BLUESunday MARCH 4 featuring - Charlotte Blues Societycharlottebluessociety.org/2012_03Bletter.pdf · BLUESunday ~ MARCH 4 featuring “POP” FERGUSON At age 82, Clyde "Pop" Ferguson

MARCH 2012 1

MARCH 2012

Vol 193 $100

Charlotte Blues Society

PO Box 32752

Charlotte NC28232-2752

wwwCharlotteBluesSocietyorg

BLUESunday ~ MARCH 4

featuring

ldquoPOPrdquo FERGUSON At age 82 Clyde Pop Ferguson is one of the last

practitioners of traditional blues in the North Carolina

foothills He has been honored by the Smithsonian Institute

and his music and stories are featured in the National Museum

of African-American History and Culture

The son of a guitar-playing Holiness preacher Clyde was steeped in

the music of the African American community of North Wilkesboro

He got his start playing for revivals with a family group that included

two sisters on drums and piano and his brother on trumpet Clyde fell

in love with the blues which upset his father While playing with his

family group at a revival Clyde started playing a riff from Step It Up and Go during a performance

of When the Saints Go Marching In and his father threw him out of the tent To this day I have no

idea how he knew Clyde recalls Those chords just didnt sound right to him

Clyde continued to learn blues in secret practicing behind a woodshed and listening to radio shows

and other blues musicians in the community Around 1941 when Clyde was thirteen his father moved

the family to Lenoir where Clyde met local guitar legend Max Moore who taught him some chords

Around this time Clyde started playing in local quartets and on the streets After a few years in the

Army he returned to Lenoir but was frequently on the road traveling to juke joints fish fries and

street corners across the country He played from the coalfields of West Virginia to Baltimore and

Detroit often sharing the stage with blues legend Papa John Creach During the 1970s while back

in Western North Carolina Clyde was introduced to Etta Baker whom he admired for playing that

good old blues He performed with Baker throughout the Southeast

As for guitar technique he can move between playing songs like Albert Kings Born Under a Bad

Sign on electric guitar and picking Carolina blues standards like Step It Up and Go or How Long

on his acoustic guitar or hollow box as he calls it He understands the evolution of the blues and

can demonstrate the ways that people played when he was first learning He has also developed his

own style of traditional blues gospel that he performs in churches throughout the region

ldquoPoprdquo will be performing with his son Clyde Ferguson Jr Most of our blues is from 1920 to 1950

Clyde Jr says We work on a couple pieces that range back beyond 1900 back to 1850 For Pop

thats what he grew up with and for Pop we try to keep it pure with all the old blues that we can

Donrsquot miss out on this very special performance March 4 ~ BLUESunday

The Double Door Inn

Doors open at 700

Music starts 800

1218 Charlottetown Ave

704-376-1446

CBS Members ndash FREE

Non-members - $500

(2) Bluesletter

Well the March winds are blowin and so far we havent had any really cold

days so not much time to sit inside in wallow in my Blues But we have plenty

Blues a-comin

This Month we have a real treat Pop Ferguson is going to grace our stage

at The Double Door Inn on March 4th BLUESunday Open Mic Blues Jam will

follow

Pop Ferguson has been playing the blues for 72 years but even now at age 82 he still has a burning

passion for what he has sang and lived all his life Pop has been noted as being one of the last true

practitioner of traditional blues in America living in the foothills of North Carolina by the

Smithsonian Institute (You can find his story there) His motto Blues up close and Personal

You can check out some of Pop here wwwpopfergusonbluescom

Also in town this month Albert Castiglia- March 1st

Lefty Williams With Sam Robinson March 10

Cedric Burnside- March 16th

Coco Montoya- March 17th

And last but not least Mavis Stapes will grace the Queen City with her presence on March 30th at

McGlohan Theatre

Thanks to everyone who came out to last monthrsquos BLUESunday featuring Donna Duncan We had a

great night and a great time so lets do it all over again

See ya

Diva

March 4mdashBLUESunday featuring Traditional Bluesman

Clyde ldquoPoprdquo Ferguson

Mark your Calendar for April 1 Charlotte Blues Societyrsquos 19th Anniversary Party

MARCH 2012 3

NEW CBS TEES

Long-sleeve amp Short-sleeve

White w Blue Logo Blue w White Logo

Prices range from $15 to $25

Pick yours up at BLUESunday or order from our website at

wwwCharlotteBluesSocietyorg

Help support CBS by checking out our affiliates on the website (CharlotteBluesSocietyorg)

and on your BluesBlast for some really cool stuff

One is with Live Nation the other from R Crumb T-Shirts ldquoHeroes of the Bluesrdquo

