Reading Blues Fest

7th Annual Reading Blues Fest

Berks Jazz Fest is presented by Berks Arts, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to Inspire, Engage, and Unite our community through the arts. Donations to Reading Blues Fest and Berks Arts make programs like this possible.

Schedule:

10:00 AM - Dave Keyes and Carly Harvey

Concert followed by "Meet the Artists" - Donations Graciously Accepted
Based out of Washington, DC, Carly Harvey combines Blues, Jazz, Soul, and Indigenous American styles to produce a unique sound. She originated the "Native Scat"—an improvisational fusion of a traditional Jazz scat with Native vocables. In addition to performing as a solo act, Carly is an entertaining and dynamic band leader.

According to DC Music Review, "Carly is grace, confidence, originality, and the right amount of sexy swagger all at once. She commands the stage with her voice and presence and draws you in intensely. Then she seems to end each song with an infectious smile of pure gratitude that beams so brightly into the audience."

In July 2018, Carly was featured in Big City Blues Magazine as one of the youngest Blues artists to watch. She is also a three-time DC Blues Society Battle of the Bands Winner and was proclaimed DC's Queen of the Blues in 2016 by Dr. Nick Johnson of WPFW Radio. In 2021, Carly was nominated 7 times and won the WAMMIE award for Best Blues Artist.

Carly is an Eastern Band Tsalagi and Tuscarora descendant and it is her belief that Blues not only comes from the African American experience but is also directly influenced by Indigenous American Minor Pentatonic Melodies and Stomp Dance Songs. She also offers master classes to educate people about the music that gives her so much pride in her Afro-Indigenous heritage.

Native New Yorker, keyboardist, singer and songwriter, Dave Keyes is a 35 year veteran of the Blues and American Roots music scenes. With the release of his 7th CD, “Rhythm, Blues and Boogie,” The 4x Blues Music Award nominee returns to his own soulful roots, having toured the world both as a solo artist and with his own Dave Keyes Band.

For much of the last 10 years, in addition to his own band and solo gigs, Dave worked with bluesman Popa Chubby, and R&R queen Ronnie Spector until her recent passing. Previously Dave had lengthy stints with such iconic and varied artists as Odetta, David Johansen, Bo Diddley, rockabilly legend Sleepy LaBeef and gospel great Marie Knight.

Location: DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Reading Amphitheater

1:00 PM - Ally Venable and Solomon Hicks

WXPN Welcomes Two Guitar Phenoms to Ignite Saturday Afternoon
Texas blues-rock singer/songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire,  ALLY VENABLE, entertains wherever she goes. With her signature glitter dresses and black knee-high boots, Venable comes off the ropes swinging, dazzling crowds on tour or throughout the festival circuit. "Venable pulls off a stunner of gritty and/or sultry blues-rock tunes embellished with lots of tasty guitar solos." - Guitar Player Magazine.

A Kilgore, Texas native, Ally began singing at church at four and picked up the guitar at age 12. By 13, she started her own band and through her early influence of Stevie Ray Vaughan, captured the passion and yearning for more in the blues genre. Early releases No Glass Shoes (2016) and Puppet Show (2018) started her fanbase, charting radio play, and several East Texas Music Awards. It was 2019’s #2 Billboard Blues charting Texas Honey and rocking sets on Ruf’s European Blues Caravan tour that propelled her internationally. “Ally is the future of blues and the crossover music of American roots-rock.” - Mike Zito.

Location: DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Reading Grand Ballroom

1:30 PM - Guitar-A-Rama

Donations Graciously Accepted
An exciting afternoon of Rhumba, Flamenca, Blues & Gypsy Jazz Music starring The Quarantined Quartet from New York Guitar Academy, along with Josh Taylor, Dave Kline & The Gypsy Jazz-Blues Fusion Band. Presented as a service to the community by WCR Center for the Arts, The Reading Musical Foundation, and Dave Kline Productions.

Location: WCR Center for the Arts

6:00 PM - RMF Guitar Workshop

A collaborative feature of Reading Musical Foundation and Reading BluesFest, Dave Kline will host a blues music mentoring workshop and jam between the afternoon and evening concerts.

Best suited for beginner to intermediate musicians, or anyone simply interested in participating, the workshop and mentoring jam will cover the roots of blues music, and various styles of blues will be performed and taught. Please bring your acoustic guitars. There will also be ongoing and informal question and answer opportunities throughout the session.

There are no age restrictions for this concert and workshop but it is recommended for ages 12 and up.

Through the presentation of roots blues up through contemporary blues, this program and workshop presents one of America's most influential musical evolutions and influencers. Powerful as blues roots are, they are often misunderstood by many and their impact on the world folk, pop and contemporary music scene is often grossly underestimated resulting in music fans, historians and musicians being underserved with opportunities to participate in grass roots programs and learning opportunities such as what is being created here. This program advocates for music education through the performance, its in-show discussions, and the workshop.

Location: DoubleTree Amphitheater

6:00 PM - Dave Mell Blues Band

Blues Dinne
Call (610) 376-8500 for reservations.

8:00 PM - Southern Avenue and Alexis P Suter

WXPN Welcomes an Electrifying Saturday Night Concert

Memphis-based, GRAMMY®-nominated SOUTHERN AVENUE inked their first record deal with legendary Stax Records in 2016. The first Memphis band signed to Stax in over 40 years, their self-titled debut was an immediate phenomenon, reaching #1 on iTunes’ “Top Blues Albums” chart before being honored with the 2018 Blues Music Award for “Best Emerging Artist Album.” 2019’s KEEP ON proved an even greater success, debuting among the top 5 on Billboard’s “Top Blues Albums” chart amidst worldwide critical acclaim, ultimately earning Southern Avenue their first GRAMMY® Award nomination, for “Best Contemporary Blues Album.”

In addition to the early success that the band has had with their recordings, they have also found a home on the road. The band has performed in 15 countries on three continents and averages over 150 shows in a typical year, making the group one of the most sought-after live performance experiences. Their high-energy shows have captivated audiences around the globe, making this eclectic group a must-see at venues and festivals alike.

In 2021, Southern Avenue released their third full-length LP, "Be The Love You Want" (Renew Records/BMG). Produced by Multi-GRAMMY® winner Steve Berlin (Los Lobos, Susan Tedeschi, Deer Tick), American Songwriter called it “A potent soul force!” and No Depression proclaimed it’s “one of the most listenable, and danceable, records of the year.”

Since this release, the band has continued its breakneck touring schedule with 2022 highlights including Bonnaroo, the Austin City Limits Festival, supporting Sheryl Crow in multiple cities, and three separate tours in Europe.

On November 11, 2022, Southern Avenue released their latest single, a funky reinterpretation of the 1983 Genesis hit, “That’s All.” Their version gives a soulful spin to the classic track taking an already groovy pop-rock song, and translating it into an electrifying banger driven by luscious vocal harmonies and vintage organ and guitar tones. The song is now available worldwide via Color Red Music.

Location: DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Reading Grand Ballroom

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