Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Magness earns three Blues Blast awards



Janiva Magness
Michigan native Janiva Magness received three 2012 Blues Blast Awards (presented by Blues Blast magazine).

Magness, who attended Mount Clemens High School while living with her grandparents, won awards for Female Blues Artist Of The Year, Contemporary Blues CD Of The Year for her new release “Stronger For It” (Alligator Records), and Song Of The Year for her original composition “I Won’t Cry” (co-written with Dave Darling).
"I never expected to win, especially up against this pool of talent,” Magness said in a release from Alligator Records. “All the same, I am humbled and very grateful."
Muddy Waters’ son, Larry “Mud” Morganfield, was a two-time winner, garnering the Sean Costello Rising Star Award and the award for Traditional Blues CD for his release “Son of the Seventh Son” (Severn Records).
Other winners include: Tab Benoit (Male Blues Artist), Trampled Under Foot (Blues Band of the Year), and the Sena Ehrhardt Band “Leave the Light On” (New Artists Debut Release).

To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Detroit Blues Challenge Round 4

Round 4 of the Detroit Blues Challenge is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15 at Freddy’s, 40000 Garfield Road in Clinton Township.
Competing acts in the band competition include: The Delta Twins, Dirty Basement Blues Band, Lady Sunshine and the X Band, Priscilla Price Band, and Al Savage and the Everyday People Band.
Lady Sunshine and the X Band won the Detroit Blues Challenge in 2004 and went on to finish second at the International Blues Competition in Memphis, Tenn.
The winner of Round 4 advances to the finals on Oct. 21 at Callahan’s Music Hall in Auburn Hills.
Other bands that have already advanced to the finals include the Dale Robertson Band, Smokin’ 45s, Big Ray and the Motor City Kings, and the 2011 Detroit Blues Challenge champion Chris Canas Band.
Competing in the finals in the solo/duo category will be Sweet Willie Tea and Pete “Big Dog” Fetters, the 2005 Detroit Blues Challenge solo/duo champ.
Winners in the band and solo/duo categories at the finals advance to represent Detroit at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
It’s guaranteed to be an afternoon and evening of top-notch blues entertainment.

DBS meeting and jam
Dale Robertson Band  (Blues Photos by Don McGhee)
The Detroit Blues Society will host its monthly meeting and jam session from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 at Andrews On The Corner, 210 Joseph Campau in Detroit. The event will feature the musical talents of the Dale Robertson Band.
Robertson is an energetic harmonica player/vocalist who is sure to get things heated up for the jam session, which always features an eclectic mix of Detroit’s blues musicians.

Blues, Brews & BBQ
On Sept. 15-16, the free Blues, Brews & BBQ festival returns to Westland City Hall.
On Sept. 15, entertainment will be provided by Sweet Willie Tea, Monsieur Guillaume and his Zydeco Hepcats, The Alligators, and Josh Gracin. On Sept. 16, check out Jones’n, Front Street Blues Band, and the Boa Constrictors.
Music starts at noon each day.

Acoustic jam
Fans and players of acoustic blues will want to check out the Attic Dwellers Acoustic Music Club jam at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9 at Celina’s Sports Bar in Hamtramck. Celina’s is in the location of the old Attic Bar, where the club started nine years ago. The Attic was one of Detroit’s top blues clubs for years, hosting many talented musicians, including the late Uncle Jessie White and the Butler Twins, among many, many others. If those walls could talk ...

At Callahan’s
You can always find quality blues music at Callahan’s Music Hall. This week, Callahan’s features Popa Chubby on Thursday, Sept. 6. The Hatchetmen open.
A CD release party with Doug Deming and Dennis Gruenling with the Jeweltones is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 7. Sonny Moorman comes to town on Sept. 14 and Ronnie Baker Brooks takes the stage Sept. 15.
A very special appearance by British blues legend John Mayall follows on Monday, Sept. 17. Sorry, that show is already sold out.
Upcoming shows include Roomful of Blues (Sept. 21) and Maria Muldaur and Her Red Hot Bluesiana Band (Oct. 13).
Check the venue’s impressive schedule at atcallahans.com.

To contact JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com