CBS receives a residual of what you purchase

Our new Board of Directors

was voted in last month

Jeri Thompson President

Jill Dineen Betsy Norton-Stowe

Nick Polyzos Phil Beam

Michael Simonetti Larry Pace

Rick Ballew Dick Gilland

(4) Bluesletter

Great Music Great Talent Great Jam Great Night

MARCH 2012 5

(6) Bluesletter

Big James and the Chicago Playboys The Big Payback (Blind Pig Records)

Led by trombonist Big James Montgomery the Chicago Playboys are a horn-driven disciplined juggernaut of hard-hitting blues RampB sweet soul and serious funk that has drawn comparisons to James Browns rhythm-intensive backing band The Big Payback was recorded live at the legendary Lionel Hampton Jazz Club in Paris James and the band perform with an infectious enthusiasm and verve and the crowd responds in kind

In addition to Jamess blues-tinged originals the program ranges from a killer James Brown groove to soul classics a couple of Magic Sam gems to the funky set closing instrumental version of Deep Purples Smoke On The Water

Big James and the Chicago Playboys are five time winners of the Living Blues magazine annual Critics Poll for Most Outstanding Horns Their high-energy soul and funk steeped in Chicagos signature blues tradition and delivered with an abundance of heart is a joyous celebration of the great tradition of horn-powered blues ensembles

Contino Back Porch Dogma (Blind Pig Records)

Contino is an eclectic roots music quintet who have crafted a lively and distinctive mixture of blues Americana rockabilly and zydeco The groups unique blend of roots music styles has earned rave reviews and an ever-growing fan base in both North America and Europe

Contino was formed in 2009 with a mission of writing songs that are outside the box yet authentic All the band members were involved in writing the nine original compositions on Back Porch Dogma which also features a guest appearance by vocalist Maria Muldaur The four covers include tunes from Tom Waits and the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller

Joe Louis Walker Hellfire (Alligator Records)

Blues master Joe Louis Walkers Alligator debut reached 38 on Billboards Heatseekers Chart for the week ending February 5 2012 It also hit 11 on the magazines Blues Chart The Chicago Tribunes Greg Kot declares Hellfire is Walkers most rock-oriented release bringing the kind of fierce embellishments that Jimi Hendrix mightve conjured and that his guitar playing spins ever wilder and wider into outer space with each solo The Wall Street Journals Jim Fusilli says Walkers raspy powerhouse voice is out front while his stinging guitar cuts through the uncluttered arrangements

Radio response has been equally enthusiastic SIRIUSXMs Bill Wax produced a one-hour interviewalbum feature for his BB Kings Bluesville radio show and NPRorg has broadcast Walker performing from the venue World Cafeacute In addition in late February Elwoods Bluesmobile (formerly known as The House of Blues Radio Hour) hosted Walker for a wide-ranging discussion and plenty of music

Janiva Magness Stronger For It (Alligator Records)

She formed her first band in 1985 and slowly began finding work and in the mid-1990s began recording independent releases In 2004 she signed with Northern Blues where she released two albums that were recognized by the Maple blues Awards Billboard Blues Chart and Living Blues magazinersquos radio chart

Magness signed with Alligator in 2008 and released her stunning label debut What Love Will Do to massive critical acclaim The Chicago Sun-Times raved ldquoHer songs run the gamut of emotions from sorrow to joy A master of the lowdown blues who is equally at ease surrounded by funk or soul sounds Magness invigorates every song with a brutal honestyrdquo while Blues Revue called her ldquoa blues interpreter of the highest rank hellip punchy and tough hellip swaggering incendiary vocal performancesrdquo

Her next Alligator release The Devil Is An Angel Too led to her explosive live shows hitting cities across North America and Europe Who knows whatrsquos in store following the mid-March release of Stronger For It (You can pre-order through alligatorcom)

MARCH 2012 7

Sharrie Williams Out Of The Dark (Electro-Fi Records)

For a native of Michigan it is surprising that Sharrie Williams ldquoThe Princess Of Rockinrsquo Gospel Bluesrdquo is not better known in the States The fact is that she performs more in Europe than in her home country On this release Sharrie wrote or co-wrote every track with the exception of the title track which is a cover of a Walter ldquoWolfmanrdquo Washington tune

The CD includes an effective love song a slow-burning gospel groove with the horns providing a powerful finish to the verses Another cut bemoans the lack of ambition of some musicians who do not want to travel away from home a slick groove with a strong bass line and fluid guitar and piano solos The listener will hear songs of disintegrating relationships abusive relationships lifersquos dangers facing

youth being on the road and trying to please the audience an upbeat affirmation of freedom and choices in life Not every song has a message ndash ldquoMy Old pianordquo is just great fun

