The Summit FM’s Thankful Thanksgiving Concert with Southern Avenue and Fruition
Southern Avenue, the high-voltage, roots-infused powerhouse hailing from the legendary musical haven of Memphis, Tennessee, has been setting stages ablaze since their explosive Stax Records debut in 2017. Boasting a magnetic energy and a soul-stirring repertoire, this dynamic ensemble has mesmerized audiences worldwide with their heart-pounding performances and emotionally charged compositions. Their meteoric rise in the music industry is underscored by a coveted GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” and multiple nods at the Blues Music Awards, where they are currently in the running for “Band of the Year” in the 2024 edition. In 2018, they clinched the title of “Best Emerging Artist,” solidifying their rapid trajectory to stardom. The band, consisting of lead vocalist Tierinii Jackson, guitarist Ori Naftaly, drummer Tikyra Jackson, and the versatile Ava Jackson on vocals, percussion, and violin, forms a musical juggernaut. The harmonious blend of Tierinii, Tikyra, and Ava’s voices creates an unparalleled sound that resonates deeply with audiences, adding an extra layer of soulfulness to their performances. The familial bond within the band not only enhances their on-stage cohesion but infuses their music with an intimate authenticity that is unmistakable. ”Playing our music around the world, sharing our story through our own artistic expression is something that every artist dreams of…and there is no greater feeling as a family than making your dreams come true together,” says Tierinii. “Music is our inheritance, we are blessed and honored to uphold the tradition.” Drawing inspiration from their Memphis roots, Southern Avenue seamlessly fuses blues, soul, and gospel influences into a distinctive sound that pays homage to the city’s rich musical heritage. Their impact extends far beyond the music, as they’ve graced stages at renowned festivals around the globe, including ACL Fest, Electric Forest, Byron Bay, and Bonnaroo, leaving an indelible mark on audiences. Having toured with luminaries such as Sheryl Crow, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Jason Mraz, Southern Avenue just concluded the prestigious Outlaw Music Festival Tour in Fall 2024, joining the lineup alongside Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, and John Mellencamp. Additionally, the band just finished recording their fourth LP and Alligator Records debut at Memphis’ legendary Royal Studio. Produced by Multi-GRAMMY® winner John Burk (Ray Charles, Melissa Etheridge, George Benson) and recorded by Multi-GRAMMY® winner Boo Mitchell (Bruno Mars, Cedric Burnside, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram), Southern Avenue continues to solidify their status as trailblazers in the realms of Contemporary Blues and Roots music.
JD Simo & Luther Dickinson – Do The Rump Tour!
Celebrated guitarists, producers, band leaders and sonic shamans Luther Dickinson and JD Simo join forces in a trailblazing collaboration. The duo, known for their individual successes, mutual admiration, and deep friendship, have finally come together to create a musical project that transcends genres. Luther Dickinson, one half of the 5-time Grammy-nominated North Mississippi All Stars and former Black Crowes lead guitarist has extensive production and session credits for artists like John Hiatt, Cedric Burnside, and William Bell. JD Simo, the leader of his own solo project, boasts session and production credits for Jack White, Beyoncé, Chris Isaak, Stevie Nicks, Phil Lesh, and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis movie. United by shared loves and a strong friendship, Luther and JD found themselves collaborating in the winter of 2022. The creative alchemy unfolded in JD’s House Of Grease studio in Nashville, TN, where they were joined by JD’s longtime partner, Adam Abrashoff. Together, they delved into a rich musical tapestry of old spirituals and hill country blues, infused with Afrobeat rhythms and psychedelic abandon. – melodies that float on the edge of danger in a beautiful and mystical dance. Luther expresses the profound connection, stating, “We found our tribe in each other,” while JD adds, “It’s like turning on a faucet. It’s so easy for us because we have the same sensibilities and influences, but we play nothing alike somehow. It’s so beautiful and special.” What sets this collaboration apart is the dynamic interchange of bass, baritone, and guitar duties between Luther and JD, creating a unique sonic landscape, at once daring and seductive. JD predicts, “It’s gonna be a fun show to watch, with these fat grooves and Luther and I switching instruments and such!” The project will debut with digital singles in the spring of 2024, offering a taste of the magic these two maestros have conjured. A full-length album is set to follow later in the year, promising a musical experience built on love, truth, and GREASE! Join Luther, JD, and Adam on this extraordinary journey – keep it greasy!
