Blast Furnace Blues Festival will return to ArtsQuest’s SteelStacks campus. This decade-long free event will feature two days of live music for the community to enjoy while honoring this great American genre’s history.

Schedule:

Eden Brent
========
Friday, July 19, 2024 @ 5:00 PM, Free.
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
645 E. First Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

A little boogalography . . . Nicknamed "Little Boogaloo" by her Mississippi mentor Boogaloo Ames, Eden Brent is much more than her signature boogie-woogie piano and juke-joint blues holler. She is a celebrated songwriter and dynamic performer, with numerous nominations and awards including eleven Blues Music Award nominations since 2009 and three BMA trophies. Her most recent Yellow Dog Records album, Jigsaw Heart was nominated for BMA Acoustic Album of the Year, continuing a streak of nominations for her last three albums.

Born in the heart of the Mississippi Delta in Greenville, to a family of riverboat captains and guitar pickers, Eden's story could’ve been written by Tennessee Williams or any number of Mississippi’s colorful authors. The Greenville bridge is named for her grandfather Jesse, the Waterways Journal "Riverman of the Century". Her father, Captain Howard, famous for his Hank Williams renditions and grand story-telling, is a bona-fide living "River Legend", and her mother Carole was born a sharecropper but became a big band singer and fashion model, working at Chicago’s Chez Paris in the 1950's.

A life-long piano enthusiast, Eden was surrounded by music and learned her first notes at age three. "Grandma could read and play beautifully," Eden explains, "She taught me Middle C and my first simple tunes. I had an ear for music and was pecking out my brother’s recital piece before I was old enough to go to school.” Piano lessons were part of her education from primary school through graduation from the University of North Texas and beyond. "I always loved to play, but I hated to read and I really hated practice until I started hanging around Boogaloo. He put the music right in my hands.” She continues, “Daddy jokes he could’ve saved a lot of money on my college tuition had he introduced me to Boogaloo a few years earlier.” The duo traveled and worked together for 16 years until Boogaloo's death in 2002.

Eden is featured in three documentary films: Boogaloo & Eden: Sustaining the Sound; Forty Days in the Delta; 180 Degrees: Changing Lives in the Mississippi Delta, has appeared in print publications like USA Today and Garden & Gun, has been highlighted on national radio broadcasts including NPR Weekend Edition, House of Blues Radio Hour, and American Routes, and her music continues to delight both critics and live audiences alike.

Since launching her career, Eden travels the United States and abroad performing in festivals like Notodden, the Chicago Blues Festival, Cognac's Blues Passions, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. She's a frequent piano bar host aboard the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise and has been a special guest aboard the American Queen Steamboat, a performance that celebrated her Mississippi River heritage.

She has released four solo albums: Something Cool 2003; Mississippi Number One 2008; Ain't Got No Troubles 2010; and Jigsaw Heart 2014, and is currently on the Yellow Dog Records label. In addition to her four solo albums, Eden recorded The Brent Sisters Party Dress with sisters Jessica and Bronwynne, also songwriters. Released in 2012, the album is a collection of songs written by their late mother, Carole Brent.

Bedlam Blues
==========
Friday, July 19, 2024 @ 6:30 PM, Free.
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square
ArtsQuest Center
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

Bedlams Blues is a Lehigh Valley blues rock band with experienced band members rooted in the blues. Seasoned players bring you driving guitar sounds, smooth bass lines, and bluesy rhythms to set the groove. Bedlam Blues is in their 9th year of bringing music to the LV and surrounding areas.

Bedlam Blues would like to entertain patrons at your bar, brewery, winery, outdoor event, fundraiser or wherever people gather to enjoy blues rock.

The Harlem Gospel Travelers
===================
Friday, July 19, 2024 @ 7:30 PM, Free.
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
645 E. First Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

“When everything was stripped away, all we had left was the music,” says singer Thomas Gatling. “Difficult as it was, we realized that God was opening a door, and it was up to us to walk on through to the other side.”

