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Second Sunday Series back again to raise money for Kalamazoo Blues Festival

For immediate release October 13, 2009
Contact: Mark Schwerin (269) 720-4754

KALAMAZOO–The Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association will again stage a series of monthly blues shows beginning Oct. 25 to raise money for the Kalamazoo Blues Festival.

Known as the Second Sunday Series, the shows are being staged the second Sunday of each month at the 411 Club, with the exception of the kickoff event and the May 16 show. The first fundraiser is being held the fourth Sunday in October to celebrate Halloween. Those who attend are invited to wear costumes and will be eligible for prizes of compact discs and other goodies.

Performing on Oct. 25 will be local favorites Seventh Son and Mojo Phoenix. Music runs from 5 to 9 p.m. for all shows, and admission is $6. The 411 Club is located at 411 N. Westnedge Ave. in Kalamazoo.

Bands are performing for free to help raise badly needed startup funds for next year’s festival. Each show features two bands.

“Once again the KVBA is in a fundraising mode to gather the money necessary to hold the 17th Blues Festival in downtown Kalamazoo,” says Dennis Massingill, KVBA president. “We did this last year and it provided the necessary funding and also proved to be a very popular series with our blues crowd. The local and area bands make it all happen, and once again they have stepped up to keep this Kalamazoo tradition going. See you at the 411.”

Bands performing at subsequent fundraisers and the dates they will perform are: Blues Shed and solo-duo Blues Challenge competition (Nov. 8); Blues Time and Stan Budzynski & 3rd Degree (Dec. 13); Kevin Q and the Nightcrew and Chris Canas Blues Revolution (Jan. 10); Fifi and the Dogs and Six Hands Down (Feb. 14); and Left Turn Blues Band and The Alligators (March 14). Performers on April 11 and May 16 will be announced later.

The mission of the KVBA is to promote, educate and preserve the rich history of blues music as it concerns Kalamazoo and its impact on American culture and commerce in musical arts and industry.

The non-profit organization was originally founded in 1994 to stage the first Kalamazoo Blues Festival and is run entirely by volunteers.

KVBA to present music, education programs at Kalamazoo Valley Museum

Mike and Doug

KALAMAZOO–The music will be swinging and the auditorium will be ringing when the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association presents music and education sessions the third Sunday of each month at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.

Blues music and education will intertwine at the first show on Oct. 18 featuring the KVBA’s ever-popular Blues in Schools program. The event and all subsequent shows run from 1 to 4:30 p.m. the third Sunday of each month and are offered for free. The museum is located at 230 N. Rose St. in downtown Kalamazoo, Mich.

Leading the kickoff show will be blues scholar Micheal Irelan, host of the Bluespower radio show on WIDR-FM, and local solo artist Doug Beckman, a former winner of the KVBA’s annual Blues Challenge competition.

Next up will be the Duffield/Carron Project, featuring boogie-woogie pianist extraordinaire Tom Duffield and vocalist Lorraine Carron, co-host of the Grassroots radio program on WMUK-FM. The dynamic duo will perform on Nov. 15.

Other artists booked to the series and dates they will perform include Maxwell Smart (Dec. 20), Blue Heaven (Jan. 17), Catfish Johnny & Zort (Feb. 21) and Red Beans and Rice (April 18). The blues series take a hiatus the third Sunday of March (March 21) to make way for the museum’s annual Fretboard Festival.

For more information, call Mark Schwerin at (269) 720-4754.

BMF Band Available For Bookings

October 13, 2009

West Michigan has a new band in town with some familiar faces. The Bryan Michael Fischer (BMF) Band is excited to announce their presence as the newest addition to West Michigan’s rich musical culture. Comprised of 4 talented musicians; Northern Michigan transplant Bryan Michael Fischer (vocals), long-time Kalamazoo area bassist Bill LaValley ­ both formerly of K-zoo’s Blue Moon Blues Band , Arkansas native Allen Hill (drums) and Kalamazoo string-bender Bryan Blowers, The BMF Band is sure to cause quite a stir on the scene.

Where many “power trios” get their distinction due to instrumental prowess, The BMF Band could be called a “Power Quartet” leaning on Fischer’s huge voice and personality as the focal point for this ensemble. With barn-burning, high-octane blues, classic soul and R&B hits, and some more modern material and original works thrown in for good measure, this group will be leaving audiences breathless after a full night of shakin’ their money-makers to cool grooves, slow-burning blues, and energetic soul workouts.

