Chicken Raid returns to Atlanta!

Mr. Frank Edwards

March 24th and 25th the Northside Tavern in Atlanta will host the annual Chicken Raid in honor of Mr. Frank Edwards!

Performers include Essie Mae Brooks, Mudcat, and a Music Maker Blues Revue featuring Albert White, Roy Lee Johnson, Jim Ransone, Beverly Watkins, Eddie Tigner, Tommy Brown, and Robert Lee Coleman!

The Blues Revue will play Saturday – and both days the party goes from 3pm to midnight. If you’re in Atlanta don’t miss out! More info at northsidetavern.com.

Upon listening to Sweet Betty’s “Everybody Needs Love” for the first time, I could tell from just the opening few notes that she must have been influenced by gospel music at some point in her life. Betty was raised listening to her mother sing in church, and has been singing blues and gospel ever since. “Everybody Needs Love” features Betty’s powerful voice against a backdrop of the piano and saxophone. I could almost see the church choir swaying to the sound of her voice as I listened.

Sweet Betty’s soulful vocals, combined with the mixture of blues, gospel and jazz of the piano, saxophone and drums, had me tapping my foot and singing along from the opening verse. The idea that everybody needs love might not be a new concept to us, but Sweet Betty’s powerful interpretation of the idea is refreshing and invigorating. “Everybody Needs Love” is on Betty’s album “Live and Let Live,” recorded by Music Maker in 2004.

— Christie Ray

Christie Ray Harrison, a Raleigh, N.C. native, is another great Music Maker intern attending UNC. She is completing a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and will graduate this spring.