FitzGerald's 30th Annual American Music Festival

Band Descriptions!

Bryan Lee & The Blues Power Band (Tent Stage 5:00pm, and SideBar 8pm and 10pm Thursday 7/1)
Bryan Lee (born March 16, 1943) is an American blues guitarist and singer based in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is also known by the nickname “braille blues daddy.” Bryan Lee been a fixture on Bourbon Street at the Old Absinthe Bar, for 15 years during the 80’ and 90’s until Katrina hit.

“I recently had the honor of performing with Kenny Wayne Shepherd on his newest CD/DVD release Ten Days Out. Along with Kenny, I had the distinct honor and pleasure of being on stage with Pine Top Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Flett, and Willie Big Eyes Smith. Performing with Kenny and his band on NBC's “Tonight show with Jay Leno” was a highlight on on Feb. 14 of 2007. I also had the honor of performing for BB King in 2005 for his birthday.” – Bryan Lee
myspace.com/bryanleeandthebluespowerband

Jon Langford'S Skull Orchard (Club Stage as Trio, 6:15pm; SideBar as 4-piece with Bonerama horns, 8:45pm Thursday 7/1)
Jon Langford (The Waco Bros.) joins us with his solo band project, Skull Orchard.
With a loud and literate new album called Old Devils arriving on Bloodshot Records this summer, Jon Langford & Skull Orchard return to the FitzGerald's stage. They'll be joined by the Bonerama horns (who provided brass arrangements for the album) as special guests. This is only Jon's 4th solo album in his long career with The Mekons, Waco Brothers and Pine Valley Cosmonauts; but it has the feel of a muscular live band with the addition of English guitar maestro Jim Elkington (The Zincs, Horse's Ha) to the core of Langford and fellow Waco Brothers Joe Camarillo and Alan Doughty.
myspace.com/jonlangfordskullorchard

Honey Island Swamp Band (Tent Stage, 6:30pm Thursday 7/1) [and Club Stage, 5:30pm Friday]
Winner of “Best Emerging Artist” and “Best Blues Album 2009” – OffBeat Magazine
The Honey Island Swamp Band began in the fall of 2005 after Hurricane Katrina left the members high and dry but far from home in San Francisco. They had worked together in separate New Orleans bands for years, but with no prospects of getting home any time soon, they thought they'd better get together for some musical home cookin’. Their latest disc, Good To You, a mix of country-inflected rock and New Orleans funky blues, should make their FitzGerald’s debut a crowd favorite.
honeyislandswampband.com

The Travelin' McCourys (Club Stage, 7:45pm Thursday 7/1)
Ron McCoury on mandolin, Rob McCoury on banjo, Jason Carter on fiddle, and Alan Bartram on bass , with featured guests on guitar and vocals, is the latest incarnation of the most awarded band in the history of bluegrass – The Del McCoury Band. Known for their individual prowess on their instruments and their rapidly expanding reputation as collaborators with the members of numerous musical icons from Vince Gill to the Allman Brothers and Phish, this touring unit blends the best of the Appalachian tradition with the improvisational magic of jazz. Unique live collaborations are the hallmark of their performances, and demonstrates why critics and musicians across the country hail them as the best bluegrass band in the world.
myspace.com/thetravelinmccourys

C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band (Tent Stage, 8:30pm Thursday 7/1) [and 5:15pm Sunday]
C.J. Chenier, son of the 'King of Zydeco' Clifton Chenier, joined his father's Red-Hot Louisiana Band playing saxophone at the age of 21. After Clifton's death in 1987, C.J. picked up the accordion and took charge of his father's ministry - to spread the word of Zydeco music to the world. Since then, Chenier has pushed the genre to new heights with his virtuosity. The Boston Globe has called him "the crown prince of zydeco," and Living Blues magazine hails him as "the best living zydeco singer and accordionist." His musical style ranges from the traditional zydeco of Clifton Chenier right on up to modern funk with healthy doses of blues, R&B, swamp pop and even country. C.J.'s total mastery of the accordion combined with his rich, satisfying voice are the driving forces behind this power-house zydeco band.
myspace.com/cjchenier

The Lee Boys (Club Stage, 9:45pm Thursday 7/1)
The Lee Boys are one of America's finest African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Here they underwent a rigorous course of training in a variety of musical instruments, including lap and pedal steel guitars. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself.

