A jam-packed weekend of blues in Arlington, Snohomish

Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 15, 2018

This weekend is for blues lovers, as two annual blues events return to Arlington and Snohomish.

Blues guitarist and singer Coco Montoya, who tours across the nation, and his band will headline the Legend of the Blues IV concert at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Byrnes Performing Arts Center in Arlington.

Then, on Sunday, 30 local, regional and national acts will play the ninth annual Snohomish Blues Invasion in downtown Snohomish. The pub crawl-style mini-fest, presented by the Washington Blues Society, is from 2 to 10 p.m. at six venues along First Street.

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Montoya, 67, is best known as the lead guitarist for John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers for 10 years. The band, which disbanded in 2008, helped launch major figures in rock music, such as Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and Mick Taylor (the Rolling Stones’ second guitarist in the 1970s).

Montoya’s joining the Bluesbreakers in the early 1980s was by pure chance; Mayall, who founded the band in 1963, happened to walk into a Los Angeles bar where Montoya was playing a tribute to the band. Mayall was so impressed that he tracked Montoya down and asked if he wanted to join the Bluesbreakers, which was making a comeback after a decade-long hiatus.

“I really do believe that it was fate and it was meant to be,” Montoya said.

Montoya left the Bluesbreakers in 1995 to pursue a solo career. The following year, he won Best New Blues Artist at the 1996 Blues Music Awards.

Montoya, who lives in San Fernando Valley, California, has recorded nine albums since then, earning a reputation for his searing guitar tone, emotional solos and energetic vocals.

Montoya will be backed by a “seasoned” band at Byrnes Performing Arts Center, where he plans to play a mix of originals and the best songs from the Bluesbreakers.

Montoya prides himself on his improvisational skills, both in his guitar solos and his sets.

“You never know where I’m going to go with the blues,” Montoya said.

John “Greyhound” Maxwell, who won Washington Blues Society’s Best Acoustic Blues Guitar award this year, will open the concert, which is presented by the Arlington Arts Council. Proceeds go to the council’s public art program.

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Snohomish Blues Invasion will pack three days’ worth of artists into one bluesy Sunday.

The event, which is Washington Blues Society’s largest fundraiser of the year, will feature 30 artists playing a mix of genres, including acoustic, indie rock, delta blues, Americana and rockabilly.

You can hear music at six venues: the Oxford Saloon, 913 First St.; Snazzy Badger Pub, 907 First St.; Stewart’s Place, 709 First St.; Looking Glass Coffee, 2904, 801 First St. No. 201; Grilla Bites, 1020 First St. No. 104; and Piccadilly Circus Pub, 1104 First St.

“Half of the venues are all ages, so it’s a family-friendly event,” said Rick Bowen, vice president of the Washington Blues Society.

Local acts will include Edmonds’ Stacey Jones Band, Jomama from Marysville, Donna Dupres Group of Arlington, Everett’s Jim McLaughlin, Kevin Sutton and So Low Lew (Tim Lewis), Lori Hardman and Eric Rice from Lynnwood, and Dennis Griffths of Marysville.

Proceeds from the event will go toward travel costs for this year’s entrants in the upcoming 2019 International Blues Challenge, held in January in Nashville. They include Sammy Eubanks and the Working Class from Post Falls, Idaho, Sheri Roberts-Greimes from Marysville, Bellevue’s Nick Mardon and Miranda Kitchpanich of Renton — all of whom will be playing Sunday.

The suggested donation is $10, though no one will be turned away if they don’t pay, Bowen said.

The event raised about $5,500 in 2017.

“We’re very excited to do this again,” Bowen said. “People just love coming. That’s why it’s nine years strong. It’s also pretty unique that we have a pub-crawl event down the street and that you can see all these artists.”

Evan Thompson: 425-339-3427, ethompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @ByEvanThompson.

If you go

What: Legend of the Blues IV

Where: Byrnes Performing Arts Center, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd., Arlington

When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17

Tickets: $15 online, $20 at the door; free for kids younger than 12

More: www.arlingtonartscouncil.net

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What: Snohomish Blues Invasion

Where: First Street, Snohomish

When: 2 to 10 p.m. Nov. 18

Tickets: Suggested donation is $10

More: www.wablues.org or www.facebook.com/WashingtonBluesSociety