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Spencer MacKenzie
Canal Bank Shuffle
with Madi Heath. They play originals,
Having met through local blues
160 H YOUTH The Blues Foundation • blues.org Southern rock, and ’60s and
’70s classics. They are in the process
of working on their first CD. Sixteen-year-old Spencer MacKenzie,
Seth won the Piedmont Blues
a Rising Star winner at On-
Preservation Society Challenge tario’s Niagara Music Awards,
youth showcase, and since then has played guitar since the age
he has been writing and singing
of 5. Still not old enough to drive,
the blues. He is looking for-
he is putting miles on his par-
ward to the Memphis experience! ents’ car performing at festivals,
bars, cruises, and events, earning
praise everywhere he goes.
Soul Raydio His guitar work is outstanding and
Blues Society of his voice has the tone and inflection
for which more seasoned vet-
Granite State
Veronica Lewis
Western Pennsylvania
Soul Raydio is composed of erans strive. His first EP is to be
Blues Society
Shailen Abram on keys, Jonus Fair released by February 2016. As
Veronica Lewis is a 12-year-old
on lead guitar, Jarrett Fair on bass, a singer, writer, and guitarist, he
and Ben Wells on drums. Shailen has found his passion: the blues.
is a child prodigy from Pittsburgh, Don’t be surprised when you hear
Pennsylvania. He has been playing
the piano since he was 18 Vaughan, Hendrix, B.B. King—he
him belt out a song like Stevie Ray
months old. Jarrett and Jonus Fair is an old soul trapped in a young
are twins and are juniors at Valley body. Come out to see him before
he hits the world stage.
High School in New Kensington,
Pennsylvania. Both are prodigies
who excel at multiple instruments:
banjo, lap steel guitar, piano. Ben
Stax Music Academy
Wells is a singing drummer from Memphis Blues Society
Freeport, Pennsylvania. He is a The SNAP! after-school program is
junior at Freeport High School. the flagship program of the Stax
Ben has been playing the drums Music Academy, and occurs during
since he was 3 years old, and
the fall and spring semes-
also plays other percussion instruments
ters of the academic year. There
and all styles of music. are four main performing ensemters
bles: the Soulsville Jazz Ensemble
(big-band jazz repertoire), Street
Spa City Youngbloods Corner Harmonies (a capella choral/vocal
Spa City Blues Society
group), the Stax Music
The Spa City Youngbloods are putting
down their roots as Arkan-
soul/R&B), and Premier Percus-
Academy Rhythm Section (classic
sas’s next generation of blues sion (drumline and percussion
musicians. All band members participate
in Blues in the Schools based program which is open to
ensemble). SNAP! is an audition-
programs sponsored by the Spa students in grades nine through
City Blues Society in Hot Springs. twelve. The program also hosts the
The Youngbloods’ true blues SMA Junior Academy, a program
sound is anchored by Ethan Kuntz for sixth through eighth graders.
on lead guitar, sharing vocals with
Kennedy Elizabeth. Jackson Victorian
and Noah Young split time
Time Gap
keeping the beat, while Callie
Jersey Shore Jazz and
Blues Foundation
Young on trumpet and Christian
Young on bass help round out the Hailing from Philadelphia, Time
sound. To complete the unique Gap is a teenage blues band led
mixture, another bassist, Marston
Murdock, and another guiparcova
and featuring Sophie
by acclaimed guitarist Radka Kastarist,
Tobias Mendenhall, join in, Griffiths’s melodic vocals, Miles
along with Destiny Wells on keys Burger’s jazz-infused bass, and
and Clarke Elmore on harmonica. Noah Bryant’s ingenious drum fills.
jams and school, they perform
several times a month at popular
locations in the Philadelphia area
and at blues festivals such as the
Phoenixville Blues Festival and
A Taste of Berwyn. In addition to
their original compositions, Time
Gap’s set is composed of covers
of well-known blues tunes. Anytime
is blues time with Time Gap!
blues piano player and singer
from Stoddard, New Hampshire.
Her style is boogie-woogie, and
she keeps the chop going with a
solid left hand and upbeat tunes.
Veronica’s love for the blues and
boogie-woogie was obvious from
an early age—she began playing
piano at age 6. Her notable influences
include Katie Webster,
Jerry Lee Lewis, Henry Gray, Otis
Spann, and Fats Domino. Along
with echoing these great players,
Veronica also composes and arranges
many of her own songs.
Her style is that of an old soul
whose playing is from a bygone
era. Veronica is sure to leave you
smiling and stompin’ your foot.
Voodoo Vinyl
Blues Society of Omaha
Voodoo Vinyl is a seven-piece band
from the Blues Society of Omaha’s
BluesEd program that features
accomplished musicians
led by two powerful singers. They
play a high-energy, eclectic mix
of blues, jazz, funk, Americana,
and rock, creating a unique tapestry
of music delivered with a passion
and precision you’d expect
from veteran musicians. They’ve
played numerous popular venues
in Omaha, including this past summer
at the famed Playing With
Fire concert series. The band features
Elyse Davis (17) and Carmel
Hemphill (14) on vocals, Billy
Svolos (14) on drums, Thomas
Palensky (17) on bass, Graham
Brooks (17) on guitar and sax,
Gabi Basille (16) on trombone,
and Cole Palensky (14) on guitar.
Whirlwind
Oklahoma Blues Society
Whirlwind hails from Canadian
County, Oklahoma, and is the firstever
band from the state to play in
the youth showcase. The members
have been active in music and
drama since junior high. The band
recognizes the influence blues has
had on music around the world,
and honors that contribution by
playing traditional and contemporary
blues sets that also include
genres later influenced by the
blues. Whirlwind’s musicians are
skilled on multiple instruments including
drums, percussion, piano,
woodwinds, and fretted instruments.
Each member continues
to train with some of the best instructors
in the region, which enables
them to quickly adapt and
improvise across multiple genres.
Zack Salsberry
Natchel’ Blues Network
Fifteen-year-old Zack Salsberry
picked up the guitar at age 5 and
never looked back. If he seems
familiar, it’s because Zack played
the 2013 IBC with his band, the
UnXpected, and appeared at the
Hard Rock Cafe in Memphis for
Big Llou’s Generation Blues fundraiser.
His current focus is on
songwriting and solo acoustic
performances. Back in Virginia,
Zack appeared at the 22nd annual
Blues at the Beach festival
and at the Chrysler Museum of
Art, and he will play the upcoming
2016 Winter Blues Jazz Fest.
He was also interviewed and performed
live on the Hunter at Sunrise
radio show. Zack’s music is
a unique blend of cool acoustics
and dynamic blues that pays homage
to traditional blues artists
yet incorporates a modern twist.
32nd International Blues Challenge
YOUTH H 161