"Sacred steel" is a type of music described as an inspired, unique form of Gospel music with a hard-driving, blues-based beat. The musical genre is rooted in Gospel, but infused with rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, country and ideas from other nations.
leeboys.com

Bonerama (Tent Stage, 10:30pm Thursday 7/1)
Even in a city that doesn’t play by the rules, New Orleans’ trombone-based Bonerama (’bone-get it?) is something different. They can evoke vintage funk, classic rock and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same song. Bonerama has been repeatedly recognized by Rolling Stone, hailed as “the ultimate in brass balls” (2005) and praised for their “…crushing ensemble riffing, human-feedback shrieks and wah-wah growls” (2007). What other brass band could snag an honor for “Best Rock Band” (Big Easy Awards 2007)? As cofounder Mark Mullins puts it, “We thought we could expand what a New Orleans brass band could do. Bands like Dirty Dozen started the “anything goes” concept, bringing in the guitars and the drum kit and using the sousaphone like a bass guitar. We thought we could push things a little.”
boneramamusic.com

Meetin' In The Middle: The Travelin' McCourys & The Lee Boys (Club Stage, 11:15pm Thursday 7/1))
The Lee Boys have been in the studio with The Travelin’ McCourys, completing a joint album entitled Meetin' In The Middle, which illustrates their amazing bluegrass/sacred steel festival shows. This is a unique and powerful collaboration that’s earned recommendations by both had musicians and fans all over the country.

Whitey Morgan & The 78's (Tent Stage, 5:00pm Friday 7/2)
Whitey Morgan and the 78’s are a Honky Tonk band from Flint, Michigan. They haven’t re-invented the wheel, they just picked it up and started it rolling all over again.

In Flint, the factories are closed, jobs are scarce and the people are bitter. Whitey sings songs these people can relate to. In much the same way his grandfather and mentor did over 3 decades ago, to a whole generation of southern transplants who came up US-23 to Flint looking for the good life. In the spirit of William Morgan, Waylon, Merle and Paycheck; Whitey’s melodies help people forget their problems for a few hours and serve as the guideline for drinking sorrows away. The 78’s halftime groove brings out everyone’s dancing shoes and while Whitey and the 78’s play, the world is a better place.
whiteymorgan.com

Honey Island Swamp Band (Club Stage, 5:30pm Friday 7/2)
(see description on July 1)

Wayne 'The Train' Hancock (Tent Stage, 6:15pm Friday 7/2)
Since his stunning debut, Thunderstorms and Neon Signs in 1995, Wayne “The Train” Hancock has been the undisputed king of Juke Joint Swing -- that alchemist’s dream of honky-tonk, western swing, blues, Texas rockabilly and big band. Always an anomaly among his country music peers, Wayne’s uncompromising interpretation of the music he loves is in fact what defines him: steeped in traditional but never "retro;" bare bones but bone shaking; hardcore but with a swing. Like the comfortable crackle of a Wurlitzer 45 jukebox, Wayne is the embodiment of genuine, house rocking, hillbilly boogie.
waynehancock.com

Uncle Lucius (Club Stage, 7:15pm Friday 7/2)
“Austin's Uncle Lucius is one of the most genuine interpretations of Southern rock and soul since The Black Crowes, with songs both Hank Williams and The Band would appreciate." – Gavin Paul, Center Stage Chicago
The formation of Uncle Lucius is a Texas tale in the truest sense. Four unique musicians of the Lone Star State, each living in their own hamlets, brewing up a dire need to put together a soulful southern rock outfit, sometimes can’t help but find each other.
uncleluciusmusic.com

Joe Pug & The Hundred Mile Band featuring Bucky Baxter (Tent Stage, 8:15pm Friday 7/2)
"New and Emerging Artist" Nominee for the American Music Association!

For the moment, Joe Pug has it figured out, career if not life: Just write the songs that have to be written, play them for anybody who will listen, tour as if you had no home. Oh, and give your music away. Which isn’t to say he won’t be selling his debut full-length offering, Messenger (Released 2/16/2010 on Lightning Rod). But free is how he came to make it, more or less.