It’s on the other side that we meet a transformed Harlem Gospel Travelers, complete with a new album, a new lineup, and a new lease on life. Produced by Eli Paperboy Reed, Look Up! marks the group’s first full-length release as a trio, as well as their first collection of totally original material, and it couldn’t have come at a more vital moment. The music still draws deeply on the gospel quartet tradition of the ’50s and ’60s, of course, but there’s a distinctly modern edge to the record, an unmistakable reflection of the tumultuous past few years of pandemic anxiety, political chaos, and social unrest. The songs here are bold and resilient, facing down doubt and despair with faith and perseverance, and the performances are explosive and ecstatic, fueled by dazzling vocal arrangements punctuated with gritty bursts of guitar and crunchy rhythm breaks. It’d be easy to classify the album as “retro” or “vintage,” but the truth is that the young men of The Harlem Gospel Travelers aren’t just reviving sounds from the past, they’re revitalizing them for the present and reminding us just how relevant this music is (and always has been) in times of hardship and uncertainty.

“Gospel’s at the root of everything,” says Gatling. “Country, folk, rock, soul, blues; we love it all, and it’s all in there.”

Gatling and his fellow Travelers—singers George Marage and Dennis Bailey—were all familiar with gospel music to one degree or another growing up, but it wasn’t until their introduction to Reed that they began to learn about the rich history of the gospel quartet and timeless groups like The Soul Stirrers, The Dixie Hummingbirds, and The Swan Silvertones. See, back in high school, Gatling and Marage were participants in a non-profit music education program known as Gospel For Teens, which invited kids from all over New York to come to Harlem and sing after school.

“I was invited to visit the program and I thought it was great,” says Reed, who was signed to Warner Brothers Records at the time, “but it was all choir music. I asked if they’d ever consider doing a quartet program for young men, and they told me they’d love to but they didn’t have a teacher.”

So Reed became the teacher, working with five or six teenagers at a time for semester-long programs focused on widening the students’ perspective of what gospel music could be and tapping into the true power of their voices. Participants came and went over the years, but some stuck around and began to suggest the kind of talent and ambition that reached beyond a simple afterschool program.

“I started working with Thomas when he was 13 or 14,” recalls Reed, “and he was the driving force behind this turning into more than just a class. He was bringing in song ideas of his own, and as he and George and some of the guys in the group began to age out of the program, I realized we needed to get them into the studio.”

Thus, The Harlem Gospel Travelers were born. Backed by Reed and an all-star band, the group put out their debut LP, He’s On Time, to rave reviews in 2019, with Pop Matters hailing the album’s “musical transcendence” and AllMusic praising it as “dreamlike and joyous.” The record charted on Billboard, earned the Travelers high profile fans like Elton John (who invited them to appear on his Rocket Hour radio show on Apple Music), and landed them festival slots everywhere from Pilgrimage to Telluride Jazz. By the time 2020 hit, the wheels were in motion for a breakout year of touring and recording. Instead, the entire world came to a screeching halt.

“On top of everything else that was hard about it, the pandemic was particularly tough from an artistic perspective,” says Bailey. “It kind of felt like shadowboxing. You can do it on your own for a while, but you don’t know what you’re really capable of until you get into the ring with an opponent who can hit back.”

Bailey, a college friend of Gatling’s, had joined the group after the release of He’s On Time, fleshing out a new lineup that saw the Travelers evolving from a quartet into a trio. And while Bailey’s bandmates may have had more experience in the studio and on the road, all three shared a similar sense of frustration with being stuck at home.

“I had to learn to use that time to work on myself and see what was getting in the way of my ability to create,” says Gatling. “When I learned to let go of those negative parts of myself, that’s when I started to write again and feel this sense of rebirth.”

