Artist Lineup & Bios

Danielle Nicole - https://daniellenicolemusic.com/

Danielle Nicole Schnebelen's Musical influences originate from generations on both sides of her parent's families, and ensured that a love of playing music would continue to be passed among her and her siblings.

Nicole began singing publicly with her parent's bands as a youth and took ahold of her full time in her early 20s. "My Father really loved the Blues. He'd go to all the true Blues guys that were around in KC, specifically Little Hatch. He'd played for Abb Locke (saxophonist for Muddy Waters) and we'd get brought along sometimes. The pure, raw emotion relayed through the Blues was what really drew me to it. Its history is the foundation of American Music and is THE one that must be respected and not buried as myth or legend."

As a founding member of the "Heavy Blues" sibling band Trampled Under Foot, she and her brothers took top honors at the International Blues Challenge in the US, propelling them into Canada, Scandinavia, Europe, UK and to be featured on several Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruises. It wasn't until 2015, when Nicole set out on her own with over a decade of touring experience with the release of "Wolf Den" recorded in New Orleans with Anders Osborne, that she began to find her sound as an Artist all on her own.

Nicole's 2017 release of "Cry No More" ushered in not only a heavier sound and style differentiating Nicole's already broadening voice and writing, but also accrued a slew of accolades including debuting at #1 on Billboard Music Chart, a 2019 Grammy Nomination for Contemporary Blues Album; 2 Blues Music Awards, one for Contemporary Female Artist and her second Instrumentalist ~ Bass, and 3 Independent Blue Music Awards.

Nicole has continued to tour the world and hone her sound. She's recently received her 7th Blues Music Award; most notably her 5th for the category of Bass Instrumentalist. "To be recognized for artistry on my instrument, for bass as a woman, is extremely humbling. I was shocked to find out I was the first woman ever nominated, but I'm glad that the steps are happening and it's process is becoming more inclusive in genres that have traditionally been reserved for men."

Nick Schnebelen Band - https://www.nickschnebelenkc.com/

From 2018 to 2022, Nick Schnebelen and his band have been touring North America as the opening act for George Thorogood and the Destroyers. Nick clearly has the blues-rock power to fill that slot with regular standing ovations. When not supporting Thorogood, Nick headlines his own tours in USA and Europe. Nick got his introduction to the worldwide Blues community in 2008, along with siblings Danielle and Kris, as a founding member of the Kansas City band Trampled Under Foot. They overwhelmed the competition to win that year’s International Blues Challenge, with Nick claiming the Albert King Award for “Best Guitarist”. The band later won the Contemporary Blues Album” Blues Music Award. Nick left the band in 2014 and proceeded to release three original albums under his own name. Nick and his band along with some special guests have recently completed his next in studio recording, “What Key Is Trouble In?, released in March 2023. This new music is the follow up to Nick’s critically acclaimed 2019 release, “Crazy All By Myself.” on Vizztone.

Kelli Baker - https://www.kellibaker.com/

Recently signed as a Sony Music Artist under Bad Jeu Jeu Records, Kelli Baker brings a sound unlike any other.

With a powerhouse voice dripping with a haunting sensuality that slips easily into growling old school blues-tones, Kelli speaks her heart like a beat poet in a late night dive. The kind you only know if you’re in the know. Her music is an amalgamation of authentic blues/rock and heart-on-her-sleeve singer/songwriter pop with folk/gospel roots.

Known in some circles as “The Phoenix”, Kelli was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She moved to New York in 2012, with $500 in cash, chasing the heels of Hurricane Sandy. Learning music like so many others in the church choir, Kelli graduated to fronting a hard rock band and a folk duo, writing her own music at an early age.

Kelli has recently completed two successful national tours, topped off with performing in Paris, France. Now performing with The Kelli Baker Band, she appears regularly at iconic music houses such as NYC’s The Bitter End, taking the stage at The Cutting Room, Rockwood Music Hall, and some of New York’s most discerning venues.

Kelli was made Brand Ambassador for Monster Cables in July of 2022.

Her most recent track, “Blood on the Nile” was met with critical acclaim, landing on Spotify’s coveted editorial playlist, “Blues Roots”, as well as as commercial airplay on the UK’s #1 country music station, and a headlining feature in Guitar Girl Magazine.

Kelli has swiftly moved through the ranks of New York’s bristling music scene to become a known name. She has been featured in Relix Magazine, Guitar Girl Magazine, on WFUV’s coveted NY Slice, Rollin' With hosted by Rob Rush of 94.3 The Shark, Launch Music Conference & Festival, Brooklyn Vegan, Broadway World, NYC.Com, Better Lemons, VoyagePhoenix, Faces of Long Island, Fresh Brewed Sessions, The Tedeschi Trucks podcast, Knock ‘Em Dead Comedy, UnRated Magazine, UK Radio’s Don’s Hit List, Governor's Radio, Breaking Sound Radio, Rising Stars Radio with Rick Eberle, The Douglas Coleman Show, DiscoverYou Radio, The Long Islander, and The Island Now, among many others.

