The Blue Island Beer Club at The Ringside for Kevin

Our friend Kevin Thomas is presently undergoing rehabilitation following a nasty stroke. Kevin's many friends in the music scene are getting together to play a benefit concert on his behalf at the Ringside Cafe in St. Petersburg. The Blue Island Beer Club will be on stage at 3:30pm on Sunday, March 8 to perform a 30 minute set. There will be lots of good music throughout the day and we hope you will come and see us and the others and help out Kevin. Here is the full schedule:

BENEFIT FOR KEVIN THOMAS
RINGSIDE SUNDAY MARCH 8TH
12 noon to 9 pm
$10 donation
Kevin has been hospitalized for more then three weeks . Bills are piling up. We can all help!! We need everybody to get as many people to this event and contribute.


12:00 PM Introduction jam with Jay Kiernan, Meyer Baron, Jerry Jakala, Scotty Rexroat and Steve Arvey perform New songs "Friends", Guns of Navarone and Pole Dancer.

12:30 PM Mike Jurgenson
1:00 PM John Kelly
1:30 Key of Life
2:00 PM Kevin Holloway, Dennis Wallace, Steve Hagood and John Richard
2:30 Jak Kelly
3:00 PM The Richard Mastry Band
3:30 PM Blue Island Beer Club
4:00 PM Gail Trippsmith
4:30 PM Jim Mason and Al Alvarez
5:00 PM Ronny Elliot
5:30 PM Gladys and Mitch
6:00 PM Leigh and Steve Humes
6:30 Shannon Lolligirl (Kevins Daughter)
7:00 PM Pete Gallager & Pat Barmore & Raiford Starke
7:30 PM The Chicken Chasers
8:00 PM Kirk Adams and Friends
8:30 PM Damon Fowler, Sarasota Slim, Steve Arvey, Jay Kiernan
Blues Blowout
Ringside is located at 2742 4th St N Saint Petersburg, FL 33704

Showcase on Sunday, Feb 8

The Blue Island Beer Club is off to the JPF Showcase on Sunday afternoon. We will be playing at the Whistlestop in Safety Harbor with a number of other songwriters who participate in the Just Plain Folks songwriter's forum on the internet (Google for the site).

The fun starts at 1pm and continues until about 4. You will hear mostly original songs from a wide range of JPF members. You just never know who might drop by!

Here we are!

BB King & Buddy Guy - Legends in Town

The Blue Island Beer Club braved the Florida cold and played at Beaks on Wednesday night. The shutters around the open area were closed and the radiant heaters were on so it was acceptably warm.

But last night we went to Ruth Eckerd Hall where it is nice and warm to see two smoking hot blues legends, BB and Buddy. Buddy took the stage first with his hot band from Chicago. He is about 72 now but can still sing and play with the best of them. He had no trouble climbing off the stage while playing and walking up the aisle, playing for the people sitting by the aisle, walking out one exit and back in another, all while playing a hot lead with the band. Pretty cool! Buddy played several songs from his catalog as well as some blues classics from his peers. His new song Skin Deep is excellent.

I expected BB to come out and join Buddy's band for a short show but boy was I wrong. During intermission, the set was changed and BBs own blues band took the stage complete with horn section and tuxedos. BB joined them after a warm up song and played and sang for almost two hours. BB is a trifle overweight and sits on a folding chair to perform these days (at 83 who can blame him), but perform he did. He still sounds like BB with his terrific voice and guitar licks that are his alone. He told a lot of stories (perhaps too many), but it was very enjoyable to listen to his humble perspective. It was almost midnight when he closed with The Thrill Is Gone. BB sat on stage and signed guitars and other items for the fans who were near the front of the hall.

A memorable evening. Buddy and BB are off to play at the Grammies this weekend.

The Colorado Wave

What's a Colorado Wave, you may ask? It is an internet radio station that features independent music radio shows weekly. The Blue Island Beer Club is Waving this week so check us and a fleet of other indies here:

Colorado Wave