Joe Bonamassa

As Joe Bonamassa grows his reputation as one of the world’s greatest guitar players, he is also evolving into a charismatic blues-rock star and singer-songwriter of stylistic depth and emotional resonance. A child prodigy, Bonamassa was finessing Stevie Ray Vaughan licks when he was seven and by the time he was ten, had caught B.B. King’s ear. After first hearing him play, King said, “This kid's potential is unbelievable. He hasn't even begun to scratch the surface. He's one of a kind.” By age 12, Bonamassa was opening shows for the blues icon (something he also did recently as the opener on King’s 80th birthday tour), and went on to tour with venerable acts including Buddy Guy, Foreigner, Robert Cray, Stephen Stills, Joe Cocker and Gregg Allman.

www.jbonamassa.com

Kenny Neal

Kenny Neal, born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, began playing music at a young age. Learning the basics from his father, singer and Blues harmonica master, Raful Neal. Kenny is known as a modern swamp-blues master and multi-instrumentalist, that draws musically from the sizzling sounds of his native Louisiana.

Through the years, he has shared the stage or worked with a who's-who list of blues and R&B greats at one time or another, including B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Muddy Waters, Aaron Neville, Buddy Guy and John Lee Hooker.

www.kennyneal.net

Bernard Allison

Bernard Allison totes the same smokin' six string shooter that his late father Luther Allison assaulted the blues with. And he is blessed with his father’s soulful voice, spiritual devotion, and a musical freedom which experiments with the blues.

As a true “son of the blues,” Bernard possesses the requisite guitar feel and vocal intonations necessary to push his blues into the next century. He knows the energy level necessary to hold audiences and combines a enough showmanship and spontaneity to push the performance in fresh, innovative directions each night.

www.bernardallison.com

Billy Gibson

Billy Gibson first picked up the harmonica at a very young age. “It was cheap and I could easily make sounds with it.” After high school, Gibson's desire for learning and improving as a musician took him to Clarksdale, Mississippi, where he played with blues guitarist Johnnie Billington and drummer Bobby Little in Billington's group The Midnighters. “Johnnie and Bobby taught me how to make it in this business,” Gibson recalls.

Like many before him, Gibson eventually left Mississippi for Memphis. “Beale Street was my university of blues,” recalls Gibson, referring to the lessons learned as a Beale Street performer. “For a young musician, all you have to do is look and listen and you can learn so much.”

www.billygibson.com

Eden Brent

Eden Brent's piano playing and singing style ranges from a melancholic whisper to a full-blown juke joint holler. She's simultaneously confident and confiding, ably blending an earthy meld of jazz, blues, soul, and pop as she huskily invites listeners into her lazy, lush world.

Whether booked as a solo artist or bandleader, Eden's performance is fresh and spontaneous, often filled with audience requests and participation. Her unshakable talent and her carefree demeanor have taken her across the country and around the world, with appearances at the Kennedy Center, the 2000 Republican National Convention, the venerable Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and tours of South Africa and Norway under her belt.

www.edenbrent.com

Robin Rogers

Music has been Robin Rogers' consuming passion ever since her days as a teenaged street singer. Possessing a deeply expressive and soulful voice and an infectious enthusiasm for the blues, Robin and her band have developed a devoted and growing following.

www.robinrogers.com

Albert Castiglia

Albert Castiglia (pronounced “ka-STEEL-ya”) was born on August 12, 1969 in New York. At the age of 5, his family moved to Miami. With a Cuban mother and an Italian father, he is an example of the melting pot of culture that is Miami. He learned to play guitar at the age of 12 and soon realized that the passions in his heart were expressed best by his music.

