Tommy Castro and the Painkillers It’s been a big year. Tommy Castro swept three major awards at the 43rd Blues Music Awards,  Castro, 67, took the B.B. King entertainer of the year award, album of the year for Tommy Castro Presents a Bluesman Came to Town and, with his band, the Painkillers, band of the year. The album reached No. 2 on Billboard‘s Blues…

Marcia Ball Pianist, songwriter and vocalist Marcia Ball has been described by Billboard Magazine as “A welcome ray of sunshine…Ball is a killer pianist, a great singer and songwriter. Potent blues, sweet zydeco, soulful, fast and furious Texas boogie…heartfelt, powerful and righteous.” Ball’s earliest awareness of blues came over the radio, where she heard people like Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair and Etta James,…

The Houserockers played the inaugural Fountain Blues Festival on San Jose State’s campus in 1980 and continue to rock Bay Area fans for over four decades with their harmonica-driven, jump blues/rock, boasting a stellar lineup that includes: front man Gary Smith (vocals/harmonica); Gary B. Weller (guitar); Frank DeRose (bass); Sid Morris (keys/vocals); Jack Sanford (saxophone) and Jimmy Mulleniux (drums). The…

Bay Area blues singer supreme Tia Carroll’s sassy style of storytelling, powerful voice and command of the stage have drawn comparisons to Tina Turner, Koko Taylor, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.  But Carroll has her own unique star power and blends influences from her East Bay, California upbringing – combining a raw mix of sultry jazz, gospel and soulful blues.…