Blues in the Valley is a not-for-profit music festival begun several years ago by a small group of blues enthusiasts interested in promoting American music heritage and providing an event for the entire community to enjoy. Since its inception, over $30,000 has been raised for various area charities and organizations. These monies have helped to support medical care, public services, education and the arts. While blues is the primary music form associated with the festival; zydeco, rhythm & blues, groove music and rock have all been a part of the event.
The festival takes place every year in the month of August at the firemen's grounds in the picturesque village park in Warsaw, NY. Warsaw is less than an hour's drive from Rochester or Buffalo in Wyoming County and just minutes from Letchworth State Park. Come and enjoy a day of music, dancing and good food at Blues in the Valley. You will be helping to promote an important American art form and many deserving charitable organizations.
2011 Featured Bands:
The Little Louis Band
1:00pm to 2:15pm - Visit Band Website
The Little Louis Band plays music that blends traditional Blues with classic rock, rock, and southern rock, along with Louis' own "Texas Voodoo" guitar style. We perform tunes from great blues artists as well as Louis? own compositions. The band enjoys improvisation, so each and every performance brings something new to our audiences. You can find us primarily in the Buffalo NY and WNY areas.
4in Tune
2:30pm to 3:45pm - Visit Band Website
The Bravuras
4:00pm to 5:15pm - Visit Band Website
The Bravuras are made up of Western New Yorkers who are extremely dedicated to their craft. Headed by John "J. Bones" Puccio, the Bravuras bring their unique touch to blues tunes that you might not know, but should. Along with playing original songs, you'll find the Bravuras covering the likes of Leadbelly, Bo Diddley, Albert King, Albert Collins, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, and Willie Dixon, just to name a few. This is the kind of music that blues players and aficionados respect and adore. This is the form of blues that has a true groove to it. The Bravuras line-up looks something like this: John Puccio is in charge of vocals; John P. Hufford is guitarist/harmonica player and vocalist; Ron Pepin is the drummer; Bob Ginter is the bassist; and Felix , who, as a trained ear will notice, blissfully blends jazz chords into his blues progressions. He's a wiz on lead guitar.
The John Cole Blues Band
5:30pm to 6:45pm - Visit Band Website
The John Cole Blues Band, one of Rochester's best-loved and well-known bands, plays regularly in many clubs in Rochester and surrounding areas. It is a favorite of blues fans and dancers in Rochester, and throughout western New York. Although it is unusual for a band to maintain repeated engagements in clubs year after year, and to be booked well in advance for the entire year, that is exactly the case with this band. They are happy to perform at any private events large or small!
The Blues Hounds
7:00pm to 8:15pm - Visit Band Website
The Debbie Kendrick Blues Band
8:30pm to 10:00pm - Visit Band Website
Rochester NY's own Debbie Kendrick Blues Band. A unique blend of blues,r&b, jazz, gospel, & swing, that appeals to all ages. From slow and sultry, to toe-tapping "get up on the dance floor" excitement,Debbie and her blues band really know how to get the party started! The Debbie Kendrick Blues Band put on a show that is an event to be experienced.With a group of skillful musicians that bring their own special talent and musical styles to the mix, the band is gaining popularity all over Western New York and Canada.