attached to constant oxygen while on and off the stage nothing would keep him from performing.  Hubert and the band worked their way through several songs including Killing Floor. Before the final performer (Pinetop Perkins) was to join the group, Hubert was summoned by his nurse/manager to leave the stage but he refused.  Sumlin told me after the show that he did not want to disappoint all the people and just could not leave the stage.  The magic was still there when Sumlin stood and took his solo shots.

When you are 97 years old you just hope you can still remember your name.  Pinetop Perkins is now 97 and can still headline a blues festival.  Pinetop played some signature licks as well as his signature song about himself.  The Pocono crowd was whipped into a frenzy as the Muddy Waters Band alumni broke into the classic “Mojo Workin’.”  Willie Smith, Margolin and Stroger finished with one more encore before Saturday’s superior day of blues was complete.

Campbell Brothers, 2010 Pocono Blues Festival

Dave “Muskie” Moskal announced the opening of Sunday’s events at the Pocono Blues Festival.  Moskal’s former hometown of Rochester, NY produced the band that would not only open but give a complete work out to the Pocono Festival early risers.  The Campbell Brothers get better every time I see them and they really connected with the blues fans before them.  A show highlight of their set is their rendition of the Sam Cooke song “A Change Is Gonna Come.”  “Morning Train” off their first album followed and they always seem to take this song higher and higher each time they perform it.

Hands were raising and feet were stomping as the Campbell’s rocked the mountain and the main stage.  Gospel classic “Bye and Bye” became a ten minute vehicle for Chuck Campbell’s guitar.  The best way I can describe the Campbell Brothers is a “Gospel Based Jam Band For People with Good Music Taste.”   Next the Campbell Brothers “Got Their Praise On” for an uncle who had recently passed away.  Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better they kicked into “I’ll Fly Away.”

Billy Sims, Jr. and Chaney Sims filled in for Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whitely.  Apparently Diana had problems getting into the U.S. from Canada so was unable to perform.  The acoustic duo of the Sims was real nice.  Billy switched from guitar to keyboards and performed some real nice blues.  Highlights included “St. Louis Blues” and “St. James Infirmary.”

From there it was off to the East Coast debut of Alabama Mike.  Alabama Mike had one of the best releases of 2009/2010 and is about to release his next CD.  After just two songs the weather turned from bad to worse and his show was shut down until the storm moved through. It then became time for the Rochester crew to gas up the bus and head back home.  Much more continued throughout the day including the Homemade Jamz Blues Band, Mavis Staples, Joe Krown with Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.  So much blues, so little time.

Greg “Doc” Lefebre host of Doc’s Juke Joint, heard every Sunday night from 7-10pm Est.  on Jazz 90.1FM.