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Dave Muskett
place as one of Canada’s fresh with a bevy of tasty fingerpicking
generation of artists taking the guitar flourishes that mix Piedmont
132 H SOLO/DUO The Blues Foundation • blues.org
international stage by storm.
and prewar Delta styles of
132 H melody and moan, before laying
down greasy slide on his resonator.
He resides in Dayton, Ohio,
Chris English
DC Blues Society performs often, and also holds
Chris English offers a combination
of deep traditional blues and blues guitar. He lives to study all
workshops on learning acoustic
solid original material. Delta blues aspects of blues music, but puts
is his forte, singing, playing guitar, an extra emphasis on songwriting
technique. In October 2015
blowing harp, and stomping out
the time on an old wooden Coca- he released his latest album, titled
The Next Place I Leave.
Cola crate. English’s performances
are raw and unrelenting. His stabbing
slide style is reminiscent of
Clarence “Bluesman”
some of the Delta greats. His voice
ranges from a deep, mellow texture
Davis and Jock Webb
to something close to a field Gulf Coast Blues Society
holler. He uses vintage guitars Clarence “Bluesman” Davis plus
from the 1920s and 1930s to create
his own heartfelt renditions of They deliver the mix of tradition,
Davis Coen
Jock Webb equals Ole Delta blues.
the blues. There are few solo performers
as competent, passionpect
from Alabama’s Black Belt.
Blues Society
gritty sound, and emotion you ex-
West Tennessee
ate, and dedicated to the art form. Growing up immersed in music has
He lives and breathes the blues! created a personal and spiritual
relationship with the blues. Davis’s
unique guitar picking combines
Chris O
flawlessly with Webb’s juke-joint
Sydney Blues Society harmonica. Their decades of experience
Chris O is a solo blues artist from
in preserving this genre will
the Blue Mountains in Australia
rejuvenate your love for the blues.
who plays acoustic blues, fin-
gerpicking originals and classics
with a real roots flavor. Playing
Dan Holt
vintage blues the way it used to
Black Swamp
be, she cooks up sounds of the
Blues Society
Delta from greats such as Memphis
Dan Holt has been bringing his
Minnie, Son House, and Mis-
brand of blues to audiences
sissippi Fred McDowell, stirring in around the country for nearly 20
a load of her own songs, all with years. In early 2015 he released
that traditional vibe. Traveling Pleasure and Shame—his ninth
like a pack pony, she carries her album and one of his best. “I see
“band” around with her—lap slide, the blues as tradition, but I don’t
Dobro, uke, and even a few plain see it as traditional music,” says
ole guitars. In 2014 her blues CD Holt. “At its core, the blues tradition
Peckman’s Plateau shot onto the
is based on stories. Without
Australian blues airplay charts, great stories, the blues is just a
staying there for five months. Roll sound.” Pleasure and Shame is an
up for vintage jelly roll and jinks album of great stories performed
with the Mama from Down Under! with the same passion and style
that Holt brings to his live performances.
His distinctive voice,
Chris Yakopcic dynamic guitar, and soulful harmonica
Dayton Blues Society
combine for a sound that
Chris Yakopcic first charms you is as powerful as it is unique.
with his easy, small-town, boynext-door
voice and smooth storytelling.
Then he draws you in
Indy Crossroads Blues
Dave Muskett, Piedmont fingerstyle
blues guitarist and vocalist
from the 2015 IBC finalist duo
Muskett and Carnes, returns to
represent the city of Indianapolis.
Highlighting his artistic evolution,
Muskett offers an intimate
solo set of original blues to the
2016 International Blues Challenge,
sprinkled with finger-style
interpretations of traditional blues
themes. The Dave Muskett Acoustic
Blues Band, whose album Live
from the Slippery Noodle Inn is set
to release in February 2016, will
be appearing during IBC week at
the Blind Raccoon showcases.
Coen describes his music as contemporary
country blues, although
he’s what would have been considered
in years past a traveling
minstrel, writing and singing songs
based on personal life experiences.
He has a warm and captivating
voice that’s well suited for
this particular style, and wraps
itself around the listener like an
afghan knitted by a loved one.
He paints vivid portraits, whether
working solo or with a band, and
delivers small slices of his life with
power and passion. Coen was
billed twice at the King Biscuit
Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas,
has enjoyed regular airplay on
Sirius XM satellite radio, and has
had music included in the Martin
Scorsese PBS special The Blues.
Debra Power
Calgary Blues Music
Association
Pianist, singer, and songwriter
Debra Power is known for her powerhouse
vocals and sparkling keyboard
skills, having built a long
list of performance and recording
credits across Canada and in
the U.S.A. The Calgary, Alberta,
blues community has embraced
her great talent as a solo performer
and in ensembles, recording
and performing in a variety of
settings. She’s become a fixture
on the Calgary blues club scene,
and was a featured performer at
the Calgary International Blues
Festival in 2011. In 2014 Debra
was honored with the Calgary
Blues Music Association Award
for Keyboard Player of the Year.
Debra will be releasing her longanticipated
CD in early 2016.
Delanie Pickering
Granite State
Blues Society
Delanie Pickering is a blues singer
and guitarist from New Hampshire.
Doug “Suitcase”
Hasch
Lake of the Ozarks
Blues Society
Doug “Suitcase” Hasch has loved
listening to the blues greats
since he was young. He traveled
in the Southeastern states playing
in clubs to build his skills
on guitar, harmonica, vocals,
and songwriting. In his songwriting,
he has used these blues influences
and his own personal
style to create a modern blues
sound all his own. His stories of
life are embodied in his songs.
Doug McMinn
Billtown Blues
Association
Doug McMinn has played many
styles of music over a 35-year
performing career, but he always
comes back to the blues. He first
connected with the music through
the British blues-rock bands; after
dropping the needle on his first
Howlin’ Wolf album in 1969, he
knew where it really came from.
McMinn’s solo show is based on
dynamic slide guitar and shouting
vocals, with some side trips to
the swamps and the finger-picking
Piedmont. A deft songwriter,
McMinn salts his sets with strong
original tunes, some of which will
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