Hear the legendary voice of Terry Evans, as he puts his heart and soul into his own favorite songs.

 

"I wanted to get the real sound of my band," says Terry. "I love these songs, and have been singing them for years. But on this album, I wanted to show how the songs have evolved with my touring band."

 

These songs and his band, are thoroughly road-tested, and it shows in the sizzling performances recorded here. For Terry Evans fans, the track list will bring back some memories of some of Terry's past great albums.

 

TRACK LIST

*Let Me Go Back to the Country

*Natcha Bone Lover

*Honey Boy

*Let Love Begin

*Credit Card Blues

*Come to the River

*Shakespeare Didn't Quote That

*What About Me

*I Fancy You

*I Wanna Be Close to You, God

 

It is a fascinating phenomenon that certain discerning musicians are drawn away form the big bang of a band and back to the primal roots of the blues. Guitarist, singer and songwriter Chris Gill along with drummer Derrick "D'Mar" Martin have come together as a duo in mythical Mississippi to prove conclusively that "less" can be "more".

 

Nine originals and a cover of Little Walter's classic "My Babe" show a wide range of expressive and moody blues within the parameter of guitar and drums. The results are nothing short of astonishing as every track presents a completely enriching musical experience cut live in the studio.

 

It is a feat accomplished by few to acknowledge past musical styles without descending into sentimental nostalgia. Master bluesmen Chris Gill and Derrick Martin effortlessly build upon past glories to create vital new music that is ultimately timeless, timely and rewarding in every way.

 

"Real Good Friend" the slow country blues title track begins and ends with martin listing famous blues "friends" like Honeyboy Edwards and Robert Johnson before Gill launches into a slide-driven slow drag about his "real good friend", his old guitar.

 

In 2007, vocalist, rhythm guitarist and flautist Rachel Fields met guitarist and songwriter Larry Brick, forming a personal and professional partnership based around music and their Christian faith. Within weeks of forming a band in 2010 they won first place at the 2010 Ozark Blues Society of NWA Blues Challenge and were off to Memphis for the 2011 International Blues Challenge, where they were chosen as the pick of Club 152.

 

GOSPEL BLUE contains nine originals overflowing with pure soul and an innovative cover of "Amazing Grace".

 

Like a modern day Pops and Mavis Staples, Brick and Fields blend guitar and vocals beautifully. Fields acknowledges Brick as "...a very gifted songwriter...always seems to write the perfect songs for me to sing." It should also be added that she is the perfect singer for the songs to go along with his unwavering instrumental support. Back by a group that plays, lives and breathes in sync, they acknowledge body and soul by imbuing the blues with the same glorious spirit of love and hope as their gospel songs.

 

In in the song "Cryin'" Fields adds her haunting blue to slow minor blues while pouring out her pain in a heart-rendering tale that is frighteningly convincing, her rich alto a dramatically exdpressive instrument.

 

The sixth annual Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival (www.crescentcitybluesfest.com) takes place Oct. 14-16 at Lafayette Square Park in New Orleans. Admission is FREE.

 

The outstanding lineup includes Shreveport guitar shredder Kenny Wayne Shepherd, legendary soul singer Bettye LaVette, R&B soul man Mel Waiters, Louisiana blues activist Tab Benoit, honky tonk piano queen Marcia Ball, sacred steel heroes The Campbell Brothers, roots supergroup the South Memphis String Band and Mississippi blues original Super Chikan, along with many others.

 

 

 There will also be dozen vendors with the greatest assemblage of home-style barbecue to be found in New Orleans. A huge crafts fair showcases the hand-made works by artisans from throughout the Gulf South. And an interview stage gives fans an opportunity to hear from our performers about their influences.

 

The festival also features a “sports bar,” where fans can keep up with all the latest action on large-screen TVs while enjoying the music. Community radio station WWOZ-FM will broadcast the festival live on the air and on the internet at wwoz.org.

 

 

 

On Friday, Oct. 14, locals and visitors will have the chance to pitch in to the rebuilding of the Crescent City, with a house-building work day organized by the St. Bernard Project.

 

There’s also a contest to submit drawings of original artwork that will be used to grace the festival’s official t-shirt.

 

For complete details, see the festival web site, www.crescentcitybluesfest.com.

 

The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation (www.jazzandheritage.org), the nonprofit that owns the world-famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell (www.nojazzfest.com). The Foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other revenues, for year-round programs in education, economic development and cultural events. For info, see www.jazzandheritage.org.

 

The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is sponsored in part of the Louisiana Office of Tourism. Visit LouisianaTravel.com. 

