music Archives - Smoky Mountain Blues Society

SMBS Competition for 2020 IBCs

BLUES MUSICIANS COMPETE FOR CHANCE TO HIT BEALE STREET! THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN BLUES SOCIETY, as an official Affiliate organization of The Blues Foundation, proudly invites the music loving public to its annual presentation of the East Tennessee Regional portion of the 36th International Blues Challenge (IBC). The event will begin at 4 pm at the Open Chord on Sunday, August 11. Applications ar...
Read More

2017 IBC #33 (compilation) CD November, 2017

Here is a glorious compilation of blues from this years International Blues Competition in Memphis, Tennessee. This is a pairing between The Blues Foundation and Frank Roszak Productions. You can get this at www.blues.org and it’s called “International Blues Challenge #33 CD.” This is the 33rd year they have had this worldwide competition, and presented here are 14 of the very top contenders! ...
Read More

LUCKY JOHNNY and his GUITAR! Raffle winner is one happy blueser!

Grand Prize Winner of the Smoky Mountain Blues Society’s Custom-built Autographed Guitar Is the Ideal Recipient Veteran Deejay Johnny Mack Announced as Raffle Winner The look of surprise and astonishment on Johnny Mack’s face said it all. With his mouth agape, the look of astonishment was clear to all who watched as his name was announced. Then again, what could be more appropriate than ...
Read More

61 Ghosts – To The Edge

October 2017 I've had the great pleasure of listening to an outstanding three-piece rock/blues/ delta band called 61 Ghosts! Their new album . . . "To The Edge,” is definitely to the edge, and in fact over it! Featuring Joe Mazzari on vocals and guitar, Dixie Deadwood on drums, percussion, backup vocals and J.D. Sipe on bass they rock! All music and lyrics were written by Joe and he sings the...
Read More

Popa Chubby “Two Dogs”

October 2017 If you know Popa Chubby you know hard-driving blues and rock. Wide open, foot on the gas. This new album “Two Dogs,” Popa really stretches out. With twelve cuts, all made from his home in New York, Popa brings everything from boogie music to the Rolling Stones, right back to Two Dogs! Ace long-time friend and drummer Dave Keyes shines like the sun! Popas’ daughter, Tipitina, pl...
Read More

Altered Five Blues Band – Charmed & Dangerous

August 2017 Now I know that the blues will never die, but every once in a while a band comes up with some crazy good stuff! That’s the case with the newest album by the Altered Five Blues Band, “Charmed & Dangerous.” This is the fourth full-length album by this Milwaukee based super band! Jeff Taylor has the blues voice we all love and Jeff Scroedl’s guitar work is spot on! Taylor just bl...
Read More

Greg Sover – Songs of A Renegade – August 2017

There’s some hot new stuff coming out of Philadelphia in the ways of blues, rock, and good times! Greg Sover has just released his second CD, “Songs of A Renegade,” and it is warming up the summer for sure! Ten cuts with nine originals, and an up-tempo version of Bill Wither’s “Ain’t No Sunshine,” that has gained a lot of airplay in Philly so far. Throw in “Moments,” the first cut on this CD, a...
Read More

Lew Jetton & 61 South – Palestine Blues

Some folks like happy blues, tired blues, soft blues, fancy blues, well here’s one that’s HARD BLUES! Lew Jetton & 61 South’s new CD “Palestine Blues” will hit you in the forehead like a sixteen-pound hammer! This is Lew’s follow up CD “Rain,” which garnered acclaim in 2016 spending more than six months on the Roots Music Contemporary Blues charts, finishing #36 out of the top 200 releases. ...
Read More

Steve Howell & Jason Weinheimer – A Hundred Years From Today

Ace acoustic fingerpicker Steve Howell has teamed up with Bass player Jason Weinheimer for some great acoustic blues! Steve knocks it out of the park on this one. With two Mississippi John Hurt songs, a little Lightnin’ Hopkins, some Bo Carter, Jim Jackson, even some Hoagy Carmichael and then some! If you’re an old school country blues finger picker here you go! Every song clean and clear, tru...
Read More

Lightnin’ Willie – No Black, No White, Just Blues 08.2017

Looking for that cool old stuff you can’t get enuf of? Well here it is! Lightnin’ Willie – “No Black, no White, Just Blues.” www.lightninwillie.com Unbelievable funky old blues stuff from way back there! I use this phrase when I play out, “Old Blues for a New World,” this is what you got right here. Super entertainer, Lightnin’ Willie, plays ace guitar and superlative vocals! He is down, di...
Read More