The stage has been set for The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Caribbean Cruise 2011 as they have announced another impressive, high-powered line-up of blues, R&B, blues-rock, roots-rock, and soul artists to entertain a boatload of enthusiastic music fans. Tickets are on sale now, so you better get 'em fast because if history has taught us anything, this is one show that always sells out, and the boat never pulls out of the dock with anything less than a full house.
The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Caribbean Cruise
The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise #19 ventures into new territory with a swing through the Southeast Caribbean. The exotic Caribbean cruise will take place from October 27th to November 3rd, 2012; depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico and stopping in the Barbados, St. Lucia, Martinique, and Dominica before returning. The week-long cruise promises a "festival atmosphere" with autograph sessions, over 70 scheduled shows, and nightly jam sessions among the performers.
Among the headliners confirmed for the October 2012 cruise are the Taj Mahal Trio, the blues hall of famer joined by bassist Bill Rich and drummer Kester Smith for a stroll through Mahal's eclectic and adventuresome songbook. The Tedeschi Trucks Band will also be on board, the band's debut album Revelator dominating the blues chart for much of 2011. Fronted by the talented husband/wife team of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, the eight-piece band delivers a spirited mix of blues, soul, R&B, and rock music.
The Brooks Family Blues Dynasty
You just have to admire a family that has a sense of humor to go along with their enormous blues chops, and the self-proclaimed Brooks Family Blues Dynasty offers plenty of both. Fronted by blues legend Lonnie Brooks, who is joined by sons Ronnie and Wayne Baker Brooks, the band features three great talents mixing up an energetic blend of Chicago blues, bayou rhythms, and houserockin' blues. Funk-blues originator Bobby Rush will bring his unique style and bawdy sense of humor to the Caribbean cruise, as will Louisiana roots-music legend Buckwheat Zydeco.
Other performers featured on the cruise are the North Mississippi Allstars, the Dickinson Brothers Luther and Cody joined by long-time friend Chris Chew, the trio providing a contemporary electric edge to the Hill Country blues tradition. Chicago's favorite sons, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, will bring their high-octane, jumpin'-n-jivin' blues sound to the seagoing party, while relative newcomer Ruthie Foster, one of the brightest up-and-coming talents in the blues world, will hit the Atlantic in the wake of her early 2012 album release Let It Burn. The Nighthawks are guaranteed to rock the stage wherever they perform, and this cruise should be no exception.
The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue
Two of the favorite features of The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise are the regular late-night blues jams and the performances by the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue. For this October cruise, the original line-up of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue has gotten back together; bluesman Tommy Castro joined by Ronnie Baker Brooks, harp wizard Magic Dick, and the talented Deanna Bogart. The foursome manages to raise a mighty joyful noise, and always leave the audience wanting more. Tommy Castro will also be performing with his own band.
The nightly blues jam sessions are typically hosted by the two-time B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award winner Castro. Guest performers on the cruise get together and jam, backed by Castro's band, and these sessions often times extend until early in the morning, leaving both performers and the audience pleasantly exhausted. There are plenty of talented players available for these jams, as well, with other performers confirmed for the cruise including the following:
- Ana Popovic
- Shane Dwight
- Ironing Board Sam
- Trampled Under Foot
- Carolina Chocolate Drops
- James Harman's Bamboo Porch Revue
Nothing But The Blues
The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise also offers a piano bar with plenty of tinkling ivories courtesy of talented pianists Mitch Woods, Leon Blue, and Victor Wainwright. As if that wasn't enough, the cruise also includes a performance of Joe Plummer's play "Nothing But The Blues," based on Chicago's legendary Theresa's Lounge and featuring cast members from the original production including Earl Thomas and Big Llou Johnson.
For updated information, check the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise website for more details on confirmed performers and ticket availability.