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COLUMBIA, MO. - The 2011 Boone County National Bank Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival had an estimated 52,000 attendees from 31 states, including Alaska. The audience included fans for both ticketed and non-ticketed areas, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and BBQ competitors. The crowd enjoyed dozens of bands, which performed on three stages in the heart of Downtown Columbia.

 

The Roots N Blues N BBQ Community Stage set at Flat Branch Park, was a gift from Thumper to the City of Columbia and the community. The stage was free for all to enjoy and showcased local musicians, as well as a performance by the students participating in the Blues in the Schools program. In addition to the community stage, 300 weekend tickets were given to the City of Columbia and distributed through the Voluntary Action Center. In addition, fans could receive a free ticket by volunteering for the festival and giving back to the community.

Henry Gray was born outside of New Orleans in 1925 and began on piano at eight years old and within a few years was playing at his local church.

 

Gray wasn't allowed to play Blues in his home so he had to play where he could and was performing locally at clubs by the time he was sixteen.

 

Henry spent a little over twenty years in Chicago beginning in 1946 and after impressing Big Maceo Merriweather he was able to perform
and record with legends like Jimmy Reed, Bo Diddley, Little Walter, Howlin Wolf, Johnny Shines, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, James Cotton and the list just keeps on going.

 

Gray returned to his hometown of New Orleans in 1968 after his father passed to assist his mother and has performed locally since then, only leaving to perform his wonderful music around the world.

  

Here's a preview of the design you can purchase on one of my t-shirts.

 

Did you know that I do Custom Comic Strips and Comic Pages as gifts?

 

 

 

The Blues Audience newsletter (T.B.A.), New England’s only Blues Publication, is celebrating 20 years of service to the Blues bands and fans of this great American music. An Anniversary party is planned for October 23, 2011 at The Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, Massachusetts, doors open at 4, show starts at 6pm. The party will showcase an All Star Revue of New England Blues talent, including the Chris Fitz Band, Diane Blue, Professor Harp, Mr. Nick’s Dirty Tricks, Alizon Lissance, Carl Querfurth and more special guests. There will be a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle.

T.B.A. is designed to promote hard working New England Blues musicians. It helps them reach the diverse, niche market of Blues fans.  Publisher, Diana Shonk, started T.B.A. in 1991. The newsletter has continued to support the New England Blues scene with articles and reviews of performances by local, working Blues bands in the clubs that make up the New England live Blues music scene. T.B.A. has become a widely accepted source for information pertaining to the New England Blues scene, and becomes a history of much of what has happened in the 6 New England states for the past 20 years.

We also promote the newsletter with a web presence. The web site that does not echo the newsletter but contains pictures and articles about Blues Festivals, “Blues Audience Parties”,  new CDs and links of interest. We send special notices to our readers by email. 

T.B.A. presents Readers Poll Awards every year and the results are on our web site 

www.bluesaudience.com.

T.B.A.’s Publisher, Diana Shonk, was recently honored with a “Keeping The Blues Alive” Award by HeatherFest, a yearly Blues Festival and fundraiser for local charities in the Boston area.

The Blues Audience newsletter is archived at the University of Mississippi’s Dept of Archives and Special Collections, JD Williams Library, University, Mississippi

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TAHLEQUAH, AZ — American rock ‘n’ roll and blues musician Elvin Bishop and The Turnpike Troubadours are performing during the Tahlequah Art of Living Festival Friday and Saturday at Norris Park on Muskogee Avenue between Morgan and Spring streets, near downtown Tahlequah.

 

Bishop is coming from California to play in his home state for the first time since he visited Tulsa as the musical guest of Garrison Keller and It’s a Prairie Home Companion sold out performance in Tulsa in 2008. He’ll play at 7 p.m. Saturday at

 

The free festival is a music and arts event held the second weekend of October. Activities begin at 6 p.m. with the music at 7 p.m. Friday starting with Meandering Orange of Tahlequah, The Paul Benjaman Band of Tulsa, followed by The Turnpike Troubadours of Cherokee County.

 

Bring back the Blues Festival to Narooma
STAN GORTON

 

AUSTRALIA - THE future of the Great Southern Blues Festival hangs in the balance and there is still a chance it could be Narooma’s again.
Festival organiser Neil Mumme, who two years ago sold the festival to Michael Chugg and that resulted in it moving to Batemans Bay, said all options were being considered.

 

Mr Mumme said one of those options would be to bring it back to Narooma and the likelihood of that depended on how the town’s businesses and community felt and how passionate the blues fans were about the festival’s old home.

 

Narooma Chamber of Commerce president Mark Anderson stands by his comments that more events would be welcome in the town, and as such the chamber would support any move to return the festival.

 

The chamber this week is announcing a new director of the Narooma Oyster Festival, which it created to give a boost to the town following the loss of the Blue Festival.