The CD closes with ldquoRIPrdquo one of those songs that catalogues some of the departed greats of the blues world Muddy Waters James Brown Koko Taylor Ruth Brown In the final verse Sharrie sings of her late friend Robin Rogers concluding that ldquonow shersquos in heaven singing with the bestrdquo The message overall is what one might expect from a woman of faith we all die but are then reborn in the afterlife of peace (At last yearrsquos Blues Blast Awards Sharrie sang two of Robinrsquos songs accompanied by Robinrsquos husband Tony and Bob Corritore and you could have heard a pin drop ndash a really sincere and moving tribute to Robin)

Overall this CD gives us plenty of examples of Sharrie Williamsrsquo wonderful voice backed by some excellent musicians Hopefully this will be the disc that brings Sharrie more attention back home

(--Excerpt from a review by John Mitchell wwwtheBluesBlastcom)

Big Pete Choice Cuts (Delta Groove)

Dutch blues vocalist and harp master Pieter Big Pete van der Pluijm may not be a familiar name to American blues audiences but hes already well-established in the Netherlands ndash his native home base in North-West Europe Petes informal introduction to the US market materialized in March 2010 with his appearance on The Mannish Boys 5th anniversary release Shake For Me Pete closed out the album in style paying tribute to his hero Lester Butler on the storming New Orleans romp Way Down South backed by Kid Ramos Willie J Campbell and Jimi Bott along with special guest pianist Andy Kaulkin who previously recorded with Lester Butler on the classic album Thirteen Now Hollands best

kept secret makes his official American solo album debut with an incredible all-star recording lineup featuring Kim Wilson Paul Oscher Al Blake Johnny Dyer Alex Schultz Kirk Fletcher Kid Ramos Rusty Zinn Shawn Pittman John Marx Mojo Mark Rob Rio Willie J Campbell and Jimi Bott Choice Cuts is guaranteed to be an instant classic not to be missed by anyone who considers themselves a true blues lover

Fiona Boyes Blues For Hard Times (Vizztone)

Blues For Hard Times is the latest Blue EmpressVizzTone release from internationally acclaimed blues artist Fiona Boyes This new recording is a stripped-back traditional album featuring a mixture of acoustic and electric small ensemble performances and 6 solo tracks Produced by Kaz Kazanoff featuring guests Bob Margolin Derek OrsquoBrien Jimi Bott and more

Australian blues guitarist and singer Fiona Boyes soulful authoritative style has earned Boyes unprecedented international recognition For the past three years shersquos been a nominee in the Memphis

based Blues Music Awards the only Australian ever to be nominated in these awards

Volker Strifler Let The Music Rise (Vizztone)

California-based international artist Volker Strifler has joined Vizztone with his new release Let the Music Rise Longtime bandmate with Robben Ford Strifler shows off his talents as a songwriter guitar player singer and producer on his latest CD The music is heavily infused with

his unique style of Blues roots taking the listener to the outer limits of the genre while combining the traditional with more modern diverse musical styles The traditional instrumentation of guitar bass keyboards and drums are augmented by a horn section mandolin riffs tuba and ldquothe sounds of pots and pansrdquo Attempting to slot him into a single genre is futile

Influenced by original blues icons like Robert Johnson and Hound Dog Taylor to Muddy Waters Peter Green Stevie Ray Vaughan and Robben Ford Volker Strifler has forged a style of his own With this CD Strifler takes a risk with musical freedom that pushes his musicianship in an innovative direction drawing from a broad palate of musical color to experiment with the Blues mdash keeping it fresh ldquoMy goal is to give the listener a sense of hearing something they wonrsquot hear anywhere elserdquo

(8) Bluesletter

NC FOLK MUSICIAN JOE THOMPSON DIES AT 93

Fiddler Joe Thompson is said to be the last black traditional string band player Born December 9 1918 in Orange County North Carolina Thompson grew up in a family where fiddle and banjo music was heard on nights and weekends after farm work was completed Joersquos father and uncle played fiddle and banjo and were sought after by neighbors both African American and white to provide music for local square dances As soon as Joe took up the fiddle he was included in the

music-making along with his brother Nate and cousin Odell

Through the resurrection of Folk and Old Time music in the 1970s the Thompson boys were ldquodiscoveredrdquo and began playing at a variety of festivals They appeared at the National Folk Festival at Lowell Massachusetts the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Washington state and

at New Yorks Carnegie Hall They received a NC Folk Heritage Award in 1991

Until Odells untimely death in 1994 the Thompsonsrsquo playing was as inspired and vigorous as ever Their dynamic instrumental styles and soaring vocals packed plenty of punch and brought attention to the rich tradition of African American string band music in the South Joe Thompson received the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship in 2007 and continued to play his fiddle for appreciative audiences in North Carolina into his 90s

mdashSources NC Arts Council and The Kennedy Center websites

Carolina Chocolate Drops Preserves His Influence

If youve ever listened to Carolina Chocolate Drops then youve heard some of Joe Thompsonrsquos influence and not just because their upcoming album leads off with one of the songs they learned from Thompson (Riros House)

