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| The Thirsty Perch Blues Band | |
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In the late summer of 2008, the Thirsty Perch Blues Band solidified their lineup and built their foundation as a powerhouse rockin blues band that can best be described as a howling hurricane of a five piece ensemble.
Their truly diverse musical influences are the driving force behind a proprietary sound that simply can`t be matched by your average blues band on the local scene. Mixing a fabulous collection of Perch originals with classic covers from the likes of The Rolling Stones,Ronnie Baker Brooks,Bob Dylan,Tommy Castro,Delta Highway,Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Coco Montoya, Walter Trout, and Cream are what truly set the Thirsty Perch apart from their peers. The Thirsty Perch Blues Band is West Michigan rockin blues at it's finest! |
| Harper | |
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PART HARMONICA WIZARD AND PART rhythmic explorer, Harper is a fiery artist who blurs the lines between rock, blues, soul and world music. Harper has been described as a musical visionary who is unafraid to mix the didgeridoo, an important part of his Australian indigenous culture, with infectious modern percussive rhythms". He also takes the harmonica beyond its assigned place. Harper’s innovative use of electronic enhancement and feedback break the traditional boundaries of the harmonica, giving his music its distinctive harmonics and effects.
Born in the United Kingdom, Harper’s musical journey began early, performing in brass bands playing the trumpet and euphonium. At the age of ten, his family moved half way the world to Perth, Western Australia, and his father introduced Harper to the harmonica. In Perth, one of the most isolated cities in the world, there was a thriving blues and folk scene. Prior to his introduction to American audiences, Harper released six albums to great acclaim in his homeland of Australia. In 1994 he moved to Melbourne, Victoria and released his first album, "Tears of Ice". This was followed by "Yesterday Is Over" in 1996 with his band Blue Devil and "Live At The Soup Kitchen" in 1997 as a soloist. In 2000, he released "Glass on The Stepping Stone" and "Live At St. Andrew’s" in 2001. In 2003 he released "Way Down Deep Inside", for which he received two harmonica awards and “Album of the Year” honor from US Magazine's Guide to the Best of the Blues Harmonicas & Beyond. Over the years Harper has received multiple Australian Blues Awards for “Male Vocalist of the Year,” “Song of the Year,” and “Acoustic Artist of the Year.” His prolific recording career and memorable stage performances allowed Harper to take his music beyond Australia. He’s played in Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore and France. He first started performing in the United States in 1996, and has toured here ten times since. It was on one of these tours that he caught the attention of Blind Pig, which made him their first international signing. With a home at a U.S. label and growing appreciation for his music from American audiences, Harper made the permanent move to the U.S. His animated shows have been well received at blues festivals, world music festivals, and by fans of jam band music. He was also invited to perform on stage several times with the rock band "Journey" during their tour last year. |
| Larry Mc Cray | |
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Larry McCray is one of a handful of talented young blues performers leading the genre across boundaries and into the new century. McCray's savage blues-rock guitar and warm, soulful vocals have drawn attention worldwide. McCray became the first artist signed by Virgin Records' blues division - Pointblank Records. In 1990, they released his debut, "Ambition," which was well received by the U.S. and European press. 1993 saw the release of McCray's second album, “Delta Hurricane”, which was recorded in Memphis with the notoriously funky Uptown Horns. The guitarist's gut wrenching rendition of Warren Haynes' power ballad, "Soul Shine," opened many ears to McCray's talent and diversity. In 1998, Born To Play The Blues moved McCray's broadly appealing music forward another giant step.
The year 2000 found the guitarist co-establishing his own independent record company together with Paul Koch, forming Magnolia Records. The release “Believe It” kicked the label off, putting McCray on chart to continue to release albums on his own dime and time, without the business or rules of a pressing-type of label. McCray also sights a career highlight as being honored as the Orville Gibson 2000 Male Blues Guitarist of the Year. "Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, like seven or eight other people were nominated, as well" stated McCray. Magnolia Records released the McCray's first live album, Live On 75, on December 6, 2005. In November of 2006, Larry's latest studio record, simply self titled – “Larry McCray”, was released and is gaining popularity in the U.S. from coast to coast and is also making a splash in Europe. |
| Biscuit Miller and The Mix | |
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Biscuit Miller grew up with his grandmother down on the Southside of Chicago; he always wanted to be an entertainer. His grandmother taught him a love for gospel and soul music and Biscuit thanks her for that. Biscuit’s name came from his grandmother, it seems that his grandmother was always cooking and he would bother her while she was in the kitchen. One time just to get him to stop pestering her, she gave him a whole pan of freshly baked biscuits, he ate the whole pan and she started calling him Biscuit, the name stuck!
