Travis Haddix - Doctor Doctor

George Stancell - I Wanna

The word journeyman usually isn't intended as a compliment in music criticism, but it's high praise in the case of sexagenarian singer-guitarist George Stancell, who's been plying his rough-hewn brand of blues-inflected soul for decades. Little known outside Milwaukee, Stancell was discovered playing at his own club there in the late 90s by vocalist Johnny Rawls, who was working as an A and R man for JSP Records; Stancell recorded his 1999 debut album, Gorgeous George, for the label.

His guitar leads bore forward with a steely force, yet they're supple and flexible enough to skip nimbly over, under, and around whatever rhythmic challenges his sidemen throw into the mix. Likewise, his vocals combine prowess with nuance: sometimes coming off like a juke-joint Johnnie Taylor, at others like a less churchy O.V. Wright, he delivers gospel-infused rave-ups ("Stop Your Cryin'"), desolate hard-time soul laments ("Standin' in the Rain"), and rollicking Memphis-to-Chicago rockers ("Except Me") with muscularity and flawless intonation.

But he also employs a daringly wide vibrato that can convey existential isolation, the vulnerability of faith, and erotic hunger. Whether he's playing 12-bar shuffle blues or funk-inflected soul balladry, Stancell delivers the goods with the pugnacity and instinct of a veteran juker: he hits you where you need it most and then gets out of the way.

Jt Coldfire - Rather Die in My Sleep

JT Coldfire has played professionally for over 15 of his 31 years from Texas to New York and across the pond in Europe. Throughout his career, JT has gained the reputation as one of the hardest working musicians in Austin, sometimes playing 3 shows in a single evening never repeating the same song twice for over 9 hours of live performance. His travels all over the Texas Gulf Coast, klahoma, Tennessee, New York and as far off as Sweden, have gained an audience that is as dedicated to his performances as he is to delivering them.

His virtuosity as a singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer has garnered praise as one of the unsung heroes of the new crop of Austin blues artists.

Although his guitar playing has been compared to the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Freddie King, his style is all his own as he draws from numerous influences for a cocktail of traditional yet progressive interpretations; one minute leaning toward Muddy Waters and the next toward BB King but always sounding like himself. Raw & Real. His authoritative stage presence is emphasized by his bellowing, guttural voice that will falsetto or growl to garner response.

Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Walkin' Blues

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats - The Blues Ain’t Going Nowhere

Rick Estrin & the Nightcats are an American four-piece electric blues band (formed in 2008 after the dissolution of Little Charlie & The Nightcats, of which three of the band were members), and consisting of harmonicist/lead vocalist and songwriter Rick Estrin, guitarist Kid Andersen, bassist Lorenzo Farrell and drummer Alexander Pettersen. Blues Revue magazine said, “The ‘Cats are one of modern blues’ most versatile bands.” Living Blues said, “Estrin’s harp work is masterful” and their music is “intelligently conceived and executed and hugely entertaining.”

Estrin was born in San Francisco, California in 1949, and fell in love with blues after his sister presented him with Ray Charles’ The Genius Sings The Blues when he was 12. He began playing harmonica at age 15, and by age 18 was beginning to work professionally. Early in his career he played with Lowell Fulson, Z.Z. Hill, Travis Phillips, and Fillmore Slim. Estrin names Sonny Boy Williamson II, Little Walter Jacobs and Baby Boy Warren as key inspirations. He played with and was mentored by Rodger Collins (whose 45rpm recordings include "She’s Looking Good" and "Foxy Girls" In Oakland). Estrin moved to Chicago when he was 19 and worked with bluesmen Sam Lay, Johnny Littlejohn, Eddie Taylor and Johnny Young. He met and sat in with Muddy Waters at the Sutherland Hotel in Chicago. He told the Sacramento Bee, “Muddy started shaking his finger in my face and said, ‘You outta sight, boy! You play like a man! I know that sound. That’s my sound.’” Muddy tried to hire Estrin as a sideman but Estrin did not receive the phone call, and moved back to the Bay Area. He met guitarist Charlie Baty in 1973 and they created Little Charlie & The Nightcats based in Sacramento, CA. Estrin fronted Little Charlie & The Nightcats for 30 years and performed around the world.

Otis Rush - Natural Ball

Duke Robillard - Let me love you