The winner of the 2022 River Basin Blues Society Blues Heritage Award is Danny Erkman, Sr.. Danny has been the mainstay drummer with Blues 4 U for its storied career. And wherever there is a need for one of the top-flight drummers in the Tri-State, Danny will be at the top of the list. This award is sponsored by the River Basin Blues Society and Tri State Trophy.
The 2022 River Basin Blues Blast will be held on Saturday, November 26th , at the Bokeh Lounge, 1007 Parrett Street, in the Historic Haynie’s Corner Art District, in Downtown Evansville, Indiana.
This will be a free event due to the generosity of the Anna and Benjamin Bosse Music Trust.
For more information on the River Basin Blues Society, its events, and membership and volunteer opportunities, visit evansvilleblues.com. For more info about all things Bokeh Lounge visit https://bokehvibes.com. Live and in person can be reached at (812) 9809-0388
The event will begin at 2 pm and run until Midnight. The lineup for our event will be as follows:
RJ Rigdon and Gary Jines
RJ Rigdon and Gary Jines have been family with the River Basin Blues Society since the beginning. As a duo, they are the perfect opening act for all the Society’s festivals and events. RJ Rigdon is a bit primal in all he does. Rigdon plays rock-infected blues, as well as traditional, acoustic, primal roots music. And he is equally at home with both guitars. He has a passion and respect for the music that drives him to carry that torch. Gary Jines is an ever-present harmonica player in the tri state area and has been Rigdon’s bandmate for many seasons. Rigdon and Jines can be found currently playing at local places like the Pizza Factory in Evansville, the Miller Barn in Daylight, and at Lure Seafood & Grill in Owensboro.
Blues 4 U
Blues 4 U is the only band to play at most of the WC Handy Blues and Barbeque Festival in Henderson, Kentucky. This group features a Who’s Who of all-star area talent including Carl Rodenberg (keys, vocals), Jon Rochner (bass, vocals), Danny Erkman (drums), Tommy Stillwell (guitars, vocals), and Roy Carter (sax). Besides bringing the rousing and raucous music to the stage as Blues 4 U, the members of this group play with other great bands throughout the Tri-Sate and beyond. Blues 4 U always brings the best in Blues to the stage.
2 Miles Back
A fixture at bars, clubs, and festivals across the tri-state, 2MB puts a decidedly bluesy spin on their tasty brand of southern rock, country jams and ballads. Charismatic singer Robin Bolin leads the charge with guitarist Lary Caddell, bassist Darrell Bolin and drummer Jim Perkins bringing the musical heat. Staying seated during a 2MB set is impossible.
The Michael Gough Group
The Michael Gough Group are no strangers to the stages and venues of this region. The OG of the MGG is Michael Gough. With a bass line and vocals that drive the group, Michael has been a regional fixture of the tri-state music scene for many years. This year’s River Basin Blues Blast will see an all-star band featuring old friend and bandmate John Martin, who is currently a Western Kentucky University Professor of Music Technology and Guitar.
Mike “Tramp” Lawing will be featured on mandolin and fiddle. Tramp’s is a former member of nationally renowned music acts Walk the West/Cactus Bros and Bone Pony. Rounding out the group will be local music guru and multi-instrumentalist, Gerry Smoot, on drums and percussion.
Crooked Eye Tommy
Crooked Eye Tommy is the group. Tommy Marsh is the leader and ocular alignment specialist. He plays a dedicated blues and sings only the way a
bluesman does, with reverence and soul. The band plays the authentic blues while stretching the genre to its limits. The minute they hit the stage they mean business from the start. The latest, ‘Hot Coffee and Pain,’ dropped late last year. The band blows it up with some great blues and soul. The new one, as well as all things Crooked Eye Tommy, can be found at http://crookedeyetommy.com.