Castiglia has a blues history. In 1990, he joined The Miami Blues Authority and later on won "Best Blues Guitarist" from New Times magazine in 1997. The legendary Junior Wells discovered Castiglia and immediately hired him as his own guitarist/vocalist on several world tours.

www.albertcastiglia.com

JP Soars

Most blues guitarists haven't played in a handful of metal bands and aren't influenced by jazz icons like Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery. Which, as much as anything, explains why South Florida based JP Soars doesn't sound like any other area guitar slinger. JP was also awarded the Albert King Blues Guitar award, confirming the fact that this young kid from Arkansas who may not have started out as a blues player, has surely found his place in the blues world.

www.jpsoars.com

Joey Gilmore

Winner of the 2006 International Blues Challenge

Joey Gilmore's career has spanned 40 years with performances throughout the United States and Europe. He has called South Florida home for the past twenty years. 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 show. His tenor/baritone vocals belt out tunes with a loss abandon reminiscent of Blues Legends from the 1940's and 1950's. This Blues man's major influences are apparent without sacrificing his unique style.

joeygilmore.net

Deb Callahan

Deb was born and raised in the Boston area and can't remember a time when she didn't love to sing and dance to music. She always had her ear to the radio and stereo and was a regular participant in theater, choruses and choirs growing up. When she was eight years old, she had the unique opportunity to study at the Elma Lewis School for Black Cultural Arts in Roxbury, MA. She studied African American music and art and this opened her ears and heart to the sounds and rhythms of gospel and traditional spirituals.

Some of her biggest influences as a singer have been Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Nina Simone, Otis Redding, Billie Holiday, Buddy Guy, Stevie Wonder, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Bessie Smith, Joan Osborne, Ray Charles, Al Green and Mavis Staples and Irma Thomas...to name a few.

www.debcallahanband.com

Trampled Under Foot

When was the last time you saw a three-piece family blues band with two left-handed guitarists? Let alone a blues band with three strong vocals, both female and male?

Trampled Under Foot, winners of the 2008 International Blues Challenge, is like no other band you will ever see or hear. Danielle is an amazing blues singer and an excellent bassist. Kris fires right in the pocket on the drums and sings as well. Nick is a strong singer and an accomplished guitarist, winning the 2008 Albert King Award from the IBC.

www.tufxc.com

Zac Harmon

Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Harmon is a disciple of the Farish Street blues sound. (Farish Street is universally recognized as the home of many great blues legends including the late, great Elmore James.). During the 50’s and 60’s Harmon hung out at his father’s pharmacy on Farish (first African-American pharmacy in Jackson), soaking up the aura and sounds of the musician customers while developing his skills as a guitarist, organist and vocalist. Like many he honed those skills while at church.

Harmon’s early years included stints as guitarist for Z.Z Hill, Dorothy Moore, McKinley Mitchell and Sam Myers. Sam along with Jesse Robinson and Mel Brown played a significant role in Harmon’s development guiding his progress through the rifts of rock ‘n roll to the true blues. At the age of 16 he was teaching guitar at the local YMCA, instructing young men such as Eddie Cotton to play church music. Family demands and his own commitment to pursue an education meant replacing music for college. However once completed he couldn’t stay away from his calling.

www.zacharmon.com

Betty Padgett

Betty Padgett was born in New Port New Jersey. At an early age the family moved to Florida. There she went to school, and began to sing in different school functions, such as the Glee club, etc.

Betty first made her career move in 1974. She formed an all girls group, they were known as Betty and the Q's. It consisted of three other young ladies, Shirley Smith, Mary McCoy, and Carolyn Griffin. Betty went on to join a local band out of Fort Lauderdale Florida.

In 1976 Betty recorded her first Album, “Sugar Daddy” later in 1981, She released her second Album “Sweet Feelings.” Again in 1998 she released her third CD “30 Second Man.”

www.bettypadgett.com

The Nouveaux Honkies

Founding members Tim O'Donnell and Rebecca Dawkins met in early 2005. O'Donnell's blues based background was thick with the history of classic blues from T-Walker, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters to name a few. O’Donnell had taken a hiatus from music for a few years and after the hurricane season that pummeled Florida in 2004 left him scratching his head and wondering where to go he reconnected with his first love of music. Violinist Rebecca Dawkins had moved down from Myrtle Beach, SC and was looking for a gig. Dawkins and O’Donnell started a duo in 2005 and a year later the sound had developed into a band. Dawkins’ classical background was in stark contrast to O’Donnell’s highly improvisational sound. The combination of the two creates a sound that is the Nouveaux Honkies.

