Suncoast Blues Society Holiday Party – December 20th

Suncoast Blues Society Holiday Party – December 20th

Suncoast Blues Society Holiday Party – December 20th

Suncoast Blues Society Holiday Party – December 20th

As the year comes to a close, mark your calendars for the Suncoast Blues Society Holiday Party on December 20th! This annual celebration is our chance to give back to all the members who have supported us throughout the year — and you’re all invited.

Your membership is your ticket for you and one guest, so bring a friend! If they have a great time, who knows — they may want to join the Society before the night is over.

Event Details:

– Date: December 20th

– Time: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM

– Location: Private Recreation Center, 3210 59th Street, Gulfport, Florida (near St. Pete)– Amenities: Large stage, spacious dance floor, and yes — the disco ball is free!

For your listening pleasure, the music will feature a Jam Session led by Gary Hamor, bassist of the fabulous Nightbumpers. A full backline will be provided, so musicians — bring your axe and help spread the good cheer.

Beer, wine, and soft drinks will be available for a donation, and we’ll have a buffet sandwich and holiday cookies for all our guests.

To help us prepare properly, please RSVP to Cheryl at vp@Suncoastblues.org as soon as possible.

Giving Back

In the spirit of giving, we’re asking guests to bring a non-perishable food item — or even a full bag — to support our annual Holiday Food Drive. Each donation earns you one raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes.

Our very own Blues Santa will be greeting guests at the door — and since Santa knows we’ve all been “bad to the bone”, a party full of joy, music, and holiday fun.

We hope to see everyone there! And don’t forget — RSVP Cheryl at vp@Suncoastblues.org so we can make this celebration one to remember.

The Revival of Sugar and Spice

The Revival of Sugar and Spice

The Revival of Sugar and Spice

The Revival of Sugar and Spice
Roger White

When it comes to cookin’ Sugar and Spice may be regarded as simple ingredients but when it comes to music Sugar and Spice are tasty delights meant to be savored. Just a decade ago these well-seasoned ladies were described as the undisputed definition of Southern Soul and were heating up stages across the country. True sisters, Myra “Sugar” Glover and Velma “Spice” Glover, were raised in church and juke joints by their mother the late Loretta Glover, a Florida based R&B/Soul and Blues legend.

If you don’t have fond memories of the Sugar and Spice Revue, allow me to clue you in on this Dynamic Duo. We first saw the girls at local Tampa jams before they joined the Souliz Band featuring Sugar and Spice. As the hottest band in town in 2017 the Suncoast Blues Society sent Sugar and Spice and the band to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge where they came in 2nd place out of the hundreds of bands from around the world who came to compete. That win started them on a musical journey, appearing at some of the hottest festivals and clubs on the circuit including the Clearwater Blues Festival. But then came Covid and that changed everything and after the shutdown Sugar and Spice seemed to fade away.

But for these ladies singing and performing is as important as breathing is to life itself and recently Sugar made an appearance at the Suncoast Blues Societies Blues Bash on the Bay, formerly the Beach Bash on August 30, at the Lion’s Club in Gulfport where she reminded members just how talented our hometown gals were. Two weeks later, on September 13 Sugar sat in with the band for Nitro Bozman’s Last Annual House Party and those in attendance said she stole the show.

So, it’s with great pleasure and anticipation we can announce that two months later, on Thursday, November 13 the full Sugar and Spice Revue returns to the Palladium Side Door, 253 5th Ave, St. Petersburg,Florida, doors are at 7:30pm. They are saying this will be just a onetime only show but we can all hope the performance will spark a real revival of Sugar and Spice.

 

 

A Revival Of Blues On the Hilltop, November 8th and 15th

A Revival Of Blues On the Hilltop, November 8th and 15th

A Revival Of Blues On the Hilltop, November 8th and 15th

A Revival Of Blues On the Hilltop, November 8th and 15th

It truly is blues on the hilltop for the next 2 weekends at the Sparacia Winery and Event Center situated at one of the highest elevations in Florida. At 275 feet above sea level this picturesque setting overlooking miles of green rolling hills, it will be the site for the 2nd annual Brooksville Blues Revival Festival, Saturday November 8th and the 3rd Annual Blues on the Hilltop, November 15th.

This Blues Revival kicks in Saturday November 8th at 2 pm with Alex Lopez and The Xpress a local favorite who’s high energy set is likened to a bluey Led Zeppelin. Next up from Chicago the Frank Bang Band, Bang a former member of the Buddy Guy Band, has numerous songs featured on SiriusXM’s Bluesville channel. While the headliners are the acclaimed national touring act  ‘Brothers Again’ a celebration of the Allman Brothers Band, this seven-man band really have their work cut out for them following The Damon Fowler Band. Damon played with two of the real Brothers as guitarist in Butch Truck’s Freight Train band and the Dickey Betts Band. He’s a master singer, songwriter of American roots music and one of the premiere slide and lap steel players in the country. We can hope that Damon Fowler will stay to jam with the ‘Brothers Again,’ as The Allman Brothers Band was always about the jam and that’s where the real fire is let loose.

Sparacia Winery, 21509 Snow Hill Rd, Brooksville, FL, 34601. 

No coolers, outside food, pets or drink containers permitted, please.