The Chocolate Drops spent time woodshedding with Thompson in their early days playing with him at his Mebane home as well as various festivals including Merlefest (where they recorded a live album together in 2008)

The Chocolate Drops werent the only youngsters to learn from the master either Nobody was too big or too little for Joe to sit down and pick with said one musician who often played with Thompson He never met a stranger If you were into music Joe was into you Just that straightforward Everywhere he

went he left kernels of wisdom good sense and good musical taste

Joe Thompson was a gentleman and a gentle man said another one of Thompsons frequent playing partners To hear his legacy in a younger generation of musicians is very satisfying to all of us who play this kind of music He really was a one-of-a-kind fiddle player and were all lucky and honored to have just walked in his garden

mdashExcerpt from the News and Observer by David Menconi 22212

TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HUBERT SUMLIN HELD FEB 24 AT THE APOLLO THEATER

There were many highlights at Howlinrsquo for Hubert ndash a tribute to guitarist Hubert Sumlin who played in Howlinrsquo Wolfrsquos band for decades and passed away on December 4th due to heart failure

The event originated while Sumlin was still alive as a celebration to mark his 80th birthday and as a benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America It stayed that way guest after guest recounted Sumlinrsquos unfaltering positivity and passion for his instrument

At the end of Eric Claptonrsquos take on ldquoForty Fourrdquo Keith Richards ambled onstage with no introduction Richards delivered his version of Howlinrsquo Wolfrsquos ldquoGoing Down Slowrdquo and a 12-string slide while singing ldquoLittle Red Roosterrdquo He then traded licks with Clapton on ldquoSpoonfulrdquo (It was Richardsrsquo first major musical appearance since the Rolling Stones last toured five years ago)

The entire show was one for the history books ndash all-stars including Buddy Guy Billy Gibbons Warren Haynes Jimmie Vaughan Derek Trucks Susan Tedeschi Kim Wilson Doyle Bramhall II Billy Flynn Kenny Wayne

Shepherd Kebrsquo Morsquo Gary Clark Jr and Elvis Costello ndash plus overlooked legends like Wolfrsquos former bandmates harmonica player James Cotton guitarist Jody Williams and saxophonist Eddie Shaw David Johansen who sang lead at many of Sumlinrsquos shows in recent years emerged for Evil replicating Howlin Wolfrsquos vocals with a weathered cat-scratch howl

Each set came and went in a flash Performers were backed by an incredible house band including Steve Jordan and Jim Keltner two of the best drummers alive bassist Willie Weeks and pianist Ivan Neville

Read more at httpwwwrollingstonecommusicnews (mdashExcerpt from Patrick Doyle 22512)

Below the Carolina Chocolate Drops with their mentor Joe Thompson

MARCH 2012 9

CONGRATULATIONS TO

CHUCK JOHNSON ldquothe Charleyhorserdquo who won

the Charlotte Music Awards SingerSongwriter Showcase last week

Clarksdale resident musician Guitar Mikey has signed

with Earwig Music of Chicago to release a new studio album Out of the Box with a street date of April 17 2012 The music was recorded in Hideaway Studios Coahoma County MS over a two-year period 2010 to 2011 and is produced by Guitar Mikey and engineeredmixed by CBS member Mark Williams

Tracy Nelson is featured on Cyndi Lauperrsquos new DVD To

Memphis With Love where together they perform Nelsonrsquos signature song ldquoDown So Lowrdquo Lauperrsquos new DVD follows on the heels of her 2010 Grammy nominated CD Memphis Blues which finds the Pop diva tackling traditional blues standards and personal favorites (including Nelsonrsquos ldquoDown So Low) along with the help of blues heavyweights BB King Charlie Musselwhite and Jonny Lang Lauperrsquos new DVD was released October 2011 and also features special guests Allen Toussaint and Jonny Lang

Legendary singer Bonnie Raitt and her band will be performing in

Chicago on Saturday May 19th hosting a special benefit reception following her show with singer songwriter Marc Cohn in support of the Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS) Bonnie is touring again in 2012 after a two-year respite and will premiere her new album Slipstream which will be released on April 2nd Bonnie is a nine time Grammy winner and inductee into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame She has an amazing 58 other recordings She is a well known long time social change activist and is a founding member of The Blues Foundation and Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) among others Bonnies web sitewwwbonnieraittcom is very complete and up to date with information on Bonnie and all of her work including her activism She has been a supporter of NEIS for over 20 years

The Mississippi House has voted to name part of Interstate 55 for

blues great Robert Johnson whose most famous song is about a crossroads House Bill 166 would designate a 13-mile stretch in Copiah County as the Robert L Johnson Memorial Highway Johnson was born in the county in 1911 (Legend says Johnson gained extraordinary guitar skills by selling his soul to the devil at a crossroads Some versions name that corner as US highways 49 and 61 in the Mississippi Delta some 200 miles north of Copiah County Despite a short life Johnson influenced later musicians such as Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones)

