If you love the blues, you gotta get yourself to Arlington on Saturday evening for a show by an all-star group of some of the region’s best blues musicians.
The Legends of the Blues IV concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Byrnes Performing Arts Center. Sponsored by the Arlington Arts Council, it’s a show put together annually by Jeff Nicely, a local musician and Arlington’s art advocate of the year.
“I am excited to volunteer and put on yet another great show in Arlington,” Nicely said. “It’s an opportunity to see some world-class blues artists. Our region is blessed.”
Many of those set to perform Saturday are world-champion blues singers and instrumentalists who have been awarded top honors at competitions in Memphis, Tennessee, and other places.
“The International Blues Challenge is a marvelous gathering in Memphis of talent from around the world,” Nicely said. “In our all-star blues revue, all but one of the 12 band members have either been to Memphis or will go this year.
“Our show is not part of the competition, but purely a showcase. And what a testament to the talent.”
Here’s a list of that talent: Randy Oxford’s 12-Piece All-Star Slam, an ensemble performance assembled by the legendary award-winning trombonist, all headed for Beale Street in February; acoustic blues songsters Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons, 2016 International Blues Challenge champions; Kevin Sutton and Jim McLaughlin, world champions and local favorites, too.
The roots and blues duo of Hunter, a violinist, and Seamons, a banjo player, live in Seattle. The Sutton and McLaughlin duo are the local legends who hail from Everett. Sutton is an award-winning songwriter and McLaughlin an award-winning harmonica player.
Along with Oxford, others featured in the All-Star Slam include: singer Rae Gordon, from Portland; bassist/vocalist Polly O’Keary from Bothell and her brother, guitarist Willy Straub; singer/guitarist Stanislove from Seattle; drummers Richard Sabol and Eddie Mendoza; bassist Jim Kessler, the host of the All Blues show on KNKX 88.5 FM radio; percussionist Angelo Ortiz; lead vocalist Aury Moore from Tacoma; electronic violinist Joel Gamble; and Nicely, a harmonica player from Arlington.
“It’s going to be fun,” Nicely said.
If you go
Legends of the Blues IV
7:30 p.m. Nov. 19, Byrnes Performing Arts Center at Arlington High School, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $15 and are available in advance from Flowers by George, 335 N. Olympic Ave., Arlington, or at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2665635. Children are admitted free. More about the Arlington Arts Council is at arlingtonartscouncil.net.
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