Big News From Festivals Exclusive

Few blues acts have perfected the tricky maneuver of honoring the
storied history of the blues, while at the same time keeping the music
up-to-date as well as Delta Groove’s The Mannish Boys.
It’s a balancing act that they’ve honed over the course of six
highly-acclaimed CD releases and countless nights gigging on concert
stages around the world. Conceived as an all-star showcase for the
cream of the West Coast blues crop, The Mannish Boys have stayed true to
that vision. They’ve continually evolved through the years, seeking
out and spotlighting the talents of true Blues legends in a setting that
stays true to the deep roots of genre, providing them with the support
required to excite today’s blues audiences. With their unprecedented
double studio album release “Double Dynamite” now freshly under their
belt, The Mannish Boys are a virtual blues festival contained within one
90-minute to 2-hour set. The current lineup consists of dynamic
vocalists Sugaray Rayford and Finis Tasby, acclaimed guitarists Kirk Fletcher and Franck Goldwasser, MC and harmonica maestro Randy Chortkoff, along with a solid, world-class rhythm section consisting of Willie J. Campbell on bass and Jimi Bott on drums.

“…an infectious revival of both ’40s jump and ’50s to ’60s Chess-like styles from a band that lives inside the music…” – Wall Street Journal

“The Manish Boys seem to be in
command of virtually every classic, neo-classic, obscure, and
almost-unknown riff and lick in the postwar cannon, and they approach it
all with unfettered enthusiasm and commitment.” – Living Blues Magazine

“…no finer collection of blues talent exists today in one band.” – Blues Revue Magazine

FESTIVALS EXCLUSIVE – ARTIST PAGE:
http://www.festivalsexclusive.com/artists/themannishboys/

ARTIST WEBSITE:
http://www.themannishboys.com

ROD PIAZZA
Over 40 years of recording and performance
experience has landed Rod Piazza the inimitable role as one of the
world’s preeminent harmonica players in modern blues today. With over 24
albums to his credit, Rod has clearly demonstrated time and again his
mastery and command over the instrument, which has culminated in
critical praise and numerous awards including the 1998 Blues Music Award
for Harmonica Instrumentalist of the Year, along with four additional
BMA’s for his work with the Mighty Flyers. In person, Rod’s stage shows
have become legendary for his electrifying and rousing performances
known for whipping an audience into a frenzy and creating a legion of
devoted fans around the globe.

MITCH KASHMAR
Mitch Kashmar is one of the most soulful and
powerful blues singers in the business today, black or white. His blues
harp playing is second to none for creativity, drive and excitement.
Over the course of his career Kashmar has achieved what so many set out
to do, but few can accomplish; he has found his own voice. From his
humble beginnings in the early 80’s in Santa Barbara with The Pontiax,
to sharing the stage at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2008 with
legendary British rocker Eric Burdon & War, Kashmar’s own unique
talent has always shone through. A two-time Blues Music Award nominee,
Kashmar has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in blues
over the years and they’ve all known what the rest of the world is about
to find out: Mitch Kashmar is a force to be reckoned with.

RANDY CHORTKOFF
Randy Chortkoff is a man thoroughly possessed
and consumed by the Blues. He’s made it his life’s work to spread the
power and message of the Blues to as many people as he can find who are
willing to listen. From humble musician to concert promoter; to record
producer and ultimately CEO of Delta & Eclecto Groove Records,
Chortkoff’s boundless passion and conviction for the blues is
inexhaustible. As the founding member of The Mannish Boys, Chortkoff has
helped preserve the raw sensibility and time tested tradition that
encapsulates the blues, while also capturing the attentive ears of music
fans around the world.

BIG PETE
Dutch blues vocalist and harp master Pieter
“Big Pete” van der Pluijm may not be a familiar name to American blues
audiences, but he’s already well-established in the Netherlands – his
native home base in North-West Europe. At 23, Pete was handpicked for a
European memorial tour to honor the music and memory of legendary
harmonica player and vocalist Lester Butler (the Red Devils and
Thirteen), backed by several of Lester’s original bandmates. The project
was met with great success and critical acclaim, so more tours and a CD
by the Lester Butler Tribute Band soon followed, securing Pete’s
arrival on the scene as one of the premier next generation blues
performers in the Benelux region. Since then, Big Pete has gone on to
form and record many other successful projects including his debut
release “Bathroom Acoustics” by The Strikes, a couple of CDs by the
rockin’ 50’s Chicago blues outfit The Backbones, and most recently, the
more progressive and forward-thinking group M.O.C.T. (Men Of
Considerable Taste). Pete’s growing reputation has also led to tours and
performances backing many internationally acclaimed blues artists
including Alex Schultz, Mitch Kashmar, Monster Mike Welch, Hook Herrera,
Matt Schofield, and Ian Siegal. Pete’s informal introduction to the
U.S. market materialized in March 2010 with his appearance on The
Mannish Boys’ 5th anniversary release “Shake For Me.”

