Illinois Blues Festival
AUGUST 29 - 30 2008
RIVERFRONT PARK
PEORIA, ILLINOIS
THE TOMMY CASTRO BAND
With Legendary R&B Revue Featuring BERNARD ALLISON, MAGIC DICK, DEANNA BOGART, TOMMY CASTRO
Official website: tommycastro.com
The Tommy Castro Band is featured as the driving force and core band on this amazing performance. The band features Deanna Bogart, Bernard Allison and Magic Dick of J Geils Band fame. On the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue Tour, each artist performs a 30-minute set backed by the Tommy Castro Band. The live recordings spotlight many of the highlights of their recent performances. The Tommy Castro Band will be touring extensively throughout the U.S. This year and makes a special stop at the 20th Anniversary of The Budweiser Illinois Blues Festival! Performing Saturday Night!
LONNIE BROOKS BAND
Featuring LONNIE BOOKS, RONNIE BAKER BROOKS, WAYNE BAKER BROOKS, MIKE RODBARD, ANDRE HOWARD, JESSE “THE WHEEL” HUTSON, ROB WATERS
Official website: lonniebrooks.com
Even after 40 years away from his Louisiana home, Lonnie Brooks' music is still instilled with the funky, swampy bayou rhythms of Opelousas and Lafayette, and his lyrics often speak of black cat bones and "Mojo Hands". But along the road from Louisiana to Chicago, he's combined the swing of Texas, the soul of Memphis and the pure power of Chicago blues into a musical gumbo that is all his own. Performing Friday Night!
E.C.SCOTT
Performing With Her Band Friday Night!
Official website: ecscott.com
A gutsy vocalist, endowed with a voice that’s supple, sinewy and tough – potent enough to wrestle a road-house rocker into submission and tender enough to caress the hurt out of a love-lorn ballad.“Living Blues Magazine”
Scott has one of the sexiest, smoothest and most understated deliveries in the genre and is a powerhouse entertainer to boot! E.C. is a wonderful soul singer and an effective and invigorating blues interpreter. .“Blues Revue Magazine”
TINSLEY ELLIS
Performing With His Band Saturday Night!
Official website: tinsleyellis.com
Hard-rocking blues-soaked guitarist/vocalist/song-writer Tinsley Ellis sings and plays with the energy and soul of all the great Southern musicians who have come before him. Ellis attacks his music with rock power and blues feeling, following in the tradition of Deep South musical heroes Duane Allman, Freddie King, Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes. His live shows feature extended fretwork filled with melodic and rhythmic experimentation, in the spirit of jam bands like his friends Widespread Panic and The Allman Brothers. Atlanta Magazine declared Ellis "the most significant blues artist to emerge from Atlanta since Blind Willie McTell."
SANDRA HALL
Performing With Her Band Friday Night!
Official website: myspace.com/sandrahall
Sandra has been preaching, teaching and vociferating the blues from a city that has played host to both gospel and blues music for the past eight decades. We’re talking about Atlanta, Georgia! The Empress tore it up at The Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switaerland and has regular tours through Europe eversince.
Words can only say so much, but witnessing one of her live performances is worth a thousand stories. Now is your special chance to see Sandra Hall as...Opportunity knocks!
MOTOR CITY JOSH & THE BIG 3
Appears Saturday
Official website: motorcityjosh.com
Joshua Ford aka Motor City Josh is a straight up singin’, guitar slingin’, songwriting, crowd- pleasing Blues man. Son of a preacherman and woman, at 33 Josh has achieved incredible success and proves to be one of the most skillful and animated Blues performers around. An absolute entertainer, Josh manages to keep everyone happy no matter what their age or musical tastes - Everybody loves Motor City Josh & the Big 3!
TALLAN “T-MAN” LATZ
Appears Saturday
Official website: tallanlatz.com
Name: Tallan “T-Man” Latz, Age: 9, Hometown: Elkhorn, Grade: I am in second grade at Tibbets Elementary School. Family: I live with my mom and dad and our two dogs. Claim to Fame: The world’s youngest blues guitar player. Favorite musicians: I like Joe Bonamassa, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Hendrix and a lot of others.