Featured in the band is multi-instrumentalist Bucky Baxter, who has recorded extensively with Steve Earl and Bob Dylan, and played pedal steel guitar in Bob Dylan's band on his Never Ending Tour from 1992 to 1999.
joepugmusic.com

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers (Club Stage, 9pm Friday 7/2)
Fronted by Roger Clyne with drummer P.H. Naffah, lead guitarist Jim Dalton and bassist Nick Scropos, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers are the only independent band to debut in the Top 10 on Billboard's Internet Sales chart for six consecutive albums, including two #1 entries. Clyne & Naffah enjoyed an accomplished stint with The Refreshments, the late-90s rock band whose cult-classic album Fizzy Fuzzy, Big & Buzzy produced the hit singles "Banditos" and "Down Together." Clyne wrote and performed with The Refreshments the theme song for the hit cartoon “King of the Hill.”

With Glow In The Dark and Turbo Ocho, Clyne and the Peacemakers have once again shattered old definitions of what is expected of a rock and roll band and forged their own path directly to what matters most - the fans.
azpeacemakers.com

Marcia Ball Band (Tent, 10:00pm Friday 7/2)
Grammy-nominated Marcia Ball has been a long-time friend of FitzGerald's, the first national touring act we ever booked and a guest at our American Music Festival all 30 years!

The simple mention of a Louisiana or Texas roadhouse conjures up images of a crowded dancehall filled wall-to-wall with rabid music fans rocking to a hotter-than-hot band playing a smoldering blend of swampy R&B, jumping blues and heart-wrenching ballads. Pianist/vocalist/songwriter Marcia Ball brings that spirit to every concert she plays and every song she records. Her music is mixed with equal parts simmering soul fervor and two-fisted piano pounding.

Between her deeply emotive vocals and her incisive, often poignant songwriting, Ball is in a class by herself. Her groove-laden New Orleans R&B and driving Gulf Coast blues have made her a one-of-a-kind favorite of music fans all over the world. The Boston Herald says, “Piano pounding Marcia Ball plays masterful, red hot tracks from the Texas-Louisiana border. Her voice can break your heart with a ballad or break your back with a rocker.” The Austin Chronicle heralds her as “a class act whose soulful, horn-laden swamp pop and murderous honky-tonk make her a stellar example of musical artistry.”
marciaball.com

Jon Dee Graham & The Fighting Cocks (Club Stage, 11:30pm Friday 7/2, and 7:45pm Saturday 7/3)
Graham is "ferocious with primal roar as human as he grapples everyman's struggle." –Richard Skanse, Rolling Stone

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Jon Dee Graham is a native Texan with a deep, eclectic musical history. The writer Don Henry Ford Jr. describes Jon Dee Graham as "unvarnished, raw and gritty." He can sing soft introspective songs or he can blow you out of your seat with pounding rock and roll. He was voted "Musician of the Year" at the Austin Music Awards during the 2006 South By Southwest Music Conference. Graham has gone on touring, writing, recording, and producing with artists such as John Hiatt, The Gourds, Patti Smyth, Alejandro Escovedo, and Michelle Shocked among others.
jondeegraham.com

Rayland Baxter (SideBar, 7:30pm Friday 7/2, and 5pm Saturday 7/3)
Rayland Baxter is a gentleman, a singer of song, a teller of tale, a picker of strings, a thinker of things. Born in the untamed hills of Bon Aqua, Tennessee, he tells a story unlike any other, a story that is true and full of unravelling emotion. No lines drawn, no box to be found in the world of Rayland Baxter. He is who he is and he tells the unmatched story. Wether it be the story of love, the story of struggle, or the story of joy, the road that he travels is full of dust and flowers, fire and ice, comets and dreams, and he walks with stars in his eyes, leaving the scent of wild magnolias for those on his trail...for us, we are fortunate to find him at the end, smilin. Tradition is a staple in Rayland's music. In any given song, one can hear the nuances of his favorites...from Dylan to Van Zandt, Johnson to Hopkins, or anyone else on the musical map that has tickled his fancy at one time or another. His reconstruction of song is mesmorizing in its own right...a true artist...a humble man...a dreamer.
raylandbaxter.com

The Giving Tree Band (SideBar, 9:30 & 11:30pm Friday 7/2)
The Giving Tree Band is an American indie folk-rock group started in 2004 by brothers Todd and Eric Fink and based in Yorkville, Illinois. The band uses a multitude of acoustic instruments including guitar, banjo, upright bass, violin, mandolin, slide dobro, dulcimer, ukulele, harmonium, harmonica, glockenspiel, drums and percussion. During their November 3, 2008 appearance on “Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour,” host Michael Johnathon described them as having "the spirit of Pete Seeger with the musical abilities of The Band."

