Showing posts with label Cedar Rapids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cedar Rapids. Show all posts

Monday, November 20, 2023

#646 : Rocky Athas at CSPS - Nov 17, 2023 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 


Rocky Athas Band

Live at CSPS – Nov. 17, 2023

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

 

By Phillip Smith; November 20, 2023

 

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Rocky Athas has been on my radar for over ten years now.  His mastery of guitar is quite impressive.   I first was introduced to his talent while he was playing with Black Oak Arkansas.  Then soon after I began reviewing CDs, I found his six-string skills across several John Mayall albums.  Athas’ solo albums then came my way for review, and each one kept revealing different layers of his guitar prowess.  When I saw that Rocky was playing at CSPS in Cedar Rapids, I knew it would be a show I wanted to see.  I had never seen him play live before, but I knew this would be a cool musical experience.  It most definitely was.  

Rocky Athas’ band consists of Rocky Athas on guitar, his son Rocky Athas II on bass guitar, Walter Watson on vocals and his son Jared Watson on rhythm guitar, with Gonzalo Trevino on drums.

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                         Photos by Phillip Smith

























* all photos by Phillip Smith

Sunday, August 20, 2023

#630 > Bourbon and Blues Festival - 2023 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 






Bourbon & Blues Festival – Aug 19, 2023

McGrath Amphitheater

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

 

By Phillip Smith; Aug. 23, 2022

 

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

The temperature was running hot at just over ninety degrees, but that sure did not keep blues fans from coming out to hear the amazing talent who took the stage at the 2023 Bourbon & Blues Festival co-presented by Linn County Blues Society and Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery.  Mr. Sipp the 2023 Blues Music Award nominee for the BB King Entertainer of the year took the stage first and gave a stellar performance packed with high-energy.  Following afterwards was an incredible set from Sugaray Rayford the 2023 Blues Music Award winner for Best Soul Blues Album.  Headlining the event was Shemekia Copeland, the 2023 Blues Music Award winner for Best Instrumentalist – Vocals.  She was absolutely amazing.  Cedar Rapids musician Bryce Janey, a semi-finalist in the 2012 International Blues Challenge, kept the music flowing and the audience captivated between sets.  It’s always a pleasure to hear him play.  From beginning to end, this festival was delightfully outstanding.    

 

·         All photos by Phillip Smith



Mark Rowell

Bob DeForest




Mr. Sipp















Bob DeForest


Bryce Janey




Sugaray Rayford




















Bryce Janey






Shemekia Copeland