Tedeschi Trucks Band will headline new Sunshine Blues Festival in St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, Boca Raton

Winner of four Blues Music Awards and a Grammy Award for “Best Blues Album” the Tedeschi Trucks Band will headline the inaugural Sunshine Blues Festival in Florida, playing three dates in the state.

Featuring two stages of live bands, the festival will make its debut at Centennial Park in Fort Myers, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.  Then, Saturday, Jan. 19, it comes to Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton and finally Sunday, Jan. 20 at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg.

In February, The Tedeschi Trucks Band's album "Revelator" won the Grammy Award for “Best Blues Album.” Then in July they dominated the Blues Music Awards (formerly the WC Handy Awards) where they won not only Album of the Year, but also took home trophies for Band of the Year, Gibson Guitar Award (Derek Trucks) and Contemporary Blues Female Artist (Susan Tedeschi). Trucks is also the guitarist for The Allman Brothers Band.

Also highlighting the inaugural bill for the festival are contemporary guitar legend Walter Trout formerly with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers; Louisiana slide guitar great Sonny Landreth; Allman Brothers drummer Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band; The Wood Brothers, featuring Chris from Modeski, Martin & Wood and his well-known singer/songwriter brother Oliver; award-winning British blues guitarist Matt Schofield; the driving force of New Orleans funk, Big Sam’s Funky Nation; Florida guitar favorite Bobby Lee Rodgers; multiple Blues Music Award-winner Joe Louis Walker; Florida and Aces Live in Bradenton favorite guitarist/singer Sean Chambers; and Big Easy piano man master Dr. John (St. Petersburg and Boca Raton only).

The Sunshine Blues Festival is "destined to become a major annual event" for Florida reads the announcement issued this morning by Live Nation.

All tickets are general admission and $49.50; on sale 10 a.m. Sat., Oct. 6 at www.livenation.com, all TicketMaster outlets or charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

—Publicity photo of Derek Trucks and wife Susan Tedeschi.

WATCH: Sugar Shack Mondays with Damon Fowler Group and special guest Sean Chambers Band

UPDATED 5/10:

Intro with Damon Fowler, Wally, Little Charlie and me.

Sean Chambers Band performs.

I interview with Chambers and Fowler.

Watch Damon Fowler Group perform with Sean Chambers.

Blues-rock guitarist and singer Sean Chambers.

This week's edition of Damon Fowler's Sugar Shack Mondays features special guest the Sean Chambers Band, another Florida act with national recognition.


From Chambers' website:

Sean toured with the legendary Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf's guitarist) as his guitarist and band leader from 1998-2003. Performing extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe together, Chambers recalls this time as being his "College Education" in music. "My band would usually open the show, then take a short break and bring out Hubert for his set. I learned so much during my time playing with Hubert, I consider it my college education." Sean not only learned at Hubert's feet, but his own style of the blues began to get noticed by fans and critics as well. During a tour throughout England in 2001 Britain's own "Guitarist" magazine named Chambers as one of the top 50 blues guitarists of the last century! After his tenure with Mr.Sumlin he later performed 3 more tours throughout England on his own, and in 2003 was asked to headline the Maryport Blues Festival there.

Blind Pig recording artist the Damon Fowler Group will also be performing.

Damon Fowler's Sugar Shack Mondays

Showcasing the best in touring talent

8 p.m. Mon., May 9 with special guest:

Sean Chambers Band

Ace's, 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., Bradenton

No cover

Click to watch the performances and my interview with Fowler and Chambers at

8 p.m. Monday, May10

Watch live streaming video from sugarshackmonday at livestream.com

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