The Blues Sound Better in Bradenton

The Bradenton Blues Festival Weekend will be held at the Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion at Rossi Park on Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, with an outstanding lineup of talented blues musicians on the big stage. In addition to amazing music, you can purchase local craft beer and wine, delicious food, and cool festival merchandise.

The weekend wraps up with a tasty and soulful Bradenton Blues Brunch prepared by award-winning Chef Paul Mattison on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. Come and experience the blues in Bradenton!

Schedule:

Friday, December 2, 2022

The Friday night concert is on Dec. 2, 2022, from 5:00-8:40pm, at the Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion. Enjoy music by the Gabe Stillman Band, Harper and Midwest Kind, and Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe.

In addition to amazing music, you can purchase local craft beer and wine, delicious food, and cool festival merchandise.

5:00 – 6:00pm: Gabe Stillman Band

The Gabe Stillman Band is a three-piece machine that runs at full tilt for every performance. While their sound is unmistakably rooted in the blues, the band draws from the deep well of all-American roots music. Since landing in the final 8 of the 35th Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN, and being further honored as the recipient of the esteemed Gibson Guitar Award, Gabe and his band have been focused on expanding their footprint on a national and international level. Based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Gabe formed the band in 2015, shortly after graduating from Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Gabe’s first self-produced release “The Grind” received wide acclaim. Gabe’s 2nd release, “Flying’ High” features him backed by legendary band, The Nighthawks.

6:20 – 7:20pm: Harper and Midwest Kind

Award winning Australian singer/ songwriter/ virtuoso harmonica player “Peter D. Harper”, now based in Detroit, Michigan, creates a heady mix of roots music through his creative use of the harmonica, and the haunting drone of the didgeridoo. Known in the music world as “Harper”, brings forth his latest release “RISE UP” (Access Records), featuring 10 original tunes that reach deep within. “RISE UP”, which had its debut at #3 on the Billboard Blues Charts. Harper has received an amazing 14 x Blues/Roots Music awards (including a Gold Record) in the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada and achieved 4 x Top Ten Billboard Blues Charting albums. He recently won a Detroit Music Award for “Outstanding Vocalist”. “RISE UP” is without a doubt Harper’s best work to date and was listed in the Top 20 Albums of the Year by Blues Blast Magazine. Harper and Midwest Kind were nominated for the 2021 Independent Blues Awards for *Best Modern Roots Band and *Best Modern Roots Album – “RISE UP”. Harper is backed by his talented Midwest based touring band called “Midwest Kind” which features: Austin Johnson on guitar, Lee Lewis on Bass Guitar, Jeremy Canonico on Drums and Bobbi Llewellyn on backing vocals/percussion.

7:40 – 8:40pm: Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe

The Carrier family is as synonymous with Zydeco music as beads are with Mardi Gras. Dikki Du Carrier marks the third generation of the Carriers to keep the musical tradition alive. Zydeco is a family thing. If one plays, everyone plays! He picked up the washboard at nine years old, the drums at 13, and traveled the world professionally at 19. But Dikki’s life changed when he decided he wanted a band of his own. Dikki taught himself how to play accordion, he says, “I just stayed in a room and played the accordion for a whole year.” Zydeco continues to grow as a music genre, including a short-lived category in the Grammys from 2008-2011 that Dikki’s brother Chubby Carrier won in 2011.

Saturday, December 3, 2022

The Bradenton Blues Festival Weekend brings musicians of national and regional acclaim to the big stage on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, from 11am–7:30pm, representing a variety of blues styles.

This year’s lineup includes: Lady A, Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations, Nora Jean Wallace, Blood Brothers featuring Albert Castiglia and Mike Zito, and Ana Popovic.

In addition to amazing music, you can purchase local craft beer, imports, domestics, and wine, delicious food, and cool festival merchandise.

