Johnnie Bassett at Callahan's; Win free tickets to Coco Montoya recording session

JOHNNIE BASSETT

It’s going to be a busy, bluesy weekend at Callahan’s Music Hall in Auburn Hills.

Detroit’s “Gentleman of the Blues,” Johnnie Bassett, kicks it off on Friday. The silky smooth 76-year-old singer-guitarist, who got his start with the late Joe Weaver in the Blue Notes (the studio band for Fortune Records), will be joined by the Brothers Groove and the Motor City Horns in a performance that is sure to be memorable.

“We want to give Johnnie the respect he gets around the world,” said Callahan’s owner Mike Callahan. “He toured France last fall and took the Brothers Groove and the Motor City Horns with him. We’re putting the same band together in his hometown. It’s an epic lineup of Detroit talent.”

Chris Codish of the Brothers Groove reports that you can catch Bassett and his  band live on air from 5-7 p.m. Thursday on ”The Mitch Albom Show” on WJR 760AM.

On Saturday, Callahan’s welcomes Commander Cody (“Lost in the Ozone,” “Hot Rod Lincoln”) back to Detroit.

On Sunday and Monday, guitarist Coco Montoya will be at Callahan’s, with both performances taped for a live CD and DVD release for Ruf Records. The recording is being produced by Jim Gaines, who has worked with a multitude of stars, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana and Journey.

COCO MONTOYA

Montoya got his start with legendary bluesman Albert Collins as a drummer, but, with guidance from “The Ice Man,” soon learned to play guitar. Montoya, a left-hander who plays a right-handed guitar “upside down,” went on to become the guitarist for John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers for 10 years before leading his own band. Upon releasing his debut album, he won Best New Blues Artist at the 1996 Blues Music Awards.

Opening for Montoya will be two fine Detroit blues bands: Jim McCarty and Mystery Train on Sunday and The Hatchetmen on Monday.

Tickets are $30 reserved and $20 general admission each night. A special discounted $45 ticket grants reserved admission both nights.

If you buy tickets online for Monday’s show, or purchase the two-day pass, you will receive a bounce-back voucher for shows by either Scott Holt (March 9), Duke Tumatoe (March 10) or the Southern Hospitality Tour featuring Damon Fowler, J.P. Soars and Victor Wainwright (March 15).

You can also win a pair of free tickets to Monday’s show through JB Blues.

Send your requests for free tickets via email to: Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com by noon Friday. Winners will be selected in a random drawing and notified by email. Please put "Coco tickets" in the subject line.

For more info, click atcallahans.com.

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