Justin Cody Fox
Justin Cody Fox is a Blues/Rock powerhouse with a double threat vocal and guitar prowess that’s been forged in fire since his early jump into the music industry at just 15 years old. Justin began honing his skills at a young age on late night family jams and developed an early appreciation for songwriting exploring his parents record collection. By the time Justin had formed his first band he was already gaining regional attention as one of the premiere performers on the NC coast. Some of Justin’s early influences included guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix, as well as Rock bands The Black Crowes, Humble Pie, The Faces and Tom Petty. Over the years Justin has written and recorded six albums and toured up and down the East Coast, Southern US and The Virgin Islands, sharing the stage with many great national acts. New Southern was produced by Justin, Audley Freed (Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow), and Tommy Brother (Medusa Stone.) Their efforts resulted in a potent collection of honest songwriting with the focus on the songs and melodies rather than playing to show off. “I wrote all the songs from real life experiences and really tried to take a looking glass approach to my life and the lives around me. We can only see through our own eyes but that doesn’t mean we can’t relate those stories to the human condition and curate them onto a sonic canvas.”
The Kelli Baker Band featuring Noé Socha
Recently named the winner of the 2024 615 Blues Revival Competition at Papa Turney’s in Nashville, Kelli Baker is known in some circles as “The Phoenix,”. Kelli was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona before moving to New York in 2012, where she quickly became a vibrant presence in the city’s music scene. Her journey began in the church choir, later evolving into fronting a hard rock band, forming a folk duo, and finally, honing her craft in New York’s renowned blues jams. She closed 2024 with an awesome run in Florida, where she supported and shared the stage with the multi-awarded blues icon, Mike Zito. She’ll return to the stage with Mike in early 2025. Kelli achieved the #1 Blues Song on the Roots Music Report with her rendition of “Dr. Feelgood (Love is a Serious Business)” and won the Long Island/Brooklyn/Queens division of the International Blues Challenge. Recently, she was honored by the National Women in Blues in Memphis. Kelli has headlined the Women of the Blues Fest in McIntosh, MN, and the Paxico Blues Fest in Paxico, KS, which attracts 5,000+ attendees annually. She will return to Paxico in 2025. Kelli is a regular performer at prestigious blues clubs, including The Rhythm Room in Phoenix, AZ, and The Sand Dollar in Las Vegas, NV. In New York City, she regularly graces stages like The Bitter End and The Cutting Room. As a brand ambassador, Kelli represents Monster Products, Fishman, ADV, Dark Matter Audio Labs, and Modern Vintage Guitars. Noé Socha is a Brooklyn-based guitarist and harmonica player from Carpi, Italy. His music blends influences from folk legends like Bob Dylan and Delta blues icons such as Muddy Waters, with a touch of Hendrix-inspired flair. Noé has toured, performed, and recorded with notable artists like Nona Hendrix, Vernon Reid, and GRAMMY winners Javier Limón and Paula Cole. He has been part of The Kelli Baker Band since early 2024. He continues to perform across New York City and teaches with The Blues and Beyond project.
An Evening With Eric Johanson (full band)
On The Deep and the Dirty (Ruf Records 7/28/23), Eric Johanson is a roots-rock innovator and modern-day guitar hero who uses blues as a springboard for an edgier, broader sound. The Louisiana native teams up with Producer Jesse Dayton (Rob Zombie, Supersuckers) and a taut power trio, firing twin barrels of sharp songwriting and fiery fretwork along the way. The album (which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts) arrives on the heels of four solo records that all reached the Top 10 Billboard.