The songs Gatling found himself writing were righteous and uplifting, reaching back into the past but keeping their sights set firmly on the future. Bailey and Reed contributed originals to the mix, as well, and when it came time to record, they had a batch of songs on their hands unlike anything else they’d ever heard, a collection that at once harkened to the golden era of the gospel quartet and simultaneously tipped its cap to the likes of The Staple Singers and Curtis Mayfield, all while keeping its feet planted firmly in the 21st century.

“When we got back into the studio again after all that time, it felt like I was back home with my family,” says Marage. “I was in tears by the end of it because I could hear how far we’d come and how much we’d all put into this. It was an elevation in every sense of the word.”

That elevation is clear from the start on Look Up!, which opens with the exhilarating title track. Like so much of the album, the song insists on hope and believing in a brighter tomorrow. “You’ve got to raise your gaze above the haze and find yourself some better days,” Gatling and Marage sing, alternating back and forth on the lead. “And if you search your heart you’ll finally start and be on your way / Look up!”

“At the time, I was writing a lot of this material as encouragement to myself,” Gatling explains. “The songs were like a journal where I could work out my feelings in a really therapeutic way, where I could be uplifting without sacrificing any honesty or vulnerability.”

The fervent “Hold On (Joy Is Coming)” finds strength in a moment of weakness, while the blistering “God’s In Control” (written by Bailey) surrenders to a higher power, and the blissful “Nothing But His Love” embraces joy and gratitude. Upbeat as the record is, though, the Travelers don’t shy away from the painful truths of the modern world, tackling racism and injustice with a fierce sense of determination and pride on tracks like the funk-tinged “Hold Your Head Up” and stirring “Fight On.”

“I love those old Negro spirituals like ‘We Shall Overcome’ and ‘I Shall Not Be Moved,’” says Gatling, “but that’s not what I wanted to do here. I wanted to write songs that would make us feel empowered and call us to action, battle cries in the war against white supremacy, against division and hatred and oppression.”

The only way to fight those battles, as history has shown us time and again, is with love and faith and community. We’re stronger together—in song and in life—and Look Up! revels in that sense of belonging and inclusiveness. The stirring “Let Me Tell You” showcases the mesmerizing bass vocals of 18-year-old North Carolina vocalist Kendall Kent, who guests throughout the record; the tender “Help Me to Understand” shines a spotlight on drummer Aaron Frazer (Durand Jones & The Indications, Yola), who sat behind the kit on the first record but returns to lend his soulful vocals here; and the high octane “I’m Grateful” raises the rafters with a little help from Gatling’s mother, Pastor Cynthia McCants.

“I grew up singing with my mom and she’d always take me preaching with her,” Gatling explains. “Getting her into the studio to capture our relationship and what we do on Sunday mornings in church was a really special thing.”

Perhaps no track better encapsulates the album’s spirit, though, than the waltzing “God Will Take Care Of You.” Building from a spare, near-sermon of an intro into a feverish frenzy in less than three minutes, the song showcases the full width and breadth of the group’s remarkable range as it promises: “He’ll never leave you / Never forsake you / God will take care of you / I know that He will.”

“I was in such a deep dark place when I wrote that song,” reflects Gatling. “I was in the wilderness and I needed that comfort. Whether you believe or not, I know that when you hear us sing it, you’re going to feel something.”

And that’s what The Harlem Gospel Travelers are all about. They’re here to move you, to lift you up, to free you from your burdens and take you someplace higher. Because even when the world seems its darkest and everything else gets stripped away, the music still remains. It always does.

