BANDS

THURSDAY EVENING BAND 8p-11p

Bobby “BlackHat” Walters, recording artist, harmonica player, vocalist, and songwriter hails originally from Cleveland, Ohio and has been playing harp for over 30 years. Now making his home in Hampton Roads after retiring from the U.S. Coast Guard, Bobby started taking his harp playing seriously and has studied with Dennis Gruenling, Phil Wiggans, Johnny Sansone, and Allen Holmes. While he was a member of the Black Rose Blues Band he had the honor of opening for Blues Legends B.B King, Taj Mahal, and Steady Rollin Bob Margolin. Bobby has shared the stage with Kenny Neal, Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Jason Ricci and New Blood, Eddie Shaw and Wolfgang, Daryl Davis, and Ruthie Foster.

ALSO – the duo of Bobby BlackHat and Larry B were semi-finalists at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN and were also nominated for the Hampton Roads Port Folio Music Award. Bobby BlackHat brings together the finest blues musicians in Hampton Roads to perform classic, modern, as well as original blues tunes that will keep your toes tappin’ and your hips shakin’ all night long.

SATURDAY EVENING BAND 8p-12a

Jackie Scott & The Housewreckers

We are super-proud to have Jackie Scott & The Housewreckers as our headliner. Coming from varied backgrounds and influences makes for a hot combination of blues, jazz and R&B packed with soul when you encounter and fall under the power of Jackie Scott & The Housewreckers.

Jackie has spent the last few years honing her craft as a vocalist and her quest lead her to the steamy windows of Chicago’s blues scene. It was in Chicago that Jackie received her baptism into the blues. Musicians and performers, great and small, all freely shared in their wealth of skill, time, and talent to help her grow as a blues entertainer. Her mentors Nellie Travis -Chicago blues woman- plus Eddie Shaw -westside bluesman and Howlin’ Wolf sidekick- have played a major part of honing her skills into the Chicago Blues style.

Opening for BB King & Taj Mahal has definitely been a plus and a great honor. Their touring trips to Mississippi, Louisiana & California, performing at the 2007 & 2010 Chicago Blues Festival, have all played a part in making Jackie Scott & The Housewreckers the ultimate Blues entertainment machine.

• 2010 Blues Blast Music Award Winner for Best New Artist Debut Recording
• 3-Time Blues Blast Music Awards Nominee
• Finalist-Baltimore Blues Scociety at the 2010 International Blues Competition
• Winner-2009 Baltimore Blues Society’s IBC Competition

article from Daily Press

(Jackie Scott photo from tristateindie.com)

Jackie Scott and her band The Housewreckers are helping to bring regional and even national attention to the fertile Hampton Roads blues scene.

A new CD by the Norfolk-based group will be noticed far and wide. Jackie Scott told me that she’ll start selling her new disc “Going to the Westside” on Thursday, March 17. The disc was recorded at Norfolk’s Clay Garden Studio and it features blues saxophone great Eddie Shaw on four tracks as well as production on a few tracks from Scott’s son Philip Johnson along with former Hampton resident Lavon Rushing.

Tunes include “Mississippi Hook” and “Been Trying to Figure Out.” Jackie Scott said she’s been polishing her songwriting skills. “The more I listen and pay more attention to lyrics and the stories they tell, I get better,” she said. “So I’m excited.”

She said recording wasn’t always a walk in the park, though. Because Jackie Scott doesn’t play an instrument, getting her ideas across to her band was difficult at times. “Sometimes it can be a tedious process,” Jackie Scott said. “I would tell them ‘Not that note, the next one!’ I put them through hell, but they stick with me.” While the CD will be available starting next week, two official release parties are scheduled for April.

What else is coming up for Jackie Scott? She’s got her eye on one prime potential gig.
“I’d love to open up for Buddy Guy and B.B. King,” she said. The pair of legends will play at the Ted Constant Center in Norfolk on June 2. “I put my bid in, so I’m going to try. We’ll see what happens.”

Be sure to join the Facebook Event and get the scoop!

Can’t Stop The Blues Workshop is made possible in part through sponsorship by the Crispus Attucks Cultural Center.