August 13, 2012 Beverly McClellan stopped by my show Friday, on her way to the 24th Annual Bayfront Blues Festival. Beverly gave me a great interview (hope you heard it live), and after the interview decided she'd sing a little, and we captured it on video for you.
August 9, 2012 They don't call them a Dynasty for nothing. The Brooks Family Blues Dynasty is Chicago's first family of Blues. The head of the family is Lonnie Brooks whose been playing, recording, and writing for close to sixty years.
August 9, 2012 For all those attending the 24th Annual Bayfront Blues Festival this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we're asking you to sign the Big Walter Smith Tribute Banner located close to the Kool 101.7 tent, by the main entrance. All we need is a signature, and the goal is to have the entire banner fully signed from Bluesfest attendees who enjoyed and were entertained by Walter over the past 23 years.
August 8, 2012 Ana Popović's father first introduced her to the blues through an extensive record collection. Popović founded her first band at age nineteen and within a year she was playing outside of her home country Yugoslavia, and opening shows for American blues musicians.
August 8, 2012 Bayfront Bluesfest promises to be the biggest and best year ever, and they have never let anyone down. People wonder what should I bring for the weekend. Here's a little list I've prepared for you.
August 7, 2012 Royal Southern Brotherhood came together in New Orleans during the summer of 2011. Reuben Williams, manager to both Cyril Neville and Mike Zito, had the idea for the band. Zito mentioned Devon Allman, and then, as described by Allman, “we went from talking about the idea, to me and Cyril writing a tune over email, to being in rehearsals, all in two months.”
August 3, 2012 I have a lot of respect for Chris the owner of Bayfront Blues Festival. Lord knows it's a difficult task putting together an event with one or two bands. Can you imagine hosting an event with 31? He's been doing it for 23 years, and starting next week he'll do it all over again for the 24th Annual Bayfront Blues Festival kicking off Friday August 10th.
August 1, 2012 Take some smokin rock n roll, combine it with some heavy blues, stir well...and you get Tinsley Ellis, the subject of this weeks Bayfront Blues Festival Artist Spotlight. Tinsley has mastered an art that has eluded so many artists, great blues infused with rock n roll..and he does it without tarnishing either rock n roll or blues. His is a perfectly executed blend of the both.
July 26, 2012 Walter Trout will be appearing at this years Bayfront Blues Festival on Sunday, August 12th. Walter is a "must see" at Bluesfest. Not only a blues legend, but a guitar virtuoso as well.
Trout spent five years in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and was a member of Canned Heat, two of the style's supremely influential bands. He's also supported a slew of classic artists including John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton and Joe Tex.As a front man the six-string virtuoso developed a reputation for tornado-strength live shows that led famed BBC disc jockey Bob Harris to call him "the world's greatest rock guitarist" in his influential book The Whispering Years and won Trout the sixth spot on BBC Radio One's list of the Top 20 guitarists of all time.
July 25, 2012 Since yesterday I've had numerous inquiries concerning final arrangements for Big Walter Smith, longtime Blues Fest performer, who died yesterday at the age 82. Get complete details after the jump if you would like to pay your respects.
July 24, 2012 Just in case you've not heard the news of the passing of blues legend Big Walter Smith, you may want to read the earlier post from this morning.
Upon being notified of Big Walter's death, I phoned Bayfront Bluesfest owner Chris Mackey. We remembered some stories we each had of Big Walter, and Chris tells me how a chance meeting with Walter, inspired Chris to start this wonderful event called Bayfront Blues Festival. Enjoy the audio.
July 24, 2012 Some sad news came into the KOOL 101.7 studios this morning from our friends at the Bayfront Blues Festival, long time Blues Fest performer and regional blues legend Big Walter Smith died at 3:30 this morning.
