The South Skunk Blues Society

SSBS Contact, ssbs@southskunkblues.org

Hosting by Shell-Source

8th Annual Bowlful o' Blues Information

Getting there and Getting in ~ Accomodations ~ Performance Schedule ~ The Performers

Saturday, July 15, 2000 - rain or shine - at the Maytag Park in Newton, Iowa.

The festival is over, but we wanted to mention...

Merchandise...

To purchase merchandise related to the festival, e-mail or call Sarah O'Dell, 793-2933, bluzdiva@netins.net . We have caps and shirts and posters for you.

Thank You...

Thanks to the fans of SSBS. Thanks to all of the people that worked extra long shifts, all of the people that offered some shade and refreshments. Thanks Jesse for the gumbo - some of the best food I've ever eaten - looking for more of this food on Fridays at Blues on Grand starting this fall.

Thanks to Jeff Hart, he did the complete set up of the park, with help from the fence crew - thanks to Kirby, Dan Sharp, Thumper, Jeff Hart, Craig Peterson, Puff, Randall, Danny, Vincent, Andy, Brad, Bob, Ringer, and all the others. The back stage crew Ron Cooper & Neil. The fine work of Ron Cooper for MC'ing the fest... The merchandise people, the gate people, thanks to Stephen and Craig for hanging signs.

All special thanks to all who did advance ticket work - this is where it really woks without you getting out and keeping the skunk alive, there would be no bowl. We started working on the festival in December of 1999 by setting the date, and each month there after was more and more to do...it would not fly if it weren't for the prliminary work, I hope you all stay involved, and get involved.

We hope the monthly meetings will be talking place in Newton. We will be meeting at the Maytag park August 6, around 6pm, please feel free to telephone or e-mail any of the listed officers , for times and dates, place of meeting.

Thanks to Matt and Sarah for doing the web site. Thanks to the vendors, KUNI Radio, and Dennis Jones from Iowa City for sound. The clean-up crew Andy, Brad, Danny, Puff, Randall, Vincent, Melinda. Thanks to Neil Burkett for paying The Belairs, thanks to the Hotel Radisson Inn for loaning us tables at the last minute, and giving us ICE...and a great food menu. Thanks to The Blues Notions and KCBS, for showing support, by attending our fest - Brenda and Tim you are very kind people. People from across Iowa and beyond attended the Bowlful of Blues. Thank-You.

The Bad Boys of the Blues, Joanne Jackson, The Blues Notions, The Belairs, Reverend Raven & Altar Boys, you all played out in the hot hot sun, and did so with energy and pleasure. It is no picnic standing in the sun sweating. Again your talents rang through - you continue to amaze me. Thanks to Sarah's Mom for the Camper, Hot Fudge Music for prizes, and KGGO for prizes.

The South Skunk Blues Society is proud to present the 8th Annual Bowlful o' Blues Festival at the Maytag Bowl, in Maytag Park in Newton, Iowa. The Maytag Bowl is a natural grass ampitheater with a sheltered stage. It is set in an oak tree shaded park graced with playgrounds and picnic tables.

Gates open at 11:00 am. Music until about 10:30 pm. Bring your coolers, blankets, and lawn chairs, but please do not bring any glass. Please Drink Responsibly.

Volunteers are needed! for 2 hour shifts. Sign up and amaze your friends.

The 8th Annual Bowlful o' Blues is sponsored by South Skunk Blues Society, Coca Cola, Newton Visitors & Convention Bureau, and KUNI radio. Fest Food is by the I-80 Brooklyn Restarant.

Getting There and Getting In

View a map!

Advance tickets are $12.00 and may be purchased by:

  1. Locations:

    • Hy-Vee Stores in Newton, Marshalltown, and Pella
    • F&M Bank , Newton
    • Mattingly Music, Newton
    • The Music Shop, Grinnell
    • The Wine Cellar, Grinnell
    • The Road Hog Bar, State Center
    • Kellogg Bar, Kellogg
  2. Postal Service mail: South Skunk Blues Society PO Box 951, Newton, IA 50208 (please add $1 for postage)
  3. Phone: Craig at (515)227-3209, Sarah at (515)793-2933, Melinda at (515)482-3385, or Bob at (515)526-8888 - these are 515 area codes until July 1st, after that they will be 641 area code.
  4. E-mails: craig@pcpartner.net, bluzdiva@pcpartner.net, or halbloom@marshallnet.com.

Tickets on the day of the show are $15.00

Accomodations

The Radisson Inn of Newton has rooms for $73.00. This price includes tax with unlimited persons per room.

