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Rendezvous and
the Hookups
Lowcountry Blues Club
116 H BANDS
2007, and is intentionally spelled
without the O to represent that little
part of music that’s been missing.
All songs are originals inspired
together last summer
by the Almighty. Steeped in gospel
and blues, X Factr attempts to
sultry one-night stand
Charleston, South Carolina. keep the music simple. Reminders
of history, love, marriage, and
original all-star engagement
for one night, but because
heartbreak flash back to the special
moments in life that make you
musical connection
powerful, and the crowd say “That’s my song!” Professional
was so positive, that musicians Dan Haynes, Bob Tiger,
united. Their music Carleton Pike, and Jim DeSchamp
from heartbreak to jubilation,
play with true emotion, backing
classics and originals Peoples’ smooth and powerful
from belly-rubbing slow vocals, getting audiences up on
tried-and-true shuffles their feet and shouting for more—
foot-stomping dance tunes. that’s Rex Peoples and X Factr.
moonlight and hotter than
influence of soul colors
The vocal palette extends
Roharpo the
buttery to weathered. Bluesman and the
of sax and organ top Real Blues Band
unique sound, and the
The Golden Gate
award-winning rhythm section truly
Blues Society
apart from the rest.
Roosevelt Lands, also known as
Roharpo the Bluesman, is a selftaught
harmonica player and
Rent Party
singer with big-time stage appeal
Blues Band
and presence. Born in New Orleans
and raised in Baton Rouge
Santa Barbara
Blues Society
by a family of gospel and blues
Party Blues Band was musicians and singers, Lands
November of 2014 in learned how the down-home
Barbara, California. The blues feel and how the sound
idea behind the band gets you deep in your soul, bringing
people together to feel good.
perform lesser-known
songs that came out of He has created his own unique
and Memphis during style of soulful singing, high-energy
harmonica playing, and inspir-
and ’60s, as a way
the current generation’ing
showmanship. He has been
perspective on the blues. pleasing audiences wherever he
chose its name as a performs. He is a celebration of
evoke the ”let loose and music and life, and he will make
spirit of a house party, you feel inspired and move you
or juke joint. Still in its with the energy of the groove.
performances, the
Blues Band is building
from its influences and The Romeo Kings
upon them to create
Smoky Mountain
that is refreshing while
Blues Society
true blues music. The Romeo Kings drag Texas blues
through the hills of East Tennessee
and distill it in a shot of Memphis
tradition to flash-bang a
Rex Peoples
and X Factr progressive blues sound careening
Colorado Blues Society around a different edge. Originals
created by singer,
and tributes smack off the drums
and Blues in the
of Kenny Rehder and boom from
educator Rex Peoples in
the bass of Brian “Little Jesus” Jol-
The Blues Foundation • blues.org ley. Roger Hay adds the smoky-bacon-greased
guitar lead, and the
mangled rasp of lead singer William
Butler chemically catalyzes
the sound into a rattlesnake bite
that will leave a mark. The Romeo
Kings are the naughty preacher’s
kids who broke the rules to get
it right. Come appreciate American
blues with a Southern groove
from four friends from Knoxville
who play their hearts out for you.
Rooster Davis Group
Edmonton Blues Society
The Rooster Davis Group achieve a
full-band sound using only piano,
drums, trombone, and vocals to
create a unique sound and an exciting
blues experience each time
they perform. Steeped in the tradition
of the New Orleans piano
greats, the group is based around
bandleader Rooster Davis’ driving,
rhythmic piano style. Audrey
Ochoa, one of Canada’s finest
trombonists, and drummer
Peter Hendrickson, with his intricate
second-line snare grooves,
add to this heavy-hitting band.
Completing the group is wellknown
Canadian singer/songwriter
Ann Vriend, whose soulful
vocals contrast beautifully with
Rooster’s gruff vocal style. Together
they deliver their version
of New Orleans-style blues.
Sister Mercy
Cascade Blues Association
Sister Mercy possesses a highenergy,
blues-driven sound. Lead
singer April Brown is mesmerizing
with her powerful, beautiful
presence, full-range vocals, and
complete joy in performance. Her
sister Kelsey Brown gives strong
vocal background support, Steven
Savoie creates memorable
licks on guitar, and Roger Espinor
(drums), Ron Camacho (bass), and
Debby Espinor (keyboards) hold
the rhythms down tight. Representing
the Cascade Blues Association
of Portland, Oregon, Sister
Mercy presents original music that
is a pleasure for the ears, and a
show that is a feast for the eyes.
for a
the
They came
in
The
was only
was so
response
the group
with
from
moves
that range
grinds to
to
Sexy as
fever, the
every song.
Splashes
off their
sets them
The Rent
formed in
Santa
original
was to
blues
Chicago
the 1950s
to broaden
The band
way to
get down”
rent party,
first year of
directly Rent Party
innovating
a sound
preserving
X Factr was
songwriter,
Schools
Smoke Wagon
Blues Band
Grand River Blues Society
Featuring funky blues harmonica,
whiskey-stained vocals, slick guitar
work, soulful saxophone, ragtime
piano, and a solid rhythm
section, Corey Lueck and the
Smoke Wagon Blues Band have
been performing in clubs and
on festival stages for over a decade.
Formed in 1997, the Smoke
Wagon Blues Band became a
crowd favorite in Hamilton, Ontario’s
Hess Village. Four independent
releases, international
radio play, and a large local fan
base propelled the band to national
stages across the province.
Their last two albums have been
international hits, reaching the
top of the roots and blues charts
and garnering five-star reviews in
blues magazines and blogs, and
the Best New Blues Artist award
by the Toronto Blues Society.
Smokestack Lightning
Phoenix Blues Society
Smokestack Lightning gets right
to the point by using the wisdom
of the blues and the mesmerism
of rock and roll to split tuneful
atoms each time they hit the
stage. Since Smokestack Lightning
formed in 2009, they’ve taken
cues from their blues and rockand-roll
forebears to create a truly
American sound. The artists of
this rising outfit are all members
of the Gila River Indian Community
in Arizona, and have spread
their music far beyond the reaches
of their reservation. Bassist Mark
Leos and drummer Pat Antone
hold up the groove like twin Atlases,
while guitarist Rik Leos and
harmonica player Robert Jackson
pounce on audiences with
their exciting lead work and fills.
The SoulFixers
Dayton Blues Society
The big sound of a four-piece horn
section playing sharp arrangements
is just one of the uncommon
assets of this band from Ohio,
32nd International Blues Challenge
BANDS H 117