When Biscuit was about 11 he visited a friend’s house and saw a bass guitar, it belonged to the friend’s brother. His friend sat Biscuit down and taught him a few things on the bass and he just kind of caught on. Biscuit has been playing ever since. In 1982 Biscuit moved to Minneapolis and hooked up with Sonny Rogers. He recorded “They Call Me Cat Daddy” and won a WC Handy Award with that song. Biscuit went on to play with Mojo Buford from Muddy Waters Band and Lady Blue from The Ike and Tina Turner Band. One night Lonny Brooks was looking for a sub bass player and Biscuit got the call. Biscuit headed back to Chicago and played with Lonnie for ten years. Lonnie taught Biscuit a lot about the music business. With Lonnie, Biscuit played some incredible gigs such as President Clinton’s Inauguration, and a ton of gigs with musicians that he grew up listening to. In 2000 Biscuit formed Biscuit Miller and The Mix mainly to perform during the winter months when Lonnie wasn’t touring. During that time Biscuit met Anthony Gomes. Anthony was an up and comer and they hit it off so Biscuit began playing for him. Biscuit played for Anthony for five years, they recorded 5 CD’s and did over 250 show a year in the US and Europe. Fronting a band has always been Biscuit’s dream, now he is living his dream and plays over 250 show a year in the US and Europe. Biscuit makes every night he plays a party, that’s just the way he is! |
| The Matt Besey Band | |
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The Matt Besey Band was formed in 1996 with Matt on guitar/vocals, Mark Dault on drums and several bass players along the way. In addition to being a phenomenal guitarist, Matt is a gifted writer, so the band offers great original material. Matt and his talented group of musicians cover a variety of other artists from Jimi Hendrix to Dave Mason to Stevie Ray Vaughn to the Allman Brothers -- with some Robert Johnson covers thrown in “because we can”.
In 1997 Matt released his first CD, “Matt Besey”, under the direction of Dick Wagner, who produced for Alice Cooper and Lou Reed. Matt's second CD release, “Prisoner”, also received rave reviews. Matt has opened for a pedigree of performers such as George Benson, CCR, Grand Funk, Chicago, Kenny Loggins, Hall & Oates, Buddy Guy, Larry McCray, Koko Taylor. Matt played at the Chicago Blues Festival, Oxford Hot Blues & BBQ, Frankenmuth Blues Bash on the Cass Festival, Alpena Blues Festival, Davison Blues Festival and Cheboygan Blues Festival. Although their sound does not fall into the category of “traditional blues”, the Matt Besey Band was nominated in 2008 by the Detroit Music Awards for best blues CD Release. Also in 2008, the Matt Besey Band ran away with multiple Bay Area Review Music Awards winning a total of nine awards. The awards included the Critics Choice award for best band, best CD release and best blues band. Matt individually won acclaim as best blues guitarist, best blues songwriter and best blues male vocalist. Oh and ask him to play some Hendrix..... |
| The Jimmie Stagger Band | |
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Jimmie Stagger’s blues odyssey began in 1965 when he bought his first guitar. After gigging with various local bands for a few years, Jimmie founded the Wealthy Street Sheiks in 1970. Dedicated to the performance and preservation of the old time "back porch” and “juke joint” styles, the Sheiks ripped it up with their bawdy antics. Jimmie’s accompaniment of Bukka White highlighted the Sheiks appearance at the first Grand Valley Blues Festival (1972).