 

The May weekend was chosen particularly because that was a traditionally slow tourism time when businesses could benefit.

 

Some in the chamber would prefer the Blues Festival on another slower weekend, but acknowledging that the October long weekend was part of the traditional success formula and made the most sense for festival.

Nashville, TN - McC Records proudly announces the debut national 
release of THE McCRARY SISTERS (Ann, Deborah, Regina and Alfreda) "OUR JOURNEY" on OCTOBER 25, 2011. Produced by Tommy Sims, Kevin McKendree, Gary Nicholson, Buddy Miller and Chad Brown, the album's 12 tracks include stunning covers of Dylan's "Blowing In The Wind" and Julie Miller's "Broken Pieces" as well as six McCrary Sister originals (including one co-written by Regina and Bob Dylan). Joining THE McCRARY SISTERS on "OUR JOURNEY" are Rob McNelley/Todd Sharp/Bob Britt (lead guitar), Tommy Sims (acoustic guitar), Kevin McKendree (keyboards), Dwan Hill/Michael Hicks (organ), Dennis Taylor/Chris West (saxophone), Quentin Ware/Jon Paul (trumpet) Anton Nesbitt/Steve Mackey (bass), Derrick Phillip/Lynn Williams (drums), Delbert McClinton/Patty Griffin/Mike Farris (guest vocals).

 
For The McCrary Sisters, the daughters of the late Rev. Samuel McCrary  -- one of the original members of the legendary gospel quartet The Fairfield Four, music is a birthright, a lifelong love affair, a sometimes career, an indescribable joy, and occasionally, a cross to bear. 

 

The daughters were raised in harmony, singing at home and at their father's church. The McCrary's home was filled with music, whether it was the Fairfield Four or frequent guests that included a pantheon of gospel greats, including Shirley Caesar and James Cleveland.

 

KERNVILLE, CA. - It was a rockin’ good time at the first Rock n Blues Festival held at Frandy Park last weekend, with approximately 1,000 people coming out to enjoy the music and festival-like atmosphere by the river.

 

A collaboration between Funds for Freedom Inc. and Jagger Promotions, the event was created to raise funds for the Bakersfield National Cemetery Memorial Walkway that will be a place to give friends, family, and comrades of fallen soldiers a place to reflect and honor our nation’s veterans.

 

With an entry fee of only $5 per person, music lovers of all ages came out to enjoy the 11 bands on the main stage at Frandy Park. The musical talent was something new and different for the Kern Valley, coming from Bakersfield, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Santa Clarita, and Oxnard and playing everything from soulful blues to good old American rock n’ roll.

 

The bands included Blonde Faith, Cold Shot, Left Coast Groovies, Deedra Patrick & The Swamp Katz, Reign, Stronghold, Lil' Mike & The Blues Hammers, Alastair Greene, Bunky Spurling Band & K.K. Martin. In the evenings, all of the Kernville bars and most restaurants also had live rock and blues bands to keep the music going long into the night. “This event is awesome!” said Wofford Heights resident Bill Becker, wearing a big smile as he sipped his beer, “The music is really good!”

NEW YORK, NY - Blues guitarist Popa Chubby has a confession: he's not really a bluesman.

 

This may come as a surprise to his fans, and probably to his record label, which markets him as a blues guitarist, but the New York musician — Ted Horowitz, when he's off stage — has thought this through.

 

"I'm a rock guitar player," Horowitz says by phone before starting a tour that comes Friday to Hartford. "I was really influenced by blues, but there are people who play blues way better than I do. But blues for me, it was the English invasion and Jeff Beck and Led Zeppelin."

 

That's not to say he hasn't absorbed the music of the players who influenced his influences, Willie Dixon and Otis Rush among them.

Blind Pig Records has released "Holler and Stomp," the new CD from The Cash Box Kings, a Chicago-based old-school outfit with a growing reputation for excelling at vibrant, deep-in-the pocket blues and roots music.

 

      

 

Soul and rhythm and blues got their start in church. And that is where Elwood takes us this week: the gospel music of the Staples Singers, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and Aretha Franklin. Plus a sit down with one of the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the wonderful Holmes Brothers. You will hear music from them as well. Plus, the Jeff Golub Band pays tribute to BB, Albert, and Freddie, with a new record called Three Kings. This week’s giveaways? Five copies of Let Them Talk, the debut album from Hugh Laurie, better known to you as cranky television doctor, HOUSE. And he CAN play the blues. Also, five copies of Bad Man's Blood, from folk blues artist Ray Bonneville. All right here.

 

More on our radio and video streams can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 House of Blues Streaming Audio Here