Taj Farrant
Taj Farrant may be young, but his natural musical ability surpasses his age. This down to earth Aussie kid is more than passionate about playing guitar and is clearly a natural born rocker through and through. Taj is fortunate to have a very supportive family, helping guide and encourage his passion, with freedom and balance to enjoy playing and perfect his techniques while still enjoying kid stuff too. Taj has already picked up some huge endorsements world-wide. As a guitarist Taj has that truly genuine ‘feel’ when he plays, with technique and soul well beyond his years. With Taj’s online presence growing fast and being featured on the Ellen DeGeneres show, Taj has also been blessed to share the stage with some world class artist such as Carlos Santana, Rob Thomas, Orianthi and many more, strap in and hold on … this is Taj Farrant!PLUS Special Guests: Jazel Farrant as well as Nathan Bryce and Loaded Dice.VIP Meet & Greet available – $50 – Must have a concert ticket as well.
ERIC JOHNSON
Eric Johnson has been traveling on a prolific odyssey over the course of more than four decades. Along the way, his creations have encompassed repertoire that cross pollinate genres which include rock, blues, jazz, fusion, soul, folk, new-age, classical and even country. Inevitably E.J. says it best himself in sharing. “It really boils down to the music and the song at the end of the day,” he explains. “If it doesn’t have that it gets boring for me. The most important thing for me is to grow musically and make a more expansive and meaningful artistic statement with every new project.” Among Johnson’s many accolades are a Grammy award for “Cliffs Of Dover ” (a track from his Platinum certified Ah Via Musicom), lifetime induction into the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats, his listing among the “100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician. In his hometown of Austin TX, a city full of guitarists the readers of the Austin Chronicle have voted Johnson the city’s “Best Electric Guitarist” and “Best Acoustic Guitarist” in their yearly poll year after year. They also named him “Electric Guitarist of the Decade” and one of the top five “Musicians of the Decade
Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite
Elvin Bishop Founding Member of the groundbreaking Paul Butterfield Blues Band 1998 – Inducted into Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame 2006 – Nomination for Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year 2009 – Nominated in 4 Blues Music Award categories – Album of the Year – Contemporary Blues Album of the Year – Contemporary Blues Male of the Year – Song of the Year 2009 – GRAMMY Nomination Blues Album of the Year 2009 – Blues Blast Magazine winner of Best Male Blues Artist 2011 – Nomination for Blues Music Award Historical Album of the Year 2012 – Nomination for Blues Music Award Best DVD 2012/2013 – Rock Hall Nominee as member of Paul Butterfield Blues Band 2015 – Inducted in the Rock Hall as member of Paul Butterfield Blues Band 2016 – Blues Hall of Fame Inductee (Solo) Charlie Musselwhite 2019 GRAMMY Nominee w/Ben Harper 2014 GRAMMY Winner w/Ben Harper 13-time GRAMMY Nominee 33-time Blues Music Award Winner Many-time Living Blues Award Winner Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite 100 Years of Blues 2022 GRAMMY Nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album Blues Music Award Winner – 2022 Album of The Year Blues Music Award Winner – 2022 Traditional Blues Album of the Year Charlie Musselwhite’s journey through the blues was from his birth in Mississippi to Memphis, Chicago and California. Arriving in Chicago in the early sixties, he was just in time for the epochal blues revival. In 1966 at the age of 22 he recorded the landmark Stand Back! to rave reviews. A precipitous relocation to San Francisco in 1967, where his album was being played on underground radio, found him welcomed into the counterculture scene around the Fillmore West as an authentic purveyor of the real deal blues. On the title track of his new album, Can’t Even Do Wrong Right, legendary blues guitarist, songwriter and singer ELVIN BISHOP spins a tale of a not-too-smart criminal getting caught by his own foolish missteps. The shaggy dog story, fueled by Bishop’s down-home delivery and deep blues slide guitar, is an affirmation of the Chicago Sun-Times’ ebullient praise: “It’s impossible not to like Bishop. He’s always singing something lowbrow and uplifting.” With his buoyant and deceptively loose-sounding ensemble behind him, he’s also playing some of the most spirited and distinctive blues slide guitar today.
