ARTICLE
A rising blues singer and saxophonist whose three albums in five years has gotten her nominated for five Blues Music Awards, will headline downtown Allentown’s 12th annual Blues, Brews and Barbecue festival in June, officials have announced. Vanessa Collier, who blends funk, soul, rock and blues with passionate vocals and soulful instrumentals, will headline the free event, noon-10 p.m. June 8 on Hamilton Street, from the 500 block to the 800 Block. Also performing will be Slam Allen, who was harmonica legend James Cotton’s bandleader for nine years; 23-year-old New York guitar sensation King Solomon Hicks; traditional blues guitarist James Armstrong; and Philadelphia singer Deb Callahan. This year’s festival “represents the most impressive blues lineup to date and includes a variety of true blues legends who have never appeared in Allentown before,” Miriam Huertas, senior vice president for the Allentown Chamber of Commerce, said in a news release. This will be the first year since 2014 that the festival won’t increase its physical footprint. After having the same layout for its first seven years, the festival in the past five years has more than quadrupled in size. The lineup on the festival’s six stages also will include Lehigh Valley and regional favorites, including the Craig Thatcher Band featuring Pete Fluck, The BC Combo, Supra Ayers Blues Band, The Groove Merchants, Tavern Tan and the Chaz DePaolo Band and young singer-songwriter Pentley Holmes. More performers will be announced, said Huertas, who has been the event’s producer for six years. In addition to music, the festival will feature food — including all styles of barbecue — crafters, vendors, and family-friendly entertainment including a kid’s area for art and other activities. In recent years, Blues Brews and Barbecue has packed downtown Allentown with more than 20,000 people. As in the past few years, the event’s main stage will be on the grassy area at PPL Plaza. Collier’s “amazing musical talents” have made her “one of the fastest rising stars in the blues world,” Huertas said. Collier, who plays a blend of funk, soul, rock and blues with passionate vocals and soulful instrumentals, in January was nominated for The Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards for Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist and Instrumentalist of the Year – Horn. She was nominated in the same categories in 2018, after the release of her latest album, “Honey Up,” and in 2017 got her first nomination for Instrumental – Horn Player of the Year. She made her debut in 2014 with her album “Heart, Soul & Saxophone,” and followed it with 2017’s “Meeting My Shadow.” She also toured with Ruf Records’ Blues Caravan, and appeared on the album “Blues Caravan 2017.” Collier played paid-ticket shows at Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe in January and just last week at Sellersville Theater 1894. She’s scheduled to play Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem on March 23. The Slam Allen Band in March drew a standing-room-only crowd at ArtsQuest Center’s Blast Furnace Room during the Blast Furnace Blues festival. Allen mixes blues, soul, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll in an explosive live performance. Allen also has played the Pennsylvania Blues Festival in the Poconos. Hicks has a smooth style reminiscent of his two mentors, BB King and George Benson. Los Angeles soul blues singer and electric guitarist Armstrong was born into a musical family and has performed around the world. He played the Blast Furnace Blues festival in 2016. Callahan is a Philadelphia blues and soul vocalist with a reputation for writing blues-, soul- and roots-influenced music. She has played Bethlehem’s Musikfest and the Lehigh River Blues Jam. Blues Brews and Barbecue this year has partnered with Michael Cloeren, who was founder and producer of the Pocono/Pennsylvania Blues Festival 1992-2016 and now is venue manager at Penn’s Peak near Jim Thorpe. “We are thrilled to partner with Michael this year to bring in additional high-caliber musical acts from a variety of Blues styles while staying within our music budget,” Huertas said. “It’s been a win-win for us.” Blues Brews and Barbecue is presented by the downtown Allentown Business Alliance, City Center Allentown and the city. It strives to bring in new and diverse Blues musicians from around the country and to keep blues alive in the Lehigh Valley. DETAILS · Allentown's Blues, Brews and Barbecue festival · When: Noon-10 p.m. June 8 · Where: 500-800 blocks of Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown · How much: Free · Headliners: Vanessa Collier, Slam Allen, King Solomon Hicks, James Armstrong and Deb Callahan. More to be announced · Info: www.downtownallentown.com Read the original article here.