JIMMY BURNS
Appears Saturday
Official website: jimmyburnsband.com
Jimmy Burns is a hard-edged, soulful mainstay on today's Chicago blues scene and it is this very authenticity that has made him a hit with audiences far and wide since his 1996 Delmark Records debut CD Leaving Here Walking. The fact that Burns is such a Chicago stalwart, however, means he rarely tours, so this is your chance to see Jimmy Burns.
SPENCER BOHREN
Appears Saturday
Official website: spencerbohren.com
Mixing, gospel, folk and blues, Spencer Bohren has a similar sensibility to Geoff Muldaur. Equally affecting as a singer and guitarist, his vocals are resonant and believable.
Spencer has developed a performance/lecture that sheds light on the origins and development of the traditional American music he celebrates so lovingly in his concerts.
ROCKY LAWRENCE
Appears Saturday
Official website: rockylawrence.com
The Delta is calling.... Come to the crossroads.... Rocky Lawrence heard that call when he put down his electric guitar, picked up his acoustic and started the odyssey into the songs, music and life of the founding father of Rock & Roll, Mr. Robert Johnson.
Mr. Lawrence currently tours the country educating University students on the historical significance of the Robert Johnson songbook as it relates to the history of popular music worldwide. Using Robert Johnson as the starting point, Mr. Lawrence traces the family tree of music through its triumphant climb over the last 70 years, and then drives the point home with a 60 minute performance that truly says it all.
DOKTU RHUTE MUUZIC
Also Known As ROY HIGHTOWE - Appears Saturday
Official website: doktulatrice.com
The Budweiser Illinois Blues Festival is pleased to welcome Doktu Rhute Muuzic formerly known as Roy Hightower. Doktu Rhute Muuzic has enjoyed a full career of experiences from performing, acting and giving back by introducing children to the Blues.
Best known for his many performances, playing Blues in Buddy Guy’s Legends, performing live on television and interviews with various personalities. Doktu is very active in introducing the next generation of Blues performers and admirers through his work with young people, which can be seen in the final clips of this gallery.
DAVE WELD AND THE IMPERIAL FLAMES
Official website: daveweld.com
"With a slide guitar that cries out like a rooster at dawn and a drum beat that pulsates like a neon light flashing on 43rd St., Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames resurrect the kind of raw, slide electric blues in the genre of Elmore James, JB Hutto, and Hound Dog Taylor” - Dave Whiteis, Chicago Blues Festival
SALLY WEISENBURG & HER FAMOUS SIDEMEN
Appears Friday
Jump blues and a whole lot more with one of the best voices on the planet. From on stage duets with Koko Taylor to recordings and live performances with Iowa harmonica legend Patrick Hazell to knock out performances at festivals and clubs everywhere, Sally Weisenburg has been a dominant musical force in the Midwest since the late 70's
6V6
Appears Friday
A fine mix of original tunes that are definitely Blues, but run through the chord changes a little differently, making it a more stimulating rhythm line to compliment the well crafted songs.
The Blues has a strong history in Central Illinois and 6V6 represents the continuation of that tradition, as competitors in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2003 & 2006. Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine featured Russell and son Aaron, in their Family Reunion edition.
BOBBYE’ KING AND THE LADIES CHOICE BAND
Appears Friday
Bobbye' King & The Lady's Choice Band have emerged as one of central Illinois' leading blues acts over the past decade. Bobbye' King was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but her family moved to Peoria when she was a baby. She always wanted to be a singer, and leading her own band has been a dream come true for the husky-voiced vocalist who is well regarded both for her performances and her gracious personality.
ROBIN CROWE
Appears Friday
A Central Illinois favorite, Robin and her band is a must see.
STEVE “THE HARP” BLUES BAND
Appears Saturday
Official website: stevetheharpbluesband.com
A native son of Bloomington, Illinois, Steve has been blowing harp around the Illinois area since 1972. Steve has played with Stanley Jordan, Tommy Castro, Magic Dick, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Charlie Musselwhite, Melvin Taylor, Studebaker John and Hawkeye Herman.
Steve is a Master Harmonica Instructor with over 30 years experience. Steve "The Harp", a veteran and now a retired Normal Fire Department Lieutenant, says," come on out to see us, you'll hear many of your old and new Blues favorites."
