Bios

Mississippi Valley Blues Festival starts in

Artist Bios 2013

Selwyn Birchwood Band

Selwyn Birchwood Band

Bandshell stage - Thursday 3:00 p.m.

CD Baby says it best about Selwyn Birchwood's CD FL Boy: "Eclectic original tunes ranging from swampy roots music to upbeat front porch blues to hip shakin' funk grooves." That description applies to their high-energy live shows too.

When I heard the Selwyn Birchwood band at the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge this past February, it was obvious to me that they were the best band in the finals. For the past few years I've

Howard and the White Boys

Howard & the White Boys

Bandshell stage - Thursday 5:00 p.m.

The members of Howard & the White Boys first met at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb in 1988 and began jamming together just for fun, but their fast-growing popularity soon convinced them they could make a career of it. After only a few months, they got their first big break by opening for B.B. King. The band soon made the move to Chicago and began performing with the biggest names in blues:

Eddie Turner & the Trouble Twins

Eddie Turner

Bandshell stage - Thursday 7:00 p.m.

Eddie "Devil Boy" Turner's scorching guitar playing lives up to his name. Born in Cuba, raised in Chicago, and entering the music scene as a young adult in Colorado, his music is a fiery stew of Afro-Cuban beats and the sounds that influenced him growing up, including blues and psychedelic rock. Every time I've heard him live, I'm reminded of Hendrix's straight-from-Mars style.

Chris O'Leary Band

Chris O'Leary Band

Bandshell stage - Thursday 9:00 p.m.

Workshop (harp) - Thursday 4:00 p.m.

Every year the Entertainment Committee gets scores of solicitations from acts we never heard of who want to be considered for the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, but very few make the cut. This year we all agreed that the Chris O'Leary Band should be given one of our coveted slots at the Fest. We heard a tight band playing good old-fashioned blues—and most of their songs are originals!

Walter Trout

Walter Trout

Bandshell stage - Thursday 11:00 p.m.

Walter Trout knows all about the life-shaping power of a great record. In the mid-'60s, he was put on his path by an older brother with a habit of blasting the family home in New Jersey with blues-rock platters from Paul Butterfield's 1965 debut to John Mayall's seismic Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton. "He brought home John Mayall, and told me, 'You gotta hear this guy!'" reflects the 62-year-old guitarist, who was soon inspired to buy his first Gibson Les Paul while on a day trip to Philadelphia.

Kevin "B.F." Burt

Kevin B.F. Burt

Tent stage - Thursday 4:00 p.m.

Workshop - Thursday 2:30 p.m.

BlueSKool - Friday and Saturday 4:45 p.m.

For over 20 years, Coralville's Kevin "B.F." Burt has been electrifying audiences throughout the nation, dispelling the myth that true blues has no roots in Iowa. His soul-inspired presentation is unique, which consistently gets him compared to a range of artists like Bill Withers and Aaron Neville, with the ability to build an audience rapport that has been compared with greats like B.B. King.

Joe and Vicki Price

Joe and Vicki Price

Tent stage - Thursday 6:00 p.m.

When I think of Joe & Vicki Price, "Iowa Crawl" comes to mind. They represent to me a certain kind of Iowa Americana—blues from the Heartland. But in the past few years especially, Joe and Vicki have been touring everywhere; they're not just Iowa blues musicians anymore. They are regulars at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago. They've played nationally-acclaimed blues festivals like Telluride in Colorado

Davina and the Vagabonds

Davina and the Vagabonds

Tent stage - Thursday 8:00 p.m.

MVBS member Glenn Cotabish had been raving about Davina & the Vagabonds for a few years before I finally saw them live in Memphis at an IBC showcase, and he was right. Davina & the Vagabonds have a unique sound that casts back to the "classic blues" era of female artists in the '20s and '30s. The band is horn-driven, there's no lead guitar, and Davina is a powerhouse entertainer.

Southern Hospitality

Southern Hospitality

Tent stage - Thursday 10:00 p.m.

Workshop (Victor Wainwright) - Thursday 5:30 p.m.

