STEPHEN HULL EXPERIENCE

The Stephen Hull Experience gives the blues community exciting evidence that the future of music is in good hands. Born in 1999, a native of Racine, Wisconsin, Stephen Hull started playing blues at age 14 and never stopped, taking cues from Albert King and B.B. King as he developed his sweet, soulful guitar sound. Balancing that with his absolutely stellar lead vocals and infectiously buoyant personality, Stephen has been rising fast in the blues clubs of Chicago and venues across southeastern Wisconsin. Appearing  in blues magazines such as Living Blues (U.S.) and Blues & Rhythm: The Gospel Truth (UK), Stephen has been interviewed by a myriad of media including Lake Effect (broadcast on Milwaukee’s NPR). From the Chicago Blues Fest to the Mississippi Valley Blues Fest, The Stephen Hull Experience is making headlines.

BIG MIKE AND THE R&B KINGS FEATURING SIERRA GREEN

 Big Mike Perez is a Chicago native Blues artist who now resides in New Orleans. Mike is best known for his aggressive Chicago style of Blues Funk/Blues Rock Fusion and Powerful, Soulful vocals which was inspired by many artist in Chicago in the likes of Joanna Connor, Buddy Guy, Mike Wheeler, Rico McFarland, Carl Weathersby, The Kinsey Report, Robert Blaine, Big James and The Chicago Playboys, and many more.

While residing in Chicago, Big Mike performed at many of the popular venues like Kingston Mines, Rosa's Lounge, House of Blues Chicago, Cubby Bear, Fitzgeralds, Buddy Guy Legends and many more. He eventually started leaning towards the style of Southside Chicago blues and hasn’t left it since. His band was hired by independent artist in Chicago to perform as a backing band for them. He has notably performed at the taste of Chicago on the best buy stage, Chicago Bluesfest 2022, The Canadian Montreal International Jazz Festival of 2022. He will be touring as a side man in Austria in Mid August of 2022.

Since he has left Chicago, Big Mike has made a name for himself in New Orleans performing at weekly residencies 6 nights a week on the famous Bourbon St and Frenchmen St. His band is one of the top blues bands in New Orleans. Most nights are standing room only at many of the venues when he performs.

He has performed with long time New Orleans Blues Guitar Master Mem Shannon, Memphis B.B. King All-Stars, sat in with Buddy Guy in Chicago.

He has also performed at the 2018 Jazz & Heritage Fest in New Orleans backing the Soul Singer Sierra Green and put on the same bill with Smokey Robinson, Rebirth Brass Band, and Maze ft. Frankie Beverley.

Mike’s vocals have been compared to the likes of B.B. King, Bill Withers, and Robert Cray.

Mike is best known for his aggressive style of blues. Long solos and tight gospel rhythm hits. His performances are fun and interactive. He creates a real show delivering the old school blues form of creating stories for the crowd to listen to and respond.

Mike is accompanied on stage by musicians from all around the country and has created a little Chicago in New Orleans when you walk into the club.

He has completed his debut album titled “This Song’s For You”.

His debut album produced by Red Tint Records is an eclectic album that encompasses Chicago Rhythm and Blues. With soul, and funk, and some rooted reggae. The album takes you on a journey of emotions. It is for everyone and anyone looking to feel something when listening. From love songs, to heartbreak, to just good old sing-a-long and dance-a-long songs, and great guitar solos. His album has it all. Created at DPL studios based out of New Orleans and Rick Barnes Studios in Chicago. This Album has taken its time to be made just right.

Big Mike & The R&B Kings is a polished Chicago blues band that is ready to knock people out of the chairs and on the dance floor.

DYLAN SALFER

The following is a 2014 interview from blues.gr.

Dylan Salfer: The Future Legacy 

Dylan Salfer is a new kid in the blues world. A 15 year old blues prodigy or an up and coming blues guitar great. Come out and see him and decide for yourself. He has played many venues in Minnesota, Florida, Chicago, and Memphis. Dylan has also played on stage alongside blues greats such as James Cotton, and the list, keeps growing. Born in Minnesota and raised in the gritty and tough streets of River Falls, Wisconsin. This has formed him into a pint size blues guitarist with size 12 shoes who is ready to stomp and jam with the best of them.

Dylan Salfer talks about his first steps on the blues roads, James Cotton, B.B. King, Tyson Bell, Andy Boterman, Hendrix, Woodstock, SRV and Wisconsin blues scene.

