2018 Historic Wallace Blues Festival

Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings

For over thirty years this singer and master slide guitarist has brought his distinctive and instantly recognizable style to blues fans world wide. Rogers has recorded with Miles Davis, Taj Mahal, and two albums together with former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek and band. As a producer he is perhaps best known for John Lee Hooker's classic Grammy winning album "The Healer" which featured Bonnie Raitt, Santana, and Los Lobos.

"Rogers is both a sensational and a sensitive blues guitarist - certainly among the finest slide guitarists playing today. His wailing slide guitar sound (and churning rhythms, when needed) mark him and his work as of the highest caliber."
     - San Francisco Chronicle

"Rogers is an exceptionally articulate slide guitarist, whether he's scorching Robert Johnson's 'Ramblin' Blues' or taking a lovely, lyrical journey... or rockin' it out. One of the rare guitar heroes who values feeling over flash."
     - Rolling Stone

Nikki Hill

A big hit at the 2013 Wallace Blues Festival, Nikki Hill returns to belt out her brand of blues after five years of performing worldwide. She is still possessed by the R&B demon shouters of the past, and is a woman who will again dance your socks off!

Hill and her band have been touring extensively following the independent 2015 release 'Heavy Hearts Hard Fists' and debut album 'Here's Nikki Hill', released in 2013. With a no-filter energy, and explosive live show, they deliver a sound that will make you believe in rock 'n' roll again! Nikki's unique voice - with raw rock and soul dynamics mixed with the strength, passion, and honesty of blues shouters of the past - steers the driving guitar and a tight rhythm section to create a breath of fresh air with their fast forward approach to American roots music.

Nikki Hill's self-titled, independently released EP in June of 2012 created a heavy and sudden international underground buzz that the band has traveled with across America and overseas to Europe and Australia. Those four tunes penned by Hill, combined with memorable live performances, have drawn a wide range of people from every avenue and musical taste to their shows. Her enthusiasm for music is simply contagious. One club advertisement will call Nikki "The Southern Fireball", "the New Soul Sensation", "amazing R&B Shouter", and even "the new Queen of Rock n' Roll".

Polly O'Keary & the Rhythm Method

Polly brought her high energy blues to the Red Light Garage on Friday and to our Main Stage on Saturday at our fourth Blues Festival in 2015, and we are delighted to welcome her back as her career continues to explode.

From a beginning in immigrant camps through an early music career as a teen working bars in Mexico and the US, to becoming one of the most highly-awarded blues musicians in the Pacific Northwest, Polly O'Keary's life in music eventually took her on tours as a bassist for national blues bands, playing all over the United States and Canada, and a total of four continents.

Polly O'Keary and the Rhythm Method is the trio she built with her husband and drummer Tommy Cook, also a highly sought touring drummer and winner of the 2017 Washington Blues Society Blues Drummer award, with whom she shared rhythm section duties for international touring act Too Slim and the Taildraggers for four years. Rounding out the trio is David Miller, who at 25 assembled The Dave Miller Band, and for the next 18 years, he and the group went on to become one of Southern California's most popular blues bands, leading one reviewer to describe his "jaw-dropping guitar licks" and praise his "extraordinary mixture of inspiring virtuosity both vocally and instrumentally.

Today, Polly is a PhD student, a world-traveled bassist, and one of Washington State's most highly-awarded female blues singers and songwriters (six-time Washington Blues Society Best Female Vocalist, four-time Best Blues Songwriter, etc.). Her music reflects the life of a modern blues woman; she's seen the river rise and take everything more than once, and lived to laugh, sing, and write music about it.

Polly O'Keary is today's blues woman, rooted in tradition, but informed by the 21^st Century. Pulling in influences from zydeco, country, funk, jazz, rockabilly, surf and rock and roll, she and her trio, Polly O'Keary and the Rhythm Method, bring a searing and joyful performance of today's blues to audiences across the U.S. and Canada.

Sammy Eubanks

[More about Sammy Eubanks]

Sammy at the Red Light Garage, Wallace Blues Festival 2013

Sammy leading the All Star Jam, Wallace Blues Festival 2016

The Randy Oxford Band

Randy Oxford and his six piece international roots band brings to Wallace a unique, 21^st century sound in the blues! Winners of over 25 music awards in Washington State, the Randy Oxford Band showcases their sophisticated brand of Chicago style musicianship, daring arrangements of blues classics, Americana, Soul, R&B, Funky, Rock, Motown and more.

The band is led by Washington State Performer of the Year, Randy Oxford, whose prowess on trombone and ability to ignite an audience's enthusiasm have become legendary in the Northwest.

