FRIDAY JULY 11, 2008 -- 8:00 p.m. The free show Friday night will feature "Buffalo Bob and Friends."  Over the past 30+ years, Bob Bowles has played music with Tom and Patsy Jones, mostly for personal enjoyment and occasionally for special occasions.  The Jones, a husband and wife team, deliver tight harmonies on a wide selection of styles from Karla Bonoff and Bonnie Raitt to Patsy Cline.  A natural show-person, Patsy Jones, is like a runaway train on stage, while Tom's dedication to precise execution keeps it all together. Joining the mix from Bob Bowles' more recent foray into public performance is Tony Lewis.  Together, Bob and Tony toured as "Medicine Bow."  Tony's years of road experience makes this guitar virtuoso a solid foundation for the band.  Along with "Congo Mike" Evans on percussion, this group of friends promises to deliver a show that's loose, freestyle...and fun!

Saturday July 12, 2008     Tinsley Ellis -- late night headliner (9:30 p.m.)   Our late night headliner guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Tinsley Ellis ranks among the top blues/rock guitarists working today.  Ellis sings and plays with the energy and soul of all the great Southern musicians who have come before him.  Since first hitting the national scene with his Alligator Records debut, GEORGIA BLUE, in 1988, Ellis has toured non-stop and continued to release one critically acclaimed album after another. His stellar guitar work, always a staple of his live shows and CDs, is matched by his strong songwriting and powerful, soulful vocals. His music has been described as "a potent, amazing trip through electric blues-rock."  Rolling Stone said “feral blues guitar…non-stop gigging has sharpened his six-string to a razor’s edge…his eloquence dazzles…he achieves pyrotechnics that rival Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton.” Born in Atlanta in 1957, Ellis grew up in southern Florida and first played guitar at age eight.  He found the blues through the backdoor of the British Invasion bands like The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream, and The Rolling Stones.  He especially loved the Kings—Freddie, B.B. and Albert—and spent hours immersing himself in their music.  Already an accomplished teenaged musician, Ellis left Florida and returned to Atlanta in 1975.  Eventually he formed The Heartfixers, a group that would become Atlanta’s top-drawing blues band.  After three releases with that band, Ellis was ready to head out on his own. GEORGIA BLUE, Tinsley's first Alligator release, hit an unprepared public by surprise in 1988. Critics and fans quickly agreed that a new and original guitar hero had emerged. "Dazzling musicianship pitched somewhere between the exhilarating volatility of rock and roll and the passion of urban blues," raved the Los Angeles Times. Before long, Alligator arranged to reissue COOL ON IT and TORE UP, thus exposing Tinsley's blistering earlier music to a growing fan base." The Chicago Tribune celebrated the release by saying, "Ellis takes classic, Southern blues-rock workouts and jolts them to new life with a torrid axe barrage." Tinsley's subsequent releases, 1989's FANNING THE FLAMES, 1992’s TROUBLE TIME, 1994’s STORM WARNING, and 1997’s FIRE IT UP, -- further expanded the guitarist's hero status. By now his talents as a songwriter equaled his guitar prowess.  A move to Capricorn Records in 2000 saw Ellis revisiting his Southern roots with KINGPIN. Unfortunately, the label folded soon after the CD's release. In 2002, he joined the Telarc label, producing two well-received albums of soul-drenched blues-rock, HELL OR HIGH WATER and THE HARD WAY. All the while, Ellis never stopped touring. "A musician never got famous staying home," he's quick to note. Ellis’ 2005 return to Alligator, the searing guitar-fueled LIVE-HIGHWAYMAN, was the live recording his fans had been demanding for years.  Recorded at a packed club just outside Chicago, the CD took Ellis’ extended soloing and heartfelt vocals to staggering heights.  The Chicago Tribune said, "Incendiary live performances, inspired, original and funky."  Ellis' latest release on Alligator, MOMENT OF TRUTH, captures all the power and energy of his legendary live performances. His vocals reach new heights of soulfulness and expressiveness; his guitar playing is ferocious and relentless, but when the mood calls for it, gentle and moving. What really sets the album apart, though, is the depth of Ellis’ songwriting. The material deals in matters both personal and universal and runs the gamut of human emotions. MOMENT OF TRUTH is Ellis’ most wide-ranging and inspired recording. Averaging over 150 live shows a year, Ellis has played in all 50 states, as well as Canada, Europe, Australia and South America. Whether he's out with his own band or sharing stages with The Allman Brothers, Robert Cray, Koko Taylor or Widespread Panic, he spreads his jaw-dropping licks, thunderous axe work and intense vocals everywhere he goes.  We’re excited to have Tinsley Ellis back on stage at the South Loup River Blues Festival in Arnold, Nebraska.  If you saw him here in 1999, you know what a treat you’re in for…if you’ve never seen him before, you’re in for a treat and will no doubt become one of his growing legions of fans.  Website:  www.tinsleyellis.com