Kelli delivers a commanding performance and has been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Chris Cornell, Susan Tedeschi, and Aretha Franklin. Her dynamic blues tones and gospel nods have been called a kind of ethereal blues. Her major influences are The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, Jane’s Addiction, The Black Crowes, Bonnie Raitt, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Neil Young.

The Kelli Baker Band recently recorded at the iconic Cove City Sound Studios with Richie Cannata (Billy Joel, Lords of 52nd Street) and John Arbuckle (Justin Bieber, Jon Bellion). Kelli has recorded at Milk House Studios with multi-platinum producer Philip A. Jimenez (Wheatus, Teenage Dirtbag) and Blokhed Studios with Grammy-nominated producer Tommy Stiegler. Susan Aquila (recorded and worked with Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler) appears on “Cathedral”. She resides just outside of New York City.

Danny Garwood & CO- https://dannyguitarwoodgarwood.com/

My name is Danny Garwood, I’ve been playing guitar for 5 years, and it is my passion. I take inspiration from such artists as Kenny Wayne Shepard, Eric Gales, Stevie Ray Vaughan and countless others in the guitar world/community. I live in Nashville TN and my mission is to keep the blues alive and pass it on to the next generation of musicians.

I went to my first jam when I was 10 and they allowed me to play. I was hooked, I loved it and wanted to learn and do more. Started playing more jams and began playing live shows when I was 11. If interested you can read my full music journey to date as I was featured in the Blues Society of the Ozarks newsletter July, 2022. You can find it here: https://ozarksblues.com/bluesletters/2022/7/6/july-2022-bso-bluesletter

I competed in the 2022 Dallas International Guitar Festival '10 under 20' competition for the first time. Ally Venable pulled me up on stage during one of her shows that weekend, and our video on YouTube has had over 4 million views, and counting! Through that video I was asked to open for Ally in a show in Houston, TX. I just recently competed in the 2023 '10 under 20' competition and was awarded 3rd place, and was also the youngest in the competition!

I had the honor of sharing the stage with Buddy Guy and Christone "Kingfish' Ingram at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville during Buddy's Farewell Tour.

I'm also a Masterclass alum of the Pinetop Perkins Foundation workshops that are overseen by Muddy Waters' guitarist, Bob Margolin.

My love and passion is the blues, but I play everything from Alan Jackson to Metallica and put my all into everything I play. I've been told that I play with more passion and feeling than most adults.

Gina & Johnny Band - https://www.johnnyfink.com/ginaandjohnny

Formed in 2022, The Gina and Johnny Band is a very powerful combination of Cincinnati’s best blues musicians. Fronted by Gina McCann, with stage presence and vocal prowess second to none. Gina's singing started in church as a child, and she has fronted many of Cincinnati's best blues bands.

Johnny Fink provides both soulful guitar work and powerful vocals. Johnny (The most winning artist in the history of the Cincy Blues challenge) led his band to the finals of the International Blues Challenge in 2017, and has been in the Top 25 of Living Blues radio charts.

The rhythm section is composed of veteran drummer Roger Bates, and local legend Mike Grosser on bass. This band is a "must see" that will knock your socks off and also melt your heart.

CFG & the Family - https://www.facebook.com/CFGandtheFamily/

Based out of Hamilton, OH, CFG & The Family is a force to be reckoned with.

The band’s performance has been described as the following: “It’s like standing knee-deep in a Louisiana swamp in mid-August while drinking a top-shelf bourbon, and sharing a slice of pecan pie with Al Green. Hot, sweaty, warming your insides, satisfying that sweet with a little gospel.”

With influences deeply rooted in the blues, soul, funk, rock, and jazz genres, CFG & the Family aims to captivate with soul-shouting vocals, bluesy harmonica, slide guitar, and a solid and seasoned rhythm section. With a range of talent spanning several decades, these musicians are focused on delivering modern blues and soul music with a nod to the past.

Leroy Ellington & the Sacred Hearts - https://leroysacredhearts.com/

For some 30 years, saxman, showman, shaman, and singer Leroy Ellington has been pleasing crowds in the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky region, doin’ it to death as the leader of an eight-piece funk firestorm. His latest project, with a band affectionately named Sacred Hearts, is called “Sanctified,” and is eleven original cuts that pairs Leroy with some of the cream of the crop of players from that Kentucky-Ohio area, including Max Gise and Marcos Sastre on guitars, Bam Powell on drums and vocals, Charlie Fletcher on keys, Mike Grosser on bass, and a brilliant horn section.