The CD Woodbury Trio

Within the last five years, C.D. Woodbury has transformed himself from journeyman sideman and "the NW's best kept secret" into an internationally recognized rising star of the Pacific NW blues scene with his work as singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the CD Woodbury Band. CD has performed in Texas Roadhouses and in Stadiums. He has performed for two US Presidents, foreign dignitaries, and Jimi's music for the Hendrix family. He has jammed with jazz legends, international blues stars, and has worked with sidemen to the biggest rock acts.

The Band re-formed as a Trio in late 2015 with Don Montana on drums (CDWB, Tim Casey and the Bluescats), and bassist Patrick McDanel (Michele D'Amour and the Love Dealers, Brian Nova). The CD Woodbury Trio plays a mixture of new interpretations of old favorites, obscure gems, and original songs. They combine contemporary blues, roots music, rhythm & blues, jazz, and New Orleans influenced music.

Robin Barrett & Coyote Kings

Robin Barrett and Coyote Kings received the 2014 Empire Award for "Best Blues Band," and Robin for "Best Blues Guitarist." And we won our third award for Best Blues Festival in the Inland Empire, and thereby entered the IEBS Hall of Fame. Part of the credit for this honor was due to Robin Barrett and Coyote Kings who opened our Main Stage program.

Following their 2013 award winning forth album, "Nasty Habits & Dirty Little Secrets," their latest CD, "Howl," won the 2015 Empire Award for Best Blues CD! Tiphony Dames began doing festivals and events with Coyote Kings in the early summer of 2015. Since then, her overwhelmingly infectious energy has been helping them wow audiences, show after show. Tiph's career has just begun. She and Robin Barrett & Coyote Kings are currently recording her first CD, while they continue to light up stages across the Northwest.

A few of the notables Kings have gigged and shared the stage with include George Thorogood, Elvin Bishop, Roy Rogers, Charlie Musselwhite, Sugaray Rayford, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Chris Duarte, Hamilton Loomis, Lisa Mann, Ian Siegal... the list goes on.

Gary Winston & The Real Deal

Gary Winston began playing music because of all the girls chasing the Beatles. However, the real motivation for his musical passion came from the immortal, musical genius of Jimi Hendrix. In 1979, he began touring with the band Manchester across the USA and Canada for the next decade. Gary then joined the CC Ryders Band as their guitarist and lead vocalist. CC Ryders were the house band at the Hong Kong Grand Hyatt. They also toured Taiwan, Philippines, Bangkok and China.

Born and raised in the small historical town of Walla Walla, Washington, Gary is an active member of the community and Life Church. He spends much of his spare time with the youth throughout the area providing a positive role model through various outreach ministries, and of course, music. Currently, Gary Winston is the lead vocalist and guitarist for his band, Gary Winston & The Real Deal, and is married to the band's other lead vocalist, Ericka Ingersoll-Winston.

Pat Coast

Pat Coast brought his band to the Main Stage at our first Historic Wallace Blues Festival in 2012. The following year he won the IEBS Best Acoustic Blues award. This summer he will return to Wallace as a solo performer on Saturday from noon to 3:00 PM at the Fainting Goat wine bar. The Goat is opening early for those who want to start their party indoors.

Pat Coast is a northwest native with over four decades of performing and songwriting behind him. He has toured extensively, recorded five CD's of his own featuring many of his original songs, including the latest solo acoustic CD "Dead Little Towns."

While known in the area as a solid blues man, Pat's journey as a solo performer has allowed him to explore other facets of his musical expression, resulting in neo-folk, Americana, alt-country, singer/songwriter and reworked classic rock songs with his own spin on them.

An accomplished finger style guitarist, Pat delivers songs with sharp lyrics with beautiful technique. He can be found regularly performing in one of several venues around his home near Coeur d' Alene in the Idaho panhandle, as well as trips to the surrounding regions of central Washington and Montana.

Bryan Warhall

Born and raised in Portland Oregon, Bryan has been playing gigs, recording, doing live radio, television and pleasing crowds for over 50 yrs. He recently wrote and produced the theme for the award winning Indi movie "Rum Runners," and in 2015 was inducted into the International Blues Hall of Fame as a "Master Blues Artist." That same year he was given the Inland Empire Blues Society "Best Blues Slide Guitarist" award. His upbeat style is reminiscent of players like Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy and Johnny Winter all mixed with his own unique compositions and expression.

Zach Cooper Band

The Zach Cooper Band is a five-piece progressive blues rock band, incorporating blues, funk/fusion, and classic rock cover songs with unique and hard hitting originals. Zach has a professional résumé including many of the most prominent blues and rock bands from the Northwest over the past two decades. He has toured and recorded exclusively with The Bone Daddies, Ozmo Boogie, The Aaron Richner Band, The West Coast Woman's Blues Revue, The Fat Tones, and Too Slim and The Taildraggers.