The Giving Tree Band is also known for extraordinary environmental stewardship and eco-friendly music production. They use a number of instruments that were handmade from naturally fallen trees and reclaimed woods. They have recorded with renewable energy and package all their CDs with 100% recycled materials.
thegivingtreeband.com

Yellowhammers (Tent Stage, 1pm; also 6, 8, & 10:30 in the SideBar, Saturday 7/3)
The Yellowhammers began writing as a trio in 1994 when Terry White (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Rob Pierce (vocals, guitar) and Kevin James (bass, vocals) left Los Angeles and regrouped in Chicago. It was there that they honed a new sound, as well as found two additional members in Phil Levin (drums) and Tom Kneesel (pedal steel, guitar). The melodies that resulted revealed a musical influence from Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones, with lyrical influence from Hank Williams, Bob Dylan and Lou Reed. As stated in the Chicago Tribune, their “songs are almost as beautiful as they are haunting.” With each new track, the Yellowhammers are adding to a rich catalog of scenes and landscapes teeming with characters that are confused, lost, fallen, sincere, honorable and salvaged on the shoulders of each other.
yellowhammers.com

Eilen Jewell (Club Stage, 2:15pm Saturday 7/3)
Boston's own Eilen Jewell has been pounding souls into submission for the past five years with a bottomless well of bum-out beauties. “Make no fuss over my grave/Just plant something pretty and call it a day,” she croons over a lazy shuffle on “Rain Rolls In” – if you're looking for peppier subject matter, it's gonna be a long night. Jewell has made a delicate shack of lived-in roots and sun-faded Nashville twang in which to store her heartbreak while audiences throughout the US and Europe have lined up for a peek inside. We have seen Eilen several times in the opening slot and are looking forward to showcasing her skills at our festival.
eilenjewell.com

Tributosaurus Becomes Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Tent Stage, 3pm Saturday 7/3)
Tributosaurus is the Jurassic beast of multiple musical faces, and every month, the beast morphs into a different rock group. Fans have packed FitzGerald’s for their sets as Michael Jackson, Van Morrison, The Early Beatles, The Band and more. The finest musicians from Chicagoland join the core group to sit in…to sing and play songs they’ve wanted to cover all their lives. What sets Tributosauras apart from other “tribute” bands is a meticulous attention to detail in the music and production; if there was five seconds of triangle in the third verse of a Van Morrison song, you’ll hear it. This year’s show as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young promises to be a festival highlight.
tributosaurus.com

Webb Wilder & the Beatnecks (Club Stage, 4pm Saturday 7/3)
There are Roots-Rockers, and then there's Webb Wilder. Hardly a purist, he has described the music he and his band make as “Rock for Roots fans and Roots for Rock fans.” A southern-fried humor infuses the Webb Wilder play list, with song titles like “Human Cannonball” and a self-description as “The last of the full-grown men.” Webb has been a long-time FitzGerald’s favorite and a perfect addition to our festival.

“Beatnecks aboard for this 'round include Jimmy Lester on drums, Tom Comet on bass & vocals and Beatneck ...emeritus Joe V. McMahan, who with Webb co-produced and engineered 2009's "More Like Me" album.”
webbwilder.com

The Nighthawks With Hubert Sumlin (Tent Stage, 5:30pm Saturday 7/3)
The Nighthawks are among the top musical acts to come out of the Washington, D.C. area – and are still based there. They were a roots rock band before there was such a thing as “roots rock.” They play a wide variety of music that appeals to a diverse audience, mixing the blues, rock and soul – along with rockabilly and swing.