For questions and info call Maremil Music Productions: 360-878-3474 or contact https://maremilmusic.ticketspice.com/brooksville-blues…

 The following weekend November 15th the Winery will host to the 3rd annual Blues on the Hilltop festival featuring five blues bands for a full day of music. The lineup includes the Nature Coast blues band Blues By The Drop who’ll play their take on standard and traditional blues classics. The Blues Generators, a rockn’ blues band based out of the Villages, the C J Sterlace band playing classic hits and original compositions the Blues Crewe and Mark Shane.

          The draw may be the bands but the Sparacia Winery and Event Center offer a unique concert experience.  With a newly expanded stage, full light and sound system, a VIP pavilion, and a large patio with tables and chairs there will also be several vendors and food trucks on the grounds and a beer and wine bar inside. Visitors will enjoy a day of music from local and national bands in a casual setting plus experience an amazing view of the skyline as the stars really pop after dark.

Sparacia Winery, 21509 Snow Hill Rd, Brooksville, FL, 34601

The Revival of Sugar and Spice

Suncoast Blues Board Elections and Volunteers Your new Board for 2025

Suncoast Blues Board Elections and Volunteers Your new Board for 2025

Suncoast Blues Board Elections and Volunteers
Your new Board for 2025

President – Ed Kirk
Vice President – Cheryl Spradling
Secretary – Linda Rasor
Treasurer – William Debouver
Membership – Traci Zimmerman

James Randolph is an Emeritus Board Member

Alternates include:
Noray Sarkisian – Volunteer Coordinator
Vinnie Marini – Media
Roger White – Writer
Margaret White – Writer
Cindy Morris – Liaison for Manatee/Sarasota counties

We are honored to be your new Board and will do our best to support our members, musicians and venues.
Looking forward to an exciting year!!

 

Suncoast Blues 2024 IBC Regional Challenge Review

Suncoast Blues 2024 IBC Regional Challenge Review

Suncoast Blues 2024 IBC Regional Challenge Review

Suncoast Blues 2024 IBC Regional Challenge Review

 

Sunday September 15th brought a full house out to Bayboro Brewery in St Petersburg for the Suncoast Blues Society International Blues Challenge Regional Competition.

Artists competed in both the solo/duo and band categories. The four hours of music, fun, and friendship left your society with two worthy champions to represent us in Memphis!

In the solo/duo category, Mike Davis kicked off the show and put in a stellar performance. Mike built an early lead in the judges’ scoring and this proved to be insurmountable, even though Harold Davis, Swamp Blues, and Phil Coale performed entertaining and crowd-pleasing sets. Congratulations to Mike, and we look forward to Mike’s forthcoming January appearance at the IBC Challenge in Memphis.

The band competition resulted in one of the closet scoring outcomes in memory. So close that a ballot recount was necessary. On their way to Memphis representing our region is Stoney Brooks Band. This quartet left the stage to a standing ovation. Musicians Stoney Brooks (vocals and harmonica), Skyler Saufley (an amazing young guitarist that bears watching), Pete Maier (drums), and Josh Minucci (groovin’ on upright bass) are well prepared to present their brand of blues to the audience in Memphis.


Also competing in the band category were Nightbumpers, and Black Snake Bayou.

Congratulations to all artists who performed on this Sunday in St Petersburg. New friendships formed, a gig opportunity or two developed, and the best part is that each artist had fun.

And so did the audience.

Thanks to all who came out and supported the artists, Bayboro Brewery, and Suncoast Blues Society.

 

 

 

 

 

Become a Suncoast Blues Society Member

Go to our Membership sign up page and choose your Membership! 

Click Here
THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE – 2024

THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE – 2024

THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE – 2024

This year’s International Blues Challenge will be held on Beale Street in Memphis, TN from January 7-11, 2025. The tickets will be available starting October 1, 2024.

THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE

From International Blues Foundation website:https://blues.org/international-blues-challenge/ The International Blues Challenge represents the worldwide search for blues bands and solo/duo blues performers ready for the international stage, yet just needing that extra big break. The world’s largest gathering of blues musicians will take place on Beale Street, with over 20 clubs hosting the challengers and fans. In addition to featuring these final rounds of the prestigious blues music competition, the IBC event week will offer seminars, highlights, master classes, film screenings, networking events, book signings, and receptions for blues societies, fans, and professionals.

MUSICIANS: WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU

Your Suncoast Blues Society is considering hosting a regional IBC competition. We are calling for Blues musicians to state their intention to compete before June 1,2024.

If there is enough local interest in competing your society will move forward with hosting the competition.

Please review the rules for entry https://blues.org/ibc-rules-guidelines-local-affiliate-challenges/. It is important that your music contains some original blues music. Any winning act(s) from the competition will go on to represent us in Memphis!

There are so many Blues musicians in our area with amazing talent and we would love to sponsor a band and/or solo/duo act to represent Suncoast Blues Society.

If you are a blues musician in our area, we encourage you to state your interest in competing by emailing president@suncoastblues.org before June 1. The board of Suncoast Blues society will decide on June 2nd on whether there is enough interest to move forward with a competition.

 

 

Become a Suncoast Blues Society Member

Go to our Membership sign up page and choose your Membership!
Click Here