Samantha Fish – Bullet Proof Tour w/ JD Simo
Samantha Fish After launching her recording career in 2009, Samantha Fish quickly established herself as a rising star in the contemporary blues world. Since then, the charismatic young singer-guitarist-songwriter has earned a reputation as a rising guitar hero and powerful live performer, while releasing a series of acclaimed albums that have shown her restless creative spirit consistently taking her in new and exciting musical directions. The New York Times called Fish “an impressive blues guitarist who sings with sweet power” and “one of the genre’s most promising young talents.” Her hometown paper The Kansas City Star noted, “Samantha Fish has kicked down the door of the patriarchal blues club” and observed that the young artist “displays more imagination and creativity than some blues veterans exhibit over the course of their careers.” JD Simo JD Simo’s talent has no boundaries. His love of music is just that – a love of ALL music – and he has mastered every genre he’s explored. His remarkable talent and versatility has led to recording sessions with artists including Beyoncé, Dolly Parton, Tommy Emmanuel, Jack White, Joe Bonamassa, The War and Treaty, Chris Isaak and Stevie Nicks. He’s also been blessed to share the stage with folks like the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh and collaborate with BlackBerry Smoke, Luther Dickinson and Anson Funderburgh. As a further testament to the depth of his talent, the world of film came calling when JD was chosen to flesh out and perform every single guitar note on the soundtrack to Baz Lurhman’s film “Elvis”. Like many artists and creators during the COVID shutdown, JD found a liberating outlet through social media, releasing a relentless treasure of exploratory jams from “The House of Grease” . With each installment he reached a growing audience of roots music fans as well as guitar gearheads wanting the latest on that JD Simo rig rundown. While this tour will feature songs from his recently released album, Songs From the House of Grease, fans will also be rewarded as Simo digs deep into the inspiration he has found in everything from Afrobeat to Maxwell Street era Chicago Blues, from soulful funk jams to psyched out jazz-rock
Taj Farrant VIP Meet & Greet
VIP Meet & Greet available – $50 – Must have a concert ticket as well.
Jesse Dayton
Jesse Dayton: Jesse Dayton, unsung hero of American music, has defied categorization in his decades-spanning career. His chart-topping album with Samantha Fish, “Death Wish Blues,” marked a global hit and earned the duo a 2024 Grammy nomination. Dayton, who has worked with legends as diverse as Johnny Cash, X, and Rob Zombie, is set to release a new album produced by Grammy winner Shooter Jennings (Brandi Carlisle, Tonya Tucker). Balancing sharp songwriting with powerful guitar, the upcoming album reflects influences from ’70s Dylan and old Texas blues. Dayton, road warrior and troubadour, embraces a big, rowdy sound. His journey from a cult hero to a contemporary chart-topper will be on full display live, proving that for Jesse Dayton, there are no victory laps, only resurrections.
Eric Gales & Special Guest: Artur Menezes
Eric Gales is a blues firebrand. Over 30 years and 18 albums, his passion for the music and his boundless desire to keep it vital has never waned, even when his own light dimmed due to his substance struggles. Throughout it all, he continued to reinvigorate the art form with personal revelation in his lyrics and bold stylistic twists in his guitar playing and songwriting. Five years sober, creatively rejuvenated, and sagely insightful, Eric is ready for the fight of his career. Aptly, he calls his masterful new album, out January 2022 on Provogue/Mascot label Group, Crown. Here, Eric opens like never before, sharing his struggles with substance abuse, his hopes about a new era of sobriety and unbridled creativity, and his personal reflections on racism. The songs are delivered with clarity and feature Eric’s personal experiences and hope for positive change. In addition, the 16-track collection boasts his finest singing, songwriting, and his signature guitar playing that burns throughout. Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, this is Eric at his most boldly vulnerable, uncompromisingly political, and unflinchingly confident.
Joanne Shaw Taylor
Join Joanne Shaw Taylor and her stellar band performing songs from her critically acclaimed studio album, Nobody’s Fool, as well as songs from the upcoming new album. Her guitar prowess, vocal abilities, and songwriting talents reach new heights as she presents a bold slate of material at the peak of her career. Joanne will also dig deep into her rich back catalogue where she will hand-pick songs from her previous recordings along with classic blues songs. Taylor has become one of the hottest live acts on the modern Blues scene, and soon you’ll see why. You don’t want to miss Joanne Shaw Taylor in this unforgettable night of soul and blues-rock!