Blues Fest will be soul singing sensation, Shemekia Copeland. On May 5, 2016, Shemekia Copeland won the Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year at the 37th Annual Blues Music Awards, held in Memphis. Shemekia was nominated in two other categories( Contemporary Blues Album and B. B. King Entertainer). Outskirts Of Love, her eighth album released by Alligator Records in September 2015, was also nominated for a Grammy Award. May 14, 2016, Living Blues magazine announced the nominees for the 2016 Living Blues Readers’ Awards. Shemekia Copeland received three nominations, including Blues Artist Of The Year( Female), Best Blues Album Of 2015 for Outskirts Of Love and Best Live Performer.
As if the 2016 Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year is not enough... Janiva Magness, a master of the lowdown blues, who won her seventh Blues Music Award, Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year award at the 2015 Blues Music Awards ceremony, will perform as well. Janiva Magness’ new album, Love Wins Again, released April 8, 2016 on Fathead Records / Blue Élan Records, is yet another evolutionary step for the soulful, elegant, award-winning singer-songwriter.“ The voice is something that allows us to communicate past the limitations of the left brain,” Magness says.“ It’ s the primary instrument, the first instrument … and more than that, too. The voice has the power to link all the parts of ourselves— the brain, the heart, and even the spirit and the soul. That’ s why the ability to sing is a gift, and I love nothing more than sharing it.”
Making a return performance at Trinidaddio will be one of the Fest’ s most popular performers ever, Chubby Carrier( and the Bayou Swamp Band), have recorded 10 CDs over the past several years as they traveled throughout the world. Chubby, won a Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Album, and is a third-generation Louisiana zydeco artist who
began playing at age 12 and has never looked back. To quote from his website,“ Prepare to be FUNKIFIED, ZYDECOFIED and the pleasant victim of a Chubby party. Experience what we call a Swamp-Funky Zydeco Good Time because THERE AIN’ T NO PARTY LIKE A CHUBBY PARTY!”
There have been so many popular performers at Trinidaddio Blues Fest we decided to bring some of the fest’ s favorite performers together as the TBF All Stars. The group has been put together by the TBF entertainment committee, headed by keyboard phenomenon Ken Saydak( formerly of Chicago), who will also be performing with the group. Special guest members will include Tempa Singer, fresh from Haiku, Hawaii,( of the renowned Tempa and the Tantrums); from Denver, Colorado, Erica Brown from the ever popular‘ Erica Brown Band’ and‘ Afrosippi’; from Chicago, Harlan Terson on bass, Marty Binder on drums and Ron Sorin on harmonica( all members of The Blue Coast Band, a regular at Buddy Guy’ s Legends); plus Nashville producer / musician Fred James on guitar.
Of course, it wouldn’ t be the Trinidaddio without an appearance by the Albuquerque Blues Connection( ABC), a group led by“ Mexican‘ Ain’ t nothin’ but the Blues’ Jerry.” ABC has wound up the crowd to a mild fury at every Trinidaddio since the festival’ s inception! 2016 will be no exception!
Two outstanding regional bands, Al Chesis and The Delta Sonics( named best blues band in Denver for 5 consecutive years by Westword magazine) and the Coloradobased Lionel Young Band, which has been touring and winning awards throughout the country, will showcase the extraordinary talent that is accessible to fans nearer to home.
Trinidad’ s own 26-year-old Zakk DeBono will make his first appearance at the fest backed up by the John Weeks band. DeBono will follow long-time TBF performer Jaquie Gipson, our favorite local singer / songwriter who will once again open the fest, thrilling fans with her virtuoso guitar playing and unique vocals.
In a coup for Trinidaddio fans, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band will headline the Trinidaddio PreFest Party to be held Friday, August 26,( location to be announced at a later date), providing a lively jump-start to the weekend party. Chubby will be joined by the Albuquerque Blues Connection, and to open we will be entertained by the John Weeks Band. John Weeks is a recipient of the People’ s Choice Holley Award, Guitarist, from the Colorado Blues Society for 2015!
More information about Trinidaddio Blues Fest, the performers and the PreFest Party can
be found at trinidaddio. com.
Tickets for both Trinidaddio Blues Fest and the Trinidaddio PreFest Party may be purchased online at trinidaddio. com until August 15 or at two ticket locations in Trinidad: Curly’ s Bead & Gift Emporium, 301 W Main St, 846-8647 or Cawthon Park, 1701 Santa Fe Trail, 846-3303.
Tickets prices online or at the ticket outlets are $ 30 for general admission($ 35 at the gate), $ 50 for VIP seating($ 55 at the gate), and $ 30 for the Friday night PreFest($ 35 at the door).
In addition to providing spectacular shows of local, regional and world-class blues performers, the Trinidaddio Blues Fest also has also donated thousands of dollars to other local nonprofits, including Noah’ s Ark Animal Welfare Association, the Trinidad Area Arts Council, the Fireman’ s Toy Drive and Trinidad Cancer Alliance, among numerous others.
New sponsors and volunteers are welcomed, along with valued participants of past events. Links for artists, sponsors, vendors and volunteers also are available online.
For more information, please check us out on Facebook. com / trinidaddiobluesfest and GoFundMe. com / trinidaddio, email us at info @ trinidaddio. com and visit Trinidaddio. com for updates.
40 N New legends magazine