Alligators Bruce Iglauer was one of a handful of

Chicagoans recognized by the Chicago Tribune as Artist of the Year The homegrown record label turned 40 in 2011 which was celebrated at the Chicago Blues Festival in June

Iglauer the labelrsquos founder and do-everything-guy (who started his label out of his North Side bedroom in 1971) acknowledged what he and his staff and countless artists have built over four decades Iglauer has launched or resurrected numerous careers in his tenure ldquoSomebody has to be a patron of the arts below a certain economic linerdquo he told the Tribune earlier this year ldquoThat is our role Koko (Taylor) used to say lsquonever curse the bridge that took you acrossrsquo We need to be that bridge for a lot of artistsrdquo

INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE

Winner of the Band Competition

The WIRED Band (Washington Blues Society)

2nd Place The Bart Walker Band (Nashville Blues Society)

3rd Place Paula Harris (The Golden Gate Blues Society)

The winner of the SoloDuo Competition

Ray Bonneville (Ozark Blues Society of NW Ark)

2nd Place Dr Dons Double Dose (Sydney Blues Society)

The Gibson Guitarist Award went to

Bart Walker

The Lee Oskar Top Harmonica Player was Randy McQuay (Cape Fear Blues Society)

The Best Self-Produced CD ldquoWhere Im Coming Fromrdquo by Dave Keller

The Gibson guitar autographed by BMA nominees

was won by Chris Hardwick

For Scott Allen and Jen Taylor of Vividpix and Designrsquos IBC slideshow click

httpvividpixcomtemp2012ibc

For their slideshow of KBA Award recipients click httpvividpixcomtemp2012kba

The 29th International Blues Challenge is set

for Jan 29mdashFeb 2 2013

The 2012 Blues

Blast Music Awards

The nominations committee will begin accepting submissions from labels and artists on

March 1st

To be considered you must send your copies by April 15 2012

Nomination Categories are

Contemporary Blues Recording of the Year Traditional Blues Recording of the Year

Song of the Year New Artist Debut Recording of the Year

Male Blues Artist of the Year Female Blues Artist of the Year

Blues Band of the Year Rising Star Award

Complete details at

httpwwwthebluesblastcom

(10) Bluesletter

54th Grammy

Blues Category Winner

Revelator

~Tedeschi Trucks Band~

Awards were given out to a slew of artists but due to the elimination

of over 30 categories last year only one blues recording was honored with an award

Donrsquot forget to check listings

on your local PBS stations

They do Blues too

The Blues came to the White House in a BIG waymdashand was

filmed last month The program includes performances by Mick Jagger BB King Troy ldquoTrombone Shortyrdquo Andrews Jeff

Beck Gary Clark Jr Shemekia Copeland Buddy Guy Warren Haynes Keb Mo Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks Booker T Jones served as music director and band leader

Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis

Tennessee comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love Inspired by actual events MEMPHIS is about a white radio DJ who wants to

change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break Follow their incredible journey to the ends of the

airwaves mdash filled with laughter soaring emotion and roof-raising rock lsquonrsquo roll

Special Offer for Current Members

Send us your Business Card for free posting

Letrsquos do business with our Blues Friends

MARCH 2012 11

WHOrsquoS PLAYIING WHERE ALL OUT BLUES BAND Sat 310 Miciahrsquos SpeakeasymdashMooresville NC

Sat 324 Freemanrsquos PubmdashGastonia NC

BILL MILLER BAND Sat 324 the LodgemdashCharlotte NC BLUES PROVIDERS Sat 317 THE Speakeasy AlehousemdashConcord NC Shannonrsquos Big Blues Birthday Bash

GENE GENE amp THE BLUES MACHINE Fri 316 StoogesmdashMint Hill NC Sat 317 Brown StreetmdashGreenville SC Sat 331 Iron Thunder SaloonmdashConcord NC

JILL DINEEN BAND

Every Thurs McHalersquos ndash Fort Mill SC (800) Fri 39 The Bathtub GinmdashMooresville NC Sat 317 Sharkyrsquos Bar amp BilliardsmdashMint Hill NC Sat 331 The Comet GrillmdashCharlotte NC LENNY FEDERAL BAND Every Fri The Comet Grill ndash Charlotte NC

MATTER OF FACT Every Wed The Bathtub GinmdashMooresville NC (acostic) Sat 33 The Blind TigermdashGreensboro NC Sun 311 Easy EddiersquosmdashHuntersville NC Charlie Atwell Benefit