Tony Holiday
=========
Friday, July 19, 2024 @ 9:00 PM, Free.
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square
ArtsQuest Center
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

There's something about Tony Holiday that draws people together. In fact, community has been at the core of Holiday's young career from the beginning. Since relocating from Salt Lake City to Memphis in 2017, Holiday has been at the center of a soul blues revival in Memphis, anchored by a contingent of young, savvy well-schooled musicians with a "family-like" attitude and a strong belief in one another. Mentored by past legends, Holiday and this loose Memphis collective are building on the city's rich traditions and carrying them forward.
Motel Mississippi, Holiday's 2nd solo album, was recorded about an hour outside Memphis in Coldwater, Mississippi, at Zebra Ranch, the studio of the late great Memphis legend Jim Dickinson (The Rolling Stones, Big Star). Combining the sounds of North Mississippi Hill Country, Delta Blues, and Memphis soul, Motel Mississippi is equal parts hypnotic blues, driving soul, and juke joint stomper. The album consists of six originals and two covers, "Rob & Steal" by Paul Wine Jones and "Nobody But You" by Asie Payton.

Like with previous projects, Motel Mississippi began as a collaborative effort, this time between Holiday, guitarist/songwriter A.J. Fullerton and guitarist/producer Dave Gross who shared production duties with Fullerton. Rich sonic layers provide a forward-thinking quality to these productions, conjuring up a vibe that's modern and retro at the same time.

The drone and drive of songs like "Rob & Steal" and "Get By" contrast with juke joint grooves like "Just As Gone" while diving into new territory with the Cajun-infused double harmonica instrumental "Yazoo River." The album was recorded by another mainstay of recent Memphis recording, Kevin Houston (Southern Avenue, North Mississippi Allstars, G. Love). Other musicians on the album include Lee Williams Jr. on drums, Terrance Grayson on Bass, Aubrey McCrady on guitar, Jake Friel on Harmonica, and Mikey Junior on backup vocals.

Motel Mississippi follows 2020's Soul Service, produced by another regular collaborator, Southern Avenue's Ori Naftaly. This followed two volumes of Tony Holiday's Porch Sessions, which saw Holiday traveling across the United States and throughout Europe recording blues musicians on their very own front porches, in front of juke joints, in the countryside, and even on the front stoops of raucous night spots in bustling cities, resulting in two critically acclaimed albums. The guest list struck a balance between older legends like Grammy® winners Charlie Musselwhite and Bobby Rush, former Muddy Waters guitarist John Primer and the iconic Lurie Bell, alongside some of Holiday's peers Southern Avenue, Victor Wainwright, and John Németh. The latter two have served as important mentors for Holiday since his move to Memphis.

Nate Myers and the Aces
================
Saturday, July 20, 2024 @ 2:00 PM, Free.
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square
ArtsQuest Center
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

"Nate Myers and the Aces have been established in Central PA for over 20 years. They are professional, flexible, and easy to work with. Lead by vocalist Nate Myers and his harmonica, the band creates a loose, casual atmosphere in which everyone can relax and have a good time! Whether the audience prefers to sit back and listen or get up and “shake that thang,” there is something for everyone. Nate Myers is an excellent musician, songwriter, and performer – the consummate entertainer who keeps the audience’s attention throughout the entire performance. The wide variety of styles, energy and sincerity in his music allows him to fit into nearly any musical genre. On a typical evening, audiences can hear influences from many forms of American music – blues, funk, hip hop, rockabilly, country and improvisation. Nate Myers & the Aces take all these styles they love and weave them into a tapestry of their own..

Nate Myers has been billed with and on occasion, shared the stage with many national and regional artists such as Styx, Cheap Trick, Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, Kim Simmons/Savoy Brown, Kansas, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, G Love & Special Sauce, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Big Jack Johnson, Jason Ricci, Steve Guyger, Dennis Gruenling, E.G. Kight, The Nighthawks, Charlie Sayles, Bruce Katz, Billy Price, Carey Bell, Ben Andrews, Robin Trower, Rod Piazza, Luther Allison, E.C. Scott, Chris Thomas King, Michael Burks, Paul Rishell & Little Annie and many others.

The band can perform material appropriate for a family-friendly show, as well as a late night bar room crowd. Nate Myers is able to perform a full night of all original music, cover songs, or a combination of both.”

