Downtown Bob Stannard and Those Dangerous Bluesmen along with The Unknown Blues Band, with special guest Dave Keller, will join forces for a historic Vermont Blues concert dubbed The 802 Blues Revue. Where is this magical evening happening and when? Head up to the Vergennes Opera House on Saturday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m.
“Sometimes the stars just align,” said Gerianne Smart, president of the Vergennes Opera House and season producer. “We look for something fun and unforgettable to kick off our season each year, and, well, this year we sort of ‘over-achieved’ and why not.”
Vermont’s own Unknown Blues Band, fronted by the late, great Big Joe Burrell performed extensively together for 27 years. During that time, the band was not only a fixture in the Northeast, but they were invited to perform at some of the top Jazz and Blues Festivals in the world. Their touring with Big Joe, and their alter ego, pop jazz group Kilimanjaro, also led to a year-and-a-half stint as the back up band for blues legend, Paul Butterfield. Members of the band have performed and recorded with such greats as Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Lightning Hopkins, Otis Rush, John Lee Hooker, Paul Butterfield, Marva Wright, Kenny Neal, David Bromberg and others.
Dave Keller often joins the Unknown Blues Band and will be a special guest during this concert.
“Downtown” Bob Stannard & Those Dangerous Bluesmen have been delighting audiences around the region for a many years now. Stannard gained recognition when he was invited to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival with the late BB King. His harmonica playing has brought him to the forefront of Vermont Bluesmen and he has performed with some of the greats including Charlie Musselwhite, John Hammond, David “Honey Boy” Edwards, Mark Hummel, Sara Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irions, Jonathan Edward and author, Stephen King. Accomplished Grammy Award winning pianist, the late David Maxwell, played on two of Stannard’s albums.
Members of the two bands have been friends for many years, but have never shared the stage together. This show will be one unique moment for blues in Vermont.
Doors, and cash bar by Bar Antidote, open at 6:30 p.m. General seating. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and are available at LuLu’s Ice Cream corner of Main Street and Green Street in Vergennes and online here. For more info call (802) 877-6737.