February Blues News
In January our Battle of the Blues Bands winners' "Hurricane" Elaine Hudson and Earl "Guitar" Williams competed in the Blues Foundations International Blues Competition in Memphis. There were 121 bands from all over the world entered. 58 of these entrants made the semi-finals and only 11, fewer than ten percent made the finals. Proud to report that our bands represented Alabama well and both made the semi-finals. We would like to thank the Alabama State Council on the Arts whose grant helped substantially with the stipends we were able to give our winners to assist with their travel and accommodation costs of going to Memphis. The grant also allowed us to give each of our competing bands a high-quality video of their performance in our competition which they can use to critique their performance and for promotion.
February 22nd 6:30pm CharlZ with a Z presents a Tribute to James Brown the Godfather of Soul at Workplay. Charlz Wilson was the funky bass player at our Blues Ball. He is a long time Birmingham musician. I've seen his Prince Tributes. They were great shows and I'm sure this show will be great. I'd encourage you to attend. Tickets $20+ TICKETS
Saturday February 28th @ 7pm we have a BlueStages featuring the The John Bull Trio. John Bull is a dynamic blues, jazz, and soul singer/harmonica player, John stretches the traditional boundaries of blues harmonica over all these genres. The result is a unique blend of American music that's both uptown and lowdown. John is a member of the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame and is an instructor for the Alabama Blues Project. He is also an accomplished visual artist and his artwork is available at many of his shows. Attendance is limited to 45 and tickets must be purchased before the day of the show. Follow the TICKETS link for more information and to register for the event. TICKETS
Sunday March 1st @ 3pm Thomas Trussell and Magic City Mojo will be playing our first Sunday Blues at Elysian Gardens. $10 donation requested.
Saturday March 7th @ 7:30pm the Matt Schofield Band will play at the Shelby County Arts Council in Columbiana. On tour from the U.K., Matt is an inductee of the British Blues Hall of Fame, Matt Schofield has been making his mark globally as one of the top players in the new class of six string wunderkinds. The Los Angeles Daily News wrote, ‘ In Schofield, the UK has produced the best Blues guitarist from any country in decades… head and shoulders above the herd’, while Guitar & Bass Magazine rated him in the top ten British blues guitarists of all time ranking him with icons Eric Clapton and Peter Green. Matt is the British Blues Awards Guitarist of the Year 2010, 2011, 2012 which garnered him an induction into the British Blues Hall of Fame • Voted Blues Album of the Year (2011) Mojo Magazine. This will be a great show in a great Theatre. Magic City Blues Society members get a 50% discount off the base ticket price on advance purchase of tickets. Matt Schofield Tickets
Saturday afternoon March 14th @ 3pm, True Story Brewing, the MCBS has booked Danny Garwood & Company. At 17 years old! Danny Garwood is making waves in the music world with his undeniable passion for the blues. Inspired by legends like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, John Mayer, Jeff Healey and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Danny's mission is clear: to keep the blues alive and inspire the next generation of musicians. Hailing from the vibrant music scene of Nashville, TN, Danny leads the dynamic band Danny Garwood & Company (DG&CO), an electrifying mix of blues, rock, and southern rock. Despite his young age, Danny has already shared the stage with iconic artists such as Ally Venable, Christone Kingfish, and the legendary Buddy Guy at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Danny Garwood & Company deliver high-energy performances that leave audiences buzzing for days. Expect to hear people asking, "What does a 17-year-old kid know about the blues?" and marveling at "How he plays with so much feeling at such a young age!"
Join Danny on his journey to keep the spirit of the blues alive and kicking. $10 donation at the door. Advance registration 50% off only $5 Danny Garwood & Company - Registration
Upcoming Jam's:
1st Friday Jam at Ranelli's - March 6th @ 7:30pm
3rd Thursday Jam at True Story Brewing February 19th @ 7:30pm.