2010 Back to the Blues Lineup

The following artists have been booked for the 2010 Back to the Blues. Artists are starting to show up today (Thursday)... I saw Johnny Mannion lurking behind the stage this afternoon...

Larry Howard
Music used to be a God to me, now it’s a gift. So every night when I go on stage it’s not like a job. It’s like unwrapping new gifts every time I start a song.

Larry Howard's life has been spent learning, playing, and recording music. He began his recording in 1967, a full 45 years ago. But his lifetime of music began long before he entered his first recording studio. "In my early years I played a lot of big band swing music," Howard says recounting his early years. "When I was 14 I had the opportunity to play with Count Basie at the University Of Miami music school for six weeks. I love that style of music.

I did my first recording for a production company in 1967," Howard continues. "Then I did some regional stuff in Florida. Then I hooked up with Dru Lumbar (guitar and vocals), Joe Dan Petty (bass) and Ricky Burnett (drums). Together we formed Grinderswitch. We were a southern rock and blues band and we toured with most if not all the great southern rock and blues bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Charlie Daniels Band, Marshall Tucker, BB King, Freddy King, Papa John Creach, and many more.

Larry Howard Web Site

 

John Lee Sanders
“One of the Hottest Bluesmen on the Scene” Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Fest.
This 2008 Western Canada Music Award nominee does it all…. A Singer, Songwriter and triple threat on piano, saxophone and guitar, he is gaining a following in concerts throughout North America and Europe. His songs have nominations for a WC Handy blues song of the year, a 2007 Emmy award, and appear on Grammy nominated recordings of major artists.

John Lee Sanders Website

 

Darrell Mansfield
Darrell Mansfield's blues style of Christian praise and worship is considered by many to be a great blessing to Christians the world over.

Darrell's ministry of harmonica and vocals has been bringing glory to Jesus Christ for almost 3 decades and just keeps getting better with time. His performances are more powerful now than at any other time in his music ministry, as his purpose is now settled. Darrell Mansfield longs to give something back to a world that reflects the neediness and hunger that drove him to the "Bread of Life."

 

Ashley Clevelan and Kenny Greenberg
Ashley Cleveland is the only woman to be nominated for -- and to win -- three Rock Gospel Grammy Awards. Her passionate performances and articulate songwriting have won her a legion of loyal fans and the praises of critics. In 2006 she was named Female Vocalist of the Year by ChristianityToday.com. She has released seven albums, the first two of which made Billboard Magazine's year-end Best of the Year list. Her latest CD: God Don't Never Change, was released in 2009.  Back 2 Blues is very excited to have Ashley Cleveland AND her husband Kenny take part in our Festival this year!

Kenny Greenberg grew up in Cleveland, OH, then moved to Nashville at the age of 21 to play guitar. Since that time he has worked with many of country’s top artists including Taylor Swift, Brooks & Dunn, Gretchen Wilson, Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Wynona Judd, Lee Ann Womack, Toby Keith, Sugarland, Tricia Yearwood, Montgomery Gentry, and Faith Hill. His guitar work has been included on projects with Bob Seger, Amy Grant, Etta James, Mandy Moore, Jewel, Indigo Girls, and Peter Cetera.

Ashley Cleveland Website

Kenny Greenberg Website

 

The Johnny Mannion Band
Johnny Mannion began playing blues in 1974. He played guitar with Texas blues man Tom Cat Courtney for 6 years from 1985-1991. He has fronted his own bands since 1997.

In 2003 Johnny was inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame. In 2006 he was inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame as Ambassador at Large and named to the Blues Hall Of Fame Board of Directors.

Johnny gave his life to Christ in 2003 and soon left his band at the time to dedicate his playing to the Lord. He started playing at his church where he met his future band members. All the guys in the band attend Eastlake Community Church in Chula Vista Ca and most play on the worship team there.