www.tnhband.com

Iko-Iko

In 2008 Graham Wood Drout and Iko-Iko celebrated their 25th anniversary. Twenty five years, thousands of shows, four critically acclamed cd's, a who's who of distingushed band alumni and a solid reputation for making really good music. Graham's songs have been a favorite of AAA radio and the satalite stations. His music has been covered by IBC Blues winner Joey Gilmore (who credits Graham's "Ghosts of Mississippi" for putting him over the top at the 2006 awards in Memphis) and Blues Leaf Guitar Slinger Albert Castiglia who scored a hit with Graham's don't want to work song, "Big Toe." The current band line up features South Florida Blues Pioneer " Good Rocking" Johnny Wenzel on guitar, Mitch Mestel on bass. Grammy Award winning Ron Taylor on keyboards and Daniel East on drums.

www.iko-iko.com

Sally Townes

Over the years, thousands of people became long time fans of Sally's music as they strolled down Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans. But her musical career did not begin in New Orleans.

Sally formed a band with Zelda Rose, Dawn Catron and later on, with Diana Castro. These three divas became very popular and recorded an album together titled "Ain't You The Cat's Meow" and also performed for many exciting events including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The most exciting event for the ladies was in 1986 when they entered and won a talent search contest sponsored by Willie Nelson and Wrangler Jeans. By winning the blues category with Sally's original tune "Lucky In Love", the ladies were flown to Austin, Texas, to perform the song on a national TV special hosted by Willie Nelson.

www.sallytownes.com

Sean Carney

“A one-man ambassador for the blues, Sean Carney has brought his music to such far flung locales as France, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. He has served three terms as President of The Columbus Ohio Blues Alliance, and he promotes concerts as musical director of The Island Arts Foundation in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. He plays a mean hollow-bodied guitar, too.” - Blues Revue Magazine

“Ever had the feeling that you've been in the presence of greatness? That was the way I felt after watching and listening to the SEAN CARNEY BAND perform last weekend. Those who joined us were witness to one of the finest blues players to hit the Onion, who combined great style and musical talent with a real ability to entertain. I was left thinking that 'this guy is going to be very successful.'” - Ric Kalef - The Red Onion, Calgary, Alberta Canada.

www.seancarneyband.com

Nuckle Busters

Over the course of its 13-year run on the South Florida club circuit, the Nucklebusters Blues Band has served as the house band at a number of reputable local venues, including the legendary Musician's Exchange in Fort Lauderdale.

The band's specialty is raucous, Chicago-style blues, and after all their years of nonstop gigging, Famous Frank and the boys pretty much have their act down cold. With a vast repertoire of tunes, including everything from original roadhouse boogie and smoldering instrumentals to swingin' covers of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" and Big Bill Broonzy's "I Feel So Good," it's not surprising that when locals want their blues kicks, they go looking for Nucklebusters.

nucklebustersbluesband.homestead.com

Ever So Klever

Ever So Klever is a six member 'power swing' band from South Florida. If one word is to be used to describe Ever So Klever, it is charisma. Forming in January of this year, making the band only 4 months old, Ever So Klever has a polished full length album already released and recently played the opening spot for UB40 at the ever popular SunFest 2009 which sold over 400,000 tickets.

Ever So Klever soars with their sounds of swing and rockabilly to provide energy reminiscent of a late 90's Warped Tour vibe that is twisted with the classic influence of South Florida Latin rhythms. The horn section blasts livelihood alongside juiced up and sexy female lead vocals that rock through a ribbon mic to provide motivating choruses combined with Brian Setzer like guitar riffs. The walking bass lines and classic swing drums will provide the back bone to bust out that zoot suit, consider some slicked back greaser hair, and take a ride with your baby in that classic 1930's hot rod.

www.eversoklever.com

Rastus Kain

Rastus Kain is a talented slide guitarist/singer/songwriter who has been playing blues professionally for over 20 years. He and his band have toured regionally throughout Florida, the Caribbean, across the United States, and as far away as Germany.

Rastus has shared the stage with artists such as Greg Allman, Dan Tolar, Pat Ramsey, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Chris Layton, just to name a few. He and his band have opened for Foghat, Molly Hatchet, Eric Burden, Otis Rush, The Chambers Brothers and many other well-known artists. Most recently they performed in the American southwest with Tab Benoit & Canned Heat.

www.rastuskainband.com