Line-Up 2009
| MAIN STAGE | |||||||||||||||||
| Friday, July 10, 2009 | Saturday, July 11, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
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| BACK PORCH STAGE | |
| Friday, July 10, 2009 | Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
8:00pm LONNIE SHIELDS 7:00pm NATE MYERS 6:00pm V.E.PAUL 5:00pm DEALER IN WARES |
7:15pm LONNIE SHIELDS 6:00pm MITCH IVANOFF 4:45pm MARK ARMSTRONG 3:30pm SYMPHONIC HAZE |
Joey Gilmore |
Friday at 9:30 PM |
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Watch a video of Joey Gilmore by clicking here |
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Florida-born Joey Gilmore spent his teen years hanging out at the local barbershop. But he wasn’t always looking for a haircut. He wanted to play guitar.
Gilmore explains, “And the barber that owned that shop was a sanctified preacher. He was a minister, and he had this little flat-bodied guitar.” Gilmore learned to play by watching the preacher.
Young Gilmore tried to keep his obsession with the instrument from his church-going aunt, who raised him, but word of the talented boy who played at the barbershop eventually got back to her. When his aunt finally heard him play with his group at church, she was moved to tears and went right out to buy him his own guitar.
Decades later and established as a Florida legend, Gilmore provides a highlight at blues festivals and clubs while wringing blues notes out of his guitar.
Joey is a true Blues and R & B master who incorporates new and varied styles in his music, performing original compositions mixed with traditional standards in his high-energy live shows. His tenor/baritone vocals belt out tunes with a loss abandon reminiscent of Blues Legends from the 40’s and 50’s.
Briggs Farm Blues Festival is ready to have the Main Stage resonate the true blue sounds of Joey Gilmore.
Teeny Tucker |
Friday at 7:45 PM |
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Watch a video of Teeny Tucker by clicking here |
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Nominated for “Best Female Blues Artist of 2008”, BluesBlast
Teeny Tucker was born to the blues – daughter of the renowned blues-singer-pianist-composer Tommy Tucker. But Teeny has cultivated and developed her gifts into her very own uniquely compelling world-class package.
While spending her childhood singing in the church choir in Dayton Ohio, Teeny began to chart the course of her music career. The paths which would lead to her abilities to musically interpret with soulful, bluesy, and uniquely stylistic renderings were set.
Teeny professional singing career began in November 1996 when she caught the attention of a German Blues promoter and manager who had promoted European tours for her Father. Since then, her musical journey has seen Teeny performing at many of the major Blues Festivals in the US, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy. Teeny was chosen for the cover of July/August 2004 edition of King Biscuit Time Magazine accompanied by a featured story of her musical journey.
Her newest CD “The Two Big M’s” was ranked in the 15 spot on the Bob Davis list of 2008 top 25 releases and was nominated for best self-produced CD by the Blues Foundation of Memphis Tennessee.
Scott Weis Band |
Friday at 6:00 PM |
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Watch a video of Scott Weis by clicking here |
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Scott Weis was raised on the sounds of the seventies. His obsession for guitar began at age eight and by sixteen, he was playing with local bands in Jersey and making an impression on the music scene that would change his path forever.
He’s had the opportunity to share the stage with legends such as John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Jerry Garcia, U2, and Blues Traveler. His professional stage presence has rocked audiences of all sizes and genres, reeling in fans world-wide to hear his unique style that has put a twist on the blues.
Surrounding himself with the most versatile musicians within the regional music scene, Scott now fronts his own band. And for many years, they have been blending raw rocking blues, Memphis soul and adult alternative music.
Scott says, “Times are not easy for everyone and when I play music, it’s a spiritual thing for me. When I play music, I try to create a way to take everyone with me so we all can forget about life for a while and relax…”
Alexis P. Suter Band |
Friday at 4:30 PM |
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www.myspace.com/alexispsuterband Watch a video of Alex P. Suter by clicking here | |||
When she takes the stage, there’s a change in the air as if something explosive is about to happen. Thunder rumbles, lightening bolts from the sky, sparks fly everywhere! And then comes that VOICE! It’s safe to say that this year’s Briggs Farm Blues Festival will start off with a bang with the Alexis P. Suter Band.
Alexis is a rising star on the roots, blues and soul scene. Her powerful bass/baritone voice, seasoned with raw emotion and a wide streak of attitude, has won the praise of greats from B.B. King to Levon Helm.
A true vocal phenomenon, Alexis has been astounding audiences nation wide. The band has had the honor of opening the show at the Levon Helms Midnight Ramble Sessions in Woodstock, NY over 90 times and has played at many blues festivals in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and Mississippi.
Come early to Briggs Farm this year because you won’t want to miss the Alexis P. Suter Band on the Main Stage. You will be moved immediately and you will be MOVING! Because when Alexis sings the blues you know it’s genuine, you know she’s been there. When she sings a tender ballad, you hear her heart. “She’s one of those wonderful spirits,” says Levon Helms. “She’s got her arms around you. You can feel that.”
Louisiana Red |
Saturday at 9:30 PM |
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Alabama-born Louisiana Red is one of the few bluesmen left who performs in the almost lost tradition of spontaneous composition that goes back to the original Delta Blues artists. Captivating audiences and gaining lifelong devotees at every step along the way, he brings the same enthusiasm to every stage he appears since 1952 when he began his recording career.