Late in 1972, Jimmie formed a musical partnership with the legendary guitarist and songwriter Frank Salamone. It was during this time that Jimmie met the string-band blues master Carl Martin of the legendary black stringband Martin, Bogan and Armstrong. Carl encouraged Jimmie to develop his talents on the mandolin, fiddle and bottleneck guitar. Carl so enjoyed Jimmie’s playing that he invited him on stage with him at The Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan and at the National Folk Festival (1976) in Washington, DC. Jimmie formed the Jimmie Stagger Band in 1980 and since then there has been no turning back! Currently, the stripped down three piece line up allows Stagger’s guitar prowess to shine through loud and clear. With a big, rich voice and expressive guitar playing Stagger is a compelling storyteller who makes you feel his pain and share his joy. As always we welcome “our house band”…The Jimmie Stagger Band! |
| Freddie Cunningham and The Root Doctor Band | |
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Root Doctor has humble beginnings in Lansing, Michigan's fertile open mic scene. Freddie Cunningham (lead vocals) and James Williams (bass guitar & vocals) first played together as a pick-up band, but both instantly recognized their chemistry and Root Doctor was soon born.
The band has evolved through several incarnations, but the soul has remained the same. The current line-up is the strongest yet. Featuring Mike Skory (Hammond B3, keyboards & vocals), Bill Malone (guitar & vocals), and Bobby Gardner (drums), Root Doctor continues to amaze audiences and wow critics. Root Doctor plays a diverse mix of classic soul and R&B, alongside traditional blues and inspired original material. Root Doctor's latest CD, Change Our Ways, was nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the WC Handy Awards) for Soul/Blues Album Of The Year in 2007. "This fast-rising Michigan blues band regularly packs Lansing's Cadillac Club, and it's easy to see why: Instrumentally tasty and vocally genuine, Root Doctor offers a lot in a live setting." John Sinkevics Grand Rapids Press |
| The Donald Kinsey Band | |
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Donald Kinsey is probably best known for fronting The Kinsey Report out of Gary, Indiana. The Kinsey Report toured world-wide and released 5 albums from 1984 to 1998. But it’s really when you look at how long Don’s been playing and with who Don played that you get a feeling for the type of player that he is.
Don recorded and toured with the late great Albert King for over two years, during this time Don recorded four albums with Albert. If that not enough, Don played guitar on tour and recorded with the two biggest Reggae artists in the world, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Don played guitar on the biggest Reggae records of the 1970’s “Legalize It” and “ Rastaman Vibration”. Now if that’s really not enough Don also played, toured and recorded with the late great Roy Buchanan and was on two of Roy’s albums, “Dancing on the Edge” and Hot Wires”. We couldn’t be more thrilled to present The Donald Kinsey Band, a band that is diverse, hard driving and has a pedigree second to none! |
| Big James and The Chicago Playboys | |
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"Big James" Montgomery got his first taste of the blues when as a young teenager he would stand outside of a club on the southside of Chicago and listen to B.B. "Big Voice" Odum sing with Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues. Eventually, he was allowed to sit in with the band and as the old saying goes, "The rest was history." At nineteen years old he joined the legendary "Little Milton Band". After playing with Milton for two years, he joined Albert King's Blues Band. After playing with Albert, he returned to the local scene in Chicago and began to play with many blues bands in the Chicago area.
