Sea Blues Festival

One of the very finest Blues Festivals in the U.S. is held annually in beautiful Clearwater, Florida in February usually while the rest of the country is in a deep freeze. However, it is not just the great weather and the delicious fresh seafood that make this event a success year after year. It is the mega-load of musical talent that keeps the crowds coming back from all parts of the country including Canada! In their ninth year, the Sea Blues Festival keeps on getting better like a fine bottle of Merlot. Coachman Park located right on the waterfront and is the perfect setting for enjoying the blues. Headliners included; Amos Lee and Robert Randolph for this free two-day extravaganza. The rest of the lineup was't too shabby neither: Otis Taylor, Robben Ford, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Sena Ehrhardt, AJ Ghent Band, Jakrekus Singleton and local up and comer; Betty Fox Band. I was able to obtain a media photo pass, and had access to the stage area for photographs. So with my Nikon in one hand, and a crab-cake in the other, images of musicians were captured! See you here next year!

Anne Harris /Otis Taylor Band

Joanne Shaw Taylor

Robben Ford

Sena Ehrhardt

Betty Fox

Jarekus Singleton

Kid Royal / Betty Fox Band

A.J. Ghent

Otis Taylor

Popa Chubby

Place: Sanford, Florida
Venue: The Alley
Date: January 30th 2015
Reporter: Scotty Lambert
Photographer: R Keith Lambert

Popa Chubby absolutely lit up The Alley in Sanford Florida this past Friday night bringing his NYC "In Your Face Blues" to the Sunshine State. Stirring in a mixture of some early gems like Stoop Down Baby and the Hendrix Classic: Red House that Jimi would have been proud of, it was an evening of pure blues at its best. Popa Chubby is relentless and attacks the guitar like no other, leaving the audience with jaws dropped and wanting more! Popa doesn't come around too often, but when he does it is usually at The Alley -Central Florida's Home Of The Blues. So do yourself a big favor and indulge in the finest live blues this side of New York has to offer.  -Scotty Lambert

The Nighthawks

Some groups have history . . .The Stones, Pink Floyd, The Kinks and I forgot to mention a blues band from Washington, DC that formed in 1972; The Nighthawks. Forty-Three years is lots of water under the bridge! Ask Mark Wenner, who has been with the group since it's inception. Longevity has its advantages, one of them is having an abundance of material to preform in your vast musical catalog and by the way, knowing just about every blues musician who has toured on the blues circuit. Certainly adds new meaning to the age old expression: "Seen them come and seen them go" . . .
Current members include the a fore mentioned Mark Wenner (Vocals & harmonica), Paul Bell (lead guitar), Johnny Castle (bass guitar) and Mark Stutso (drums). Also include the great Steady -Rollin' Bob Margolin from time to time as he has joined them in tours across the country. Of course, Jimmy Thackery was lead guitarist and co-founder of the Nighthawks and left in 1986 to record and tour under his own name. Recorded music? Try 27 albums released since 1974 including 2010's : Last Train To Bluesville which won best acoustic blues album of the year at the 32nd Blues Music Awards. The current 2014 recording is entitled; 444. -One worth adding to your catalog. 
Just this past November they were playing The City of Casselberry  Craft Beer & Blues Festival along with Bob Margolin and I was able to catch them for a night of great blues. Had the Nikon in tow and was able to capture a few images. The crowd was very enthusiastic and it was a night to remember. Yes as I looked on and listened I couldn't help but think about all the blues history- together on one stage. As you may know, Margolin was a member of the Muddy Waters Band, and Weener - has lived a lifetime of blues. Great to see and hear these blues veterans.

                                http://www.thenighthawks.com/home.html

Joe Bonamassa

• Date: December 16th 2014
• Venue: Dr Phillips Center For The Preforming Arts
• Orlando, Florida  

I can distinctly remember reading about young Smokin' Joe Bonamassa when he was twelve years old, opening for BB King. At the time I thought, here is yet another "flash in the pan" . . . a kid guitar savant, a SRV wanna be. That was 25 years ago.  No less than 15 solo albums have been released by Joe Bonamassa in the last 13 years. Eleven of those albums have reached #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts. He has toured and played with the best musicians in the world. He is now 37 year old, and selling out shows across the world. So, to many, it may seem as if Joe Bonamassa is an overnight sensation, but to those of us who have followed the blues, we realize he has come of age and paid his dues.  Of course Bonamassa appreciates and is an avid student of Roots Music, paying respect to the American Masters. However it was the British Blues Invasion that lit a fire in him as a young man. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, Irishman Rory Gallagher and Cream were among his biggest influences. The current world tour included a whirlwind visit to the state of Florida and I was anticipating a date in Orlando even though on a weeknight. The Dr. Phillips Center was recently dedicated and opened just earlier in November. The beautiful Walt Disney Theater holds 2,500 and it seemed every seat in the house was filled that Monday night. The 2.5 hour show was presented in two parts: one acoustic and the other half electric. Initially Joe sat in the middle of a plethora of  acoustic guitars. He was surrounded by various musicians playing a variety of instruments with some amazing sounds off of the 2013 Vienna Opera House Live recording. After a short break, the guitar hero delivered a non-stop set of hot, electric riffs and lightning progressions that have to be seen live to be fully appreciated. Joe B can bring it . . . hard, fast and clean.  I obtained a photo pass that night and captured some images to accompany the blog article. The sky is the limit for Joe Bonamassa as he holds true to the blues. I wonder what the next 25 years will bring.