Roxanne Potvin -- early evening headliner (7:00 p.m.)   Begin where all North American music starts…the Blues, give it to an ingénue who shakes it up by adding a little rock ’n roll, country, folk and jazz. Result: Something new, something old and — more importantly — something fresh, unique and inspired... That's the story you can apply to crossover artist Roxanne Potvin, the 23-year-old bi-lingual Gatineau, Quebec based singer, guitarist songwriter. She may be young, but Roxanne certainly fits the description of that strange music industry term “buzz act” — people are talking about her, and so they should. “The Way It Feels,” with its surprising list of guests in supporting roles, marks the emergence of a bright new artist on the Canadian scene. AND, we are thrilled to have this young talent as our early evening headliner this year at the South Loup River Blues Festival.  Born in Regina, where her father was a TV reporter for CBC, Roxanne moved to the Ottawa area when she was two. Just like the old cliché, her home was filled with music; Dad played guitar, Mom sang, and aunts and uncles played all sorts of other instruments, and jazz and pop music was on the record player all the time. Young Roxanne soaked it all in — Stones, Pink Floyd, Billie Holiday, Beatles — and she sheepishly admits that the first record she ever got was the “Jive Bunny” soundtrack. However, accidentally catching Jonny Lang on TV was like being hit by lightening — “Man, he was SO cool!” she recalls. Lang led her, curiosity working overtime, to the music of B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters and dozens of others — from Howlin’ Wolf to Aretha Franklin. At 15, she got her first guitar. “It was a white Japanese Telecaster,” she remembers now. “It had a buzzing in the strings they couldn’t fix, so I returned it to the store. And got another Tele, an American made cream one that I still play today. Cost me $675 and I paid it off in installments. I love it!” Once she had the basics down, she became a fixture at Ottawa’s Rainbow Club, sitting in on the weekly jam sessions. One night, the bandleader talked to her before the first set: The regular guitarist hadn’t shown up, would she play lead guitar for the evening? “I didn’t have time to be scared. And afterwards, they gave me $50.00 — it was the first time I had earned anything playing music. I was blown away…” As her search for new and different music continued, she found herself influenced by subtler, lesser-known artists, including guitarist Freddy King and singer Dinah Washington. Roxanne is a woman of strong determination. She felt she had something to say, so in 2003 she wrote a raft of songs that, with hindsight, really set the bar high. With a new and original repertoire, she self-produced, self-financed, self-released and self promoted her first recording, “Careless Loving”. It did exactly what she hoped it would: Notched her career upwards to another level, and built her reputation as a songwriter as well as a singer and player. Local writers (and campus and CBC radio) embraced the CD, and the word began to spread. As fans and industry people continue to discover her, she has been in continual demand for clubs, festivals and special events, including a flying trip to France for a major festival last year.  She's also played the prestigious Toronto Women's Blues Review show twice (most recently last November at Massey Hall in Toronto) and was nominated as Female Vocalist of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards. On stage, Roxanne combines an easy going confidence and style with fire and a wonderful innocence that engages her audience wherever and whenever she plays. The new CD, “The Way It Feels,” is a sterling example of the way the promise of a talented musician; singer and songwriter can be fulfilled. Producer Colin Linden — the Nashville-based Canadian guitarist and writer with no less than 60 CD production projects to his name — helped bring together a cast of support players that included, in addition to Daniel Lanois, Bruce Cockburn, Wayne Jackson of the The Memphis Horns, members of the Fairfield Four, and one of her favourite songwriters and singers, John Hiatt. What brought Linden and the rest of them to this project was the strength and breadth of her songwriting and the authentic power of her old school voice. “I can’t say how thrilled I am that these people came together to play with me on my songs,” she says, still shaking her head in surprise. “To cut a recording session with the Wayne Jackson of the Memphis Horns who has played on everything from Elvis’s ‘Suspicious Minds’ to Aretha’s ‘Respect’ — I mean, just how inspiring is that? And then to have John Hiatt in the studio in Toronto with me … if I couldn’t hear his voice on the record I’d think I dreamed that!” “The Way It Feels” is the fulfillment of a dream that started many years ago. It is a major breakthrough for a fresh new voice. And the way it feels, thank you very much, is just FINE….   Website: www.roxannepotvin.com