Sat 317 Mchalersquos Irish Pub on MainmdashRock Hill SC Fri 323 The Bathtub GinmdashMooresville NC Sat 324 TumbleweedsmdashMonroe NC (600) Welcome Home Veterans Benefit

Sat 331 The boiler RoommdashAsheville NC

MICHAEL WOLF amp DBA Sat 33 The Cellar ClubmdashSpartanburg SC NITA B amp THE SWINGINrsquo SOIREE Fri 39 Big Benrsquos British PubmdashCharlotte NC Fri 316 The KickstandmdashCharlotte NC

Nita B amp Bill Buck Duo

Fri 32 Cafeacute Monteacute French Bistro ndash Charlotte NC Sat 310 DrsquoVine Wine ndash Charlotte NC Fri 323 Cafeacute Monteacute French Bistro ndash Charlotte NC

Sat 324 DrsquoVine Wine ndash Charlotte NC Fri 330 Summit Coffee House ndash Davidson NC PAMELA TAYLOR BAND Sat 317 The SpokemdashLancaster SC Fri 323 Famdamilys Restaurant and Tavern Great Falls Hwy Lancaster SC

PART-TIME BLUES BAND Fri 39 LKN Music HallmdashCornelius NC Sat 310 Easy EddiersquosmdashHuntersville NC

Sun 311 Easy EddiersquosmdashHuntersville NC Charlie Atwell Benefit

Sat 324 River City Bar amp GrilllmdashMooresville NC

Piedmont Jackalopes (Acoustic)

Thur 38 Wet Williersquos (Music Factory) - Char-lotte NC

Rusty amp Mike - Acoustic

Every Tues Sports Page Deli ndash Mooresville NC Every Wed Sports Page Deli ndash Denver NC SPEAKEASY BLUES COMBO

Sat 33 Speakeasy AlehousemdashConcord NC Tues 36 Hosting the Open Mic Blues Jam Concord Blues Preservation Club

900 Speakeasy AlehousemdashConcord NC SONNY SKYYZ amp THE RAINMAKERS

Sat 33 Finz Raw bar amp GrillmdashMatthews NC Fri 316 Big Alrsquos Pub ndash Mooresville NC Sat 317 Miciahrsquos speakeasymdashMooresville NC Sat 331 Big Alrsquos Pub ndash Mooresville NC