Sunday Matinee w/ Rev. Billy C. Wirtz
The ‘Boro Sessions presents Rev. Billy C. Wirtz in a seated show at The Flat Iron. Limited seating, so purchase your tickets early! JOIN US for “Sunday Afternoon with ‘Wild Man’ Rev. Billy C. Wirtz!”Reverend Billy C. Wirtz is an iconic American blues musician, known forhis one-of-a-kind comedy routines set to music. His music is acombination of classic boogie woogie and off-the-deep-end originals.He began playing guitar at the age of 10. In 1979 he joined his friend andmentor, blues pianist Sunnyland Slim, in Chicago, where he masteredBoogie piano, Gospel & Blues. Following the advice of his mentor, Billy C.Wirtz, the son of a police officer and a government official, burst on thescene in polyester attire, dyed red hair, patent leather boots and two armsfull of ink.After recording his first album in 1982, Hightone Records released tenclassic albums. Rev. Billy became a nationally known touring act withcoast-to-coast appearances on morning radio shows. He toured with BozScaggs and played in all the big festivals. Somewhere in the middle of allthis he fulfilled a lifetime dream and became a professional wrestlingmanager. If that weren’t enough, he began writing, publishing over 75articles and two books.Still, he needed more! The Rev. began to host radio programs.Since 2014,he hosts “The Rhythm Revival” on WMNF radio in Tampa, Florida, whichbroadcasts on stations from California to Iowa to Florida.Thanks to thisarticle The Florida Humanities Council plans to develop this article(Traveling Down the Chitlin’ Circuit – Florida Humanities) into the pilot for adocumentary!All these projects are fine but in his own words “I need the buzz of the liveshow.” So, he continues to tour, performing solo concerts and guestappearances with The Nighthawks. His live performances are stillconstantly evolving one-of-a- kind shows filled with music, humor andhistory by the 6’4” former Special teacher and boogie master. Whetherhe’s writing, playing’ or pontificating, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz is still rockin’ onthe Ivories, and the crowds are still rollin’ in the aisles.
Jamie McLean Band
Jamie McLean Band creates a musical gumbo that incorporates New Orleans soul, middle Americana roots, Delta blues and New York City swagger. Jamie McLean Band is a triple threat. The group’s energetic and captivating live show is undeniable. McLean’s fiery guitar has joined the ranks of Derek Trucks, Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville, Dr. John and more on stages from from Madison Square Garden to Japan’s Fuji Rock. His blue eyed southern soul vocals ooze real emotion. And his top line songwriting chops have crafted profound, honest and heartfelt songs that will keep you singing along, dancing along and feeling like the song was written about you.Jamie McLean Band is touring behind a fantastic new album “One Step Forward” on Harmonized Records. The album was recorded at the legendary Grand Street Studios in Brooklyn NY and features the band’s strongest and most mainstream songwriting to date. It also marks the return of original JMB member Jon Solo on keyboards! “Summer of Who Knows When” is an immediate summer anthem. “Calendar Girl” and “New York Penny Lane” are musical love letters. And the band kicks into full gear on “Too Little Too Late” and “I Believe In Love”!The live show is where Jamie McLean Band excels and the band has shared the stage with the likes of Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Taj Mahal, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trombone Shorty, Los Lobos, Blues Traveler, Marc Broussard and many more. Jamie Mclean Band has appeared at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam, Targhee Fest, Okeechobee Fest, Ottawa Blues Fest, Quebec City Summer Fest, and Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam to name a few. McLean has also enjoyed the sponsorship of Gibson Guitars, Fuchs ”McLean and company ooze drops of southernroots rock, blues, R&B, funk and soul out ofevery note… the rock & roll swagger of theRolling Stones combined with thesongwritingprowess of Ryan Adams.”- Jambase “Jamie McLean Band is completely original and completely fabulous… The live version of this band is a three- dimensional experience not to be missed” – Hittin TheNoteAmplifiers, D’Addario Strings, BlueMicrophones, John Varvatos andEsquire Magazine.Don’t miss their amazing live setwhen they roll into a town near you!
Daniel Anderson and Heroic Dose
Daniel Anderson and Heroic Dose is a high-energy, dynamic, electric blues/roots/rock trio from Raleigh, NC that blends various regional blues influences with psychedelic and Americana elements. With Kelly Pace on drums, and T.A. James on bass, the interplay between the powerhouse rhythm section and Anderson’s incendiary slide guitar work brings an exciting, highly experimental element to traditional blues forms.
