Big Jim Adam
Big Jim Adam (along with his duo partner John Stilwagen) were finalists in the 2011 International Blues Challenge Solo/Duo Category, held in Memphis, TN in early February 2011. Jim’s thumb-thumping bass, sliding swampy guitar and big voice make for a powerful performance
Jim grew up in a small town in Southeast Kansas, and grew up listening to Blues and Gospel music, both of which combined to influence both his vocal and guitar style.
Jim spent several years making his living as a musician in Southern California. He also was in demand as a studio vocalist. As a songwriter Jim has several film credits and a couple of songs cut by Edgar Winter. His credits include the film, "The Waterdance", which starred Wesley Snipes, Eric Stoltz and Helen Hunt, in which both his song and performance were used.
Jim eventually moved to Colorado Springs where he is a prominent figure on the regional blues scene and performs as a solo, in a duo with keyboardist John Stilwagen and with The Jim Adam Blues Band.
Jim’s vocals, dobro and diddly-bo can be heard on the critically acclaimed PBS Special, “For Love of Liberty”, currently airing around the country.
Jim is also involved in “Blues in the School”. His ability at storytelling and teaching, combined with his love of history and music makes for an entertaining and engaging experience.
Jim has opened for blues legend John Hammond Jr., Ruthie Foster, folk icon John Stewart, Chris Thomas King, Samuel James, Michael Johnson (“Bluer than Blue”) and Cajun rocker Zachary Richard, amongst others.
Frank & Patti Sansone
Patti and Frank when not playing with the Acoustic Alliance Band who by the way play an incredible blend of Bluegrass, Vintage swing and Gypsy jazz play as a duet performing their own blend of music. Combining authentic roots music and Americana with a few jazz standards thrown in the likes of which you probably won’t hear in these parts. Always entertaining Patti and Frank create a tapestry of musical sounds with Frank being an accomplished multi-instrumentalist playing five string banjo, mandolin, guitar and resonator guitar joining Patti on guitar auto harp and vocals. Take a break from hearing the same old covers and let Patti and Frank introduce you to some very cool acoustic music both old and new. No hype, real music, real instruments.
Joel Zoss
Joel Zoss has enjoyed a worldwide cult following as a master songwriter since Bonnie Raitt recorded his “Too Long at the Fair” and “I Gave My Love a Candle.” His songs have sold millions of copies, earning him two gold records, and have been acquired and licensed by institutions as diverse as MUZAK and the Smithsonian Institution. He is a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow of Creative Writing and a PEN short story award winner. His recordings are currently available on BMG/SONY as imports from Japan, in the United States on Catalan, Rounder, Critique, DM, and through the Smithsonian; and at CD Baby, iTunes, and many other sites online. Joel’s album Lila (2008) was produced by June Millington, leader of the legendary group Fanny.
Since 2007 Joel has appeared frequently with B.B.King in theaters across the country. In addition, he had performed and recorded with many highly regarded artists including James Taylor, David Bromberg, Bonnie Raitt, John Hartford, Paul Butterfield, David Sanborn, Vassar Clements, Lowell George, Little Feat, John Hall and Orleans, Taj Mahal, Norman Blake, Juan-Carlos Formell, Todd Rundgren, Kate Taylor, The Master Musicians of Jajouka, and Howling Wolf. As a solo artist and with the Joel Zoss Trio he has appeared at landmark folk and national venues from Manhattan’s The Living Room to the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur; the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
Reina Collins
Roots rock songstress Reina Collins has a voice as warm as the color of deeply polished wood and smooth and fiery at the same time – like top shelf tequila. She is an engaging and dynamic performer whose versatility allows her to comfortably cross musical boundaries and perform styles including rock, jazz, folk and country. She has entertained at festivals (Bite of Oregon, Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival, Northern Rockies Folk Festival, Clearwater Jazz Holiday), ski resorts, weddings, corporate events, and community fundraisers. Her recordings have received international airplay and she has travelled the US finding pleasure and success as a touring musician.
A Florida native, Reina’s rambling led her to Southern California then to Teton Valley, Idaho -- her home from 1996-2005. There she established Driggs’ first retail music shop Big Hole Music and was fortunate to become part of a community of fine musicians and artists, first rate partiers and dedicated outdoor enthusiasts.
In 2003 assisted by songwriter-mandolinist-producer Ben Winship Reina recorded her roots folk album Kitchen Sink at Henhouse Studio in Victor, Idaho.
Following her fall 2005 relocation to Portland Reina had the good fortune to cross paths with songwriter Rob Barteletti. With producer-guitarist Terry Robb, they joined forces to record Even If I Fall at Dennis Carter's Falcon Studios. Tony Furtado, Terry Robb and other Portland players provide first class musicianship on this melodic collection of witty, poignant, dark roots country tunes.
Spring 2007 found Reina on the road heading south from Portland, Oregon with a map, a tape recorder and a notepad. Her gut told her that a 10,000 mile cross country solo road trip would inspire the stories and experiences, the necessary ingredients to shake out a batch of new songs.
Austin To Boston, her 3rd release (2008), takes Reina in more of a roots rock/AAA radio friendly direction. Produced by Rob Stroup of 8 Ball Studio a slew of high caliber Portland session players contribute their talents. This album holds the listener with Reina’s originals, tunes by Portland’s Rob Barteletti and Paula Sinclair and gems including Richard Thompson’s ’52 Vincent Black Lightning.
Saltwater Soul (2009) is Reina’s newest CD co-written and recorded with Nashville's Phil Madeira (Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller) and recorded with members of Emmylou Harris’ Red Dirt Boys including legendary pedal steel player Al Perkins.
Back in the Sunshine State after 20 years Reina is making a musical splash in the Tampa Bay area.