Sierra Green and the Giants
==================
Saturday, July 20, 2024 @ 3:00 PM, Free.
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
645 E. First Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

Emerging as a vibrant musical force from the bustling streets of New Orleans, Sierra Green embodies a fusion of timeless soul with an irresistible contemporary allure, evoking the depth and grit of the genre's raw essence. Revered as the "Queen of Frenchmen Street," Sierra's roots delve deep into the rich musical soil of the city's 7th Ward—a historic breeding ground that nurtured legends such as Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, and Allen Toussaint. Sierra's musical destiny is woven into the tapestry of this storied neighborhood, where her voice resonated in the church choir from the tender age of eight.

Sierra's artistic odyssey mirrors the resilience and profound soulfulness of her surroundings. Originating from humble beginnings, she captivated audiences along the iconic Frenchmen Street, eventually securing residencies in New Orleans' most esteemed clubs. Here, she meticulously curated her band, The Giants, handpicking the city’s finest musicians to refine her distinctive sound and command the stage with an undeniable presence.

A transformative moment unfolded in Fall 2023 when Sierra, alongside The Giants, collaborated in the studio with the esteemed David Torkanowsky, a musical luminary synonymous with New Orleans. The outcome was a five-song collection showcasing Sierra's artistry, revitalizing classics like The Meter's "Break in the Road" and infusing her unique essence into David Shaw's "Promised Land." Tracks such as "One Thing" and "He Called Me Baby" resonate with emotional depth and unfiltered passion, marking Sierra's trajectory—a burgeoning artist leaving an indelible imprint on the soul music landscape.

Further expanding her horizons, Sierra journeyed to Nashville, collaborating with producer and guitarist J.D. Simo, celebrated for his work with icons like Beyoncé, Stevie Nicks, and Jack White. These recording sessions promise to elevate her forthcoming debut album, infusing her captivating vocals with sultry guitar, potent horns, and infectious basslines—a nod to the legends of Detroit and Memphis as she forges her own path among contemporary torchbearers.

Sierra stands poised and primed, where each moment behind the microphone holds the promise of an unforgettable evening—an embodiment of soulful melodies and magnetic performances that leave audiences moved, captivated, and inspired. Sierra Green isn't merely crafting music; she’s etching her legacy in the revered annals of musical history.

The SlideWinder Blues
===============
Saturday, July 20, 2024 @ 4:30 PM, Free
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square
ArtsQuest Center
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

The SlideWinder Blues Band hits hard with its own brand of Texas and Chicago driven contemporary blues. For those times when the 1,4,5 just isn’t enough, the bands red blooded live shows are full of vigor and offer a sonic pallet indicative of the Mississippi Delta and New Orleans. Hailing from Doylestown, PA, SlideWinder is comprised of members Paul Boddy, Glenn Hale, Chuck Hearne and Dave Hollingsworth.

The Skyla Burell Band
==============
Saturday, July 20, 2024 @ 5:30 PM, Free.
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
645 E. First Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

Skyla Burrell and her band are known for their unique blend of contemporary, traditional, and blues rock, which has earned them a dedicated following and critical acclaim worldwide. The band was founded in 2002 by partners in life and music, guitarist/singer Skyla Burrell and guitarist Mark Tomlinson who both share songwriting credits. Onstage and on record they play 100% original material. For BROKEN 45's, their 6th album, Skyla and the band bring their passionate and high energy style to 15 all new original tracks.

Skyla Burrell was born and raised in Southern California and now calls Central Pennsylvania home. She joined her first working band at the age of 15 and has not looked back since. Skyla's musical journey began in her Grandmother's living room on the piano and guitar and she was writing songs by grade school. Known for her expressive, impassioned vocals and guitar style, as noted by the press, Skyla has earned a reputation as one of the hardest working women in blues.

