The Real Blues Festival in Orange County 2 | May 15th, 2011

           Ten great bands are scheduled to perform at RBF 2:
Papa J And Friends; Claude Von Trotha Band; Michele Lundeen Band;
Cats-A-Renos; The Other Mules; K.K. Martin; Oozie Blues; Ron Tanski;
Alastair Greene Band; and a special guest appearance by the Santa Ana
High School Jazz And Blues Band.

          
“The opportunity to have underprivileged kids get a chance to
experience a different vision of life is very important to me,” says Real Blues Festival
founder Papa J, explaining his desire to aid (foster youth group) Hear
The Music Live, as well as having the local High School band perform. “I
grew up underprivileged and truly understand what it is like to not
have the money to do things some of your friends can do. I did
go to school with cardboard in my shoes…my mother has been a foster
parent for the last thirty-five years. I have reached out to Santa Ana
High School so that younger people can experience the art-form of
American Blues. We have also arranged for five teenagers from foster
homes (via Hear The Music Live program) to be a part of the road crew to
set up the sound for the festival. I want them to see the work that has
to be done for this kind of event,” he concludes.    

   A Brief Synopsis Of The Bands & Artists Performing At Real Blues Festival “2” :

*Papa J And Friends: Creator and driving force behind the Real Blues Festival is an exciting performer who won “Entertainer of the Year” at the 2010 Los Angeles Music Awards. An accomplished blues harpist and vocalist best known for his work with OC-based group, Blues Gone South. “Coming up on sixty years of age, Papa J still bounces on stage every night with the energy of a guy half his age… from
his contagious smile to his gut-wrenching blues, he puts a thousand
percent into making every performance mean something special to every
person watching and it sure works on me” (Casey Regan/AMERICAN BLUES
NEWS). Website: www.bluesgonesouth.com.

*Claude Von Trotha Band:
Popular Anaheim-based ensemble whose members have longtime names in the
Blues world is fronted by multiple OC Music Awards nominee,
guitarist-vocalist Claude Von Trotha (Rufus Thomas, Elvin Bishop, Edwin
Starr). Von Trotha does double-duty as a main component in another
highly successful Orange County-based band, Blues Bettie. www.cvt3.info/index.html.

*Cats-A-Renos:
Straight outta Hollywood where they host the very successful “Bluesday
Tuesday” jam at the Pig ‘N’ Whistle, this Tex-Mex-flavored group has
been turning heads in the Blues community of late. Another band with
multiple members sporting great pedigrees, ‘Cats are fronted by
powerhouse vocalist, Francesca Capasso http://cats-a-renos.ning.com/.

*Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak: RBF2
welcomes “The Queen Of Steam,” exciting vocalist Michele Lundeen. The
San Diego resident headlined the First National Women In Blues Festival
and maintains a busy schedule, performing at festivals and venues around
the country over two-hundred time a year. www.michelelundeen.com.  

*K.K. Martin:
Orange County musician has drawn high praise for his Delta Blues-style 
guitar prowess. Ever the humanitarian, Martin has organized his own
“Blues For The Rising Sun” Benefit  April 17 in Long Beach. “A genuine
bluesman who believes in keeping it real” (Jim Santella/SOUTHLAND
BLUES). www.reverbnation.com/kkmartin.   

*Oozie Blues: “Old School” blues ensemble from Riverside area returns by popular demand to play RBF2.
Vocalist Ray Brooks; guitarist Terry DeRouen; saxophonist Bobby
Spencer; bassist Norman Pingrey; and drummer Johnny D are some of the
last musicians to have performed in the fabled South Central L.A. blues
scene. www.theoozieblues.com.

*Ron Tanski:
Contemporary Blues pianist possesses the playing panache’ of Dr. John
and the singularly unique vocal style of Tom Waits. Nominated in the
“Best Blues, Roots Or Americana Artist” category for the 2011 Los
Angeles Music Awards, this performer is starting to make a national name
for himself. www.rontanskimusic.com.     

*Alastair Greene Band:
Santa Barbara guitarist extraordinaire Alastair Greene fronts his own
band and is the touring guitarist for the Alan Parsons Live Project.
“The Alastair Greene Band has achieved an elusive result with “Walking
In Circles,” waxing a blues-rock album that holds appeal for
traditionalists”(BLUES REVUE). www.agsongs.com.  

*The Other Mules:
From uptown urban sounds to downtown delta, this L.A. quartet first cut
their musical teeth at longtime blues haunt Babe And Ricky’s. “Promising
new blues band on the Southern California bar-room  scene.  Check ’em
out!”   – Cadillac Zack, President, Southern California Blues Society. www.reverbnation.com/theothermules.

*Santa Ana High School Jazz & Blues Band:
Twenty members strong, this multi-faceted band plays a variety of
musical styles including Mariachi, Jazz, Rock, Pop, and Blues. RBF2 is proud to welcome these talented youngsters to this year’s event! http://web.mac.com/spiritofthesaints/Site/Jazz_Band.html.