The Mississippi Valley Blues Festival 2 Days of Blues Music Starting Friday June 30
LeClaire Park, Davenport, IA
The Mississippi Valley Blues Society, which organizes an all-volunteer award-winning festival, will kick off its 32nd Annual Blues Fest with the National Anthem on Friday, June 30 at 4:50pm. The 2-day festival will be held at its traditional location in LeClaire Park, Davenport, IA. Tickets can be purchased at the festival gate (Ripley Street & Beiderbecke Drive) for $15 on Friday and $20 on Saturday, July 1. Kids 14 and under are free with a paid adult.
On Friday, June 30, attendees will be treated to four acts on the Bandshell stage:
5:00pm Zach Harris Band
The Zach Harris band won the 2015 preliminary round of the Iowa Blues Challenge, and took 2nd place at the final round in Des Moines, Iowa. They play with a solid fury of blues that you would expect from a long standing, hard working group that has been heavily influenced by Chicago and Texas blues, as well as old school Mississippi delta blues.
6:30pm All Sweat Productions Presents: The 3 Kings (B.B., Albert & Freddie)
All Sweat Productions is a new, live music project brought to you by QC musicians, Al Sweet & Bret Dale (The Candymakers). Al & Bret’s idea is to gather the most talented musicians from the QC area to pay tribute by performing some of the best Rock n' Roll moments known to man!
“3 Kings: B.B, Albert & Freddie”, will feature the absolute greats in blues music that our area has to offer. From the young, up-and-comers to our mentors, All Sweat Productions has hand- picked the most exciting group of musicians to perform these three iconic blues figures. The stage will be shaking and showcasing a different lineup of musicians and vocalist nearly every song.
8:30pm Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
Southern Indiana-bred singer-guitarist Reverend Peyton is the bigger-than-life frontman of Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. He has earned a reputation as both a singularly compelling performer and a persuasive evangelist for the rootsy country blues styles that captured his imagination early in life and inspired him and his band to make pilgrimages to Clarksdale, Mississippi to study under such blues masters as T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour and David “Honeyboy” Edwards.
That passionate inspiration has made Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band America’s foremost country blues outfit and fuels the Rev’s new release, The Front Porch Sessions. The album showcases the Rev’s irrepressible personality while echoing the enduring spirit of such acoustic blues icons as Charlie Patton, Blind Willie Johnson, Bukka White and Furry Lewis, who’s “When My Baby Left Me” receives a memorable reading.
10:30pm Joanna Connor
Joanna’s original hometown of Worcester Massachusetts isn’t known to be a blues hotbed, but Joanna started out in the blues at a young age, seeing any blues band that would come to town. By her mid teens, she was playing the Worcester and Boston clubs with her own band, before moving to Chicago in 1984.
Joanna debuted at Kingston Mines in Chicago back in the 80’s, and still plays there three nights a week. It’s usually a packed house, with lots of adrenaline pumping. When it gets to be around midnight, the audience starts getting younger. She loves that her son, who's now 29, gets people looking at him saying “that’s your mom”!
The Blues will continue on the Bandshell on Saturday, July 1 starting with the National Anthem at 1:20pm and rolling into these 6 acts:
1:30pm Travis Ried Band
Blues aficionado. That’s how one would describe Travis Ried, who grew up in West Burlington, Iowa. Having discovered the blues during his high school years, Travis has been playing, studying, and breathing the blues for 25 years!
Travis was heavily influenced by his friend, the late Michael Burks. The two met in 1998 during the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, where they became immediate friends. Burks often asked Travis to sit in with him during his live performances. It was through this lasting connection that Travis learned how to perform.
2:30pm Marquise Knox
Marquise Knox was born in St. louis, Missouri, where he grew up in a musical family deeply rooted in the blues. He learned how to play the guitar from his grandmother Lillie, and also played with his uncle Clifford, who was a major influence in his life.
For Marquise, blues is his heritage and way of life. He spent his early teen years under his mentor, the late, great blues legend, Henry James Townsend. Marquise has performed with B.B. King, Pinetop Perkins, and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. He has also performed at dozens of festivals and has toured throughout Europe.
4:30pm Corey Dennison Band
Formed in 2013, The Corey Dennison Band has become a favorite at Chicago blues venues, including twice weekly shows at Kingston Mines. Led by Corey’s soulful voice and muscular guitar, the band has released 2 cd’s, 2013’s “Live in Chicago”, and their self titled debut, “Corey Dennison Band”, in 2016 on Delmark Records.
Corey was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, spending time in Tennessee and Georgia. He received his first guitar at age 6, and as a young boy, Corey heard the powerful and soulful sounds of the blues on late night radio, and was hooked on the music.
Corey found his musical calling while hanging out with his harp playing uncle, who would sneak him into the clubs where he saw some of the greatest blues cats of all time, Albert King, Albert Collins, and Junior Wells.
6:30pm Hamilton Loomis
Hamilton Loomis was born and raised in Galveston, Texas, by parents who were also musicians. Music ran in his veins, and he played drums, piano, guitar, and harmonica. He performed in his family’s doo-wop group.
A protégé of Bo Diddley, Hamilton met the music icon backstage at Houston’s famed Rockefeller’s when he was 16. Before the night was over, Hamilton was onstage playing guitar with the legend. Bo has appeared on 2 of Hamilton’s cd’s and presented a red guitar to Hamilton, that he still plays.
