Blues N' Groove Weekend

Time: May 16th -18th
Place: Mount Dora Florida

The Blues ascended on the small town of Mount Dora Florida over a picture perfect weekend just this past May. Known for it's antiques, art, craft shops and restaurants, quaint and beautiful Mount Dora hosted their Sixth annual blues festival in conjunction with the Orange Blossom Blues Society and is getting bigger and better as the years go by. Can you believe three national acts were the headliners for the three day event?; Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers, Ana Popovic and Pat Travers. Add to that some great up and coming talent with the likes of Selwyn Birchwood, Joel DaSilva & The Midnight Howl, Big Bill Morganfield, Paul Stott Group and Jerry J's Triple Shot,  & you have got a great recipe for some savory roots music!
Via this blog in the weeks to come, in depth articles and photographs will be posted on the highlights of this enjoyable festival.  I already have my calendar circled for next year's extravaganza. I was fortunate to have access around the stage area, of course I had my trusty Nikon, so I captured some of the sights!  Enjoy.
                                                                 

                                                   Jimmy Thackery

                                                   Ana Popovic

                                     Joel DaSilva & The Midnight Howl
                                                                             

                                            The Paul Stott Group

                                             Jerry J's Triple Shot

The Nick Moss Band

Nick Moss and his band of expert musicians made a whirlwind tour of Florida a couple years ago and I just so happened to check the lineup at BB Kings in Orlando that week and was able to catch both sets of Chicago -based blues. Wow! I had done my homework on Nick's blues pedigree and already knew of his Chi-town ties with Buddy Scott, Jimmy "Fast Fingers" Dawkins, Jimmy Rogers and The Legendary Blues Band. While perfecting his chops and paying his dues in the Windy City with the a fore mentioned legends, Nick formed his own group (Nick Moss & The Flip Flops) and formed his own record company (Blue Bella Records) Nine Albums later The Nick Moss Band is peaking with the latest recording: Time Ain't Free. The addition of Michael Ledbetter has given the band a new identity. The classically trained, cousin of Huddie William Ledbetter, better know as Leadbelly, adds a new dimension of vocals and guitar work to the musical experience of  The Nick Moss Band. Lebetter's smooth soulful vocals and guitar work are highlighted on this latest recording. Standouts on this album include: Light It Up  featuring Micheal Ledbetter -very catchy upbeat tune with infectious vocals, guitar riffs, great keyboards. The bonus instrumental: Blues For Ethel is outstanding. Fare Thee Well is yet another stellar song on this recording. This one stretches Ledbetter's vocals to the max, and shows you he has got the chops without a doubt. All in all, Time Ain't Free is one of the best recordings I have heard this year. (15 tracks full) So strap yourself in and get ready to hear more of The Nick Moss Band as they put a big explanation mark on Chicago style blues in 2014!
                                                                     

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