The Nighthawks will be joined by legendary blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin. Sumlin has influenced and inspired many famous guitar players, and he performed in Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf's bands. He was voted #65 on the Rolling Stones list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists in the History of Rock and Roll.”
thenighthawks.com | hubertsumlinblues.com

Joe Pug & The Hundred Mile Band featuring Bucky Baxter (Club Stage, 6pm Saturday 7/3)(see description on July 2)

The Blasters with Dave Alvin (Tent Stage, 7:30pm Saturday 7/3, [and Club Stage, 11pm on Sunday 7/4])
The Blasters embody the best traditions of American Music, performing with passion and integrity that for over three decades has won the hearts and souls of fans worldwide. They carry on a hard-won legacy as one of the most recognizable and credible bands in American Music. Their influences range from the likes of George Jones and Carl Perkins to Ike Turner, Howlin’ Wolf, James Brown and Big Joe Turner, all blending into a sound that ignores the lines between Rock & Roll, Country, Blues and Rockabilly.

Founding band member, Dave Alvin, makes a rare appearance with The Blasters for this year's American Music Festival! Check out the headline in the June 7th link of their newsletter (blastersnewsletter.com) – Front Page News!
myspace.com/theblasters

Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra (Club Stage, 11:15pm Saturday 7/3)
Acclaimed by his hometown as the “Musical Mayor of Chicago”, Nicholas Tremulis has been in the music scene since 1982. Since then, he has played or recorded with artists such as Keith Richards, Billy Corgan, Alejandro Escovedo, and Bonnie Raitt, just to name a few. Nicholas Tremulis has a full-fledged band to back him this time around, aptly titled the Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra. Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra has had a highly successful run of shows in Chicago since the summer of 2008, including two much hailed, month long residencies at the Hideout and Schuba’s Tavern. Currently, Tremulis hosts “The Eclectic Company” on WXRT with Jon Langford, which is a show that has had special guests such as Beck and Steve Albini, talk about their favorite recordings and their experiences and insights on the music business. With all of this and many other accomplishments under his belt, Tremulis is certainly a force to be reckoned with in the music world. Nick will be performing his new single “Super Human Love,” released on June 17th.
nicholastremulis.com

John Mooney & Bluesiana (Club Stage, 9:30pm Saturday 7/3)
John Mooney was recently featured in the season finale Episode 10 “I'll Fly Away” of HBO's “Treme.”  John performed his version of Grayson Capps' song “Drink A Little Poison (4 U Die)” along with the Soul Rebels Brass Brass Band at Le Bon Temps Roule.

Throughout the years John Mooney has developed one of the most distinctive and easily identifiable guitar and vocal signatures of anyone alive today. His newest disc, Big Ol’ Fiya with special guest Jon Cleary has been a long time coming, but Mooney has brought some profound musical styles and songwriting to his signature syncopated delta blues sound. If there was ever a Mooney CD to own, this one is truly it. By far his most heartfelt, intimate, soulful and incredibly intricate vocals, this is a John Mooney album that is simply like none other.
johnmooneylive.com

Jon Dee Graham & The Fighting Cocks (Club Stage, 7:45pm Saturday 7/3)
(see description on July 2)

Joe Ely Band featuring Stones saxman Bobby Keys, & Flatlanders guitarist Rob Gjersoe (Tent Stage, 10:15pm Saturday 7/3)
Joe Ely is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist whose music touches on honky-tonk, country and rock and roll. He has had a genre-crossing career, performing with Bruce Springsteen, Uncle Tupelo, Los Super Seven, The Clancy Brothers and James McMurtry, in addition to his early work with The Clash and more recent acoustic tours with Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, and Guy Clark. Joe Ely has recorded many great albums including the early classic Honky Tonk Masquerade, but it is his live performances and stellar bands that has won over so many fans.