The cuts draw on Leroy’s career of crowd-watching and crowd-pleasing from the bandstand and everything is geared for the dancers. The sermon tarts as Leroy blasts outta the gate sounding like a Hellfire-and brimstone Baptist preacher, testifyin’ and lockin’ into the groove of “Good Time Blues.” “Gotta Keep Movin’ On” deals with gettin’ out of a bad relationship while the gettin’s good, while all things N’ Awlins, including “gris gris” and “gumbo ya ya” are the theme “Something Funky Goin’ On,” with Charlie on the squeezebox. The set closes with a burnin’ blast of Famous Flames-flavored funk, and is the tale of our legendary hero with a fetish for all ladies of all kinds–he’s just “Stone Cold Bad.”

We had two favorites. In a song that rings as true as it did fifty years ago when it was inspired, Leroy spreads a message of hope and harmony as he recounts the tale of seeing a race riot as a child, “Let’s Make Love, let’s kill the pain that hate can bring.” And, ol’ Leroy puts on his slow-blues philosophical shoes as he ponders the question, “What Would You Do if you knew today was your last day?”

A great man once said, “ALL ABOARD—The Night Train,” and Leroy Ellington and Sacred Hearts beckon you to the dance floor to get yo’self “Sanctified!” Until next time…

The Inturns - https://www.facebook.com/theinturns/

The Inturns are a high-energy rock trio from Cincinnati, Ohio that’s hell-bent on making sure you have as good a time as they do.The Inturns are comprised of Gino Sena (Bass guitar/Vocals), David Taylor (Lead Guitar/Vocals), and Christian Bucholtz (drums). Sena and Taylor met in middle school at Cincinnati’s School For Creative and Performing Arts, where they were attempting to dodge gym class. Flash forward several years later and they completed the trifecta with Bucholtz. They have been on fire ever since.

Playing what they dub as “power indie,” their sound draws heavily from old school rock n’ rollers like Hendrix, The Who, and KISS while blending elements from more modern acts such as The Strokes and the Arctic Monkeys to create a sound all their own. With the release of their EP Sleeper in November 2016 and LP Flashpoint in September 2017, as well as the single, “Trouble Walkin.” Currently they are working on another album to be released in 2020.

Jamie Carr Band - https://jamiecarrband.com/

James "Jamie" Carr began his musical journey over twenty five years ago when he was given his first acoustic guitar as a child. He began his professional career playing metal music and was signed to Leviathan Records with his band Simple Aggression while still a teenager.

After that group disbanded, he formed the power trio East Southern who released two independently financed EP's that garnered great reviews and showed the bluesy style that was becoming his signature sound.

Jamie's talent has opened the doors for him to play many shows outside his home base of Greater Cincinnati to places all over the country.

With his new releases under the Jamie Carr band moniker, he has finally embraced stepping in to the center stage as both vocalist and guitarist. His new music displays a wide range of musical influences while still embracing his love for the blues and rock guitar.

Noah Wotherspoon & Scotty Bratcher w/ Just Strange Brothers Horns -

https://www.noahwotherspoon.com/

https://www.scottybratcher.com/

Noah first began playing guitar at the age of 11, and by 15 he was fronting his own band, Noah and the Stratocats. Only a year after their incarnation, the band quickly picked up speed, and they found themselves performing in front of thousands at the prestigious, Chicago Blues Fest, where they would continue to appear for the next 8 years. It was in Chicago that Noah was discovered by Jimmy D. Lane (son of blues legend Jimmy Rogers), leading to the recording and release of his debut album on APO Records “Buzz Me”, featuring the legendary Hubert Sumlin.

In 2015, Noah received the Albert King award for best guitarist at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, and the Noah Wotherspoon Band (with Brian Aylor and Rob Thaxton) placed 2nd overall. Shortly after, the band (with varied members) began performing at venues and festivals around the world, touring Eastern Europe multiple times, performing in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, and Austria, as well as headlining both the Reykjavik Blues Festival in Iceland and the Salva Jazz & Blues Festival in Salvatierra, Mexico.

Scotty Bratcher began playing guitar at an age that it became second nature to him, he was 2. By this time, Stevie Ray Vaughan was impressing the world, and when the 1989 release of Austin City Limits was aired, you can imagine where Scotty was-in front of the television. Scotty's father had acquired, over time, a few electric guitars that he introduced to the toddler.

In the next several years, Scotty sat in with various bands, one of which posed the opportunity to open for guitar hero Lonnie Mack. Scotty has played with and opened for names like Ted Nugent, Little Texas, Blue Oyster Cult, Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Chris Duarte, Anthony Gomes, Foghat, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie and Wayne Baker Brooks, Bob Margolin, Eddie "the Chief" Clearwater, Lonnie Mack, Walter Trout, .38 Special, Styx, Peter Frampton, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Tinsley Ellis, Lou Graham of Foreigner, Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band, Delbert McClinton, Lee Roy Parnell, and many more.

As of 2007 and since, Scotty also joined forces with Noah Hunt, lead singer for the Kenny Wayne Shepherd band, as the guitar player and 2nd vocalist of the group The 420 Allstars featuring Noah Hunt.