Interview by Michael Limnios

When was your first desire to become involved in music? From whom have you have learned the most tips about the blues?

The first time that I really was introduced to blues music I was actually playing guitar for about a year and a half or two years, at the time I was mostly into "old school" metal like Black Sabbath and people like that. Then my dad's birthday was coming up one time and I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he told me that he wanted me to learn Stevie Ray Vaughan's version of "The Sky Is Crying" and I had taken the time to learn it note for note off the studio album, and what really sealed the deal was later that year my grandparents had taken me to the Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth Minnesota and that's when I fell I live with blues. And the person that has helped me the most with tips about playing blues is Jimi "PrimTime" Smith out of Minneapolis. He is my "father in blues" and I owe a lot to him. He has helped me more than he could imagine.

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

I've learned to stay true to myself and to others, because the blues is the truth, it's raw, and it's to the point. Your telling the truth and experiences when singing or playing the blues. But it's not really what I learn about myself it's what I learn about others from the blues, I learn where they are coming from, what they have been through, and what they have to say about all of it. And the blues means everything to me, literally. I have found out that the blues is not just something you do or hear, it's who you are. It's a lifestyle, I live the blues, and the blues lives me.

How do you describe Dylan Salfer sound and songbook? What characterize your music philosophy?

I describe my sound as everybody I've ever heard put into a melting pot, or maybe like a bowl of stew or something, it's all crammed in there, all these different sounds from everybody that's ever influenced me and I take a spoonful from over here and over there and come out with this blended sound of everything, you might hear Some Jimi Hendrix and some Joe Bonamassa and some Robert Johnson in this spoonful or Muddy Waters, and Howlin Wolf, and BB King in this spoonful, or John Mayer, and Robert Randolph in this spoonful, but it's different, even though I might be playing some of the same licks as some of these guys have played, I play it differently, with a twist. That's more how I make it my own sound. I also like to really think outside the box, Jimi Hendrix is a huge influence of mine, and he thought way outside the box. And I like to surprise people by playing stuff that is way outside the box and wild and come up with all new sounds that people haven't heard before, I really try to push the limits a lot with how I play. I try to be as creative and open minded as I can, never to stop learning, because as soon as you close doors and stop learning or listening there isn't a point in doing it anymore because you'll never improve.

Why did you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following?

I think that the reason the blues has such a devoted following because it's so truthful and down to earth music. There no more pure music than that. It's straight from the heart and soul. And that touches people.

What are some of the most memorable gigs and jams you've had? Which memory makes you smile?

There are many, But a few that stick out are when I got to play with James Cotton and his band, he is one of the greatest bluesmen of all time, and has influenced me so much, and it was really a dream come true to get to play with him. Most people would think that that would be my favorite one but my all-time favorite gig has to be with my band "The Dylan Salfer Trio" I have the best drummer that I have ever played with and could ever ask to play with Andy Boterman as well as the best bass player I have ever played with and could ever ask to play with, Tyson Bell, son of harmonica player Carey Bell, and I mean that. These guys are some of the most talented and amazing musicians on the planet, and my two best friends. I love these guys dearly. Tyson is like my second dad, he is always there for me, and looking out for me, and supports me in everything I do. And when it comes down to it, no memory will ever make me smile more than playing with those two guys.

Are there any memories from James Cotton and BB King which you’d like to share with us?

My best memory with James Cotton was actually not even when I got to play with him, it was when we were sitting down talking before the show and he complimented these boots I was wearing, and we started talking about boots and clothes and he liked that I dressed like a southerner, because he lives in Austin, Texas. That was my favorite memory with James because I got to know that he is really such a down to earth guy, and very honest and kind human being. And my favorite memory from BB King is when he was talking to me he held my hands in his, I've never been more nervous in my life, he was just the most true spoken and down to earth guy.

From the musical point of view what are the differences between: Wisconsin and the other local scenes?

We'll even though I live in Wisconsin I am only 20 minutes away from Minneapolis Minnesota by car, I'm just right over the border from Minnesota, so I don't really know much about the Wisconsin scene because where the Wisconsin scene is really going on is in Milwaukee and that is about 4 and a half hours away from where I live so I don't really go out there. I can say that the Minneapolis scene is absolutely amazing though, there are so many absolutely outstanding musicians there it's unbelievable, and Minneapolis has it's own sound too, there's Texas Blues, there's Chicago blues, there's British blues, and there is Minneapolis blues believe it or not.. In my opinion Minneapolis is the best kept music secret in the world.. You have to come here to find out what it's all about!