For this year's festival, Joe will perform with the Flatlander's rhythm section, including, Jimmy Pettit on bass, Pat Manske on drums, Rob Gjersoe on guitar, and special guest, Rolling Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys. View this youtube video to see Joe Ely and this band perform with The Flatlanders on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”
ely.com

Willie Nile (Club Stage, after midnight Saturday, joining with Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra)
More than a quarter-century has passed since the release of Willie Nile’s first album, accompanied by press notices comparing him to Dylan and Springsteen. As powerful as it sounds, tenacity is only a word until you see and hear it personified in the live performances of this gifted singer/songwriter. Nearly 30 years after his much-heralded debut and two years after his astonishing re-emergence on Streets of New York, Nile is ready to push his career into high gear with the release of House of a Thousand Guitars. Willie's first performance at FitzGerald's (Oct. 2009) was so impressive that we invited him to play the festival that very night!
willienile.com

The Chicago Salty Dogs (in the Beer Garden, 5 & 7pm Saturday 7/3)
In 1947, a group of Purdue University students formed the Salty Dogs Jazz Band. In the earliest days of jazz, Indiana was the place where the great bands played, recorded and set down their musical roots. The Salty Dogs Jazz Band was born from that tradition and they continue today as living testament that great hot jazz will live forever. The roots of the Salty Dogs dig deep to the early jazz musicians of the 1920s - Hoagy Carmichael, King Oliver, The New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Jelly Roll Morton, Bix Biederbecke, Hitch's Happy Harmonists, and Louis Armstrong.
The Salty Dogs have played at FitzGerald's for 30 years, but they had been performing in this very building since the early 1950's (then known as the Hunt Club--check out their 1955 photo on the front wall in the club). This past year, the band lost long time pianist and friend John Cooper; for this performance, Jeremy Kahn plays piano and Art Davis is the featured trumpet.
saltydogsjazzband.com

Jeff & Vida (SideBar, 7 & 9:30pm Saturday 7/3)
Jeff and Vida’s nine years of performing and songwriting have seen them delve into many different genres of music; country, honky-tonk, rockabilly, even a little rock and roll. But throughout their career, which has included four critically acclaimed albums, literally thousands of live shows in the U.S. and Europe, and a move from New Orleans to Nashville, bluegrass has remained a key influence in their style and sound. Their festival sets in our SideBar always draw a crowd for a pleasing mix of styles, from rough-edged blues to old-timey country.
jeffandvida.com

Rayland Baxter (SideBar, 5pm Saturday 7/3)
(see description on July 2)

Brienn Perry Orchestra (Tent Stage, 1:00pm & 2:15pm Sunday 7/4)
Vocalist Brienn Perry embodies that rare combination of astounding talent, and a warm presence that exudes charm and sublime sophistication. He continues to capture the hearts of audiences and critics alike, and has been called “One of the best bass/baritones in the business” by Chicago Tribune arts and music critic; Howard Reich. He has smooth jazz vocals reminiscent of Nat “King” Cole and Sammy Davis Jr., a brilliant, lyrical alto trombone sound, and a broad repertoire to delight any audience.

An accomplished musician, Brienn has honed his skills for most of his life, singing and playing the slide trombone since childhood. At eight years old his left eye was removed due to malignant cancer (hence his eye patch). This only made music an even greater part of his life. After learning to play the tenor trombone he began to study all of the other brass instruments like the baritone, trumpet and flugelhorn. Brienn is at home in intimate surroundings with just a piano accompaniment or in concert with a sixty piece orchestra. For this year's festival, Brienn will bring a 16-piece Chicago all-star big band with special guest vocalist Precious Jewel.
briennperry.com

Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns (Club Stage, 1:00pm Sunday 7/4)
This exciting young band, comprised of several 21 and under musicians is sure to set your feet a-tapping and your boots a-dancing in their FitzGerald’s debut.

Frontman Briggs Brown, 17-year-old Accordionist of the Year nominee by the CFMA (Cajun French Music Association), has developed a style all of his own in playing traditional Cajun music, and his high-energy stage presence sparks a full-on dance party at every show. Female Vocalist of the Year nominee, 21 yr. old Megan Brown, accompanies her brothers’ band with pure-south vocals that wow listeners and also plays guitar. Briggs and Megan are the great, great nephew and niece of the late Sidney Brown, first Cajun accordion builder.