An Evening With The Cyril Lance Project
The Cyril Lance Collective featuring: Dan Davis, Drums Scott Warren, Bass Adrian Duke, Keyboards, Vocals Rob Cantrel, Congas Sam Fribush, Organ Cyril Lance, Guitar, Vocals And special guests… “His virtuosity on the guitar and lapsteel is undeniable, and his songwriting makes him an instant item in bluesville.” © Billboard Magazine “Lance wades into swampy blues-rock that sizzles and smokes with astounding professionalism and passion.” © Blues Revue Magazine
Jon Shain and FJ Ventre w/ Dean Driver
Durham, NC’s Jon Shain is the 2019 International Blues Challenge winner in the solo duo category. Shain had the good fortune to learn directly from a number of NC’s older blues players, and became a member of Big Boy Henry’s backing band. He got his start playing his own music with NC roots rockers Flyin’ Mice. Jon was a finalist (along with FJ) in the 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis and the 2008 and 2018 winner of the Triangle Blues Society’s Blues Challenge and 2006 winner of NC’s Indy award for Best Folk Act. He has shared stages with the likes of Keb’ Mo’, John Hiatt, and Jackson Browne. Shain’s newest album, Never Found A Way to Tame the Blues, recorded along with long-time collaborator FJ Ventre was released 2021. FJ Ventre and Jon began playing music together in 1982 when they met in high school. FJ went on to University of Massachusetts-Lowell, earning a B.A. in Music Performance and Sound Recording. He remained in the Boston area, performing in the city’s vibrant music scene. Since relocating to Chapel Hill, NC in 2000, Ventre has performed with his own group The Swang Brothers, as well as most of the Triangle’s roots acts. In addition to performing as a sought-after sideman, he spends his time behind the mixing board, engineering at his own Good Luck Studio. With Jon, they have become sought-after producers in the folk/Americana genre, producing several charting Folk and Blues albums in the last few years.
The Kelli Baker Band w/ Melissa McKinney
Kelli Baker brings a sound unlike any other. With a powerhouse voice dripping with a haunting sensuality that slips easily into growling old school blues-tones, Kelli speaks her heart like a beat poet in a late night dive. The kind you only know if you’re in the know. Her music is an amalgamation of authentic blues/rock and heart-on-her-sleeve singer/songwriter pop with folk/gospel roots. Known in some circles as “The Phoenix”, Kelli was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She moved to New York in 2012. Now performing with The Kelli Baker Band, she appears regularly at iconic music houses such as NYC’s The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, and more. The Kelli Baker Band kicked off their East Coast tour in July of 2022. Kelli has swiftly moved through the ranks of New York’s bristling music scene to become a known name. . She has been featured on Guitar Girl Mag, Brooklyn Vegan, Broadway World, NYC.Com, Better Lemons, and Faces of Long Island, as well as many other international and national outlets. Kelli delivers a commanding performance and has been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Chris Cornell, Susan Tedeschi, and Aretha Franklin. Her dynamic blues tones and gospel nods have been called a kind of ethereal blues. Her major influences are The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, The Black Crowes, Bonnie Raitt, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band.**Melissa is the lead singer of Mama & The Ruckus, a resident artist with LEAF Global Arts, the co-founder of Women to the Front Music Festival, a board member of AVLFest, the director of The One Voice Project, and a small business owner. Recently she advanced to the finals of the International Blues competition in Memphis and was rewarded the opportunity to sing at the historic Orpheum Theatre.
The Kelli Baker Band w/ TBA
Kelli Baker brings a sound unlike any other. With a powerhouse voice dripping with a haunting sensuality that slips easily into growling old school blues-tones, Kelli speaks her heart like a beat poet in a late night dive. The kind you only know if you’re in the know. Her music is an amalgamation of authentic blues/rock and heart-on-her-sleeve singer/songwriter pop with folk/gospel roots. Known in some circles as “The Phoenix”, Kelli was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She moved to New York in 2012. Now performing with The Kelli Baker Band, she appears regularly at iconic music houses such as NYC’s The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, and more. The Kelli Baker Band kicked off their East Coast tour in July of 2022. Kelli has swiftly moved through the ranks of New York’s bristling music scene to become a known name. . She has been featured on Guitar Girl Mag, Brooklyn Vegan, Broadway World, NYC.Com, Better Lemons, and Faces of Long Island, as well as many other international and national outlets. Kelli delivers a commanding performance and has been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Chris Cornell, Susan Tedeschi, and Aretha Franklin. Her dynamic blues tones and gospel nods have been called a kind of ethereal blues. Her major influences are The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, The Black Crowes, Bonnie Raitt, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band.**
