Uplevel your Blues experience at the 2nd Annual Bluesfest with a taco plate, two drink tickets, exclusive access to the Lakes at East River 9 plus stage seating. This is our first year offering this package, and thank you for supporting the Blues in Houston!
Grab a free General Admission ticket. Does not include guaranteed seating. You may be able to upgrade to VIP Tickets on site while supplies last.
Join us the 2nd Annual Houston Bluesfest 2024 at East River 9! Join us for the 2nd Annual Houston Bluesfest at East River 9! Your VIP seating includes covered seating near the stage plus the Tequila and Taco Lounge. With your ticket you receive a premium drink ticket and taco bar plate. Enjoy the Blues from the comfort of our covered lounge and front row stage seating.
Don't miss out on our upcoming events! Book your tickets now and secure your spot for an amazing night of live music, food, and drinks.
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Read on for this year's line-up with Carolyn Wonderland, Jonn Del Toro Richardson and more!
Musician John Egan has a unique sound ranging from traditional country blues to a more modern songwriter style. He is a masterfully skilled guitar player who uses poetic lyrics and vintage resonator guitars to create an expressive personal music. Often performing solo, Egan’s guitar style includes, in effect, playing bass, lead, and percussion, all at the same time. He says, “the rarefied air where Lightnin’ Hopkins met Townes Van Zandt serves as an inspiration and an ideal.”
He has immersed himself into his music resulting in a wide body of work that documents the progression of an artistic life. Garnering local acclaim and a mention in the New York Times, Egan's last two releases set the stage for a return to his roots. On Magnolia City he produces a 10-song collection featuring just his voice,
stomping boots, and a National Steel guitar that focuses on his live playing and songwriting.
Winner of this years 2017 Blues Music Award for New Artist Debut, Jonn Del Toro Richardson got his start at an early age, having grown up in a musical family. His grandmother and her siblings played in a touring mariachi band playing regionally through the Southeast and Southwest. After watching his uncles play at family gatherings, he picked up a guitar in his early 20s. On a diet of Country, Motown, R&B, Classic rock and various other genres, Jonn continued learning his chosen instrument and he worked in various bands playing all types of music.
Once he heard the blues, he knew he had found his place. Richardson’s partnership with Diunna Greenleaf and his role in the Blue Mercy Blues Band and the support of the Blue Shoe Project in Dallas TX led them to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN in 2005. That same competition Richardson was honored with the Albert King Award, the most promising blue guitarist of the competition.
In 2007 Jonn played on the Grammy winning album The Last of the Mississippi Delta Blues Men. He continues Perkins’ legacy by working with the Pinetop Perkins Foundation. You can hear his influences on his various recordings and live. Richardson has had the pleasure to work with players such as Diunna Greenleaf, Otis Taylor, Bob Margolin, Hubert Sumlin, James Cotton, Bob Stroger, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Anson Funderburgh, Ronnie Earl, Rich Del Grosso, and many, many more. - Bluespros
At the age of 70, Houston’s master soul-bluesman Leonard “Lowdown” Brown will release his debut record, Blues is Calling Me, via Music Maker Foundation. Founded in 1994 by Tim and Denise Duffy, the non-profit helps “the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain recognition and meet their day-to-day needs.” Leonard is proud to be a part of their community, enthusing, “I’ve dealt with record companies before, and their bottom line is different from Music Maker’s. They are behind the musicians, pushing them and trying to get people exposed that would otherwise never be seen. It has been real fine to be a part of it.” - American Blues Scene
The blues rock-loving sexy sax player vocalist that delivers both ambiance and a message from stages around the world. From the moment this lady takes the stage to the very moment she leaves there is both a room full of anticipation and then fulfillment in the air. Audiences love Evelyn. In a recent press, radio, and venue tour in Europe Evelyn had the distinct pleasure to perform with The Black City Band in multiple cities. On every stage along the way the audiences were shouting bravo and encore, women were dancing at their tables, it was pure joy night after night.
