John Lee Hooker, Jr. to headline the Dunedin Wines The Blues Festival

October 13, 8:30 PMTampa Bay Culinary Travel ExaminerJeff O'Kelley

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John Lee Hooker, Jr. to headline the Dunedin Wines The Blues Fesitval

Dunedin Wines The Blues Festival
November 13/14, 2009

For nearly two decades, the Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association has presented the Dunedin Wines The Blues festival. As the city’s signature event, the festival offers a mix of wine, food and great blues music to crowds which have reached 30,000 in past years. Continuing the tradition, this year’s event promises to be a special one, with the addition of two-time Grammy-nominated bluesman John Lee Hooker, Jr. to the music lineup. Son of legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker, John Jr. has forged his own success in the wake of his famous father’s legacy, and developed his own unique musical style. When asked to describe his sound, John replied, “I’m versatile, I’m R&B, funk, down home blues and some jazz as well…we even got some hip-hop blues as well.” If past live shows are any example, event attendees can expect to enjoy a polished blues-jazz sound, mixed with a little traditional blues.

John’s performance is expected to run approximately 90-minutes and will feature a mix of music from his recent recordings, including the 2008 Grammy-nominated release All Odds Against Me. When asked if he’ll cover any of his father’s tunes, John replied, “I’ll throw a couple of my dad’s songs in there, of course.” Hooker’s road band is comprised of five musicians; two guitars, bass, keyboards and drums, that produce a tight blues sound which compliments John’s high-energy, Cab Calloway-James Brown style of showmanship. For lovers of blues music, this should be a memorable event.

This year’s Dunedin Wines The Blues festival is scheduled for November 13th and 14th, with John Lee Hooker, Jr. scheduled to perform on Saturday night. The event’s musical lineup also includes performances by Kathy Jo and the Bluzification Band and The Steve Arvey Horn Band. The event is free to the public.  For more information, visit the event website at www.dunedinwinestheblues.info. To read more of my interview with John Lee Hooker, Jr., go to www.jeffokelley.com.