Johnny Sansone
Like his friend Sonny Landreth, harmonica player/accordionist Jumpin' Johnny Sansone takes his songwriting cues from the things he sees in his New Orleans home. Many of the songs on Crescent City Moon, his debut for Rounder's Bullseye Blues label, are inspired by the sights, sounds, and smells of the Crescent City.
Sansone left his native West Orange, NJ, at 17 in 1975 to attend college in Colorado on a swimming scholarship. He began playing harmonica at age 13, also accompanying himself on guitar. "I was trying to be Jimmy Reed in our basement," he recalled in a 1997 interview. Sansone's father was a professional saxophonist who played with various jazz groups on the Newark, NJ, club scene.
Sansone lived in Colorado, Austin, Boston, and Chapel Hill, NC, before moving to New Orleans in 1990. The whole time, he led regional touring bands, most notably Jumpin' Johnny & the Blues Party.
Click Here to read more about Johnny at his website or read his biography Here
*Johnny will be performing live Friday, October 1st at Amanda's Rollercoaster
Sansone left his native West Orange, NJ, at 17 in 1975 to attend college in Colorado on a swimming scholarship. He began playing harmonica at age 13, also accompanying himself on guitar. "I was trying to be Jimmy Reed in our basement," he recalled in a 1997 interview. Sansone's father was a professional saxophonist who played with various jazz groups on the Newark, NJ, club scene.
Sansone lived in Colorado, Austin, Boston, and Chapel Hill, NC, before moving to New Orleans in 1990. The whole time, he led regional touring bands, most notably Jumpin' Johnny & the Blues Party.
Click Here to read more about Johnny at his website or read his biography Here
*Johnny will be performing live Friday, October 1st at Amanda's Rollercoaster
Bharath Rajakumar
Hailing from Quebec, Bharath has been the heart and soul of the Montreal blues scene for the past 15 years.
Click Here to read more at his website
*Bharath Rajakumar will be performing live Saturday, October 2nd at Amanda's Rollercoaster
Steve Marriner
Steve Marriner is a dynamic and powerful performer who incorporates various styles of blues, roots and soul to produce an original sound that is both deep and genuine.
Steve has toured internationally and performed at prestigious festivals, concert halls and music clubs throughout Canada, The US, Europe and Australia. While he currently dedicates most of his time to co-fronting the acclaimed roots sensation "MonkeyJunk", Steve can often be found performing intimate solo shows and joining Harry Manx or Sue Foley as a vibrant sideman.
During breaks between tours, Steve has developed a sterling reputation as a studio musician and producer. He has an extensive discogrpahy and has recorded with the likes of Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds), Harry Manx, Richard Bell (The Band, Joplin), Gordy Johnson (Big Sugar, Grady), Steve Dawson and David Gogo. At just twenty-five years old, he has already produced four full length studio albums. The man doesn't stop.
Originally renown for his prowess on the harmonica, Steve has become a multi-instrumental force in recent years adding bass, guitar, drums, and keys into the mix. He's garnered six Maple Blues Award nominations, winning three: Harmonica Player of The Year (2008, 2009) and Male Vocalist of The Year (2009).
Click Here to read more at his website
* Steve Marriner will be performing live Sunday, October 3rd at Amanda's Rollercoaster
Steve has toured internationally and performed at prestigious festivals, concert halls and music clubs throughout Canada, The US, Europe and Australia. While he currently dedicates most of his time to co-fronting the acclaimed roots sensation "MonkeyJunk", Steve can often be found performing intimate solo shows and joining Harry Manx or Sue Foley as a vibrant sideman.
During breaks between tours, Steve has developed a sterling reputation as a studio musician and producer. He has an extensive discogrpahy and has recorded with the likes of Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds), Harry Manx, Richard Bell (The Band, Joplin), Gordy Johnson (Big Sugar, Grady), Steve Dawson and David Gogo. At just twenty-five years old, he has already produced four full length studio albums. The man doesn't stop.
Originally renown for his prowess on the harmonica, Steve has become a multi-instrumental force in recent years adding bass, guitar, drums, and keys into the mix. He's garnered six Maple Blues Award nominations, winning three: Harmonica Player of The Year (2008, 2009) and Male Vocalist of The Year (2009).