Sun March 11 Easy Eddiersquos Medical Benefit for Charlie Atwell

Wink Keziah amp Delux Motel

Johnny-Johnny ampWendell

Coconut Groove Band

Part-Time Blues Band

Matter of Fact

amp more

Show kicks off at 200 All-day Cover - $10

Come early for a good seat and great food

12125 Statesville Rd 704-875-2501

(12) Bluesletter

CLUBS THAT HAVE THE BLUES

Forty Rod Roadhouse 704-573-1773 9229-15 Lawyers Rd Mint Hill NC

Hojo amp CCrsquos Wing Shack 704-827-8867 130 W Charlotte Ave Mt Holly NC

McHalersquos Irish Pub 803-548-2151 1820 Goldhill Rd Fort Mill SC

Miciahrsquos Speakeasy 704-799-0095 229 Medical Park Rd Mooresville NC

Skinnyz Bar amp Grill 704-893-2157

15060 Idlewild Rd Charlotte NC

Smoky Joersquos Cafeacute 704-338-9380 510 Briar Creek Rd Charlotte NC

gtgt Open Jam Every Tues Night ltlt

Speakeasy Alehouse 704-784-0107 9 Union St N Concord NC

gtgt Open Jam 1st Tuesdays ltlt

Thirsty Beaver Saloon 704-332-3612 1225 Central Ave Charlotte NC

Tropical Escape Cafeacute 803-366-38888 564 N Anderson Rd Rock Hill SC

The Comet Grill 704-371-4300 2224 Park Rd Charlotte NC

Wet Williersquos 704-716-5650

900 Seaboard St Charlotte NC gtgt Blues Every Monday ltlt

~~~~

We think there are more hellip Let us know

Bringing the Best

in Live Music to the

Charlotte Area

For upcoming events

log on to

wwwmaxxmusiccom

Special Offer for Current Members

Send us your Business Card for free posting

Letrsquos do business with our Blues Friends

The Sparkle City Blues Jam

Every other Wednesday at The Cellar Club

1071 Fernwood Glendale Road Spartanburg SC

March 14 Hosted by VONNA hellip Women in Blues Jam

March 28 Hosted by CODYrsquoS REPLAY (also accepting musical equipment for children undergoing medical treatment)

The musician signup for each jam starts at 630PM Full backline is providedjust bring your guitar (and a SMALL amp if you prefer your own) bass harp and drumsticks

Any questions contact us at 864 400-8382 or sparkle_city_bluesyahoocom

MARCH 2012 13

The Double Door Inn

Check out The Double Doorrsquos Website for other bands playing this month

updates and future bookings show times

admission nightly drink specials amp more

Sign up for weekly updates

Purchase Advance Tickets for selected shows

wwwdoubledoorinncom

1218 Charlottetown Ave 704-376-1446

Join the DDI Fan club at wwwfacebookcom

Early shows 900 most Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Check website for mid-week discounts

EVERY MONDAY

MONDAY NITE ALL STARS

The awesome Monday Nite All-Stars will be playing some of your favorite Soul Funk easy to listen to and

great to dance to

EVERY TUESDAY

JAZZ JAM NIGHT

Bill Hannas Jazz Quartet has been hosting this jam session at the club for years Whether you are an up-and-coming jazz musician or someone shaking the dust off the old instrument either way this is the place

where you can come out and jam with one of the best

GOT SOME BLUES IN MARCH Adv Tix purchased at wwwdoubledoorinncom

March 1 ALBERT CASTIGLIA (900) BluesRock $10 Adv Tix

March 4 ldquoPOPSrsquo FERGUSON ~ BLUESunday (800) Traditional Blues

March 10 LEFTY WILLIAMS W SAM ROBINSON (1000) BluesRockSoul $10

March 16 CEDRIC BURNSIDE PROJECT (1000) Juke Joint Blues $8 Adv Tix

March 17 COCO MONTOYA (1000) Blues $15 Adv Tix

March 21 BIG LEG EMMA (900) RootsAmericanaRock $7 Adv Tix

March 23 HAMILTON LOOMIS ~ DVD Release (1000) BluesRockSoul $12 Adv Tix

March 28 REV PEYTONrsquoS BIG DAMN BAND (900) Country BluesRockabilly $10 Adv Tix

(14) Bluesletter

You can help increase revenue by selling (or buying) advertising in the Bluesletter Our rates are very inexpensive compared to other local newsletters hellip and now that previous issues are posted on our website your ad can be viewed by more readers for a longer period of time

Ads are due by the 10th of the month for the following monthrsquos issue Ads must be pre-paid unless billing arrangements have been aproved (Federal Tax ID available upon request)

Contacts for questions are - Betsy at bnsb40carolinarrcom (704-351-3848) - Rita at fulobluzgmailcom (980-226-0917)

(Print this page as a handout for your ad sales)

MONTHLY RATES $ 15 Business Card $ 40 Quarter Page $ 75 Half Page $125 Full Page Package Rates Available

10 discount to CBS members

(excluding business card)

Due to e-mail distribution we can

now accept ads related to finance

insurance or credit cards

The Bluesletter is published monthly by the

C h a r l o t t e B l u e s S o c i e t y

PO Box 32752

Charlotte NC28232-2752

wwwcharlottebluessocietyorg

SMF PBN 1938390

The Charlotte Blues Society (CBS) is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the American Blues tradition through the presentation of concerts forums workshops and educational programs in Charlotte and surrounding areas Founded in the Spring of 1993 CBS has steadily

grown in membership and popularity in support of this musical art form

CBS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors and is an affiliated member of The Blues Foundation the umbrella organization for a worldwide network of 165 affiliated Blues societies and has individual memberships around the globe The Blues Foundation produces the Blues Music Awards Keeping the Blues Alive Awards Blues Hall of Fame Induction and the International Blues

Challenge

CBS members gather on ldquoBLUESundayrdquo the 1st Sunday of each month 800 PM at The Double Door Inn Meetings include announcements and updates special guests and an Open Mic Blues Jam BLUESunday is free to CBS members and only $500 for non-members The Board of Directors also meets every 1st Sunday Meetings are open to

the membership

