Wednesday, August 24, 2022

#571 > Bourbon and Blues Festival - 2022 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

McGrath Amphitheater

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

By Phillip Smith; Aug. 23, 2022

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

Battling a forecast filled with rain and a last-minute lineup change, the first annual Bourbon & Blues Festival co-presented by Linn County Blues Society and Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery hit the ground running. The temperamental weather fizzled out early and blues fans were rewarded with a whopping dose of outstanding music. Molly Nova and the Hawk featuring Bryce Janey took the stage first and gave a riveting performance. Next up was bluesman Davy Knowles, a musician who Peter Frampton declared “gunslinger/guitarist of the 21^st Century”. He was an awe-inspiring treat to say the least. Danielle Nicole Band followed and pretty much set the stage on fire with a searing performance highlighted with a guest appearance from Kevin Burt who accompanied on vocals. Headliner Carolyn Wonderland with Shelly King closed the show in a high-energy fashion with blazing guitars and a slathering of lap steel. It really was a great festival, and I’m already looking forward to next year.

* All Photos by Phillip Smith

Kevin Burt

Molly Nova and the Hawk

featuring Bryce Janey

Davy Knowles

Danielle Nicole Band

Carolyn Wonderland

* All photos by Phillip Smith

Sunday, January 30, 2022

PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com #540 > 'daBluesapalooza

The Olympic Southside Theater

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

January 29, 2022

By Phillip Smith; Jan. 30, 2022

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

It was a fabulous night of blues last night at the Olympic South Side Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. KCCK Jazz 88.3, is celebrating thirty years of playing ‘da Blues over the airwaves, and marked the occasion by hosting ‘daBluesapalooza, a five-hour blues show to honor Bob DeForest who started spinning the blues on KCCK in January of 1992. John ‘Big Mo’ Heim who hosts The Big Mo Blues Show on Friday nights was also honored.

This special event featured the talents of several local area blues artists, making for a killer lineup of music which started with daBluesapalooza All-Stars comprised of BillyLee Janey, Dennis McMurrin, Nate Hines, Dan Johnson, Tom Giblin, and Eric Douglas. Time seemed to fly as music continued throughout the evening from Craig Erickson Quartet, Homebrewed, Tanya English Band, Johnny Kilowatt featuring Alligator Records recording artist Gloria Hardiman, Molly Nova and the Hawk featuring Bryce Janey, John Resch & Doggin’ Out, and The Evan Stock Band.