Co-founding guitarist Mark Tomlinson began his career as a drummer, backing up John Lee ******, Big Time Sarah, Bo Diddley and others before switching to guitar. Skyla and Mark formed a band with one goal in mind, to play all original material. Their five previous albums- Working Girl Blues (2004), Living Day to Day (2006), Tough Luck (2007), Real Love (2011), Blues Scars (2014)- have received regional, national, and international airplay, and earned them a devoted following. Skyla Burrell's music has been featured in several TV shows and a movie, cementing their status as one of the most exciting and relevant blues bands on the scene. The band's latest release, Broken 45's, showcases their songwriting prowess and commitment to authenticity.

Eddie Davis & Blues Anatomy, featuring Sister Blue
==================================
Saturday, July 20, 2024 @ 6:30 PM
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square
ArtsQuest Center
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

Eddie Davis & Blues Anatomy, comprised of five talented musicians, all Philadelphia area natives, bring superb musicianship & a genuine love of the Blues to every performance. Playing at festivals, night clubs, private parties, corporate & special events, Eddie Davis & Blues Anatomy perform exciting, classic Blues that always pleases the audience and stirs a feeling in their soul.

Eddie Davis, Singer/Songwriter, known for his soulful, dynamic style & warm personality, has been performing and recording Blues for many years. Eddie is a recording artist, published songwriter, record producer and has performed locally and nationally with the best musicians anywhere. Eddie was chosen, specifically, by the record company to be the singer on the acclaimed blues album, Re-Discovering Lonnie Johnson. Other acclaimed blues songs and albums by Eddie are, Blues Diamonds, “Blues Is My Business and Business Is Good,” plus “Crazy Kinda Way” and “Good News, Still Singin’ The Blues,” both written by Eddie Davis, to name a few. As a side note, Eddie also had success writing, “Doin’ The Zombie,” recorded by Chubby Checker and “Mia Amore,” recorded by Major Harris. As a singer, who always loved the Blues, singing with Blues Anatomy is a dream come true.

Sister Blue, Singer/Drummer/Guitarist, is a Philly native with powerful vocals, stinging guitar leads, plus a killer drummer! Sister Blue sings and plays blues and soul classics and has had the honor to grace the stage with and play on the same bill as, blues greats, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, Robert Cray, Coco Montoya, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Taj Mahal, Pinetop Perkins and many, many more. “A Belter of the Blues” is how the Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine described Sister Blue in their “Local Angle” feature. The “Chestnut Hill Local” exclaimed, “she bellows, belabors and blasts the blues as if it’s exploding from a howitzer. There are no pretty bows on her songs, just a barbed wire of passion hot enough to burn up the furniture in the room.” Northeast Times- “When Sister Blue got the Blues-It’s All Good!”

Mark Furman, Blues Guitarist/Vocalist, played thousands of shows in the tri-state area with several popular blues bands. Mark has performed at great venues, i.e., Penn’s Landing, The Keswick Theater, Sellersville Theater, and The Colonial Theater, to name a few. Mark has opened for blues greats, such as, Robert Cray, Chris Duarte, Coco Montoya, Duke Robillard, Buckwheat Zydeco and many others. With his mastery of Blues Guitar and his “take no prisoners” attitude, Mark Furman is a force to be reckoned with amongst blues guitarists and a great guy to boot.

Rick Prince, Bassist, is not called “The Prince of Basses” for nothing. Rick is one of the most in-demand Blues bass players in the tri-state region. As a songwriter, producer, arranger and “in-house” session player for a number of recording studios, Rick’s musical background & experience is most impressive. When you want that solid bottom you bring in Rick Prince on bass, he’ll give you that & plenty more. The Ray Charles quote, “Simplicity Is Genius” is the perfect way to explain the bass playing of Rick Prince.