Members receive a monthly newsletter and free admission to monthly meeting entertainment (unless otherwise posted) In addition members receive discounts and co-sponsored or CBS-advertised events Annual dues (12-month period) are $20~ Individual $35 ~ Family and $75 ~ Sponsor Membership Corporate sponsorships and individual

contributions are welcome and are tax deductible (excluding dues)

The CBS Bluesletter is published monthly and distributed to approximately 600 readers It includes information on Society activities a

local blues calendar and a variety of blues-related items of interest

CBS is proud to call The Double Door Inn home The Double Door Inn winner of the 1994 Keeping the Blues Alive award from The Blues Foundation is located at 1218 Charlottetowne Ave Charlotte NC (704-376-1446) Over the past 35 years the DDIrsquos stage lights have shined on Willie Dixon Koko Taylor Lilrsquo Ed amp the Blues Imperials Marcia Ball Saffire ~ The Uppity Blues Women Lonnie Brooks Eddy ldquothe Chiefrdquo Clearwater Stevie Ray Vaughan and Luther Allison just to name a few (And that doesnrsquot even include the countless local and regional performers who otherwise would not have had a stage to stand on) Thank you Double Door for all your support for live blues zydeco reggae Americana and most of all your support of the Charlotte Blues Society

OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jeri Thompson President 704-488-9608

Betsy Norton-Stowe Vice-President 704-351-3848

(vacant) Secretary

Jeff Thompson Treasurer 704-829-5336

Advisors Beth Pollhammer Bill Buck

Rita Miller Michael Simonetti

BLUESLETTER STAFF amp CONTRIBUTORS

Bluesletter Staffmdash Jill Dineen Rita Miller

Contributing ArticlesPhotosndash Jeri Thompson Michael Simonetti Michael Ingmire Rita Miller

Artists Media amp Websites

Memberships Address Changes - wwwcharlottebluessocietyorg

Printing Services - International Minute Press South Blvd Charlotte

Submissions Welcome

Blues Articles CD Reviews Concert Reviews Interviews Calendar Events Advertising News Releases

Items due no later than the 15th of the month for the following

monthrsquos issue

Items received beyond deadline will be used the following month

if still timely

Scanned or digital photos should be e-mailed to the editor other

photos are also accepted and will be returned (Note Photos with matte finish or screen print may not reproduce

as sharp as glossy prints)

Articles may be edited for brevity or clarity unless otherwise

requested by the writer (Please do not exceed 500 words for

articles or 300 words for reviews)

Views expressed by the writers do not necessarily reflect

those of CBS or its members

Phil Beam Jill Dineen

Dick Gilland Nick Polyzos

Michael Swisher (Vacant Seats Available)

MARCH 2012 15

The Bluesletter is published monthly by the

C h a r l o t t e B l u e s S o c i e t y

PO Box 32752

Charlotte NC28232-2752

wwwcharlottebluessocietyorg

SMF PBN 1938390

Something New for 2011 You can now renew your membership online at

wwwCharlotteBluesSocietyorg We have a new email-able form and PayPal Button

Just go to the Membership page and click

Turn Your Radio On Mondays 600-900 PM WSGE 917 FM ldquoHwy 321 Bluesrdquo Mondays 1100 PM-1200 AM WGWG 883 FM ldquoBlues amp Rootsrdquo Tuesdays 600-900 PM WSGE 917 FM ldquoHwy 321 Bluesrdquo Wednesdays 600-900 PM WSGE 917 FM ldquoHwy 321 Bluesrdquo Fridays 1100 PM-1200 AM WGWG 883 FM ldquoBlues amp Rootsrdquo Saturdays 700-1100 PM WNCW 887 FM ldquoSaturday Night House Partyrdquo Saturdays 900-1200 PM WFAE 907 FM ldquoBlues Centralrdquo

Please help us stay current ndash send radio updates to fulobluzgmailcom

If you are a CBS member who still gets your Bluesletter by ldquoSnail Mailrdquoplease send us your e-mail address for faster delivery hellip and itrsquos in COLOR

(On-line delivery saves postage and helps the environment)

Membership Appl icat ion PLEASE PRINT

Name _________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________ Phone (Day)__________________ (Night) __________________ E-mail _________________________________________________ (Not shared ndash Used only for Blues updates and late-breaking news)

Please list membersrsquo names for Membership Cards

________________________ _________________________ ________________________ _________________________

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT CBS [ ] Web Search [ ] The Double Door Inn [ ] News Media [ ] Concert Festival ________________________________ [ ] Other __________________________________________ [ ] Referred by _____________________________________

Todayrsquos Date _________________ [ ] New Member [ ] Renewal

MEMBER CATEGORY e-mail postal

[ ] Individual $20 $25

[ ] Family (2-4) $35 $40

[ ] Sponsor $75 $80

(includes Qtr page ad

or T-shirt) Size __________

VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS NEEDED

[ ] Merchandise Sales

[ ] Membership Development

[ ] Fundraising Sponsorships

[ ] Educational Programs

[ ] Promotion Publicity [ ] Festivals Event Booths

[ ] Bluesletter Writing Photos

ARE YOU A MUSICIAN

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

[ ] vocalist

[ ] Instrument(s)

____________________________

(16) Bluesletter

Charlotte Blues Society

PO Box 32752 Charlotte NC28232-2752

wwwCharlotteBluesSocietyorg

The Charlotte Blues Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors and is an affiliated member of The Blues Foundation

BLUESunday MARCH 4 2012

featuring

ldquoPopsrdquo Ferguson

At age 82 Clyde Pop Ferguson is

one of the last practitioners of traditional blues

in the North Carolina foothills

He has been honored by the Smithsonian Institute

and his music and stories are featured in the National Museum of African-American History and Culture

The Double Door Inn

Doors open at 700

Music starts 800 1218 Charlottetown Ave

704-376-1446

CBS Members ndash FREE

Non-members - $500