Click Here to read more at his website
* Steve Marriner will be performing live Sunday, October 3rd at Amanda's Rollercoaster
Johnny Moeller
Johnny Moeller's guitar playing is full of voodoo and lighting. The floating bent notes, delicately singing phrases, bursts of staccato picking, and ringing piano-like chords that he sculpts into vibrant solos bring all the beauty, power, and mystery of the blues to life.
Moeller, who leads his own bands and is a member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, is the latest in a long line of six-string wizards to hail from Austin. Although his playing is influenced by legendary Lone Star staters like Alber Collins, Lightnin' Hopkins and the Vaughan Brothers, "I've never really tried to emulate anybody else," he explains. "I have my own thing, which is blues based, and then I like to mix in everything else I love: soul, jazz, funk and rock 'n' roll."
In his role as Severn Records house guitarist, Moeller has lent artful licks to albums by Darrell Nulisch, Lou Pride, Steve Guyger and others. In addition toBloogaloo! Moeller has two previous discs to his own credit: 1996'sThe Return of the Funky Worm and 2001'sJohnny Blues Aggregation..
"… This guy's a monster and should be recognized as one fo the world's top musicians." – Kim Wilson
Click Here to read more at the Severn Records website
Moeller, who leads his own bands and is a member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, is the latest in a long line of six-string wizards to hail from Austin. Although his playing is influenced by legendary Lone Star staters like Alber Collins, Lightnin' Hopkins and the Vaughan Brothers, "I've never really tried to emulate anybody else," he explains. "I have my own thing, which is blues based, and then I like to mix in everything else I love: soul, jazz, funk and rock 'n' roll."
In his role as Severn Records house guitarist, Moeller has lent artful licks to albums by Darrell Nulisch, Lou Pride, Steve Guyger and others. In addition toBloogaloo! Moeller has two previous discs to his own credit: 1996'sThe Return of the Funky Worm and 2001'sJohnny Blues Aggregation..
"… This guy's a monster and should be recognized as one fo the world's top musicians." – Kim Wilson
Click Here to read more at the Severn Records website
Rj Mischo
Singer/Harmonica player R.J. Mischo began his music career over 20 years ago in Minneapolis. He worked with the area’s legends of the Blues scene like Muddy Waters alumni Mojo Buford and Sonny Rogers, as well as Percy Strothers & Milwaukee Slim. R.J. then led his own groups and gained a reputation as one of the region's top blues acts.
During his tenure in Minneapolis, R.J. was nominated in several categories by the Minnesota Music Academy and in 1996 won the award for Best Harmonica Player.
RJ Mischo scoops up everyday life and personal experiences and funnels them through his harp and vocals, and what pours out is the hot-blooded passion, the playful humor and high voltage energy of the blues.
R.J. was introduced to audiences worldwide when he and guitarist Teddy Morgan formed the RJ & Kid Morgan Blues Band featuring Percy Strother. In 1992 they released Ready To Go on the W. C. Handy award-winning Blue Loon Records.
Click Here to read more at his website
*RJ will be performing live Friday, October 1st at Amanda's Rollercoaster
During his tenure in Minneapolis, R.J. was nominated in several categories by the Minnesota Music Academy and in 1996 won the award for Best Harmonica Player.
RJ Mischo scoops up everyday life and personal experiences and funnels them through his harp and vocals, and what pours out is the hot-blooded passion, the playful humor and high voltage energy of the blues.
R.J. was introduced to audiences worldwide when he and guitarist Teddy Morgan formed the RJ & Kid Morgan Blues Band featuring Percy Strother. In 1992 they released Ready To Go on the W. C. Handy award-winning Blue Loon Records.
Click Here to read more at his website
*RJ will be performing live Friday, October 1st at Amanda's Rollercoaster
Vincent Bury
Vincent is a young up n comer with an original style. He picked up his first harmonica at 17 and he's been playing blues ever since. Kim Wilson thinks of him as a son and part of the family. Vincent is the youngest harmonica player on the Festival... Be prepared for him to blow you away!