8:30pm Dana Fuchs
Dana has always been a singer, and has portrayed singers in theatrical productions. She played Janis Joplin in the off Broadway musical tribute to Janis Joplin titled “Love, Janis”, which closed at the Village Theater on January 5, 2003.
She made her motion picture mark ten years ago as Sadie, a powerful blues singer in “Across the Universe”, Julie Taymore’s wonderfully innovative movie set in the 1960’s, featuring over 30 Beatles songs. Dana sang “Helter Skelter”, “Oh Darling”, and “Don’t Let Me Down”.
Dana released her debut album in 2003, “Lonely For a Lifetime”, on Antler King Records. 2008 brought “Live in NYC”, on Antler King Records, followed by “Love to Beg”, in 2011 on Ruf Records. Soon after was “Bliss Avenue”, in 2013 on Ruf Records, which was followed by “Songs From the Road”, in 2014 on Ruf Records, and her last release, “Broken Down: acoustic sessions”, on Antler King Records in 2015.
10:30pm Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers
“America’s Hottest Accordion” winner, Dwayne Dopsie, plays a unique, high energy style of zydeco. He hails from one of the most influential zydeco families in the world, and although he’s inspired by tradition, he has developed his own style that defies existing stereotypes, and blazes a refreshingly distinct path for 21st century zydeco music.
This singer/songwriter and accordionist has performed all over the world since debuting his band at age 19.
Dwayne was born on March 3, 1979 in Lafayette, Louisiana, and was the last of eight children. He attributes his musical abilities to his father, Rockin’ Dopsie Sr., a pioneer of zydeco music. Dwayne has played the accordion since age seven and states “This is my calling, zydeco music is in my blood and it is in my heart and soul.” As a tribute to his late father, Dwayne plans to record an album of his dad’s greatest zydeco hits.
Dwayne has performed in 20 different countries and hundreds of cities. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2007, and also nominated for the last 7 years for best accordion, and best artist, by Off Beat Magazine Awards.
Get your dancing shoes on for this high energy show!
The 2017 Blues Festival is also a place to bring the whole family. Included in the Festival footprint is the “BlueSKool” space, where attendees of all ages can experience the dramatic balance of Blues education and entertainment. “BlueSKool” will offer fun for everyone and is easily accessed within the Festival grounds.
Performing in the BluesSKool area on Saturday, July 1:
2:30pm Hand and Heart Drumming
Hand and Heart Drumming, with Philip Seward director, is a performance group that performs African Music and Dance with audience participation. Be prepared to learn about African rhythms and have a blast joining in or just watching. They are known for their work in team building, schools, at risk teens, and special needs. Philip Seward has been drumming since the late 70’s he is an accomplished, drummer, performer, and instructor. Hand and Heart Drumming is involved in giving back to the Quad City Community by donating free seminars to such causes as; Rock Island Men’s shelter, Gilda’s Cancer resource center, the Heart Walk, Gilda’s Run Laughs.
4:00pm Ellis Kell Winter Blues All Stars
The annual Winter Blues program features vocal and instrumental workshops (guitar, bass, harmonica, keyboards & drums), as well as concentration on blues composition and improvisation. Sessions are open to area musicians from 8-18 years old. The Winter Blues All Stars, a blues band made up of some of last year's participants – So get ready to close your eyes....sit back...and enjoy the music! This group is an 'all kids' RME band that sound (and act) like seasoned professionals.
5:30pm David Berntson Harmonica Lessons with Bobby Greenshoes
Originally from Galesburg, IL, this Tulsa OK Blues Club founder, prevention educator, and drug/alcohol counselor continually shares his enthusiasm and passion for the Blues with young people and adults. David is an endorsee for Hohner harmonicas and has taught harmonica classes through adult continuing education at Tulsa Community College for over 15 years. He also teaches children’s harmonica classes for the Tulsa Parks and Recreation Department. David’s BlueSKool session features free harmonicas and lessons for all the kids!
This year’s festival will feature our wealth of Quad Cities Blues talent with the addition of a “Local Scene” stage inside the beverage tent. The “Local Scene” Stage will be comprised of bands that are donating their time to play 30-minute sets between each “Bandshell” performance.
Friday, June 30
4:00pm Stingers
6:00pm QC Slim
8:00pm Susan Williams Band
10:00pm Phyllis Wethington
Saturday, July 1
12:00pm Ellis Kell Blues All Stars
2:00pm Reggie and the Three Notes
4:00pm David Berntsen and Bobbie Greenshoes
6:00pm Frankie Fontagne and the Ramblers
8:00pm Avey/Grouws Band
10:00pm QC Blues MOB
This festival is being presented by The Mississippi Valley Blues Society. The objective of the Society is to educate the general public about the native art form of Blues-related music through performance, interpretation and preservation, thus enhancing appreciation and understanding.
Though we want all to come and enjoy the Blues music that we have to offer at the 2016 Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, we ask that you keep the following in mind:
· Gates open 1 hour before first act each day
· NO cans, bottles, fireworks, roller blades/skate boards, in ground stakes, bicycles, or pets allowed. Empty coolers only.
· Lawn chairs are encouraged as seating will be limited
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