Louisiana Red has lived the blues…overcoming adversity at every step of his life. His mother died when he was only seven days old and members of the KKK murdered his father when he was just five. But Red always found solace in music, ever since he made his first instrument at the age of nine out of an old cigar box and rubber bands. Red’s grandfather, a self-taught bottleneck guitarist, encouraged him and bought him his first real guitar. While living in Pittsburgh, Red also got encouragement from John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, who gave him a Hohner Old Standby harmonica.
At 16, he lied about his age to join the army and after serving in Korea he recorded for Chicago’s Checker label. This experience allowed Red to hit the thriving blues joints, where he played with Jimmie Rogers, Otis Spann and Baby Face Leroy. When Red moved to Detroit, he played with John Lee Hooker – an experience that was his greatest inspiration.
A master of slide guitar, he plays both traditional acoustic and urban electric styles, with lyrics both honest and often remarkably personal. His songs are powerful, passionate reflections on his both tragic childhood and life struggles. It is cause for celebration that there are still artists such as Louisiana Red and Briggs Farm Blues Festival is pleased to welcome him to this year’s celebration of the Blues
In 1983, Red won the W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Blues Artist and he continues to connect with audiences throughout the world, and as he puts it, “Play the blues. Hard.”
Tom Larsen |
Saturday at 7:30 PM |
“Keep on doing what you do. You’re one of my favorite people.” – Johnny Winter – Hammerjacks, 1991 – Tom has played with Johnny Winter many times.
Tom was one of the first Blues Men to play at Briggs Farm back in 1999 and people who were there still contact us to see when he will be back. So here he is, folks, back by popular demand! Just watch your back ‘cause he might use you to play his guitar!
A slide player’s slide player. That is how Tom Larsen is known among guitar players. His command of this style of blues guitar is one of the aspects of his musicianship that sets him apart from other blues men.
After expanding his blues guitar studies to include electric guitar, he decided to spice up his solo act and invited a couple of gospel buddies to back him up on bass and drums for a set of electric blues.
In 1979 the Tom Larsen Blues Band was born. Audiences responded immediately and overwhelmingly to his enthusiastic way to entertain them and make them dance. Tom uses a real wine bottle neck for his “bottleneck playing” and also uses lit cigarette lighters, ash trays, knives, Harley handlebars, ladies boot heels and even tables to deliver a healthy block of slide guitar!
Briggs Farm is pleased to have you share the excitement with Tom and his band as they celebrate a milestone of 30 years in the blues, with performances of songs from his 10th CD “My Paper’s Low”.
Along with the publication of his first book “The Elusive One: East Coast’s Funkiest Blues”, Tom Larsen is still on the cutting edge of modern blues. Not content to follow the rules and copy the old styles, he continues to forge his own trail in the blues world!
Johnny Drummer |
Saturday at 5:45 PM |
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“Drummer’s suave vocals, front and center, are rich and full of character…” -Blues Revue
2008 - Best R&B Act in Chicago - Chicago Reader
Before cutting his first record in 1962, Mississippi-born Thessex Johns spent his childhood watching musicians like Little Milton and Ike Turner every weekend, and listening to his three brothers play hollow-box guitars. At age seven, Thessex joined a band in his hometown of Alligator and began singing the blues.
While in the Army, he learned to play drums and began playing in bands after his military career. In 1966 he went to see Muddy Waters, and was asked to sit in on bass. He was later asked to tour with Muddy, but declined his offer, uneasy at the prospect of life on the road. He started his band and gained local notoriety in the late 1960s as the leader of a band hired by touring soul blues acts passing through Chicago. In the 1960s he taught himself to play the electronic keyboard and now makes this his primary instrument.
“I first started playing keyboards when I was about 12, playing the boogie woogie. But I first started to get serious with it, was around 1985. The reason I changed over from drums, was that I started to look out for my future. There are a lot of 75-year-old keyboard players around, but not too many old drummers, so I saw I'd better switch”, says Drummer.
In recent years Johnny has released three albums for the Earwig Music label. He performs regularly at Chicago venues, in addition to performing internationally at festivals and blues clubs, including acclaimed performances at the Chicago Blues Festival, Pocono Blues Festival, and the University of Illinois Blues Festival. And now Briggs Farm Concerts is pleased to welcome Johnny Drummer to their concert stage.
BC and Company |
Saturday at 4 PM |
You can hear it in a cover or in an original. It’s their established sound that brings you right down to the Blues in every song, be it fused with rock, soul, gospel, folk, country, jazz, or R&B.
BC and Company, formerly BC and The Blues Crew, has earned every Best of Lehigh Valley Music Award in their genres as songwriters and musicians.
The Mayor of Allentown recently presented them with a special honorary Lehigh Valley Music Award for 20 years of Excellence in Music and Performance.
BC and Company is fronted by Bev 'BC' Conklin, the most established, highly-awarded female Blues vocalist in the Lehigh Valley since her 1991 debut as a performer. The bands makeup includes vocals, saxophone, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums. They have shared stages with greats like Ray Charles, Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland, Lonnie Brooks, Son Seals, Koko Taylor, Eddie King, Saffire and many more.
If you have the Blues or love the Blues, either will be remedied with a dose of BC & Company who are ready to entertain you with some major tributes to Etta James and some new favorites at this years’ Briggs Farm Concerts!