The band also includes CFMA Fiddler of the Year 2009, 19 year old Travis Benoit, and Male Vocalist of the Year nominee, Ray Thibodeaux, who carries the Cajun music torch with his spirited vocals while keeping beat on the drums. Their recent CD Vieilles Memoires - Bon Temps (Old memories, good times) was nominated for Best CD of the Year and Peoples Choice Award by the CFMA.
myspace.com/briggsbrownandthebayoucajuns

Kevin Gordon Band (Club Stage, 2:45pm Sunday 7/4)
Kevin Gordon, born in Shreveport, Louisiana, grew up in Monroe, went to school in Iowa City, and now lives in Nashville. In Iowa City, Gordon frequented jam sessions, where he met kindred spirit Bo Ramsey (and guitarists Greg Brown and Lucinda Williams, among others). Eventually he joined Ramsey's band, crisscrossing the midwest, playing Little Walter and J.J. Cale songs, and drinking beer with farmers. He then moved to Nashville and recorded a couple of critically acclaimed albums.

Kevin Gordon's songs have been recorded by Keith Richards, Levon Helm, Irma Thomas, Webb Wilder, Ronnie Hawkins, Sonny Burgess, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Kate Campbell and Pat Gallagher. For this year's festival, the Kevin Gordon Band will be joined by guitarist and producer Joe McMahan. Kevin will have a new record, Glory Land, to be released this fall.
kevingordon.net

The Victory Travelers & The Anointed Vessel Gospel Choir (Tent Stage, 3:30pm Sunday 7/4)
Gospel music--the birthplace of every musical form from blues to jazz to rock and roll--what music festival would be complete without it, and why look any further than Chicago, home to some of gospel‘s greatest stars?
Since the city’s own Deacon Burton founded the Victory Travelers more than 30 years ago, the quartet has released eight acclaimed albums and seven singles. In 2000, the African American Religious Connection (established by the Rev. Clay Evans) named the Victory Travelers as Best Male Gospel Quartet."
This classic gospel band is hard-charging, powerful, brimming with going-to-church quartet excitement and mixing those songs with others are deep and bluesy, a nod to gospel’s Delta roots.
The soaring harmonies of The Anointed Vessel Gospel Choir will start the show, with a thirty minute set leading into the Victory Travelers‘ performance.
myspace.com/victorytravelers

Susan Cowsill (Club Stage, 4:30pm Sunday 7/4)
Whether she's delivering a heart-tugging ballad or belting out a punchy rock tune, critics agree that Susan Cowsill has an exceptional talent for connecting with a song's emotional core. Rolling Stone praised Just Believe It (her first solo album) as "The hardy, heartbreaking sound of…a bar-band angel…in the prime of her singing and songwriting life." The Washington Post proclaimed "As good as Cowsill’s voice is, her smart, emotional songwriting is her biggest asset."

Susan and her husband Russ Brussard will perform as a 5-piece band for the American Music Festival and her set will include songs from her 2nd solo album, Lighthouse, which tells personal stories from Hurricane Katrina, in which Susan lost her brother Barry and almost everything she owned.
susancowsill.com

C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band (Tent Stage, 5:15pm Sunday 7/4)
(see description on July 1)

Brave Combo (Club Stage, 6:45pm Sunday 7/4)
Trying to describe Brave Combo’s music requires a pretty extensive vocabulary – at least when it comes to musical styles. For the past three decades the Denton, Texas based quintet has perfected a world music mix that includes salsa, meringue, rock, cumbia, conjunto, polka, zydeco, classical, cha cha, the blues and more. They are America’s Premier Dance band and a rollicking, rocking, rhythmic global journey -- offering what one critic recently wrote, “Even if you come for the party, you'll leave with something of a musical education.”

Brave Combo has been performing at FitzGerald's since the early 80's, including their Annual Holiday Dance Party. They also do weddings, including David Byrne from the Talking Heads, and Bill's sister Catherine!!!
brave.com

James Hunter (Tent Stage, 7:30pm Sunday 7/4)
“An overnight success that’s taken 20 years...”
That’s how James Hunter describes the outpouring of praise and acceptance for his 2006 album, People Gonna Talk. Issued in March 2006 on GO Records/Rounder, the Grammy-nominated People Gonna Talk was the singer/songwriter/guitarist’s first Stateside release after two decades of performing and recording in his native Britain. The Los Angeles Times praised James Hunter’s “extraordinary soul voice;” Rolling Stone called his album “a treat not to miss.”