Overall, the multi-talented singer/sax player debuted in Europe and met with music industry dignitaries in three countries. Looking back it would have been almost impossible for this lovely lady from the barrios of Mexico City to envision reaching the big stages around the world. It all began with Evelyn being introduced to the stage as a very young girl. She also appeared in lead children’s television programs where she performed as a singer, dancer, actor and later came to a musical theater where she toured as the lead role (Mary Magdalene) in a Canadian production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Equally important at the very same time, was her growing interest in American blues, soul, jazz, rock, and R&B and of all instruments, the saxophone. (She now plays the tenor, alto, and soprano). After Jesus Christ Superstar, Evelyn would leave the stage and tour with a rock band in Mexico honing her skills on the sax and building those famous musical chops that everyone in the business raves about. She would also divide her time with a ten-piece orchestra in Mexico City so that she could take care of her mother and family. Evelyn’s range combined with her passion for the arts would soon be delivering meaningful, contemporary music and Evelyn knew that if you wanted to grow musically America is the place to be. This is where Evelyn would meet Mr. Calvin Owens, in Houston Texas USA, just a short time after arriving in America.
Diunna Greenleaf, the leader of Blue Mercy, is a native Texan (Houston) who has a background steeped in gospel music. Influencedby the likes of Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Rosetta Thorpe, Sam Cooke, Charles Brown and her own parents Ben & Mary Ella Greenleaf (Gospel). She has developed "Diunna's style of Blues" in the same tradition as so many other great Texas blues menand women. She combines intricate patches of jazz, gospel and heartfelt soul to create a kind blues that takes one on an emotional roller coaster ride.
Diunna and her band Blue Mercy have performed throughout the United States and Internationally. She has performed at the Lugano Blues Festival and the Bern Jazz Festival, both in Switzerland, as well as the Cahors Blues Festival in France. Diunna has opened for and performed with the likes of Bob Margolin, Keb Mo, Willie “Pinetop” Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, James Cotton, Carrie Bell, Big Bill Morganfield, Smoking Joe Kubek and B’NoisKing, Anson Funderburge, Sam Meyers and the Rockets, Bernard Allison, Odetta, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, I.J. Gosey, Sherman Robertson, Kenny Neal, Percy Sledge and the late great Teddy “Cry Cry” Reynolds, and numerous others.
Diunna's commitment to Blues goes well beyond performing on stage. She served for three years as President of the Houston Blues Society, making history as the first woman ever elected to this position. During her presidency she used her professional guidance and grant writing skills to produce the Willie Mae Thornton Blues Festival, bringing in such talent as “The Queen Of Blues” Mrs. Koko Taylor, Mr. Bernard Allison, Texas Johnny Brown, I.J. Gosey, Diane Price, Mel Waiters, Betty Lewis, Gary Clark, Jr., Jeremy And The Hotboys, along with many others. Diunna started the annual Houston Blues Society Founders Day and actively continued the Blues In Schools Program throughout the state. She is one of the founders of Friends of Blues Montgomery County. Diunna was nominated for the "Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year" at the 2009 Blues Music Awards; she was the winner of "Best New Artist Debut" at the 2008 Blues Music Awards where she was also nominated for "Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year." Diunna was nominated for the "Koko Taylor Award-Traditional Blues Female" and "Traditional Blues Album-Trying To Hold On" at the 2012 Blues Music Awards. She was the winner of the "Koko Taylor Award-Traditional Blues Female" in 2014 and 2017. Her latest CD "Trying To Hold On" reached #1 on XM/Sirius Radio Bluesville Chart, #1 on French Blues charts, #1 on Living Blues charts for the month of December 2012, and reached the top of Blues charts in UK, Australia and USA.Overall, the multi-talented singer/sax player debuted in Europe and met with music industry dignitaries in three countries. Looking back it would have been almost impossible for this lovely lady from the barrios of Mexico City to envision reaching the big stages around the world. It all began with Evelyn being introduced to the stage as a very young girl. She also appeared in lead children’s television programs where she performed as a singer, dancer, actor and later came to a musical theater where she toured as the lead role (Mary Magdalene) in a Canadian production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Equally important at the very same time, was her growing interest in American blues, soul, jazz, rock, and R&B and of all instruments, the saxophone. (She now plays the tenor, alto, and soprano). After Jesus Christ Superstar, Evelyn would leave the stage and tour with a rock band in Mexico honing her skills on the sax and building those famous musical chops that everyone in the business raves about. She would also divide her time with a ten-piece orchestra in Mexico City so that she could take care of her mother and family. Evelyn’s range combined with her passion for the arts would soon be delivering meaningful, contemporary music and Evelyn knew that if you wanted to grow musically America is the place to be. This is where Evelyn would meet Mr. Calvin Owens, in Houston Texas USA, just a short time after arriving in America.
For a limited time HoustonLive is underwriting VIP tickets at a discount!