A rising blues singer and saxophonist whose three albums in five years has gotten her nominated for five Blues Music Awards, will headline downtown Allentown’s 12th annual Blues, Brews and Barbecue festival in June, officials have announced.
Vanessa Collier, who blends funk, soul, rock and blues with passionate vocals and soulful instrumentals, will headline the free event, noon-10 p.m. June 8 on Hamilton Street, from the 500 block to the 800 Block.
Also performing will be Slam Allen, who was harmonica legend James Cotton’s bandleader for nine years; 23-year-old New York guitar sensation King Solomon Hicks; traditional blues guitarist James Armstrong; and Philadelphia singer Deb Callahan.
This year’s festival “represents the most impressive blues lineup to date and includes a variety of true blues legends who have never appeared in Allentown before,” Miriam Huertas, senior vice president for the Allentown Chamber of Commerce, said in a news release.
This will be the first year since 2014 that the festival won’t increase its physical footprint. After having the same layout for its first seven years, the festival in the past five years has more than quadrupled in size.
The lineup on the festival’s six stages also will include Lehigh Valley and regional favorites, including the Craig Thatcher Band featuring Pete Fluck, The BC Combo, Supra Ayers Blues Band, The Groove Merchants, Tavern Tan and the Chaz DePaolo Band and young singer-songwriter Pentley Holmes.
More performers will be announced, said Huertas, who has been the event’s producer for six years.
In addition to music, the festival will feature food — including all styles of barbecue — crafters, vendors, and family-friendly entertainment including a kid’s area for art and other activities.
In recent years, Blues Brews and Barbecue has packed downtown Allentown with more than 20,000 people. As in the past few years, the event’s main stage will be on the grassy area at PPL Plaza.
Collier’s “amazing musical talents” have made her “one of the fastest rising stars in the blues world,” Huertas said.
Collier, who plays a blend of funk, soul, rock and blues with passionate vocals and soulful instrumentals, in January was nominated for The Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards for Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist and Instrumentalist of the Year – Horn.
She was nominated in the same categories in 2018, after the release of her latest album, “Honey Up,” and in 2017 got her first nomination for Instrumental – Horn Player of the Year.
She made her debut in 2014 with her album “Heart, Soul & Saxophone,” and followed it with 2017’s “Meeting My Shadow.” She also toured with Ruf Records’ Blues Caravan, and appeared on the album “Blues Caravan 2017.”
Collier played paid-ticket shows at Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe in January and just last week at Sellersville Theater 1894. She’s scheduled to play Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem on March 23.
The Slam Allen Band in March drew a standing-room-only crowd at ArtsQuest Center’s Blast Furnace Room during the Blast Furnace Blues festival. Allen mixes blues, soul, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll in an explosive live performance. Allen also has played the Pennsylvania Blues Festival in the Poconos.
Hicks has a smooth style reminiscent of his two mentors, BB King and George Benson.
Los Angeles soul blues singer and electric guitarist Armstrong was born into a musical family and has performed around the world. He played the Blast Furnace Blues festival in 2016.
Callahan is a Philadelphia blues and soul vocalist with a reputation for writing blues-, soul- and roots-influenced music. She has played Bethlehem’s Musikfest and the Lehigh River Blues Jam.
Blues Brews and Barbecue this year has partnered with Michael Cloeren, who was founder and producer of the Pocono/Pennsylvania Blues Festival 1992-2016 and now is venue manager at Penn’s Peak near Jim Thorpe.
“We are thrilled to partner with Michael this year to bring in additional high-caliber musical acts from a variety of Blues styles while staying within our music budget,” Huertas said. “It’s been a win-win for us.”
Blues Brews and Barbecue is presented by the downtown Allentown Business Alliance, City Center Allentown and the city. It strives to bring in new and diverse Blues musicians from around the country and to keep blues alive in the Lehigh Valley.
DETAILS
· Allentown's Blues, Brews and Barbecue festival
· When: Noon-10 p.m. June 8
· Where: 500-800 blocks of Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown
· How much: Free
· Headliners: Vanessa Collier, Slam Allen, King Solomon Hicks, James Armstrong and Deb Callahan. More to be announced
· Info: www.downtownallentown.com Read the original article here.