It was his association with the late Johnny Christian that really changed things for him. "Big James" says, "Little Milton gave me my start, but Johnny really turned me loose. He was such a great singer and a major influence on me that I will always be grateful to him. In 1996, along with fellow sidekick, Charlie Kimble on saxophone "Big James" joined the Buddy Guy's Blues Band. They performed all over the world with the master bluesman, with the highlight being the "House of Blues Barnburner Tour" and a performance on the "Tonight Show" featuring Jay Leno. Also in 1996, The Chicago Playboys rocked the main stage of the Chicago Blues Festival featuring the dazzling Nellie Travis and Phil Guy. Big James has also shared a stage with such performers as; Eric Clapton, George Clinton, & Parliament Funkadelic, Public Announcement, Dan Ackroyd, Larry Coryell & Lou Rawls. Now lead by "Big James" on trombone and lead vocals, The Chicago Playboys are performing at many of the well known blues clubs in the Chicago area such as: The House of Blues, Buddy Guy's Legends, Famous Dave's in Chicago-Minneapolis & Champagne, Koko Taylors, B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted, Chord on Blues in St. Charles, The Slice of Chicago in Palatine, Porter's Oyster Bar in Crystal Lake and The Up & Under Club in Milwaukee,WI. The horn section has alson been active in the recording studio having recorded several albums with Johnny Christian, Lee "Shot" Williams, John Primer, L.V. Banks, Vance Kelly and on Chico Banks first solo project entitled "Candy Lickin' Man", on Evidence records. "Big James" is featured on lead vocals and trombone on a sizzling arrangement of Magic Sam's "All of Your Love." "Big James" has recorded 2 solo projects on the independent Jamot Music Label. The first entitled "Funkin' Blues" received rave reviews from musicians, critics and the general public from all around the globe. The newest release entitled "If It Wasn't 4 Da Blues" is proving to follow suit! Be on the lookout for this young and exciting bluesman. |
| Motorcity Josh and The Big 3 | |
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Josh is a straight up singin’, guitar slingin’, songwriting, crowd pleasin’ bluesman! Born in Detroit, Michigan and the son of a preacher man, Josh has proven to be one of the most skillful yet animated blues performers around. An absolute entertainer, Josh manages to keep everyone happy regardless of their age, race, or musical taste. Everybody loves him especially at Cowpie!
Since 1990, Josh has played all over the US and Europe, and his fan base and CD sales continue to grow at an amazing pace. Josh has recorded 10 albums and sold over 100,000 copies at his shows and through his web site at www.motorcityjosh.com. Josh is popular for his award winning, foot stompin’ down home blues solo acoustic act and with his electrifying “funky blues you can’t refuse” three piece band named appropriately enough, The Big 3! Whether Josh is playing a club or a festival, he get people dancin’ and puts on one of the finest, most upbeat, energetic shows in the nation and that’s why we keep bringing him back to The Cowpie! Motorcity Josh has shared the stage with Buddy Guy, Leon Russell, Buddy Miles, Delbert McClinton, Savoy Brown, The Wooten Brothers, Chick Willis, Gatemouth Brown, Sonny Landreth, Cheap Trick, Men at Work, Tinsley Ellis and The late legendary Robert Jr. Lockwood. |
| Joanne Shaw Taylor | |
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"I have played with all sorts of blues musicians all over the world, I even made a film Deep Blues where I went to Mississippi and recorded with some legendary players such as R.L Burnside and Jesse-Mae Hemphill but last year I heard something I thought I would never hear... a British White Girl playing blues guitar so deep and passionately it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end!" (Dave Stewart/Eurythmics)
When Dave Stewart had his big experience, Joanne Shaw Taylor was only 16. Her skills at the Telecaster were so perfect that the blues fan and Eurythmics-frontman asked her to join his supergroup D.U.P. to tour Europe in 2002. She was also offered a record contract but the label went bust. Today Joanne is 23 and happy about the fact that she took her time with the recording debut: "I wanted to take time out to really work on my craft and make sure that when I did an album it was the best that I could do." The power trio - that's the kind of band which suits Joanne Shaw Taylor, are also at home in Birmingham, where she and her trio play the pubs, clubs and festivals. "I always wanted to try the power trio thing, like Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Paladins or Jimi Hendrix. I thought it would bring me on as a guitar player and a singer - which I think it has done. And" - Joanne chuckles - "it's also cheaper, you know." She talks about some influences. When Joanne was a little schoolgirl, she was caught by the rough side of the blues: SRV, Albert Collins, the Paladins, Jimi Hendrix. At Christmas she got her first electric guitar. The old classical guitar, which she had played since she was eight, vanished from the children's room. "As soon as I heard SRV and Albert Collins I knew pretty much that I wanted to do that full stop. That was the lifestyle route that I was going to go down. It was never a hobby. I was always very serious and dedicated to it." Joanne is our second international artist playing at the 2010 Cowpie. Live at The Cowpie from London, England please welcome Joanne Shaw Taylor! |