The Radisson Inn of Newton
208 W 4th St
Newton IA 50208
phone: 515-792-3333

Performance Schedule

Blues Godfather Patrick Hazell will be playing between sets on the hillside in the shade.

Time Performer
noon - 1:00 Bad Boys of the Blues
1:30 - 3:00 Joanne Jackson Quartet
3:30 - 5:00 Blues Notions
5:15 - 6:30 Rev. Raven and the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys
7:00 - 8:15 The Bel Airs
8:45 - 10:45 Willie Kent and the Gents with Bonnie Lee
(our headliner, and WC Handy Award Winner)

After the Fest

  • An after fest party at Augies, in downtown Newton, with Rev. Raven and the Chain smokin' Alter Boys fron 9:30 pm to 1pm. Free admission with Festival ticket stub, $10 without one.

  • It's an easy walk from Augies to the Radisson Hotel, where guests may partake of a wee-hour breakfast by Adam and Abby's, with an afterfest jam by the duo Busenbarrick & Lehman.

The Performers

Picture of the Blues Notions Picture of Reverend Raven Picture of The BelAirs Picture of Willie Kent Picture of Bonnie Lee
The Blues Notions Reverend Raven The Bel Airs Willie Kent Bonnie Lee

The lineup this year is comprised of the midwest's best blues representation, ranging from Kansas City to Iowa to Chicago to Wisconsin.

Patrick Hazell

Patrick Hazell, the "godfather of Iowa Blues", can fill up a large hall with up-tempo dance music or he can create an intimate small club atmosphere with jazz inflected ballads and blues. His wide repertoire includes rhythm and blues standards as well as many original compositions belted out from the heart and soul. Hazell delivers a spontaneous performance suited to each particular setting.

Hazell gets the sound of a full band by accompanying his vocals with piano, organ, bass drum, ankle shaker and harmonic all at the same time. With his " one man band" set up, Hazell continues to stretch and develop an original style that began when he taught himself to play boogie-woogie piano at the age of eleven. Patrick started his career in 1960 playing in a three-piece band in Burlington. In 1968 he established the Mother Earth Blues Band in Iowa City. They toured extensively in the Midwest achieving legendary status. In 1983 Hazell launched his career as a solo performer. In this format he was able to tour around the world spreading his brand of blues that we love.

The Bad Boys of the Blues

(Description is forthcoming.)

The Joanne Jackson Quartet

Joanne Jackson is from Newton. Here is a quote about her:

"Miss Joanne Jackson has attracted acclaim for her performances since she was pre-schooler in Newton, Iowa. She has toured the world performing jazz and blues on stage, screen and television. Receiving numerous awards within the theater and music businesses--including Drama Log and NAACP awards for her role in Blues In the Night--she has elicited rave reactions to her vocals like this one from the Los Angeles Times:
'I can't recall when I've seen a single performer attract the likes of Nell Carter, Linda Hopkins, Al Jarreau, George Duke to ask could they sit in on HER set for 'the opportunity of a duet.' (Leonard Feather, L.A.Times)
"Miss Jackson weaves her magnificent voice around jazz, blues, and standards while engaging each audience with her easy and warm rapport. Miss Jackson is now performing with the Joanne Jackson Quartet featuring John Mattingly on piano, Steve McCombs on bass and Marty McDonald on percussion. Miss Jackson pairs world-class talent with a midwestern flair."
The Blues Notions

One of the Midwest's best kept secrets is the Blues Notions. They were voted Kansas City's Best Blues Band of the year in 1988 and 1991 and have placed third in the Nation Blues Contest in Memphis, Tennessee. This five piece power house has been delighting audiences at the Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival and the Omaha Blues Festival, the Grand Emporium in KC and the Zoo Bar, in Licoln, Nebraska. Founded in 1987, the Notions blend urban and traditional blues with their own original material into a well rounded, high energy show that jumps, swings and leaves the crowd clamoring for more. The Blues Notions are made up of Tom "Trashmouth" Baker on vocals and harp, "Iron" Mike Sedovic on piano and organ. Karl "Jefferson Slim" Angereron guitar, Ralph Ybarra on bass and Tim"Buzz" Osborn on drums. "Kansas City's Gentlemen of Jump" released the first cd on Blues Jewel Records entitled "This Is It" in 1998.

Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys

A five piece blues band with a traditional set up of guitar, harp, piano/organ, bass and drums, playing original material set against a traditional groove.