The indeed very extraordinary and very British James Hunter, who possesses a "tight, slithery soul groove" and a "sweet growl" (NY Times), made his Hear Music label debut on June 10th, 2008 with the release of THE HARD WAY. This new collection finds Hunter delving even further into the limitless realm of deepest soul with another expertly crafted set of all-original material. In their second collaboration together, THE HARD WAY was produced by Liam Watson (also producer of The White Stripes ELEPHANT) at famed analogue haven Toe Rag Studios in London.

"One of the best voices, and best kept secrets, in British R&B and Soul." – Van Morrison
jameshuntermusic.com

Waco Brothers (Club, 8:45pm Sunday 7/4)
“I’ve never been able to find a live band in New York as consistently thrilling and funny and fun as the Waco Brothers.” – Author and former Chicagoan Sarah Vowell interview on the Chicagoist.
“Ladies and gentlemen, quite possibly the best live rock band on the planet. We’ve seen them a hundred and sixty seven times, and the Waco Brothers never fail to entertain with their train wreck approach to country. Subtlety is for the weak, so they’ve chosen the path of optimum mayhem and tomfoolery. In their rollicking career, they have been called everything from the flagship act of the alternative country “movement” to pure butchery. Both are likely to be correct.” – TimeOut Chicago
wacobrothers.com

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (Tent Stage, 9:45pm Sunday 7/4)
Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews' new album, Backatown (Verve Forecast April 20), is the work of a rare artist who can draw both the unqualified respect of jazz legends and deliver a high-energy rock show capable of mesmerizing international rock stars and audiences alike. With such an unprecedented mix of rock, funk, jazz, hip-hop and soul, he had to create his own name to describe his signature sound: Supafunkrock! Andrews is the kind of player who comes along maybe once in a generation, and Backatown is the latest, clearest proof that his artistry is as singular as his raw talent.

The news is good for Trombone Shorty!
  • Offbeat, New Orleans' premier music magazine, has awarded Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue “Best R&B/Funk Band” two years in a row. Trombone Shorty himself has picked up awards for “Performer of The Year” and “Best Trumpeter” two years in a row for each award.
  • Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue make their late night network TV debut on “Late Show with David Letterman” performance on June 22.
  • Troy continues to make regular appearances as himself on HBO's new series “Treme.”
  • Backatown is #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Album Chart for the 5th straight week since it's release.
  • Trombone Shorty was recently interviewed on Tavis Smiley on PBS.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue stole the show at last year's festival. We are very fortunate to have them back for a 2nd year in a row. They will be flying in from California's High Sierra Music Festival to Berwyn!
tromboneshorty.com

The Blasters with Dave Alvin (Club Stage, 11:00pm – closing the festival! Sunday 7/4)
(see description on July 3)

Blue Line Riders (SideBar, 2:30pm & 4:45pm Sunday 7/4)
This six-piece country band first came to our attention at Country Night in Berwyn, FitzGerald’s monthly showcase for local artists and bands, and after just a few shows we were sold. With Kristen Lehner’s clear yet smoky vocals leading the way, the Blue Line Riders play honky tonk & western swing with all the sweetness of country past and all the relevance of country present.
myspace.com/bluelineriders

The Tillers (SideBar, 6:45pm & 9:00pm Sunday 7/4)
The Tillers are an old-timey three-piece band from Cincinnati on the Ohio River. Musically, The Tillers wear many hats. Their sound has proven to be an appropriate fit with a wide range of musical styles: traditional folk, bluegrass, jazz, punk rock and anything else they might run into. They have shared the stage with a broad swath of national touring acts, ranging from renowned Americana legends such as Jerry Douglas and Iris Dement to rambunctious rock daredevils like the Legendary Shack Shakers. Always moving, the Tillers continue to enter new territory. Their musical growth can be heard in their newest release, By the Signs, self produced in November 2009 as a follow-up to their debut Ludlow Street Rag. The new album moves through originals in the vein of Delta-style blues, ‘30s-style jazz, and mountain gospel in addition to their signature style of old-time folk. The Tillers were included Tom Brokaw’s 2009 "American Character Along Highway 50" documentary.
myspace.com/thetillersthree