2020 Line-up

Headliner:

The Cash Box Kings

8:00 p.m. - Close

We are thrilled to present Guy King as the headline artist for the 2019 Joliet Blues Festival!

Guy King’s music is fresh and unique, while maintaining a strong link to the musical masters that came before him. His natural musical abilities and his one of a kind blend of Blues, Jazz, Soul, and R&B, are some of what makes Guy King so special in the music world. Born in Israel, King arrived in the US at age 16 as an aspiring musician, and after stints in Memphis and New Orleans, settled in Chicago.

His 2017 Delmark release “Truth” garnered outstanding reviews and a Blues Music Award nomination. King is currently working in the studio on another Delmark album scheduled for release in the near future. Prior solo albums released by King include “Livin’ It” released in 2009, followed by “I Am What I Am, and It Is What It Is” and “By Myself”.

Playing at a pace of 250+ shows a year, Guy King is a regular performer at Buddy Guy’s Legends, Andy’s Jazz Club, House of Blues, The Green Mill, SPACE, BLUES, Rosa’s Lounge and others. Past appearances include the Montreal Jazz Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, King Biscuit Festival (Helena, Arkansas), Blues on the Fox (Aurora IL), The Paramount Theatre, Polanco Blues Festival (Mexico City, Mexic), Mississippi Delta Festival (Caxias Do Sul, Brazil), Basel Blues Festival (Switzerland) and many more.

Named as 'Chicago’s Latest Royalty' by Vintage Guitar Magazine, he continues to write new material with an ear sensibly tilted toward producing great music: taking the varied music he loves and recasting it in new directions. For more information on see www.guyking.net.

Morry Sochat

&

The Special 20's

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Morry Sochat and The Special 20’s mix classic Chicago Blues with big band Swing and a heavy dose of 1950’s early Rock N’ Roll. The band is influenced by the best in blues history — Muddy Waters, Little Walter, legendary band leader Louis Jordan, Junior Wells, and all of the Chicago greats.

Morry Sochat (pronounced Socket) moved to Chicago from Texas in 1990. He started playing harmonica in 2000 (taking lessons from Joliet’s own Joe Filisko!) and started The Special 20s in 2005. Their 2006 self-titled release received great reviews, taking the band from playing one or two nights a month to constant bookings all over the city.

In 2007, Sochat released "Swingin’ Shufflin’ Smokin’" produced by Nick Moss, which was met with with rave reviews. In 2010 he released "Eatin’ Dirt.", produced by Jimmy Sutton, featuring 10 original songs and establishing the band’s vintage sound with a modern feel. Their most recent album “Dig In” was released in 2015, once again, garnering enthusiastic praise and expanding their audience.

Morry Sochat and the Special 20’s play at Buddy Guys, California Clipper, House of Blues, Smoke Daddy, other local clubs and frequently for private events. Their infectious and driving Blues will have any crowd up dancing and shaking before the first song is over! For more information, see www.special20s.com.

Joel Paterson

&

Oscar Wilson

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Self-described “all-around guitar freak”, Joel Paterson has a been fixture in the Chicago blues and jazz scene for 20 years. “My life is dedicated to playing guitar and exploring the sound and history of the roots music I love, including blues, jazz, country, western swing.” Paterson sites Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Lighting Hopkins and Freddie King as influences in developing his own unique stye.

Paterson performs with multiple bands including the Western Elstons, Devil in a Woodpile, the Modern Sounds, and is a frequent guest guitarist at live shows around town. Known for his smooth guitar sound, technical precision, and creative phrasings, Paterson has established a unique reputation as a creative and performing artist.

Paterson teamed up with legendary Chicago blues singer Oscar Wilson and released “One Room Blues” in 2017, recorded in two days, with no overdubs, with a great live sound that shows off Wilson’s versatility, expertise, and great range, paying tribute to his many influences, including B.B. King, Percy Mayfield, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Jimmy Reed, and Ray Charles. Their shared love for country blues is a real treat for blues loves, and they have traveled extensively performing to enthusiastic crowds.

Paterson released “Hi-Fi Guitar Christmas Guitar” in 2017, a collection of holiday classics that was named one of the top albums of the year by Rolling Stone magazine. Other albums include, “Fly Over” with sax/vocalist Sam Burckhardt, “I Say What I Mean” with Joe Liban on vocals and harmonica, “Handful of Strings”, Joel’s tribute to his guitar heroes like Les Paul and Charlie Christian, and “A Chicago Session” with ragtime and blues pianist/vocalist Carl Leyland.

Paterson and his band can be found at the Green Mill in Chicago every Sunday night, and at the Hideout during the week. For more information, see www.joelpaterson.com

Donna Herula

&
Tony Nardiello

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Donna Herula is a Chicago-born singer and acoustic blues slide guitarist who has a passion for playing traditional country and Delta Blues in addition to contemporary and original blues, and is inspiredby Son House, Johnny Winter, Lucinda Williams, Bessie Smith and Rory Block. Donna and her husband Tony Nardiello are regular performers a local libraries, art shows, and music festivals, showcasing their incredible skill and talent in their authentic and entertaining presentations of country blues.

Acoustic Guitar Magazine named Donna one of the “top 10 up and coming resonator guitar players” and featured her in an article, “Down and Dirty: 10 contemporary resonator players talk about their love for that nasty sound.” She teachers Acoustic Slide Guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, and is a regular performer at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago, where she has opened for Buddy Guy’s band multiple times.

Donna has garnered an international following, and was the headliner of the 2014 Durban International Blues Festival in South Africa. She has performed at the Chicago Blues Festival, King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, and was co-winner of the 2010 and 2011 Chicago Blues Challenge in the solo-duo category. For more information see www.donnaherula.com