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, the Reverand has been playing the blues since 1974 when he first saw Freddy King play at the Kinetic Playground in Chicago. After a 15 year hitch in the Navy, he settled in Oshkosh and then finally in Milwaukee. Since 1990, he has opened for or performed with, the Koko Taylor Band, Billy Branch, Magic Slim, Elvin Bishop, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, William Clarke, Maurice John Vaughn, Lefty Dizz and Junior Wells. Locally he has performed with Billy Flynn, Perry Weber, Piano Willie, Stokes, Jon Paris, Clyde Stubblefied, Bryan Lee and the Lamont Cranston band. The Reverend was one of five nominees for the 1997 Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) award for best blues band in 1997 and again in 1998 and was finally award the WAMI in April of 1999.

The Bel Airs

Living on the road and playing clubs from Austin to Boston, the Bel Airs are carrying on the tradition of American rhythm and blues. The three piece band is fronted by two brothers, Dick and Dave Pruitt on Bass and electric guitar. Growing up on country, soul and rock and roll, the Pruitt brothers have developed a harmony vocal style all thier own. They have performed together for more then 15 years, wowing audiences nightly with their unique brand of music, earning them a label as the "Everly Brothers of the Blues". Drummer Micheal Cherry hails form Indianapolis. A veteran of the Paladins and the James Harmon Band, Micheal is well known for his powerful groove. Now based in Columbia, Missouri the Bel Airs are easily one of the hottest and most entertaining rockabilly/blues bands in the country. The Bel Airs have two releases with Bind Pig Records, "Need Me A Car" and Dangerous Curves". Thier jumpin', rockin' and swingin' 1999 cd on Blueberry Hill Records is titled "HooDoo Party".

Willie Kent and the Gents with Bonnie Lee

Willie Kent and the Gents with Bonnie Lee will be headlining the Bowlful o' Blues.

When Willie Kent straps on his bass guitar and steps to the microphone he brings with him almost forty years of blues performing experience. His near gigantic stature only hints at the power of his vocals. Everyone from the Handy Awards (3 time winner) to the Library of Congress has recognized Willie Kent as an outstanding bass player, bandleader and blues man. His recent bands and recordings have epitomized Chicago Westside blues sound. Kent's rough and tough vocals and his rock solid bass playing have provided a solid foundation for his talents as a composer and bandleader.

Willie Kent was born on February 24, 1936. Willie spent his childhood near Shelby, Mississippi. He hid his love of the blues from his preacher gradfather. He credits Authur "Big Boy" Crudup and John Lee Hooker as his early influences. He moved his family to Chicago's Westside in 1949. In 1961 after several years of singing with a number of local bands, Willie switched from playing guitar to bass. As a sideman, he performed regularly with Muddy, Wolf and Walter as well as Bobby Bland and Junior Parker and his contemporaries; Magic Sam, Buster Benton, Hip Linkchain, Hubert Sumlin, Mighty Joe Young, Eddie Clearwater, Carey Bell, Johnny Littlejohn, and Luther Allison. In 1972 he toured Europe with Jimmie Dawkin.

Willie Kent's latest release on Delmark is called "Make Room For The Blues". Previous releases on Delmark include "Aint It Nice", "Too Hurt to Cry" with Johnny B. Moore, and "Long Way to Ol' Miss".

The "Sweetheart of the Blues", Bonnie Lee has not been widely known outside of Chicago until recently when several fine cd releases have spread her name around the world. Lee started singing in church and her vibrato and dusky tones retains a strong gospel flavor. Lee grew up in Beaumont, Texas in the 30's and 40's. She listened to T- Bone Walker and Gatemouth Brown and from them she acquired a lithe swinging sense of rhythm, still prevalent in her vocals mixed with the phrasing of a jazz singer and the raspy torchy emotionism of a classic blues singer. During her teenage years Lee participated in talent shows in local clubs. In 1958, Bonnie hitched a ride to Chicago and soon she started sitting in at various clubs. In 1967 Lee teamed up with pianist Sunnyland Slim who took her along on several tours and featured her on his own Airway label. During the 70's Bonnie Lee suffered from health problems that prevented her from pursuing her career. After her recovery, Willie Kent took her under his wing. Bonnie Lee recordings include releases on Delmark, "Bonnie Lee, Sweetheart of the Blues" and on Wolf Records, "I'm Good", and on a sampler "Chicago's Finest Blues Ladies". Bonnie Lee's outstanding voice and charming southern stage presence are not to be missed.