October 2013
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Hey All!
Did you miss Blues Notes? Or did you not notice it missing in the September issue? I decided to take a month off, but the deadline is here again already.
Other than the weather, it was a pretty good summer. Tuesday Night Blues averaged close to 600 every night it was outside, which was 11 of 14 nights. Even the rain dates were well attended for going inside. TNB fans have to be the best around. We had a really excellent schedule, too. If you were only able to make one concert, you would not be disappointed with the entertainment. Someone seemed to be saying, every week that “that one” was the best yet.
Blues On The Chippewa was a huge success, again. I estimated there were nearly 15% more fans than the year before. Several folks asked the question of “where can they move it, to accommodate the people as there just wasn’t any more room in the park.
Financially they raised a large donation of both money and food for the Pepin Food Shelf, as well as a very nice donation to a music in the schools program that will be used to start an after school program AND buy a bunch of guitars to give kids that can’t afford instruments the opportunity to learn. That’s an awesome achievement. Lets give a big hand to all the folks that volunteer their time and creativity to make that festival happen! We are really lucky to have such caring and generous folks in our community here in western Wisconsin.
There has been discussion in the Eau Claire paper about organizing a multi genre music festival to be presented at Eau Claire’s Carson Park next fall. Let’s hope “they” get some of the local organizations involved.
Word is that Tuesday Night Blues Unplugged will occur again this year at the UU in Eau Claire. If things go according to plan the first concert of that season will be October 9th at 6:30 – 8:30 pm with Davey J & The Jonestones. Located at 421 S. Farwell St in downtown Eau Claire, it is a very friendly and intimate venue that has been home to many concerts over the years. Looks to be similar to last year with some snack and beverage offerings and a $5 suggested donation at the door. Keep an eye on chippewavalleyblues.com and/or the Facebook pages of Tuesday Night Blues and the Blues Society for a full schedule and more info.
Wednesday, November 25th (the night before Thanksgiving), “Stagefright”, a tribute concert to The Band and their epic concert movie The Last Waltz, will be presented again this year by The Rhythm Posse. This year it will be at Pizza Plus, downtown Eau Claire, across the street from The Ramada. Featuring local musicians portraying the likes of Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, to name but a few in the movie, this concert benefit (Feed My People) has been nothing short of spectacular the last three years, and is back by popular demand. When the relatives come in to town and want to get out and see something head on down to “The Plus”. You’ll really be glad you did!
There will be a Chippewa Valley Blues Society meeting November 11th at Dooley’s Pub on Water Street in Eau Claire. Meeting will start at 6:30. If you would like to become a member, or are a member and would like to become more involved, this is the place to do it. I haven’t seen an agenda yet, but I’m sure some of the topics will be Tuesday Night Blues, Unplugged, Blues On The Chippewa, and nominations for officers will probably be opened as well. Hope to see ya there!
Don’t forget to tune in to WHYS 96.3 Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. for Snapshot’s blues show.
Thanks for lending me an ear! We’ll be seein’ ya around.
Hey All!
When this hits the streets Blues On The Chippewa will be about ready to start setting up. If you haven’t been to it yet I don’t know what you are waiting for. Hard to find a better show and you can’t beat the price! A free will donation to the Pepin County Food Shelf.
This will be the 2nd year BOTC has been expanded to a three day event at the band shell in Memorial Park in Durand. Kicking it off Friday Aug. 2nd will be a Classic Car Cruise at 5 p.m., followed by Left Wing Bourbon the ad hoc host band of the event at the park. A Tuesday Night Blues and Chippewa Valley favorite, LWB will be fresh from the Prairie Dog Blues Fest and will get things rollin’ and rockin’ with their funky grooves. The one and only Howard “Guitar” Luedtke along with Blue Max will keep the momentum hoppin’ with their heated slide guitar based riffs and will put guitar phenom Hamilton Loomis in the hot seat to close out the 1st night of the show at the park. Touring non-stop since 2001, Loomis has brought his funk-i-fied Texas music to audiences all over the U.S. and the world, recently earning two "Best Artist" awards in England and Wales. Then there is always the Kick Off Party after the night’s shows where many of the artists may show up and jam. With the recent, unfortunate closing of Shari’s Chippewa Club, this year the party will be at the Thirsty Catfish Bar in Durand.
Saturday starts early with a 5K &10K Walk/Run “Cruisin’ The Blues In Your Runnin’ Shoes” (registration at 7 & 8 a.m.), or you can kick back with a Blues Brunch at the Durand Riverhouse with Davey Jones & Catya serenading. At noon the music starts up at the band shell again with Revolver a great little blues band from Eau Claire. The faces will be familiar as they are all seasoned & talented players that have a long resume of really good bands. Following will be the Whyte/Orfield Band as part of their annual late summer collaboration, when Grammy nominated Ellen Whyte comes to the Midwest to join up with the Sue Orfield Band to make some joyful noise. Then the Chippewa Valley’s favorite blues band, Mojo Lemon takes the stage to remind you why they have been voted “Best of the Valley” four years running. That’s already a full day of great music, but things are just getting started! At 3:45 the stage will really start burnin’ up when Deepwater Reunion lets you know that small town blues can be a pretty hot event! Followed by one of the hottest groups in Milwaukee, Altered 5. Highly acclaimed by both Milwaukee and Twin Cities newspapers “Altered Five’s delectable brew of blues and soul has a wide audience taking notice.” Then another great band out of southwestern Wisconsin, Reverend Raven And The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys will lift your soul to a higher plane. After all that, what’s better than a bowlful of soulful, funky blues stew? A pipin’ hot Biscuit, of course! Biscuit Miller, one of the hottest acts on the tours this year closes out Saturday night at the park. But, wait, it aint over yet! Just stroll down the main drag in Durand and you will hear many of these bands playing in the taverns!
When you rise and shine at your own pace on Sunday morning you can catch another Blues Brunch on the patio at the Village Inn Café with John Stano doing the serenading. The Music at the park will start at noon again with Steve Meyer and the True Heat Band picking up right where things left off the night before. Aaron Williams & The HooDoo, one of the best out of Madison, follow with what is always a crowd pleasing show. Blazing their way on stage next is Alex Wilson and band, a WAMI winning group out of Milwaukee. From hard Texas grinders to stone cold Chicago grooves with a feeling that’s said to be timeless. Alex’s style and tasty originals matched with his undeniable stage presence and unmistakable guitar style will drive you to the dance floor. Davina & The Vagabonds will shake things up with their blend of blues, jump jazz and soul, they’ll have your jaw dropping. Closing out the festival will be the legendary Lamont Cranston Blues Band with Bruce McCabe, a reunion that seems should have occurred long ago, it is the grand finale to an awesome weekend of great music that you don’t want to miss. If you still have a craving for more music and don’t have to get up and go to work on Monday, or even if you do, the afterglow blues jam will be at the Corral Bar & Riverside Grill following the music in the park.
Tuesday Night Blues has a full schedule for August featuring several of these same bands.
8/6 Whyte/Orfield Band (at Phoenix Park for one night only)
8/13 Dave Lambert & The Blues Motivators
8/20 The Rhythm Posse
8/27 Mojo Lemon
Don’t forget to tune in to WHYS 96.3 Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. for Snapshot’s blues show.
Thanks for lending me an ear! We’ll be seein’ ya around.