It started as the idea to get Victor Wainwright to play the BluesFest. I'd heard him twice live with his band the Wild Roots, and I just went crazy for his piano playing. Unfortunately—lol—Victor's on tour this summer with Southern Hospitality, so we had to take the whole package including Damon Fowler and JP

Mississippi Valley Blues Challenge Finals

MVBC Finals

Bandshell stage - Friday 3:00 p.m.

The first Mississippi Valley Blues Challenge Final Round is being held at the Festival this year with three bands vying for a chance to be named the victor. Each of the three bands will play for 20 minutes with the winner of the Challenge qualifying for the 30th International Blues Challenge in Memphis, as well as receiving a paid slot in this year's Mississippi Valley Blues Festival on Saturday, July 6.

Jimmy Nick & Don't Tell Mama

Jimmy Nick & Don't Tell Mama

Bandshell stage - Friday 5:00 p.m.

The band consists of Jimmy Nick Goffron on vocals and guitar, Ben Thompson on tenor saxophone, Lowell Todd on bass, and Joel Baer on drums.

Jimmy Nick is a blues guitar prodigy who has been developing his chops and licks on guitar since he was 16 years old in Chicago clubs. That's where he cultivated his boundless energy and stage presence.

Samantha Fish

Samantha Fish

Bandshell stage - Friday 7:00 p.m.

Just since 2010, when Samantha Fish was only 21, she has seen an almost meteoric rise to recognition and fame. That year, she was "discovered" in her hometown of Kansas City, and through a lucky connection she was next asked to join Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde for Ruf Records' "Girls with Guitars" CD project and following tour of the U.S. and Europe. Then she won the Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut in 2012 for her solo effort, Runaway.

Anthony Gomes

Anthony Gomes

Bandshell stage - Friday 9:00 p.m.

Anthony Gomes. What can I say about him? Well I can start out by saying he is one of those artist that plays with passion. You can tell this easily by the way he plays, the way he grips that guitar like it is an extension of his arm. He just doesn't play that thing; he is that instrument, at that time and place. Look into his eyes when he is performing and you will see what I mean. You can feel his emotion.

Mighty Sam McClain

Mighty Sam McClain

Bandshell stage - Friday 11:00 p.m.

According to Richard Skelly in the AllMusic Guide, "Vocalist Mighty Sam McClain is a specialist in Southern soul-blues, one of the original masters from the 1960s, when the music enjoyed its peak popularity. He carries on the tradition of vocalists like Bobby Bland, Solomon Burke, Otis Clay, James Carr, and Otis Redding."

Winter Blues All-Stars

Winter Blues All-Stars

Tent stage - Friday 4:00 p.m.

BlueSKool - Friday and Saturday 6:00 p.m.

The Winter Blues All-Stars is comprised of talented young musicians selected from the River Music Experience's Winter Blues program. The annual Winter Blues program features vocal and instrumental workshops (guitar, bass, harmonica, keyboards & drums), as well as a concentration on blues

Scottie Miller Band

Scottie Miller

Tent stage - Friday 6:00 p.m.

Workshop - Friday 4:00 p.m.

When the MVBS brought Scottie Miller and his band to Martini's last year, those of us in attendance were impressed by this Minneapolis-born pianist and singer-songwriter. His musical style is a combination of blues, soul, funk, and jazz. "Sounds like Dr. John meets The Band at Bruce Springsteen's house," noted Tom Hyslop of Blues Revue.

Dee Alexander

Dee Alexander

Tent stage - Friday 8:00 p.m.

Before the summer of 2009, I'd never heard of Dee Alexander. After I heard her in the Tent on July 3rd I knew I'd never forget her. She says she uses her voice as an instrument. She does, but that description makes one think she's just another scat singer. A Dee Alexander performance goes so far beyond what you'd expect from any singer that you'd need a better writer than me to adequately describe it. The whole audience was just as entranced and excited as I was.

John Primer

John Primer

Tent stage - Friday 10:00 p.m.

Workshop - Friday 5:30 p.m.

RiverRoad Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony - Friday 9:45 p.m.