Joey Gilmore
Joey Gilmore's career has spanned 40 years with performances throughout the United States and Europe. He has called South Florida home for the past twenty years. Joey is a true Blues and R & B master who incorporates new and varied styles in his music performing original compositions mixed with traditional standards in his high energy live show. His tenor/baritone vocals belt out tunes with a loss abandon reminiscent of Blues Legends from the 1940's and 1950's. This Blues man's major influences are apparent without sacrificing his unique style. Artists Joey has shared the stage with include: James Brown, Etta James, Bobby Bland, Little Milton, Johnny Taylor and numerous others.
In January 2006 Joey traveled to Memphis to compete in The International BLUES Challenge. This is the most distinguished and internationally coveted award in all of blues. The Joey Gilmore Band outscored all bands worldwide while showcasing his amazing talent at a blues industry event as the best unsigned band on the planet. Joey is proud to represent the
BLUES FOUNDATION as the winner at every sponsored event, being an ambassador of the BLUES for the Foundation and Blues Community. In 2008 Joey was awarded the Blewzzy award for best song, ALL OVER YOU.
JP Soars
Most blues guitarists haven't played in a handful of metal bands and aren't influenced by jazz icons like Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery. Which, as much as anything, explains why South Florida based JP Soars doesn't sound like any other area guitar slinger. The guitarist and vocalist fronts a self titled blues band and plays with both former Elvin Bishop saxophonist/vocalist Terry Hanck as well as “the Gypsy Blue Acoustic Revue”, which updates the classic 1930s and 1940s material of Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli.
JP was born in California and raised in Arkansas. He moved to South Florida in 1985. "I love Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan… but I don't try to play like them. I listen to the guys they listened to, like Albert King, Johnny Guitar Watson, T-bone Walker, Muddy Waters and Guitar Slim. I'm also very into Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery as well as horn players like Louie Jordan".
In February 2007, JP won the South Florida International Blues Challenge the second year in a row, and recently won the International Blues Competition's prestigious Albert King Award for upcoming blues guitarists, making him one of two musicians on the roster for Blues on the Green to have received the award (Sean Carney being the other). He and Terry's band – JP Soars and the Red Hots - also took top honors at the IBC by winning the award for Top Blues Band.
Ernie Southern
No stranger to music, he began his career in his early teens as a New York “street corner” singer, recording and performing with the well-known doo-wop acapella group "Nick and the Knacks". Opening for such acts as the "Four Seasons", "Anthony and the Imperials" and "The Earls", he quickly developed his strong, charismatic stage presence while appearing at clubs like the BLACK CAT and the GOLDEN SLIPPER. The group soon became a favorite on Lou Dean’s Bayshore Rock and Roll Shows. In the 60’s a spot on New York’s “Zacharly” TV show earned them an audition with Chess Records, which offered the band a recording contract.
Then came the Vietnam War. During his four years in Naval Intelligence aboard the carrier USS Enterprise, he voraciously studied music, focusing on such old masters as Blind Lemon Jefferson and Lightnin’ Hopkins.
 By the early 70’s, with the advent of the psychedelic era’s new directions, Ernie began playing bass in Jazz-Rock-Fusion bands in Berkely, California. Studying with the much revered Elvo Damante, and student of the famous classical composer Darius Meaux, he then collaborated with the multi-instrumentalist Bill Hennessey to write and produce "Sailing Thru", a regional hit with wide air play in the Northeast.
 Moving to Fort Lauderdale in 1979 and working with a variety of bands in various styles, he co-wrote “Like a Kid at Christmas” with Five Boroughs band leader, Frank Iovino. This song still receives international attention as a perennial Christmas favorite. By 1992, as a well-known bass player for the ever touring retro rock group RISK, he once again opted to pick up his guitar and moved forward to yet another style, the Delta Blues.
The past decade has seen a return to playing, writing and performing, opening for such acts as Leon Russell, Alvin Youngblood Hart, John Hammond, John Mooney, Catfish Keith, Jeremy Lyons and the Deltabilly Boys, Spider John Korner, Joe Bonomassa, Albert Castiglia, Joey Gilmore, Ben Prestage and James Cotton.
 After winning the 2003 South Florida Blues Challenge, Ernie went on to Memphis, courtesy of the South Florida Blues Society, and finished as a top finalist in the acoustic division in the International Blues Foundation’s world-wide competition.
Grab a beer & crank it up!" "Highly recomended!"
– Blues Bunny UK
"Southern rips it up! He digs this genre like a dog with a bone !"
– Minor 7th Magazine
Ernie Southern and the Deltaholics are the real deal, Ernie's so intense that you can't help but feel his sincerity. Hard core blues fans need to check this out
– The Blewzzman
"Get him nominated for a BMA! The CD is great & he deserves it!"
– Bluesboys Talent
"Southern has a great feel for the blues, boasting an agressive sycopated attack & an emotional voice, truly evoking the spirit of the old masters"
– City Link
Sybil Gage
Compared to Eartha Kitt, Dinah Washington, and Pearl Bailey, singer, songwriter and musician Sybil Gage grew up in the uptown New Orleans Jazz scene where she watched the scene at Rosy's on Tchopitoulas , Jimmy's on Willow and Tipitina's on Napoleon Ave.
After beginning stints as a DJ in New Orleans she headed to Chicago and then to New York where she earned her degree in Fine Arts from NYU and became the Number 2 Morning Drive DJ under the name Sybil Williams on several NYC radio stations.
Sybil came to Florida and, upon arrival, quickly developed a large and devoted following with her own Blues & Jazz style. Her CD 'Red' took her fans by storm and left them clamoring for more as she cut out her vocal Jazz & Blues flavors with her original material as well as more familiar blues numbers like Stormy Weather, At Last, and Hip Shakin' Mama.
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