Organizers have pulled collectively a stellar lineup for the forty second San Jose Fountain Blues & Brews Competition.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram — who many know from his cool cameo within the hit movie “Sinners” — and longtime blues favourite Walter Trout are the headliners for the fandango, which runs June 14-15 at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San Jose.
But, there are such a lot of different cool acts on the invoice, together with San Jose’s personal Aki Kumar, acclaimed guitarist Mike Zito, and the excellent pairing of saxophonist Vanessa Collier with fiery fret lady Laura Chavez.
The competition can be working on two phases — the Predominant Stage and the Poor Home Bistro Stage — from 11:15 a.m. to eight p.m. each days.
Wanting past the blues, the competition has a lot on faucet (sure, pun meant) for beer lovers and different thirsty people. Festivalgoers can decide from a choice of 40 regional craft beers, wines and ciders. There will even be a wide range of meals choices, together with BBQ, burgers, fries, tacos and candy treats.
But, it’s the music that actually calls to us on this combine. So, with that thoughts, we’re spotlighting a number of the artists acting at this 12 months’s huge blues competition. It ought to be a good time for all. Two-day passes begin at $51.50 and single-day tickets are $31.50 and up, fountainblues.com.
Listed below are seven acts undoubtedly price testing on the competition:
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Ingram is among the hottest younger weapons within the blues style, wowing followers wherever he goes together with his blistering guitar work and credible vocals. The truth that he delivered the one most interesting set we noticed throughout your entire 2023 BottleRock Napa Valley — a significant three-day competition that additionally featured such big-name acts as Submit Malone, Lizzo and Duran Duran — ought to underscore what a expertise this Mississippi native is on the dwell stage. Kingfish additionally scored a cameo look in one of many largest motion pictures of the 12 months — Oakland director Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” — which actually has boosted this Grammy winner’s profile.
Particulars: 6:30-8 p.m. June 14, Predominant Stage
Hearken to: “Outside of this Town,” “Believe these Blues”
Walter Trout
Trout is blues-rock legend with greater than a half century’s price of expertise within the enterprise. The New Jersey-born vocalist-guitarist’s ample credentials embrace working as a sideman for John Lee Hooker, Percy Mayfield, Massive Mama Thornton and Joe Tex in addition to enjoying lead guitar for Canned Warmth and serving as lead guitarist in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
Particulars: 6:30-8 p.m. June 15, Predominant Stage
Hearken to: “Pray for Rain,” “Days Like This.”
Vanessa Collier with Laura Chavez
Collier is a terrific soul-funk-blues saxophonist who has been nominated for a dozen Blues Music Awards — together with the biggie B.B. King Entertainer of the 12 months trophy. She’s received 4 of these awards, three of which got here within the Horn Participant of the 12 months class. Collier, who can be an completed vocalist, can be accompanied on this efficiency by Mountain View’s personal guitar wiz Laura Chavez.
Particulars: 4:15-5:45 p.m. June 15, Predominant Stage
Hearken to: “Wild as a Rainstorm,” “Take Me Back”
Aki Kumar’s Bollywood Blues Band
San Jose’s “King of Bollywood Blues” may be counted on to ship a crowd-pleasing set, as he rocks his trusty harmonicas and belts out tunes that draw equally from real-deal Chicago/Delta-style blues and the Bollywood music of his native India. Kumar has appeared at such festivals as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and San Jose Jazz Summer time Fest, and he’s toured Europe, Russia, Australia and different worldwide places.
Particulars: 12-1:15 p.m. June 15, Predominant Stage
Hearken to: “A.G. Blues,” “Bombay Stroll”
Alabama Mike and The Revelators
This soulful frontman, who received the the Muddy Waters Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, certainly hails from Alabama — Talladega, Alabama, to be precise. But, he now calls Oakland house, which is a giant blessing for Bay Space blues followers who like to listen to his Gospel-inspired tackle the blues. His newest album, “Stuff I’ve Been Through,” earned him a 2024 Blues Basis nomination for Soul Blues Album of the 12 months. Undoubtedly be sure to catch Alabama Mike and his backing band of high Bay Space gamers — drummer Ronnie Smith, guitarist Bobby Younger, keyboardist Lorenzo Hawkins and bassist AJ Joyce — in case you’re heading to the competition.
Particulars: 2-3 p.m. June 15, Predominant Stage
Hearken to: “I’m Gone,””Hoo Doo Man”
Kyle Rowland Band
The Sacramento-rooted act is led by harmonica extraordinaire Kyle Rowland, whose supporters have included quite a lot of blues luminaries through the years. Certainly, none aside from James Cotton — one of many biggest blues harpists of all time, who died in 2017 — reportedly as soon as sang Rowland’s praises.
Particulars: 3:30-4:10 p.m. June 14, Poor Home Bistro Stage
Hearken to: “Catfish Blues,” “Born to Play the Blues”
Lauren Halliwell & The Soiled Sound
Halliwell is a robust vocalist who fuses blues, jazz, soul and pop in her work. The Bay Space singer repeatedly performs on the Hyatt Centric in Mountain View (along with her band Dolce Musica) in addition to on the Poor Home Bistro in San Jose.
Particulars: 1:15-1:55 p.m. June 15, Poor Home Bistro Stage
Hearken to: “Chain of Fools,” “Got My Mojo Working” (dwell recordings on YouTube)
Efficiency schedule
Right here’s the whole lineup for the San Jose Fountain Blues & Brews Competition
June 14
11:15-11:55 a.m.: Petrichor, Poor Home Bistro Stage
Midday-1:15 p.m.: M’sippi Slide, Predominant Stage
1:15-1:55 p.m.: Kevin Legnon and The American Vandals, Poor Home Bistro Stage
2-3:30 p.m.: Mike Zito, Predominant Stage
3:30-4:10 p.m.: Kyle Rowland Band, Poor Home Bistro Stage
4:15-5:45 p.m.: Greaseland Allstars with RJ Mischo & Fillmore Slim, Predominant Stage
5:45-6:25 p.m.: AC Myles, Poor Home Bistro Stage
6:30-8 p.m.: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Predominant Stage
June 15
11:15-11:55 a.m.: Sunny Blues Band, Poor Home Bistro Stage
12:00-1:15 p.m.: Aki Kumar Bollywood Blues Band, Predominant Stage
1:15-1:55 p.m.: Lauren Halliwell & The Soiled Sound, Poor Home Bistro Stage
2:00-3:30 p.m.: Alabama Mike & The Revelators, Predominant Stage
3:30-4:10 p.m.: St. George & The Sinners with Amy Sarver, Poor Home Bistro Stage
4:15-5:45 p.m.: Vanessa Collier with Laura Chavez Predominant Stage
5:45-6:25 p.m.: Herb Toor Band with Gleidson Sousa, Poor Home Bistro Stage
6:30-8 p.m.: Walter Trout, Predominant Stage
