The one thing the blues don't get is the backing and pushing of TV and radio like a lot of this garbage you hears. They choke stuff down people's throat so they got no choice but to listen to it.
The MVBS Holiday Party featuring Bob Dorr & the Blue Band scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 21 at the Redstone Room has been cancelled due to inclement weather. Watch for details on the rescheduled event.
The River Music Experience, in conjunction with Brass Sail Recording and the MVBS, will again offer its WINTER BLUES Program for aspiring musicians ages 8-18, starting on Dec. 29. The program consists of vocal and instrumental workshops (guitar, bass, harmonica, keyboards, and drums) with a concentration on blues composition and improvisation. The program is limited to 20 participants; last year’s “graduates” played for BlueSKool audiences at the IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival.
Congratulations to The Avey Brothers for winning the 2008 Iowa Blues Challenge, held Saturday, May 17 at the Hotel Fort Des Moines. This Quad Cities band consists of Chris Avey on guitar and vocals, Mark Avey on bass, Bryan West on drums and Chris Ryan on harmonica. Formerly collaborating in the Twin Towers Band and rock band Blue Ash Ink, Chris and Mark Avey have been a fixture on the Quad Cities music scene for the past ten years or so. While Chris was off in Phoenix playing lead guitar with the Big Pete Pearson Band, Mark had a successful stint playing bass with the Mercury Brothers, who also won the Iowa Blues Challenge and made it to the finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, which is a significant feat in itself.