"By any yardstick, Chicago guitarist John Primer has paid his dues. Prior to making The Real Deal for Mike Vernon's Atlantic-distributed Code Blue label, Primer spent 13 years as the ever-reliable rhythm guitarist with Magic Slim & the Teardrops. Before that, he filled the same role behind Chicago immortals Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon.

Reverend Raven and the Chain-Smokin' Altar Boys

Reverend Raven and the Chain-Smokin' Altar Boys

Bandshell stage - Saturday 3:00 p.m.

I agree with how their website describes Rev. Raven & the Chain-Smokin' Altar Boys as playing "traditional blues, straight up with a big dose of passion. With smoking grooves, served up with hot harmonica and smooth stinging guitar, they play original songs peppered with nods to Slim Harpo, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and the three Kings."

Mississippi Valley Blues Challenge Winners

Mississippi Valley Blues Challenge winners

Bandshell stage - Saturday 5:00 p.m.

The winners of the first Mississippi Valley Blues Challenge Finals, which will be held Friday, July 5 on the Bandshell Stage at 3 p.m., will perform again on Saturday at 5 p.m. The winning band will also qualify for the 30th Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, where they will represent the Mississippi Valley Blues Society. The three finalsits are the Chris Avey Band, Serious Business, and the Rock Island Rollers.

The 44s

The 44s

Bandshell stage - Saturday 7:00 p.m.

Workshop - Saturday 4:00 p.m.

I first heard about The 44s from my Orange County (CA) brother-in-law Tommy, who hangs out with L.A guitar whiz Kid Ramos on a regular basis. Then The 44s got booked into the Muddy Waters here, with Ramos sitting in. (Kid was here for the motorcycle swap meet at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.) Wow! This is a REAL blues band with that West Coast sound, most of their material original, and mesmerizing rhythms to dance to.

W.C. Clark

W.C. Clark

Bandshell stage - Saturday 9:00 p.m.

Blues Revue says, "Clark conjures the vocal power of Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett and the guitar of Steve Cropper and Albert King." Clark's mix of modern Texas blues, searing guitar and heartfelt, Memphis-style soul vocals have made him a favorite of blues and R&B fans alike.

Known as "The Godfather of Austin Blues," W. C. Clark has been mentoring countless young blues and soul players in the finer points of the music for almost

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Bandshell stage - Saturday 11:00 p.m.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd has really made a name for himself, even though he is still only in his 30s. He was born in Louisiana and met Stevie Ray Vaughan at age seven and shared the stage with New Orleans Bryan Lee at age 13. Guitar World lists Shepherd as the third-best blues guitarist ever, placing him right behind B.B. King and Eric Clapton. He has sold millions of records.

Chris Avey and Detroit Larry Davison

Chris Avey and Detroit Larry Davison

Tent stage - Saturday 4:00 p.m.

Detroit Larry Davison and Chris Avey are both veteran blues musicians of the Quad Cities scene. They are both stellar performers—Larry on harp and Chris on guitar and vocals. Together, their acoustic act sounds like Maxwell Street transported to your front porch.

Larry is acknowledged by local listeners including other harp players as the best harmonica player in

Toby Walker

Toby Walker

Tent stage - Saturday 6:00 p.m.

Workshop - Saturday 2:30 p.m.

Making his first appearance at our festival will be internationally and nationally acclaimed finger style guitarist Toby Walker. While not yet well known in our immediate area, he comes to us highly recommended. John Hammond calls Toby "A real killer with fantastic technique"

Ironing Board Sam and Ardie Dean

Ironing Board Sam

Tent stage - Saturday 8:00 p.m.

Workshop - Saturday 5:30 p.m.

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society prides itself on bringing a diverse group of blues artists to the festival that may not be in the national spotlight but are extremely talented, blues musicians with many years to their credit of performing this great artform.

C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band

C.J. Chenier

Tent stage - Saturday 10:00 p.m.

According to The Boston Globe, "C.J. Chenier attacks the accordion with the tension and drive of James Brown...creating contemporary, turbo-charged dance music." Downbeat says, "Aspirants to the zydeco throne vacated by Clifton Chenier's death in 1987 are many, but Clifton's son C. J. may well be the true royal successor. He lets the blues and funk rip like a strong wind off the Gulf."

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