AL BLAKE
Al Blake is a multi-talented musician,
visionary and is one of the founding members of the legendary Hollywood
Fats Band. The Fats Band’s one and only LP Rock This House, recorded in
1976 and released in 1979 is considered a seminal moment in post modern
blues. Over 30 years after its 1st release, it is still selling well
and creating more and more hard-core true believers all over the world.
The legend is still growing. Few blues bands working today could make
such a claim about past recordings.Currently, Al Blake is the front man
for The Fats Band’s new incarnation, “The Hollywood Blue Flames.” He is
the primary vocalist, harmonica player, acoustic country blues
guitarist, song writer and producer. When it comes to straight ahead
classic blues, Blake has proven, through his many recordings over the
last 35 years, that he is clearly one of the best harmonica players
working today. He is known for his big sound – a beautiful tone,
exceptional musical taste and style. Of the 3 CDs he has produced for
Delta Groove Music since 2004, two have been nominated for prestigious
Blues Music Awards by the Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation. Soul
Sanctuary (2004) and 2 CD set Road to Rio The Hollywood Blue Flames/
Larger than Life The Hollywood Fats Band Live 1980 Vol. 1 (2006). His
latest production, 2 CD set, Deep in America Hollywood Blue Flames /
Larger than Life, the Hollywood Fats Band Live 1980 Vol. II (2010) was
on the Living Blues charts for 4 months with a peak position of #1. (For
more information click on ‘Reviews’ Hollywood Blue Flames)

BOB CORRITORE
It has been forty years since Bob Corritore
first picked up a harp. He maximized his early proximity to the 1970s
Chicago Blues scene, befriending and learning from masters Louis Myers,
Eddie Taylor, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Little Willie Anderson, Big Leon
Brooks, Lester Davenport, Big Smokey Smothers, Little Mack Simmons, and
others. Since relocating to Phoenix, Arizona in 1981, Bob has been
prolific as a player, producer, radio personality since ’84, and owner
of the renowned Rhythm Room with which he’s been associated for nineteen
years now. Bob has built on that illustrious foundation, contributing
his authoritative harp to about forty releases and it is now routine to
find him on European stages or profiled in Blues magazines worldwide.

LYNWOOD SLIM
Armed with an impressive catalog of iconic
recordings, Slim’s own uniquely cool blues meets jazz approach has
landed him international acclaim and endeared him to an audience around
the globe with a devout affection for California Blues. His mastery of
blues harmonica – both the “little harp” and the more difficult
chromatic – is second to none. He is also one of the finest blues
vocalists of his generation. His first hand experience and
apprenticeship under veteran blues masters such as multi-instrumentalist
Leonard “Baby Doo” Caston and harmonica giant Big Walter Horton has
served him well as he has mastered the subtleties of tone and phrasing,
and developed his own distinctive voice in the blues.

RJ MISCHO
RJ Mischo’s formal music career got its start over 30 years ago while
working his way up through the thriving Minneapolis blues scene—his
first paying gig came by way of Mississippi-bred singer/guitarist Percy
Strother in the late-1970s. By the early ’80s, Mischo was working with
Muddy Waters’ band alumni, George “Mojo” Buford, and had discovered the
secrets to achieving a full-tone on his harmonica via tongue-blocking, a
method taught to him by recent Los Angeles transplant, Lynwood Slim,
who had taken up residence in Minneapolis at the time. About a year
after establishing an all-star blues jam with guitarist Teddy Morgan
every Sunday evening at the Five Corners Bar in 1991, the pair released
their collaborative debut effort, “Ready To Go,” featuring vocalist
Percy Strother on Blue Moon Records. Mischo’s first official solo album,
“Gonna Rock Tonight,” followed in ’94. Mischo continued to release
top-shelf recordings, building up an impressive and sizable catalog in
the process, while always employing the services of high caliber
musicians such as Jeremy Johnson, Steve Freund, Junior Watson, Frank
Goldwasser, Rusty Zinn, Kid Andersen, Barrelhouse Chuck, June Core and
Richard Innes.

JASON RICCI
Blues, Rock, Funk, Jazz Fusion, Eastern, Punk,
Carnival, Psychedelic, Performance Art and more are all regularly
attached descriptions of Jason Ricci. Defying category, without defying
the techniques, authenticity and disciplines of any one of those
category is a rare and dangerous high wire act this band has been
balancing expertly year after year, award after award, show after show,
fan after fan and album after album. Ricci is
consistently considered and referred to in print, with awards and in
harmonica circles as one of the best and most important harmonica
players to have ever picked up the instrument.

FESTIVALS EXCLUSIVE – ARTIST PAGE:
http://www.festivalsexclusive.com/artists/deltaharpblast/

“This lively crew of Clean-Up
Women called The Blues Broads are four female singers that have every
single style you need to make your monkey-nerve well-satisfied for the
foreseeable future. Dorothy Morrison, Tracy Nelson, Annie Sampson and
Angela Strehli have been there, sung that and now come together to bring
the big spirit in the sky right down to earth. Hearing is believing.” – Bill Bentley, The Morton Report

FESTIVALS EXCLUSIVE – ARTIST PAGE:
http://www.festivalsexclusive.com/artists/thebluesbroads/

ARTIST WEBSITE:
http://thebluesbroads.com