11:00am– 12:00pm: Lady A

This songstress began singing at age 5. She began her performance career as a back-up singer in a Motown Revue band during the 90’s. Her love of music, gospel background, Louisiana roots, and musical family always led her back to the Blues and Gospel music, mixed with flavors of soul and funk. Known as “The Hardest Workin Woman in Blues, Soul, Funk and Gospel”, she produced The Big Blues Blowout with mentor and friend, 2017 Grammy Winner, Bobby Rush, Chicago’s Nellie Tiger Travis, and Producer, Dexter Allen, proving she is a producer as well as an artist. She is on the Board of Directors of the Rhapsody Music Project in Seattle, WA, also a mentor and vocal coach and newly named Director of Washington Blues Society Blues in the Schools program for 2022. Continuing to be a National and International sensation, whether during a Festival, in a nightclub, or private party setting or simply by helping others in order to educate in music and positive lifestyle, this Pacific NW Diva is always backed by one of the best and ferocious bands out of Washington, Oregon or across the pond.

12:20 – 1:20pm: Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations

Dustin Arbuckle and The Damnations are not a band you can easily associate with one specific genre, and that’s how they planned it. Arbuckle, a veteran of the progressive roots music scene whose singing and harmonica playing first came into prominence in Moreland and Arbuckle, has been kicking up fresh dust with The Damnations since 2017. A musician of vast appetites, he’s long held an appreciation for traditional American music in the vein of Charley Patton as well as the cross-pollinated sounds of The Band or Stax-style soul. The diverse musical sensibilities of The Damnations (Brandon Hudspeth on guitar, Caleb Drummond or Mark Foley on bass, and Kendall Newby on Drums) allow for all of that along with occasional forays into deep country and even jazz. “When we started playing together we all wanted the band to be a space where we could play anything we wanted to,” Arbuckle notes, “and that’s created this cross-genre electric Americana vibe.”

1:40 – 2:40pm: Nora Jean Wallace

Nora Jean Wallace (formerly Nora Jean Bruso) is a Chicago Blues singer with deep Delta roots. Nora Jean Bruso was born in 1956 and grew up in Greenwood, a town in the heart of a blues-rich region. Nora was born into the world of music, as both her father and uncle were professional blues musicians and the mother gospel singer, the grandmother had a Juke Joint. Nora’s singing career began in 1976. She released a single, ‘Untrue Lover’ in 1982. Her first solo release came in 2002. Her 2004 album, ‘Going Back to Mississippi’ was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year. Nora has been away from music since 2004, where she has cared for her now deceased mother. But in the midst of the world’s madness 2020, Nora returned to the absolute top of blues music with just as much power as when she left it. It proves the latest album “Blues Woman” where she sings with a power that tilts the soul out and leaves no doubt, especially when she sings the title song, “I’m A Blueswoman”. Nora was recently asked to open for, the living legend and 8x Grammy Award winner, Buddy Guy in Chicago at the renowned Buddy Guy’s Legends for his Residency Show in January 2022.

3:00 – 4:00pm: Albert Castiglia Band

Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia come together to create a musical journey unlike anything seen before in the Blues and Roots genre. Armed with a history of the Blues and Rock ’n’ Roll, they bring both bands together to create the tour of 2022, “Blood Brothers.” Mike Zito is a 5 time Blues Music Award Winner and Albert Castiglia is the 2020 BMA award winner for Blues Rock Album of the Year, “Masterpiece.” With both artists on the exciting Gulf Coast Records label, it only made sense to join forces and give the fans what they wanted. For over 45 years combined in the music business, Zito and Castiglia have toured the world spreading joy and bringing the music to the people. Blood Brothers will showcase each band for a set and then will end with both bands together onstage creating a sound of classic southern rock and blues. This is a high-energy show of epic proportions! Daring and full of excitement, Albert and Mike come together in 2022 to bring you the most awaited tour in years, Blood Brothers.

4:10 – 5:10pm: Mike Zito Band

Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia come together to create a musical journey unlike anything seen before in the Blues and Roots genre. Armed with a history of the Blues and Rock ’n’ Roll, they bring both bands together to create the tour of 2022, “Blood Brothers.” Mike Zito is a 5 time Blues Music Award Winner and Albert Castiglia is the 2020 BMA award winner for Blues Rock Album of the Year, “Masterpiece.” With both artists on the exciting Gulf Coast Records label, it only made sense to join forces and give the fans what they wanted. For over 45 years combined in the music business, Zito and Castiglia have toured the world spreading joy and bringing the music to the people. Blood Brothers will showcase each band for a set and then will end with both bands together onstage creating a sound of classic southern rock and blues. This is a high-energy show of epic proportions! Daring and full of excitement, Albert and Mike come together in 2022 to bring you the most awaited tour in years, Blood Brothers.

