April 19th - Keith Sykes

Has it really been 40 years since I started down this music highway? I guess I’ll have to say, yes it has. My first real gig was at a Holiday Inn in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, for two weeks in February, 1968. I was two years out of high school and been playing guitar for a little over two years. I knew about 40 Bob Dylan songs. So many that I had to make myself learn some other songs so I could  get a gig. No one wanted to hire a one man Dylan cover band so I set out to learn some popular songs of the day. I didn’t care much about songs other than Dylan songs, but I wanted to work so I learned. I could do “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” and “This Guy’s In Love With You” and I can’t remember what all right now but I learned. The summer before I had hitch-hiked to Newport, Rhode Island to the Newport Folk Festival and saw Arlo Guthrie sing “Alice’s Restaurant”. In the fall of that year I got a copy of the album and learned that whole song. That was how I got my gig in Charleston. I auditioned for the Holiday Inns singing “Alice’s Restaurant”. They gave me a roundtrip airline ticket and room and board at the hotel plus $150.00 a week salary.

http://www.keithsykes.com

May 3rd - Gabby Johnson

On June 22, 1997, we all got together at my house to sorta jam or whatever. . .I got a phone call. . .one of my brother's friends had heard that I was in a band. . .(The Rusty Lemons Project). . .I told him that I had a new band. . .very new. . .only about a half-hour old actually. . .Anyways, I told him that we didn't know very many songs, but we'd try to play for 'em. So, we have this gig. . .we were supposed to start at about 8:00, but we got started about 10:30 because we lost things, we left things at home, things wouldn't work, etc. . .Well, it was during Sweet Home Chicago that Travis introduced us as "Gabby Johnson", and me & Joey looked at each other like, "That's sorta cool. . ." But we didn't know what to think. Evidently Donnie had told Travis that we were gonna be called Gabby Johnson, so that was cool. We had always talked about bein' in a band called "Gabby Johnson", but just at that moment realized that we actually were in that band.

http://www.gabbyjohnson.com

May 17th - Reba Russell Band

The Reba Russell Band is a modern 5 piece electric blues band featuring original songs. They have traveled theworld for 20 years playing festivals in North America andEurope. This band combines experience, superlative instrumental virtuosity and the most moving female voice in the modern blues pantheon to create one of the most exciting entertainment packages to have ever come from Memphis, Tennessee. BAND MEMBERS: REBA RUSSELL lead vocal, all backing vocals; ROBERT “NIGHTHAWK” TOOMS keyboards, harp; WAYNE RUSSELL bass; DOUG MCMINN drums, percussion; JOSH ROBERTS all guitars.

http://rebarussell.com

May 31 - Memphis All Stars

The Memphis All-Stars are just that an "All Star" band of Memphisfinest and most respected musicians. From R&B, to Rock n' Roll, toany music your ear can imagine, the Memphis All-Stars will keep youon the dance floor all night long! If you'd like more informationabout the band, please click here and email us! The Memphis All-Starsare available for private parties, weddings, and festivals! Touringover 250 days are a year, they are a band that is sure to pleasecrowds of all ages!   Get out and get on the floor, and let your "feets" make you feel good all over! 

http://www.memphisallstars.com

June 14th - Eddie Smith with Doc Wooten

About me.... Born on the edge of the Mississippi River in a soulful city called Memphis, raised in a small Pentecostal church where mom played piano and sang, Dad played guitar. When the dust settled from my parents divorce, I found myself with my dad, ridin in a used Cadillac, headin for the next show. Which was either in a church or "honky tonk" depending on the day.

I've been tryin to be a better guitar player, for as long as I can remember, I love it in my core, always have, charmed by the simplicity of the acoustic guitar, it calls me. These days I try to expand on guitar as much as possible, write when I am inspired (any idea how to have an idea?)and I gig a lot, keeps me sane.  If you have been out to see my show, THANK YOU!! I don't take it lightly that you spend your time. If you haven't, COME ON OUT!!! I promise you the best me I can deliver. Check out my schedule at eddielsmith.com.
seeyasoon.

http://www.eddielsmith.com

June 28th - Interstate 55

http://myspace.com/interstate55

July 12th - Fabulous Steeler Band

From Memphis Tennessee comes yet another any-occassion party band! The Fabulous Steeler Band, or simply The Steelers, have been entertaining fans from around Memphis and the Mid-South for over 24 years! Now that's longevity! And the only way you can accumulate thousands of shows and longevity on the Memphis Music scene is by being entertaining, and that's just what this Memphis band brings to the table!

http://www.memphissound.com/memphis-bands/the-fabulous-steeler-band/index.html

July 26th - Pam and Terry with the Bob Westbrook Singers

Pam and Terry - both born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee.. Sometimes a person is born with MUSIC in their soul. Rarely 2 people share their lives together with the exact same passion for the MUSIC. These 2 sing, play guitar,harmonica, bongos, write lyrics, melodies and harmonize in every way. ENTERTAINERS ! yes... and hoping that you will enjoy their originals and live performances.

http://www.pamandterry.com

August 9th - Jimmy Davis with Lance Strode

The "Memphis sound" has always escaped a simple definition. Diversity and individuality characterize the musical tradition of the city that gave the world Beale Street, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, the Blues, Sun Studio, B.B. King, Rock ‘n’ Roll and W.C. Handy.

Jimmy Davis is no exception to this rule. This versatile singer-songwriter, named "Premier Male Vocalist" five times by the Memphis Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, knows no boundaries when it comes to musical styles. Influences range from The Beatles to the Eagles, Johnny Cash and Gram Parsons to Jackson Browne. His songs have been recorded by Martina McBride, Restless Heart, Joy White, Johnny Rivers, as well as many other independent artists. Davis has appeared as a backing vocalist on numerous recordings by artists such as Johnny Lang, former Eagle Bernie Leadon, Danny Tate, Eric Gales, William Lee Golden, Mark Collie, Keith Sykes, Iris DeMent, Cory Branan, Susan Marshall, John Eddie, and the late Toy Caldwell. But it’s Jimmy’s charisma, warmth and talent as a performer that make him stand out among his well known peers.

http://www.jimmy-davis.net

August 23rd - Papa Don McMinn and Nightrain

I've been playing guitar and singing these blues 53 years. Played guitar with a couple of big-timers'.ME AND MRS JUDY HAD A LOT OF FUN AND RAISED A GREAT BUNCH OF CHILDREN ON THE BLUES.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Papa-Don-McMinn/1539018811

September 6th - John Kelzer with Nancy Apple

September 20th - Good Question featuring Van Duren

Native Memphian Van Duren began his recording career in 1975, one of the pioneers in a musical genre later dubbed Power Pop. He and then-partner Jody Stephens (drummer with the band Big Star) wrote some songs together and recorded them at Ardent Studios in Memphis (some with legendary Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham). Soon after, Van and Jody hooked up with another Big Star alumnus, singer/songwriter/guitarist Christopher Bell, and formed the Baker Street Regulars, playing around Memphis for the first half of 1976. In the summer of 1977, Van moved to Greenwich Village and recorded his first solo album for Big Sound Records, Are You Serious?. The album received excellent reviews and was added to over 110 FM radio playlists around the country. A followup, Idiot Optimism, was recorded in 1978 and 79, but was not released in the U.S. until 25 years later (Lucky Seven Records, 2003).

http://www.myspace.com/vanduren