Zach has now teamed up with brother Josh Cooper on guitar and vocals, Jess Kunz on harmonica, Ryan Ehrlich on Bass guitar, and from Oakland California, Robert Jordan on lead guitar to put together this all-star band of professionals. The Zach Cooper Band's top level of musicianship, eclectic song choices, and high-energy level performance does not disappoint! Do not miss their show at the Red Light Garage restaurant on Saturday from 7 to 10 PM!

Slow Cookin'

Larry Brown, guitar and vocals, has been playing music for 50 years. Larry was "Best Blues Bassist" from the Blues Society in 2001 while playing with the Pat Coast band. He has traveled extensively and played music in Alaska, Hawaii, Costa Rica to name a few. He has played with several well known acts including the Coasters, the Shirells and Bo Diddly. He played drums with the Cary Fly band. Larry is well known in the area as a multi-talented musician.

Art Quine started playing guitar in high school. He picked up bass in the early 70's when Renaissance Fair needed a bassist. After twenty some years pursuing other interests including fifteen years as a rock & roll disc jockey on radio stations around the northwest, he picked up his bass again and while with Crosstown, a band that won "Best New Blues Band" in 2005 and 2007, Art won "Best Blues Bassist" in 2009.

Stan Jackson started playing drums when he was twelve. His early influences include Gene Krupa and Bernard Purdie. While in the Navy, Stan ran the Navy Drum and Bugle Corp. He has played with several well known bands including Soul Propriator, Rango, Pleasantree, the Don Snead Show and County Fair. Stan started with Slow Cookin' in 2016.

Doug Johnson, known for sizzlin' guitar work, has been playing for forty years. His influences include Freddie King, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughn. He has played with Anita Royce, Nothin Personal, Chip and the Bushwackers and various other projects. He was an original member of the Fat Tones. Doug joined Slow Cookin' in 2017.

John Kelley and the Atomic Blues Band

We welcome back John Kelley, a gifted musician, singer and musical arranger to his fifth Wallace Blues performance. Known for his solid guitar licks, expressive vocals and a genre-bending blend of eclectic musical influences, John is quickly gaining attention throughout the Northwest as a talented and animated performer. John will again entertain Friday night from 5:00 to 8:00 at the Fainting Goat wine bar, a new business in town we hope you will visit. They offer a wide selection of wines and delicious food in a delightful setting. John will return to this new music venue on Saturday evening, playing from 7:00 t0 8:00. So make sure you leave the gated Festival Area every so often to check out the other talented blues artists playing throughout town.

The Atomic Blues Band was formed in Sandpoint, Idaho, by an assortment of talented musicians hailing from around the country from southern California to Chicago. In this musically creative hotbed called Sandpoint, guitarist and vocalist extrordinaire John Kelley assembled an assortment of like-minded players to form the Atomic Blues Band. In the current line up they have enjoyed each others company for many years. The solidified sound is well known and loved by those who have heard them performing at many special occasions and local clubs over the years. They have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with renowned performers such as Taj Mahal, John Mayhal, Norton Buffalo, Little Feat and Sawyer Brown. On Saturday afternoon they will play from noon to 3:00 for the crowd dancing in front of the Red Light Garage restaurant.

Doghouse Boyz & Laffin' Bones

Inland Empire Blues Society multiple award winners, the Doghouse Boyz are Neil Elwell on acoustic guitar, dobro, and vocals, and Ramiro Vijarro on fretless bass, and vocals. Eleven minutes of their tunes play on their website.

The Doghouse Boyz continue to make their brand of blues, jazz, folk and rock a welcomed and dynamic sound for fans throughout Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. They present original blues, as well as dynamic renditions of old favorites and obscure tunes from "back in the day." Congratulations are due to Neil Elwell, Inland Empire Blues Society's 2013 Empire Award for Best Blues Slide Guitar!

The Doghouse Boyz have entertained folks in the Beer Garden between Main Stage acts at EVERY Wallace Blues Festival, beginning in 2012. At our 2013 through 2015 festivals, they were joined by Jim Tilden Brown (now AKA Jim Cale) to make the Beer Garden a very happening place indeed.

Neil and Ramiro also like making people dance and their three piece boogie blues band Laffin' Bones was a big part of our first three Blues Festivals. This band was voted Best Blues Band in 2011 by the Inland Empire Blues Society for good reason. They always bring the party with foot stompin' rockin' blues and incredible slide guitar from frontman Neil Elwell. Drummer Tony Samuel joined Neil and Ramiro to form a trio that made us dance in the Smoke House Saloon & BBQ in 2012. The next year they returned for another Friday engagement, this time in the Gazebo on Sixth Street facing the the Smoke House. In 2014, they moved with the Gazebo to play on Cedar Street between the Metals and Dayrock Bars.

This summer, Laffin' Bones will be a four piece dance band with Ken Danielson on drums and Ryan Dunn on guitar. They will play from 9:00 to midnight on the Cedar Street Stage.