Marky B, Harmonica Player (Blues Harp), has played, toured & recorded with an array of local, regional & national acts including Buddy Guy, Sister Blue and Sonny Rhodes. Marky B is a skilled player adept in both diatonic & chromatic harmonicas, specializing in Blues, R&B and American roots music. Marky B is an in-demand session player and has performed various styles of music on soundtracks & jingles for TV & radio. This musician plays with such feeling, warmth & soul you want to listen to him play all night long.

Annika Chambers and Paul DesLauriers
==========================
Saturday, July 20, 2024 @ 7:30 PM
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
645 E. First Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

Both on stage and in private life, these two internationally acclaimed artists share incredible chemistry! Their first introduction (lasting only a few seconds) in the crowded lobby of the historic Orpheum Theatre during the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee left a lasting impression on both of them. It was not until a year later, at a recording session during 2019 IBC that their professional acquaintance blossomed into a love affair, culminating in marriage in August of 2019! Since that time, renowned Canadian Blues-Rocker Paul DesLauriers and acclaimed American Soul-Blues singer Annika Chambers have unified their artistic destiny, much to the joy of everyone who's had the pleasure of hearing and seeing them together!

Houston, Texas native ANNIKA CHAMBERS, like most great American singers, began singing as a child in the Southern Baptist church. Though Gospel music is her mother tongue, it is in the Blues that she found her true voice, and what a voice it is!! She is the 2022 Blues Music Award Winner for Soul-Blues Female Artist of the Year. After winning her first Blues Music Award for Soul-Blues Female Artist of the Year in 2019, she gave us her third release entitled “Kiss My Sass” on the VizzTone Label Group. It debuted at #4 on the Billboard Blues Chart and won the 2020 Living Blues Award for Best Southern Soul album. Annika performs regularly at top Blues festivals across North and South America as well as Europe.

Deeply rooted in the blues-rock idiom, guitarist-singer Paul DesLauriers is the winner of the Maple Blues Awards (Canada's national Blues Award program) for Entertainer of the Year (2016, 2017), Electric Act of the Year (2016), Guitarist of the Year (2013, 2019) and Acoustic Act of the Year (2013). In 2016 he took 2nd Place at the 32nd International Blues Challenge held by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennesee. His most recent recording « Bounce » (Bros/Vizztone) debuted at #1 on Canada's Roots Music Report and held the top Spot for several weeks. In November 2019, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Joh Lord of Deep Purple fame's Concerto for Group & Orchestra, the Paul DesLauriers Band were invited perform the piece at Palais Montcalm in Quebec City, Canada along with Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden and L’Orchestre Symphonique de Québec under the direction of Paul Mann.Paul DesLauriers’ international touring schedule includes regular performances at top Blues Festivals in North America and Europe including the Montreal International Blues Festival, Ottawa Blues Fest, Edmonton Blues Fest, Calgary Blues Fest, Big Blues Bender Las Vegas NV USA, White Mountain Boogie n’Blues NH USA, Heritage Music Blues Fest Wheeling WV USA, Passion Blues Cognac and Cahors Blues Festivals in France, the Sierre Blues Festival, Switzerland, and Grölsch Blues Festival Shöppingen Germany to name a few.

Jump, Jive, and Wail
==============
Saturday, July 20, 2024 @ 9:00 PM, Free.
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square
ArtsQuest Center
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300

The band was formed in 2012 and plays a variety of what we call house rockin' music, including swing, retro-swing, jump blues, blues, New Orleans second line music, classic r &b, roots r & r, Dixieland, & jazz, among others. The band has played at the Wawa 4th of July Welcome America in Philadelphia, 1st Energy Stadium in Reading, Rehoboth Beach Summer Concert Series, various casinos, parks, colleges, & private affairs. The band features the sizzling Demetria Joyce Bailey on vocals, & the red-hot Molten Brass horns. The band has a CD out called "Let The Good Times Roll".

Date: July 19-20, 2024.

Venue: Various Venues

Free.

For more info https://www.steelstacks.org/festivals/blast-furnace-blues/.