Spa City Blues Society News, 2005
Holiday Blues Review - November 3, 2005
The Spa City Blues Society will host a Holiday Blues Review at the Long Shot Saloon in Hot Springs on Sunday, December 11, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The featured acts will be the SCBS’s representatives to the 2006 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, January 26-28. The acts are Brian Martin in the solo/duo category and The Kory Montgomery Band in the band competition. The cover charge for this event is $5 with all proceeds being used to assist in sending the artists to the competition.
Brian Martin is a native of Memphis but was raised in Camden. He performs regularly in Hot Springs as well as around Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. His respect for American roots music comes out in his shows. From delta and hill country blues to Dixieland to juke joint anthems, Martin covers the spectrum. And speaking of covers, Martin does some unique twists to the covers he uses in his show. He is also a talented songwriter, performing much of his own material in his sets. His songs are witty and insightful, fun and moving, and are driven by intricate finger style guitar licks. His vocals have been described as "Leon Redbone meets Mississippi John Hurt".
Kory Montgomery is a seventeen year old guitar player and singer from Rogers who has already amassed a pretty impressive resume’. Montgomery’s band finished in the finals of the IBC this past January and are looking forward to a return trip to Memphis. The band recently finished as co-winners of the emerging artist competition at the King Biscuit Festival in Helena. To top it all off, Montgomery was invited by BB King to play at the annual BB King Homecoming in Indianola, Mississippi, this past year. Not bad for only seventeen years old. Montgomery has two CD’s to his credit that include covers and originals. His music style follows in the tradition of BB King and Muddy Waters.
In addition to the music, the SCBS will hold a silent auction. Among the items for the silent auction are three harmonicas autographed by Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd). The Long Shot Saloon will also be offering food specials for the crowd. For more information check out the Spa City Blues Society website at www.spacityblues.com.
Stella Vees on tap for IBC Pre-Party
The Spa City Blues Society welcomes the Stella Vees from Lexington, KY, back to Hot Springs on Wednesday, January 25, 2006. The Stella Vees will perform at McKenzie’s, located in the Boardwalk Shopping Center on Central Avenue, from 8:00 p.m. until midnight. There will be a $5 cover charge for the show. SCBS members will be admitted for $3 with their current membership card.
The Stella Vees played in Hot Springs during the club crawl and blues festival over Labor Day weekend and have already garnered a small following in town. Lead singer and guitar player Jason Lockwood says "We really enjoyed playing here during the festival. It’s a beautiful part of the country and we are excited to get o come back." The Stella Vees will be hosting a blues jam at Handy Hall for the fifth consecutive year during the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, January 26-28. Since they were going to be close by, the SCBS took this opportunity to bring the Stella Vees back to town. This four piece band specializes in some very good Chicago-style blues.
Proceeds from the door will go to assist the SCBS’ representatives, Brian Martin and The Kory Montgomery Band, reach this year’s IBC. For more information contact any blues society member or check out our website at www.spacityblues.com.
March 7
The Fabulous High Tops to play Banjo Dan/St. Thomas Jenkins Memorial
The Fabulous High Tops will be the featured band for the Spa City Blues Society annual Banjo Dan/St. Thomas Jenkins Memorial Fundraiser. The event will be held on Saturday, April 2, from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. at the Porterhouse Restaurant and Lounge (upstairs). Admission to the show is $7 for non-SCBS members and $5 for members. A silent auction will also be held to raise funds for the memorial.
Banjo Dan was a long time fixture in the Hot Springs music scene who took a sincere interest in helping to promote and develop the interests of young people in music. Jenkins played in Hot Springs a number of years and penned the popular tune "Hot Springs, Arkansas". The funds raised from this annual event go toward purchasing musical instruments for area high school students.
February 14
Spa City Blues Society Announces 2005 Festival Line-up
The Spa City Blues Society will host it's 9th annual Hot Springs Blues Festival, Friday and Saturday, September 2-3. The festival will be held Saturday, September 3, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Transportation Depot. This year's line-up will feature Hubert Sumlin and the Willie "Big Eyes" Smith Band. Sumlin played guitar for a number of years with Howlin' Wolf. Also in the line-up will be EG Kight: Mark Sallings and the Famous Unknowns from Wynne, Arkansas; the Stella Vees, IBC competitors from Kentucky; the Smokedaddys, IBC finalists from New York; Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain, and Dayton Waters, both Spa City Blues Society reps to the IBC. As always, the festival is free. An addition to this year's festival will be an after-festival party and concert hosted by the SCBS and the Wes Jeans band.
This year's club crawl will be held on Friday, September 2, kicking off with a free concert in Arlington Park. This year's opening concert will feature Ice House recording artist and Hot Springs favorite the Wes Jeans Band. Following the free show, blues hounds can wander down historic Central Avenue for lots of live music in several clubs.
February 26
The Spa City Blues Society plays host to Daniel "Slick" Ballinger and the Soul Blues Boyz. Slick recently signed a deal with John Prine's OhBoy Records. His CD will be released this spring and he will be touring the midwest to promote it. Playing with Slick for this gig will be Kenny Kimbrough on drums (Kenny is the legendary late Junior Kimbrough's son). A special treat will be Blind Mississippi Morris playing harp with Slick. The show will be held at Schapiro's on Central. There is a $5 cover charge and the music begins at 9:00 p.m.
February 3 -5
The International Blues Challenge, Memphis
Check out or own Dayton Waters as he vies against some of the nations best musician in the solo/duo competition live on Beale Street.
Spa City Blues Society Announces 2005 Festival Lineup
The Spa City Blues Society will host it's 9th annual Hot Springs Blues Festival, Friday and Saturday, September 2-3. The festival will be held Saturday, September 3rd, beginning at 1:00 p.m. This year's line-up will feature Hubert Sumlin and the Willie "Big Eyes" Smith Band. Sumlin played guitar for a number of years with Howlin' Wolf. Also in the line-up will be E.G. Kight; Mark Sallings and the Famous Unknowns from Wynne, Arkansas; the Stella Vees, IBC competitors from Kentucky' the Smokedaddys, IBC finalists from New York; Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain and Dayton Waters, both Spa City Blues Society representatives to the IBC. The festival will be held behind the transportation depot on Broadway Street. As always, the festival is free. An addition to this year's festival will be an after party and concert, hosted by the Spa City Blues Society, at Boogie's Club, featuring the Wes Jeans band, from Marshall, TX.
For more information, please visit http://spacityblues.com