Besides being a talented singer/guitarist, Howard Luedtke is also known as a bit of blues historian
and enjoys educating others about delta blues musicians and the instruments that they played;
especially resonator guitars.

Thanks to the Internet and Dave’s Guitar Shop of La Crosse, WI Howard has built up an impressive collection of old and new National resonator guitars that he features live.

The Alligators, fronted by the wailing harmonica playing and raw powered vocals of Otis McLennon, was one of the few blues bands north of Madison at that time and quickly developed a devoted following of blues fans. A typical Alligators’ set features tasty originals, some old soul and R&B classics, and 12-bar saloon standards. The group has also released several CD’s over the past two decades, and their shows today are as energizing as ever.

Otis McLennon was born and raised in Chicago and has lived in Stevens Point, Wisconsin since 1972. Several years ago Otis helped establish the Big Bull Falls Blues Festival in Wausau, Wisconsin, where his band has been an annual performer. He has also served as master of ceremonies since it’s inception.

The Westside Andy / Mel Ford Band has performed to enthusiastic audiences in the Midwest and beyond for over a decade. Because of the band’s high energy, three acclaimed soloists, tight arrangements, and dynamic interaction with their audiences, they’ve been voted “Madison’s Best” by readers of the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison Magazine and Isthmus, they have also won three WAMI Awards for Best Blues Band in Wisconsin and Peoples Choice. Maintaining the same line up of well seasoned players has helped to create a strong following and an ensemble performance rarely experienced in today’s blues market.

Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd calls Andy Linderman “one of the most dynamic electric harmonica players of our generation.”Jazz performer and producer Ben Sidran calls Mel Ford “one of the finest blues players in the Midwest if not the country.” In addition to Andy and Mel’s virtuosity, the band features the world acclaimed piano man, Barrelhouse Chuck and drummer Steve Dougherty. Andy’s other collaborations have included gigs with James Cotton, Corky Siegel, Jim Schwall, Luther Allison, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Charlie Musselwhite, The Doobie Brothers, Richie Havens, Muddy Waters and Ben E. King.

It’s been nearly 15 years since Gary, Indiana’s Kinsey Report first burst upon the national blues scene with their blistering brand of streetsmart, up-to-the-minute, funky blues-rock. Over the course of four critically acclaimed albums (two for Alligator and two for Pointblank) and endless national touring, the Kinsey brothers’ guitarist/vocalist Donald, drummer Ralph and bassist Kenneth have blazed a modern trail of powerful, original radio-friendly music that grabs both die-hard blues fans and rockers who love supercharged guitar and boneshaking vocals.

With their new release, Smoke And Steel (AL 4860), The Kinsey Report return to Alligator Records and lay out their modern blues vision for music lovers everywhere to enjoy. Led by Donald’s soulful vocals and explosive guitar playing and powered by the airtight rhythm section of Ralph and Kenneth, Smoke And Steel features seven of 12 Kinsey originals, along with powerful versions of Bob Seger’s Fire Down Below and John Fogerty’s Rattlesnake Highway. From the streetwise lyrics of This Old City and Code Of The Streets to the soulful and moving Loved Ones to the foot-pounding urgency of Time Is Running Out, The Kinsey Report fire on all cylinders, the band a precision engine running at full speed. Recorded in Chicago and produced by The Kinseys along with Alligator Records president Bruce Iglauer, Smoke And Steel will no doubt go down not only as a defining moment for The Kinsey Report, but as a gateway into the next century of blues.

Kenny Neal is an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and is widely renowned as a modern swamp-blues master. His new release, Hooked On Your Love, follows the triumph of his multi-award winning 2008 comeback album, Let Life Flow. An outstanding success, the CD raked in the accolades: three prestigious Album Of The Year awards, two Song of The Year awards for the title track, and Kenny himself garnered two Artist of the Year honors.

It was clear that Kenny touched something deep in the blues community with his soulful guitar playing and uplifting songwriting, and his hot streak continues with a batch of new songs. Hooked On Your Love covers the plethora of accomplished roots styles Kenny has become known for. The tasty musical gumbo of swamp-boogie, jazz, R&B, and straight-ahead blues all swirl together on this new CD.

The Northwoods Blues Festival is proud to announce blues legend, Charlie Musselwhite to perform on July 7th, 2012.

Here is the short list of his recent awards and accomplishments

2011 GRAMMY Nominee
 for The Well for Best Traditional Blues Album
. Featured on Cyndi Lauper’s, Memphis Blues, also nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album

2012 Blues Music Award Nominee for Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica AND for Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year (last year’s winner in both categories)

2011 Blues Music Award Winner for Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica AND Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year! Also nominated for Album of the Year for The Well, Traditional Blues Album of the Year for The Well and Song of the Year for “Sad and Beautiful World”

2011 – recognized in the 59th DownBeat Critics Poll in the Blues Artist category and Blues Album category

2011 – honored by fans in the DownBeat magazine Readers Poll in two categories – Best Blues Artists and Best Blues Albums for Charlie’s The Well.

2011 Living Blues Award. Charlie won the Readers’ Poll Most Outstanding Musician award (Harmonica), for the fifth year in a row, his 9th overall Living Blues Award for Outstanding Musician.

2011 Best Harmonica Player – Blues Matters (UK) International Writer’s Poll

2010 Blues Hall of Fame Inductee

7-Time GRAMMY Nominee

25-Time Blues Music Award Winner

Featured on Tom Waits latest album, Bad As Me, which entered the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at #6 in November 2011. Charlie appears on five tracks, including the title track.

The latest CD The Well released August 24, 2010. Downbeat proclaims: “Musselwhite gives it to us straight on the crown jewel in a discography dating back to the late-’60′s… He’s a wise man dispensing golden truths.”

Featured performer in Cyndi Lauper’s band, on tour around the country Summer and Fall 2010 and a featured guest on Cyndi’s album of blues cover songs, Memphis Blues released June 2010.

Featured performer on the Hot Tuna Blues tour February and March 2011 with Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady and Jim Lauderdale.

Collaborations with Eddie Vedder, Tom Waits, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Gov’t Mule, INXS, Mickey Hart, George Thorogood and personal friend and best man at his wedding John Lee Hooker.

And much more!

More artists will be announced soon.