KZUM’s third annual Blues Blowout concert will kick off at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31, at the Zoo Bar with a special blues set by one of Lincoln’s most soulful vocalists, Emily Bass. The evening continues at 7 p.m. with the electric guitar-drive blues of Lincoln’s Shawn “Lil’ Slim” Holt before South Dakota blues stalwarts Indigenous make their return to town in the 9 p.m. slot.
Blues Blowout will celebrate KZUM’s 40 years on the air as Nebraska’s home of the blues and mark the beginning of the station’s on-air Blues Blowout, a Labor Day weekend tradition that brings nothing but the blues between 1 p.m. on Friday, August 31, and midnight the night of Monday, September 3. All regular KZUM programs will be preempted as a diverse cast of programmers spin their versions of the blues throughout the entire holiday weekend.
All proceeds from the Blue Blowout event will benefit KZUM as the station prepares for the final find drive of its fiscal year, September 4-11.
9 p.m. – Indigenous
Born and raised on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, Indigenous front man Mato Nanji (Ma-TOE NON-gee) dedicates his latest release Time Is Coming (on Blues Bureau International) to the indigenous youth and all young people on the indigenous reservations.
Mato Nanji’s father, the late Greg Zephier, Sr., was a well-known and highly respected spiritual advisor and spokesperson for the International Indian Treaty Council. In addition to this leadership role, he was an accomplished musician and a member of the musical group, The Vanishing Americans. Formed by Greg and his brothers in the ‘60’s, The Vanishing Americans toured nationally and shared bills with such legends as Bonnie Raitt. Besides being heavily influenced by the music his father and uncles were making, Mato was exposed to Greg’s vast collection of blues records by legendary artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and B.B. King. Consequently, Mato embraced and began utilizing his own musical talent at a young age. With the experience, love and wisdom of their father to guide them, Mato, his brother, sister and cousin formed the band Indigenous while in their late teens.
[Taken from indigenousrocks.com. Read more…]
shawnholtandtheteardrops.com
7 p.m. – Lil’ Slim Blues Band
Shawn “Lil’ Slim” Holt is the son of legendary blues master, Magic Slim, AKA Morris Holt. Shawn started playing the blues at the age of 17, when he went on the road with his father and his Teardrops, where he acquired the name from his late Uncle Nick Holt, “Lil’ Slim”. Shortly after that tour with his father Shawn formed his band, “Lil’ Slim and The Back Alley Blues Band”, with his god-brother, Jeff Boehmer, Joey Manthy & JJ King. Since then, Shawn played with the current band, The Blues Messengers and took a break after that. Shawn picked the guitar back up in 2009, while living in Minnesota and started the group, “True Sons of the Blues”, with Jimi “Primetime” Smith, Tyson Bell and Allen Kirk, then later with John Lindberg. Moving back to Nebraska, he hooked up with some of his old band mates and new ones too and created “The Lil’ Slim Blues Band.”
[Taken from Lil’ Slim Facebook. Read more…]
5 p.m. – Emily Bass Blues
Normally found fronting her soulful, gospel-tinged backing group The Near Miracle, Lincoln’s Emily Bass has the gift of one of the state’s most powerful voices. The pianist will be performing with a special blues ensemble for KZUM’s Blues Blowout. Find out more about upcoming gigs for Emily Bass and the Near Miracle on their Facebook page.
