Legendary Blues to hit Wilson for 2nd Annual Fall Music Festival on September 22
WILSON – The Gypsy Road Saloon is rolling out the “Blues Carpet” for this year’s 2nd Annual Fall Music Festival on September 22.
The legendary James Solberg Band featuring long time Baldwin resident Charlie Bingham will make a stop in Wilson on a rare Midwest tour this fall.
Solberg, who now lives in Ohio, spent many years in Eau Claire, during which time he owned the local bar The Stones Throw (where after a late night poker game, he walked away owning the place!). Grammy nominee and two time W. C. Handy Blues Award winner for “Blues Band Of The Year”, Solberg quickly gained recognition as Luther Allison’s bandleader and musical partner. Luther Allison and The James Solberg Band headlined almost every major blues festival stage in the world, until Luther’s death in 1997. Charlie Bingham, who was a bandmate with James on many occasions, also was a driving force behind The Lamont Cranston Band and the Hoopsnakes (both with Bruce McCabe). Now living in Florida, Charlie spent many years living in nearby Baldwin.
The Lamont Cranston Band headlined the festival last year. Although it was a cold and dreary night, the crowd still turned out for these Minnesota legends. No one wants to miss their show when they come anywhere close. Everyone knows their history. The Cranstons have shared the stage with just about everyone from Muddy Waters, Albert King, Freddie King and Stevie Ray Vaughan to Jonny Lang, Bonnie Raitt, The Blues Brothers and The Rolling Stones. The band has won countless awards and are inductees in 3 Hall Of Fames. Bruce McCabe will also be on board as a special guest on keys for this show. McCabe is a Cranston alum and has led the Hoopsnakes through the years. Bruce also played with Jonny Lang and wrote most of Lang’s hits, including “Lie To Me”, “The Darker Side”, “Still Rainin’”, “Rack ‘Em Up”, and more. The band has been at it since 1969 and are still going strong. This show will also be a CD release party for the band. Their new CD “Lamont Cranston Band with Bruce McCabe” was just released August 8.
Hot new act, Left Wing Bourbon, out of Durand (coincidentally home to a third Hoopsnake – Mick Massof), will be on board as well. This great blues and funk band isn’t a band that hits soft or slow. Led by singer Faith Ulwelling, these guys are polished, and they feed off each other’s energy all night long. It’s a band that puts on a show full of kick-ass energy and a show that you should definitely check out.
And, to top it off, another Lamont Cranston alum, Bob Bingham (aren’t you Charlie Bingham’s brother? – he hates that, but yes he is. LOL) will open the show with his acoustic finger style Delta Blues solo show. In his “electric” life, Bingham was one of the founding members of Lamont Cranston, and has also played with Luther Allison, Bo Diddley, Luther Tucker and Lowell Fulson, among others. Bob also spent time in the Hoopsnakes. Bob also lives in Florida in the winter, but lives in his Isabella, MN log home (that he crafted himself) all summer.
Do I smell a big jam brewing between all of these ex-comrades? You bet !! A reunion of sorts I think. You better not miss this show, everyone will be talking about this one. What a way to end the summer.
Tickets are $15.00 advance/$20.00 day of show and are available at www.ticketworks.com. For more info on ticket sales locations and other info, contact The Gypsy Road Saloon at 715-772-4776 or www.gypsyroadsaloon.com.