The swing and New Orleans piano blues of Davina & The Vagabonds take center stage at The 21st Saloon Thursday, Jan. 10, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sowers’ remarkable vocals are full of sass and soul. Her music is joyous, retro-fueled and fresh as her red lipstick. Davina and the boys also play Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Wednesday, Jan. 9, 6-9 p.m. The Minneapolis Star Tribune praises Davina as the “hardest-working blues woman in Minnesota” celebrating her “throaty but cushiony voice…that’s part Bonnie Raitt, Etta James and a little Amy Winehouse, and her band’s rollicking New Orleans flavor.”
Back to the Blues
Next week Texas blues-rocker Hadden Sayers plays the metro. Sayers is a 2012 Blues Music Award nominee. His memorable song “Back to the Blues,” recorded as a duet with Ruthie Foster, was nominated for Song of the Year. Sayers works as the guitarist in Foster’s band when he’s not making his own music. Sayers is finishing his latest CD, Rolling Soul, due out in February. Sayers’ mixes blues, soul and rock delivered with great vocals and versatile guitar prowess that enhances his fine songs. Hadden Sayers Band hits Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Wednesday, Jan 16, 6-9 p.m. and The 21st Saloon Thursday, Jan 17, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Levi William Send-Off
Lincoln’s Levi William represents the Blues Society of Omaha (BSO) in the 29th International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 29-Feb. 2. The BSO hosts a send-off party for William Sunday, Jan. 13, 6 p.m. at The 21st Saloon. William won the chance to participate in the IBC through a BSO competition in the spring of 2012. The BSO has opened the entry process for bands to compete in the 2013 Nebraska Blues Challenge. See NebraskaBluesChallenge.blogspot.com for rules and entry form. Entries are due no later than Feb. 18, 2013 for the spring Nebraska Blues Challenge. (Full disclosure: I am on the board of the Blues Society of Omaha.)
Hot Notes
Levi William also plays Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Friday, Jan. 11, 9 p.m. Tijuana Gigolos are up at the Zoo 5-7 p.m. Lucky Peterson is scheduled at The Holland’s 1200 Club Saturday, Jan. 19. Looking ahead, The Royal Southern Brotherhood is back at The 21st Saloon Friday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears get down at The Waiting Room Feb. 15 after 9 p.m. The Sunday Roadhouse hosts two shows at the Waiting Room: Tom Russell Wednesday, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. and Hayes Carll Sunday, March 31, 5 p.m.