The Johnny Mannion Band also features Greg Bach on guitar. Greg has been playing blues for over 20 years. Greg has had a very successful career playing the blues most notably with Deja Voodoo prior to joining up with Johnny. Greg became a Christian and soon tired of the club scene and left his band. He was introduced to Johnny by Kevin McPeak original bassist for the band and he and Johnny have been playing together ever since. This year Johnny and Greg added Guy Boccia on bass guitar and Chris apacik on drums. Guy and Chris have been playing together in a jazz combo. Guy serves on the worship team at Eastlake Community Church along with Johnny and Greg and is an accomplished player.   Chris has played drums for years and in addition to playing in jazz combos, he has done several gigs with theater productions.

The Johnny Mannion Band's concerts are a mixture of emotional, fiery playing and fun. all for Gods Glory.

 

Greg Sczebel and Band
Greg is a Canadian Juno Award-Winning independent singer/songwriter from Salmon Arm, BC. His career in music began at the age of 17. Gaining much experience singing in church, Greg started playing the piano by ear at the age of 12.

Since he started penning his own material, he has continued to do so, winning the recognition of songwriting competitions as The John Lennon Songwriting Contest. In 2008 his song, "Love Is the Anchor," was named "Song of the Year" at the Canadian Gospel Music Awards. "Here to Stay" released Canada-wide on June 1, 2004 and went on to win a 2005 Juno Award, as well as a "Western Canadian Music Award,". Greg has toured extensively with Canadian country star Paul Brandt, and Folk/Pop songstress Carolyn Arends. In 2006 Sczebel was a special guest on CMT's "Paul Brandt's Christmas in Banff."

In 2008 Sczebel joined Brandt's touring band and has performed nationwide with him as backup vocalist and keyboard player. Since 2005 Sczebel has been an active spokesperson on behalf of World Vision, primarily their Hope Child Sponsorship initiative which provides for children around the world affected by HIV AIDS.
Greg Sczebel Website

 

The Trimmed & Burnin Blues Project
The T&BBP has been the vision of Shannon Coberly of Bellingham WA. USA and an on going project for over 7 years. This year they will be exploring different forms of Blues music from Funk Blues to Texas Country Blues ala Johnny Winter to Robert Johnson including some original music written by Cindy Thomas and a few written by Shannon Coberly.

“We're going to play Blues and sing about real things that everybody goes through, the good, the bad and the glorious.

 

Steve Delamar and Friends
The Steve Delamar Band consists of four seasoned veterans led by singer-songwriter Steve Delamar who has been making music longer than he cares to remember.
Drummer Darrell Richards lays down solid yet funky grooves, while new member Jerry Dyck constructs a firm “bass”ment. Ace lead Guitarist Jeff Bowman adds some sizzling sonic sparkle. And on Sax, Blues harp and Keys, the talented James Stobbe. This eclectic band draws on a wide range of musical influences, playing both original and traditional Gospel Music.

 

Darrell Lahay & The Chop Liver Band

Darrell Lahay is a local pastor who has worked with a variety of musicians over the years to produce a variety of different gospel music. The chop liver band's line-up is always a little different, and all of the musicians are members of a larger project called 'The Liberty Band', www.thelibertyband.com that attempts to bring Christian musicians together. As usual, this year's line-up will include a wide variety of old and new, differnt types of jazz blues, roots, rock and funk.

Make a joyful noise!

 

Dr. Bones Blues Project

Dr. Bones Blues Project is Greater Victoria’s only gospel blues band, and consists of John Bones (blues harp, vocals), Gail Bones (vocals), Gary Brewer (guitar, dobro, vocals), Mike Philip (bass guitar), and Ron Cole (drums). They play a range of blues and gospel-style tunes, including their own originals. The Project began two years ago, inspired by the B2B Gospel Blues Festival, and mostly performs as outreach to Victoria’s marginalized as well as lower mainland prisons (including William Head, Mission and Ferndale).