5:10– 6:00pm: Blood Brothers

Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia come together to create a musical journey unlike anything seen before in the Blues and Roots genre. Armed with a history of the Blues and Rock ’n’ Roll, they bring both bands together to create the tour of 2022, “Blood Brothers.” Mike Zito is a 5 time Blues Music Award Winner and Albert Castiglia is the 2020 BMA award winner for Blues Rock Album of the Year, “Masterpiece.” With both artists on the exciting Gulf Coast Records label, it only made sense to join forces and give the fans what they wanted. For over 45 years combined in the music business, Zito and Castiglia have toured the world spreading joy and bringing the music to the people. Blood Brothers will showcase each band for a set and then will end with both bands together onstage creating a sound of classic southern rock and blues. This is a high-energy show of epic proportions! Daring and full of excitement, Albert and Mike come together in 2022 to bring you the most awaited tour in years, Blood Brothers.

6:10– 7:30pm: Ana Popovic

Ana Popovic celebrating 20 years as a touring musician. The award-winning guitar player, singer, songwriter, and high-energy concerts showcase not only Ana’s mesmerizing guitar skills but also her fabulous band, successfully merging musical styles. Ana’s passion on stage is so evident that the title of her CD ‘Live for LIVE’ sums it up, this IS what she lives for. Her dedication to work a little harder and travel a little further to hone her craft, has resulted in twelve albums, two DVDs and six nationwide Experience Hendrix tours. She’s been nominated for seven Blues Music Awards nominations. Her albums ‘Can You Stand the Heat’ and ‘Unconditional’ were USA Today Picks-Of-The-Week and featured on NPR Weekend Edition, who praised her “Fiery technique on the Stratocaster”. Nearly all of Ana’s albums reached the top of the Billboard Blues Charts. She and her six-piece band have toured tirelessly, sharing stages with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa and many others.

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Bradenton Blues Brunch

The Bradenton Blues Brunch is Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, from 11am-2pm, at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille featuring Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations. Doors open at 10:30am. A limited number of tickets are available for $90 each (price includes ticketing fees, taxes, and gratuity).

Enjoy a three-course, seated-and-served brunch created by award-winning Chef Paul Mattison.

First course: Smoked Salmon Tostada with cream cheese and dill topped with fresh endive, orange supremes, finished with preserved lemon vinaigrette, garnished with fried capers
Second Course: Pork belly Croque Madame crispy pork belly, gruyere cheese, corn bread, topped with a poached egg, served on a bed of heirloom tomato butter sauce
Dessert: Banana flambe Parfait chocolate chips, toasted granola, cinnamon rum crème fraiche

Bottomless Bloody Mary’s, Mimosas, and non-alcoholic beverages are included.

Kindly note: The Bradenton Blues Brunch is offered by Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille; Realize Bradenton is only offering ticket sales for this event.

Purchase tickets to the Blues Brunch here.

11am–2pm: Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations

Dustin Arbuckle and The Damnations are not a band you can easily associate with one specific genre, and that’s how they planned it. Arbuckle, a veteran of the progressive roots music scene whose singing and harmonica playing first came into prominence in Moreland and Arbuckle, has been kicking up fresh dust with The Damnations since 2017. A musician of vast appetites, he’s long held an appreciation for traditional American music in the vein of Charley Patton as well as the cross-pollinated sounds of The Band or Stax-style soul. The diverse musical sensibilities of The Damnations (Brandon Hudspeth on guitar, Caleb Drummond or Mark Foley on bass, and Kendall Newby on Drums) allow for all of that along with occasional forays into deep country and even jazz. “When we started playing together we all wanted the band to be a space where we could play anything we wanted to,” Arbuckle notes, “and that’s created this cross-genre electric Americana vibe.”

Date: December 2 - 4, 2022

Location: Riverwalk Pavilion, 452 3rd Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205.

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