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Downtown Dave and
the Deep Pockets
Granite State
Blues Society
nated for a 2015 Blues Blast Magazine
quel, Chances Are Slim, was re-
104 H BANDS The Blues Foundation • blues.org award for its debut album,
Too Many Men. Eight O’Five Jive
preserves an exciting era, not
They are a great mix of fine musicians
lost in time but alive and jivin’,
with classic and original material
Eugene Johnson
who are no strangers to that is well suited for festivities,
playing deep, scorching, heartfelt drinks, and a lively dance floor.
music, up-tempo and energetic,
with a firm finger on the pulse of
blues and R&B. Their music is impassioned,
The Elijah Butler Band
with infectious grooves, Magic City Blues Society
while paying tribute and respect
The Elijah Butler Band is a Southern
blues band from Birming-
to the greats in the music that
they truly love. They always play
ham, Alabama, founded by Josh
from the heart and soul, whether
Butler and Gary Edmonds. The
creating their own powerful originals
or giving a new twist to an
duo sought to compose an allstar
lineup of Birmingham’s finest
musicians to complement their
old cover with the unique style
and feel of the Pockets. Passion,
noted teamwork of guitar and
dynamics, and intensity are the
vocals. They employed a powerhouse
rhythm section that rests
spirit of this band. They will groove
you, move you, and soothe you.
on the right foot of local legend
Jesse Suttle on drums and the
rollicking bass of Tuscaloosa native
Eric Simmons. Adding a fifth
Dreamboogie
Melbourne Blues
dimension of sound and rounding
out the twin lead guitar work
Everett and
Appreciation Society
Vocalist Rebecca brings elements and vocals is Matt Willis. Together
of her musical idols—the great they bring a unique blend of soul,
blues vocalists of the 1920s—to blues, and rock to the stage with
the act. She aims to re-interpret harmonies, dual lead guitars, and
Everett and Delta Storm are a
the spirit of those great performers
for today’s audiences, using as much as for their audience.
a sense of playing for one another
modern sounds while retaining
the attitude of the music. Rebecca
conveys the underlying
Eric “Slim” Zahl
truths upon which the blues are
and the South
based, using storytelling and the
impact of the blues lyric. “Blues is West Swingers
about the truth,” she says. “The
Oslo Bluesklubb
joys and sorrows of life, the challenges
and excitements, love and enced by the sounds from the
The band performs music influ-
sex—blues addresses them all.” ’50s—in their own more rockin’
The group has appeared at numerous
festivals, toured Australia, and South West Swingers performs
style. Eric “Slim” Zahl and the
had a No 1 radio airplay track. with humor, musical skill, and impact.
Since the band started in
2006, they have logged an impressive
number of club gigs and
Eight O’Five Jive
Nashville Blues Society festival appearances in Norway
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, and England, and are known as a
jump blues band Eight O’Five Jive fun live band. Zahl and the South
is a three-time Nashville Industry West Swingers write their own
Music Award winner for Best Live music, and released their debut
Blues Performers and Best Blues album, Daddy’O, in 2011. The
Artists. Their sound is reminiscent
album was nominated for a Nor-
of the classic era of the late wegian Grammy in the Best Blues
1940s and ’50s, when blues, jazz, Album category. In 2013 the se-
and swing fused during the birth
of rock ’n’ roll. The band was nomi-
leased. This album, too, received
very good reviews in the press
and Company
St. Louis Blues Society
St. Louis musician Eugene Johnson
is a self-taught artist who has
been playing music for as long
as he can remember. Influenced
heavily by the wide range of music
in St. Louis, his style mixes blues,
R&B, and soul to create a unique
sound that comes through in his
bass playing and powerful vocals.
Johnson’s shows are soulful
and come from the very roots
of American music that simmer in
St. Louis. Performing steadily in
the St. Louis area, Eugene Johnson
and Company have a sound
that is both familiar and original,
and always crowd pleasing.
Delta Storm
Kentucky Blues Society
three-piece guitar, bass, and
drums powerhouse from Cincinnati,
Ohio. Everett Gagnon (guitar/
vocals) was born in Brownsville,
Tennessee, where the soul from
the Stax sound, coupled with the
blues from the neighboring Delta,
infused his musical persona. With
a three-octave vocal range and
formidable guitar chops, Gagnon
performs original blues songs
that reflect a bluesman’s perspective
and everyday life. Iconic
Cincinnati bassist Tony Clark
lays down the bottom, while veteran
drummer Lynn Long nails
the pocket. Long is also owner/
engineer of Piccadilly Studios,
where the group frequently records.
Everett and Delta Storm
released a 15-song all-original
blues album in September 2015.
Fat Bastard
Blues Band
Triangle Blues Society
Two weeks and three rehearsals
after their formation, the Fat Bastard
Blues Band played their very
first gig, winning the Triangle Blues
Society’s 2009 Blues Challenge.
They had no real aspirations of
playing past their first trip to the
International Blues Challenge in
Memphis, but the response was
so positive that there was really
no choice for them but to continue.
The Fat Bastards jump up
and shake the room with performances
that mark this band as a
force of nature, a blue wind that
rattles the trees like an oncoming
storm, all while keeping fans
dancing as if the floor were on
fire. Expect their first EP in 2016.
Fat Head
Fort Smith Riverfront
Blues Society
Fat Head is a four-piece band
from Fort Smith, Arkansas, whose
sound includes influences of
blues, rock, and soul. This quartet
plays with a vigor and drive
that mixes the blues with rockand-roll
overtones. Sean Brinkman
(drums, vocals) keeps the
band tight with solid beats and
tempo, inclining the listener to
move. Michael Campbell (bass,
vocals) drives the band with funky
bass lines and a soulful voice that
booms throughout the performance.
Mike Huff (guitar, vocals)
lends a steady rhythm, periodically
adding leads that complement
the others well. Hunter Smith
(lead guitar) is a superb picker,
but his slide playing truly sets
him apart and takes the band’s
performance to the next level.
Fistful of Bacon
Kentuckiana Blues Society
Fistful of Bacon is a four-piece
blues band from Bloomington and
Nashville, Indiana. They are honored
to be returning to Memphis
to compete in their second International
Blues Challenge this
32nd International Blues Challenge
BANDS H 105