While most artists try to land a record deal as soon as they set foot in Nashville, Sarah Williams spent seven years focusing on developing her jazz vocal chops and songwriting skills before releasing her debut album, Ruby, co-produced by Chris Cottros (bandleader for platinum-selling country artist Terri Clark).  She moved to Nashville in 2002 to study classical piano at Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Blair School of Music.  At Blair, her unique voice caught the attention of Marion James, known as “Nashville’s Queen of the Blues,” as well as critically acclaimed vocal coach Ron Browning. The two worked with Williams to shape a uniquely flawless sound that takes it cues from jazz, pop and R&B. Inspired by singer-songwriters like Gregg Allman and Bonnie Raitt, Williams has found a new love in songwriting. She used her journals, songbooks and notepads as raw material in crafting the songs for Ruby, a collection of retro pop tunes that marries Williams’ eclectic musical background with honest, romantic lyrics.

It’s rare when a group is able to combine so many wide-ranging styles of music, from traditional and modern blues to roots-rock and R&B, with original tunes and a little funk thrown in for good measure. Drawing from a number of musical backgrounds and styles, members John Howe, Mike Souder, Clyde Bell, Rick Meek and Joe Mitchell are all seasoned  stage veterans who know how to get a crowd up on their feet dancing in a hurry. When you catch Blues Flash live, it’s hard to tell just who’s having more fun, the audience or the band. One thing’s for sure, it’s always a party when Blues Flash is in the house!

Jackie Scott is a native of Virginia and received her early training singing in church.  Music played an important part in the worship experience and after singing gospel for 20 yrs. she felt a call to the blues.  Her first introduction to live blues took place at a Buddy Guy concert followed by BB King.  After seeing phenomenal performances, she was convinced singing the blues was what she wanted.  Her quest to understand more about the blues led her to the steamy windows of the windy city, Chicago. Determined to capture the sound that swept her off her feet, Jackie Scott & The Housewreckers were born.  Members include Mark Hopkins (guitar), Dave Holland (bass), Avelino Pitts, (sax) Darren Simmons (drums) & guest appearances with Tommie Fisher (keyboards).

Gloucester’s own, Planet Full Of Blues, is a modern electric blues band that is often described as a collision between Stevie Ray Vaughan and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. In 2008, a cut from the band’s self-titled debut album remained on the National Roots Blues Charts as one of the Top 50 Blues songs played in the country for over 30+ weeks. Making the National Charts resulted in multiple offers to perform overseas and to co-headlining an international blues festival in Belgrade, Serbia in 2009. The band’s high energy habanera-fueled original music is truly meeting the appetite of blues fans world-wide, while serving it up –“Virginia Style.” 

Ronnie is a member of that first generation of young white bluesmen who embraced the genre during the folk / blues revival of the 60’s. He has played with or opened shows with some of the biggest names in blues, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Taj Mahal, Carey Bell, Pinetop Perkins, Anson Funderburg, Sam Meyers, Johnny Winter and many, many others. Ronnie and his band ‘the Grand Dukes’ are a critically acclaimed touring band and play anywhere from funky little blues bars, where the music was invented, to major blues festivals, including a headlining & swinging night at New York’s prestigious Lincoln Center. Ronnie and the band have recorded 3 critically acclaimed CD’s. Their latest CD, ‘do what’cha do’, was a hit with Blues & Americana radio worldwide. The CD reached #5 on XM Radio’s Bluesville and reached #15 on ‘Living Blues Top 25 ’ worldwide radio charts, where it stayed for 2 months!  ‘do what’cha do’ was ranked # 8 in Real Blues Magazine top CD’s of 2005, the band was also named ‘Best US Blues Band 2005’ from Real Blues Magazine. Li’l Ronnie and the Grand Dukes were voted ‘Best Blues Artist’ at the 5th Annual Virginia Music Awards. Ronnie has most recently been performing with slide master Terry Garland in an acoustic duo setting. The duo has just released a new live CD, Live at the Canal Club. The CD is being very well received with world wide air play and glowing reviews from top magazines like Living Blues, Southwest Blues, Downbeat and many others.