The BMF Band is available now for bookings for club dates, festivals, and private engagements. Contact Bryan Fischer for rates and availability by phone at (616) 551-1785 or email The BMF Band.

NIGHTCLUBS COME AND GO

We’ve just learned that Gary Fields Comedy Club in Battle Creek is closing it’s doors. Although predominantly a comedy club (duh!), it was also host to a weekly Tuesday night blues jam for several years. Gary Fields also hired blues bands on weekends during the summer to play outdoors from 6:00-10:00. Meanwhile, in Kalamazoo, Bennucci’s Italian Restaraunt has begun providing live blues. Bennucci’s is located at the intersection of Sprinkle and Cork. Since offering music in September, The Kalamazoo Avenue Band, Seventh Son and Out of Favor Boys have performed. After some uncertainty, the latest policy appears to be no cover charge.

AND FROM THE ASHES…

The aforementioned Bryan Fischer had been the frontman/singer for the venerable Mojo and the Boogie Men in Northern Michigan for over a dozen years when circumstances compelled his move to Grand Rapids. He wasted no time finding a new outlet for his blues jones, hooking up with Blue Moon a year ago. With that band’s demise, Mr Fischer has formed the Bryan Michael Fischer Blues Band, including Blue Moon alum Bill Lavalley on bass. The
guitarist and drummer have been auditioned but not yet announced. Mr. Knight is a fine singer and dynamic and charismatic performer. Mr. Lavalley was the very successful booker/promoter/businessman of Blue Moon. Their debut is scheduled as part of a benefit for “Gift for Life Foundation”  to be held at 411 on Sunday, November 29.

GOING TO MEMPHIS I

Chris Canas

KVBA will be sending The Chris Canas Blues Revolution to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge following Canas’ victory at our own local blues challenge. Canas prevailed in a field of 7 competitors on Sunday September 27 at  The 411 Club. This is the 3rd year Mr Canas participated in the KVBA challenge. His mellifluous voice and full guitar is accompanied by sensitive bass and drums. His sister Angie adds flavor with keys, harmonies, and hand percussion. KVBA thanks the other bands for a fine afternoon of entertainment. In no particular order, they were: The Thirsty Perch Band (lakeshore), Groovestone (Battle Creek), Fifi and the Dogs (Kalamazoo), Whiskey Rhythm (BC), Nomad Willie (Grand Rapids), Out Of Favor Boys (Kalamazoo). Special thanks to our panel of judges for undertaking this always difficult, always thankless job. Completely sober.

GOING TO MEMPHIS II

Local stalwarts, Crossroads:The Resurrection (hereinafter CTR), will be going to Memphis for the Internationals. They won the local challenge hosted by the Detroit Blues Society on October 18. This is a really big deal. Compared to our 7 competitors (we had an 8th scheduled !), CTR prevailed over a field of 36 competitors over several rounds ! Besides going to Memphis, the band won lots of cool prizes which KVBA can only dream of awarding. CTR must have set some kind of record with this victory. They’ve gone to Memphis having been sponsored by KVBA once before. And they’ve gone having been sponsored by the Northern Michigan Blues Society. And they’ve gone having been sponsored West Michigan Blues Society. The only Michigan Blues Society not to have sponsored CTR is the Capitol Area Blues Society (Lansing), and that won’t happen given CABS current eligibility terms for their challenge (geographic considerations). Pretty amazing. Good Luck, guys!

GOING TO MEMPHIS III

As you might surmise from the above, “sponsoring organizations” for the big show in Memphis (like KVBA) can be large or small and may set different criteria for entry in their own local challenges. The International Challenge in Memphis has separate categories for  acoustic and electric acts. This year, for the first time, KVBA will sponsor a competitor in both categories. There are only 4 competitors in our first local competition in the acoustic category and it will take place on the first show of our “Second Sunday Series” — November 8. The participants are Doug Beckman, solo guitar;  Susan Harrison, solo guitar; Duffield/Caron, piano/vocals; Hunt/Stockton, harp/guitar. Doug Beckman was sponsored by KVBA some years ago and competed in the acoustic category in Memphis. But he’d won the local challenge against electric bands.