THE TABLEROCKERS FEATURING  Sean Benjamin & Jim Cidlik of the original Tablerockers (4:30 p.m.)   For the past few years, The Tablerockers have been joined by a special guest or two for their annual pilgrimage to the South Loup River Blues Festival.  This year is no exception as they will be joined on stage by Sean Benjamin and Jim Cidlik who were members of the original Tablerockers as well as Little Jimmy Valentine & The Heartmurmers.  Jim Cidlik, who was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame in 1999, is truly a Nebraska rock, blues and jazz legend who has performed throughout the country since the mid-1950's.  His blues-tinged vocal stylings and incredible keyboard playing will be a perfect fit for our festival.  Also along to perform with the Tablerockers this year, is bluesman Sean Benjamin.  Benjamin came to Nebraska from the East Coast when his father found work in Lincoln in 1973.  Benjamin has lived and performed in Lincoln since 1977 and continually lauds the importance "Midwest Blues" has played in the national scene.  He is respected as a live performer, recording artist, songwriter, and vocalist throughout the music world and was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame in 2000.  Sharing the stage with these two legends will be The Tablerockers who are familar faces to the South Loup River Blues Festival attendees.  The Tablerockers are influenced by a variety of musical styles including Delta blues, Chicago and Texas blues, R&B, soul, rock-a-billy, jazz, funk, and rock 'n' roll--all filtered through The Tablerockers' blues sensibilities.  The result is a high-powered blues attack featuring the smoking guitar and soulful vocals of Baby Jason Davis, and the right grooves provided by Larry Boehmer on bass and David Watson on drums.  Over the last few years, The Tablerockers have performed as a trio in clubs and festivals around the Midwest and Midsouth.  They have served as the backup band for James Harman, Magic Slim, Earl Cate, Madison Slim and many others.  Whether you see them by themselves or with some of their better-know blues friends, they'll rock your socks off!! Tablerockers website:  www.myspace.com/thetablerockers

SARAH BENCK & THE ROBBERS (2:00 p.m.)   When you see Sarah Benck and The Robbers for the first time, the immediate question in your mind will be, "How does such a big voice come in such a small package?" When you listen to Sarah's lyrics, you'll wonder, "How can someone so young write such introspective and personal songs?" Still in her early 20's, Sarah has already become a mainstay of the Omaha music scene. She has been performing solo acoustic and with local bands since age 15, and in January of 2007 she was named "Best Singer/Songwriter" at the First Annual Omaha Entertainment Awards. The Robbers help Sarah write, arrange, and evolve the music with an "anything goes" attitude, yet always serving the song. On guitar is Jason Ferguson. He started playing at age seven and was raised on a steady musical diet of diverse styles. He is a graduate of the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. with over twenty years of studio and stage experience. James Carrig plays bass guitar with a tight, solid, and brilliantly understated style that drives the music. James has played with Sarah the longest and his connection with her music is undeniable. Like all the classic bass players, he truly provides the foundation of the group. Drummer Scott "Zip" Zimmerman has a diverse musical background which includes teaching music in public schools and private lessons. He's played drums, percussion, and sang with several rock, funk and jazz groups. Zip's funk-rock swagger provides the perfect feel to The Robbers music. Since joining forces, Sarah Benck and The Robbers have become sought-after regional favorites, gigging often and sharing the stage with luminaries Buddy Guy, Sue Foley, Renee Austin, Eric Sardinas, Hadden Sayers, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Bernard Alison, Savoy Brown, Indigenous, Conor Oberst, Blues Traveler,  and the BoDeans. With the release of their second CD, Neighbor's Garden (2007), the band demonstrates how they've matured together musically. The Robbers take a foundation of rock, funk, roots, and blues and build upon those genres with this record.   This music resonates with young and old alike. After a performance, the line to meet the band says it all. From preteens with dreams of singing and playing guitar to baby boomers who swear they've just witnessed the next Bonnie Raitt. There's something there for everyone. People love their live shows since they have the opportunity to subtly bob ones' head, full on dance to the music, or just feel what the band is sending their way. Sarah Benck and The Robbers succeed in delivering that, both live and on their new album, and that is what will allow them to continue to enthrall and grow their audience.  Catch them live at this year’s South Loup River Blues Festival and you too will become one of the faithful.   Website:  www.sarahbenck.com

THE MOONCATS (around 12:30) The Mooncats, a well-known group in the Nebraska Panhandle and Northeastern Colorado, originated in 2000.  Their music is based and seasoned by years of playing for scores of people in many settings and venues.  Deeply rooted rhythm and blues backgrounds have inspired original music and arrangements that touch all their audiences.  Ranging from hearty blues shuffles and jump swing to sensual blues ballads to raucous blues rock or Latin and Cajun rhythms, the Mooncats are more than a contemporary cover group.  The band consists of these talented musicians: Michael "T" Sullivan, keyboardist; harp player Dan Stark; Jamie "Ray" McColloch, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist; George Dockter, bass player, drummer Nate Beutler; Donn Folkerts (Salamander Slim), percussionist; and, featured lead guitarist Jimi (Dick) Haddix. The Mooncats performed as the opening band at the South Loup River Blues Festival in 2003 and we many people have asked if we could have them back.  Here's your chance to see them again, or if you missed them a few years ago, get your day at the festival off to a good start by being to the park for The Mooncats at 12:30 on Saturday, July 12th!