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? What is the best advice ever given you?

Again the most important meetings I've ever had are meeting Tyson Bell, and Andy Boterman. I wouldn't be where I am, or be the musician I am without those guys, I owe everything to them. The most important advice given to me was by BB King, when I met him he held my hands and liked me in the eyes and said "Stay True to yourself, and who you want to be, and don't let anybody get in the way of it" I live by that advice.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

What I miss most about the blues of the past is the people, like Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Elmore, T-Bone, and people like that. And just how raw and truthful the music they played was.

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

People taking advantage of musicians, whether it's stealing there songs, or roping them off money wise. It's not right, that's what I hate about this business.  

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go for a whole day..?

One of two places, either Woodstock 69' to see Hendrix, or Alpine Valley 1990 to see Stevie Ray Vaughan's Last concert. Because those two guys are two of my biggest influences in music and in life.

 JHETT BLACK

Foot stomping rhythms and raucous slide guitar interweave with soulful gospel roots and balladry. The Southern Gothic sound of Jhett Black draws from years of  experience on the road with underground folk rock band, Gleewood, and his passion for American roots music.

Somewhere between teaching himself slide guitar behind the chicken coop of a New Mexico ranch house and an endless sea of dive bars, the blues found their way into the young man’s heart and pours back out with the passionate performance of an older soul.

Jhett won 2nd place at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, 2022, in the solo/duo category. His self-produced EP, Roots, landed on the Roots Music Report Blues Charts as #1 for four weeks and in the top 10 for over twenty weeks. His debut blues rock album, Babel, received acclaim across the blues scene internationally landing on the Big Blues Charts and the Roots Music Report Blues Charts in the #10 for twelve weeks.

The internationally received songwriter draws from deep sources such as Lead Belly and Howlin’ Wolf, while illustrating ballads with lyrical nods to storytellers like Johnny Cash, and Nick Cave.

SOUTH FARWELL

One listen through South Farwell’s exemplary album Tear Everything Down demonstrates why the band is difficult to categorize. Delivering elements of Blues, soul, country, and Southern rock, intertwining solid musicianship with sincerely-written lyrics, the band is a singular entity in a world of imitators. Although their music defies comparison, it speaks eloquently for itself.

Interviewing the members of the closely-knit group is an often hilarious undertaking akin to herding kittens.“That's it! ‘South Farwell, cute as kittens,’” quipped Bill Boles (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), when asked how he’d describe the group.

Boles (formerly of Easychair; lead vocals, acoustic guitar) and Cory Dahl (formerly of MOJO, Day Old Bread, and CrossRoads Blues Band with Sue Orfield; drums) are more likely to crack jokes and toss jovial banter back and forth than to discuss themselves. That authentic humility, and Boles’s purposeful, heartfelt songwriting, define the substance of the band.

Citing the emotional connection between the members, Dahl says, “As a band, we never play more than a half dozen shows a year. Right now this works for us. It keeps us eager; every show is a big deal to us. We are all great friends and have a deep appreciation for one another, which we hope shows when people come out to listen to us.” He spoke of newest member Ethan Schmidt (bass/vocals) as not just a long-time friend, but as family.

According to Dahl, “It’s our variety of perspectives that truly creates our vibe and sound. In the ten-plus years that we’ve been a band, there has never been a point where we’ve all lived in the same city. This long-distance relationship in music-making has allowed us to be more spontaneous and to live in the moment. It just so happens that the Blues welcomes this approach, and I guess that is where we find ourselves fitting in the Blues genre and community.”

Dahl continues, “Our influences are diverse. Freddy King, Allman Brothers, Black Crowes, Jason Isbell, Dawes, Ray Lamontagne, and many other folk, Blues, jazz, and singer/songwriters have helped shape our sound.”

Rounding out the band are brothers Tim Coughlin (formerly with noted country star Chase Rice; lead guitar, vocals) and Joe Coughlin (saxophone, auxiliary percussion).

“Over time our mission evolved to simply have a great time being together, being creative, and playing music that we love. The Blues community has been a supportive group, welcoming us at festivals and concert series such as Tuesday Night Blues, even though we don’t completely fit the mold of what most would identify as ‘a Blues band,’” says Dahl

Original. Genuine. Distinctive… just a few of the words we’d use to describe South Farwell, because they’re too focused on the joy of making music - and joking with each other - to talk about themselves.

facebook.com/SouthFarwell/