The Villages Blues Society upcoming events

Volunteer Appreciation (Josh Rowand & Friends) (08/12/2026)

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Josh Rowand and Friends

Known for his fun-loving mix of traditional and original blues, Josh Rowand is proud to be the only US endorsed artist with Ali Kat Guitars. With his stunning guitar work, he leads crowds through a repertoire of all that is blues and more. Putting the bite in blues, Josh delivers a show that reminds you why you fell in love with the blues.

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The Villages Blues Society thrives because of the time, energy and heart poured into it by an incredible community of volunteers.

Behind every gathering, event and shared moment is a group of dedicated individuals who give selflessly to create something meaningful for everyone.

Their commitment transforms simple ideas into memorable experiences, building a sense of belonging that defines what the Blues Society is all about.

From organizing events and coordinating activities to welcoming new members and lending a helping hand wherever it's needed, these volunteers are the backbone of the club.

They bring creativity, enthusiasm and care to every detail, often working behind the scenes without recognition.

It's their generosity and teamwork that ensure The Villages Blues Society continues to grow, evolve and remain a vibrant part of Village life.

We celebrate and thank each volunteer for the countless hours and genuine passion they contribute.

Their efforts don't just stain the Blues Society, they elevate it, making it a place where friendships flourish and community spirit shines.

Because of them the The Villages Blues Society isn't just a club, it's a living, breathing reflection of what people can accomplish together.

Bob Kealing (Author) & Rev. C. Wirtz (WMNF Radio) (08/19/2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 22:00:00 GMT

The Villages Blues Society will host author Bob Kealing and WMNF radio personality Rev. Billy C. Wirtz for a screening of their film

"The Florida Chitlin` Circuit"

This will be a 45-minute documentary that explores Florida's vibrant mid-20th-century circuit for Black entertainers. Through interviews with R&B and blues legends the film offers stories from those who lived and loved the scene.

The Chitlin’ Circuit was the collective name given to a series of Black-owned nightclubs, dance halls, juke joints, theaters and other venues that were safe and acceptable for African American entertainers to perform in during segregation.

**Music and question and answer session will follow.**

https://revbillycwirtz.com/about-billy/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/306207/bob-kealing/

Tinsley Ellis (09/19/2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT

For more info: TinsleyEllis.com

Who is Tinsley Ellis?

“Ellis delivers a powerful punch of deep roots blues and wicked guitar...a foot-stomping, raucous good time...a joyous and triumphant celebration of acoustic music. You’ll feel it down to the bone.” –Living Blues

“Glorious, raw and propulsive acoustic blues...killer vocals and biting, dazzling guitar work.” –AllMusic

“Stripped down and raw...gruff unembellished vocals...glistening melodies fingerpicked with delicacy...so genuine it seems like a long lost recording.” –Blues Music Magazine

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Atlanta-based musician Tinsley Ellis—known for decades as one of the greatest electric blues-rock guitarists of his generation—is now also recognized as one of the very best contemporary acoustic blues guitarists, songwriters and performers in the world.

With 2024’s critically acclaimed, Blues Music Award-nominated Naked Truth, Ellis unplugged with his first-ever acoustic album. On it he mixed his own striking original songs—inspired by Son House, Skip James, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters—with a few reinvented covers. According to No Depression, “Even though it’s just Ellis and his acoustic guitars, there’s plenty of hell-raisin’ blues going on. With the ghost of Elmore James looking over his shoulder and Wolf leaning in...Ellis proves he’s an icon.”

Now, with his new album, Labor Of Love, Ellis delivers a raw, edgy, self-produced set of 13 original compositions, all performed with pure, emotional honesty. The songs spin modern tales of floods, conflagrations, voodoo spirits, personal travails and heaven-sent prayers. From the feral opener “Hoodoo Woman” to the John Lee Hooker-groove of “Long Time” to the evocative, Skip James-inspired “To A Hammer” to the Son House-style stomp of “Sunnyland,” Ellis inhabits his songs in a way that is simply astonishing.

Each performance carries the weight, experience and hard-earned wisdom Ellis learned over four decades on the road, making Labor Of Love as profoundly deep and moving as any music he has made in his career. It covers the gamut of emotions, finding good times in the hard times, mixing gentle beauty with foot- pounding ferocity.

During a break from the recording of the new album, Ellis spent time in Bentonia, Mississippi, birthplace of Skip James and home to blues legend Jimmy “Duck” Holmes. Ellis soaked up the spirit of this tiny Delta town, hanging out with Holmes and getting a deep insight into genuine Bentonia blues. Later, Ellis performed with Holmes at his famous Blue Front Café, soaking up every moment. “Once I got home,” notes Ellis, “I went right back to the studio and incorporated everything that I just experienced into my music.”

For the album, Ellis used six different open tunings on his beloved 1969 Martin D- 35, his 12-string Martin D-12-20, and his 1937 National Steel O Series guitars. He also, for the first time in his career, played mandolin on three of the album’s songs. The instrumentation and the tunings, he notes, create endless possibilities, and he finds himself constantly invigorated by the music.

Since the 2024 release of Naked Truth, Ellis has been travelling on his own, performing solo all over the country in his jokingly named “Two Guitars And A Car” tour. For Ellis, playing solo, acoustic blues has helped him tap into the raw essence of the music. “I love doing these shows,” Ellis says, with plans to continue touring solo for the foreseeable future. “No matter what I play, I like to have an edge. For me, just playing this music is a labor of love. I sat at the feet of Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf. I got into this music because of them. I always told myself if I could just make a living playing the blues, I’d be, at least in my own mind, successful.”

Premier Guitar believes he’s more than reached that goal, declaring, “Ellis is a legend of American blues music...he’s an American music treasure. He delivers a sermon on the power and glory of the blues, and is one of modern blues’ greatest performers.”

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The Cold Stares (09/24/2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT

TheColdStares.com

Who are The Cold Stares?

For almost ten years, The Cold Stares had toured the world relentlessly as a duo, blowing away audiences across the US and Europe with a fierce, blistering live show that belied their bare bones, guitar-and-drums setup. In 2023 the band began embracing a whole new kind of chemistry and launched into their next chapter, adding a third member and channeling the classic power trio sound they grew up on with their explosive acclaimed album, “Voices.”

Working off the international success of “Voices” which was voted one of the best albums of 2023 by Classic Rock Magazine, The Cold Stares went into Memphis Magnetic Studio in Memphis Tennessee and recorded the band’s next chapter and progression, the sprawling album “The Southern,”
which is set for release spring of 2024.

The Cold Stares have created a buzz in the music world that has landed them on the road with the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Larkin Poe, Rival Sons, Reignwolf, Spoon, Grand Funk Railroad, and Thievery Corp, among many others. American Songwriter praised the group’s “hard-won commitment, honesty, and intensity,” while No Depression hailed their sound as a “roots rocking firestorm,” and tunes from their albums turned up everywhere from ESPN, Dodge, Chevy and TNT to the hit video game Cyberpunk 2077.

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Quinn Sullivan (10/14/2026)

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT

QuinnSullivanMusic.com

Who is Quinn Sullivan?

26 Year old Quinn Sullivan is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and guitarist who rose to prominence in the early 2000’s and continues to amaze audiences worldwide. Born and raised in New Bedford Massachusetts, Quinn grew up in a musical household listening to classic rock, jazz and blues. Quinn credits his early obsession with The Beatles as the impetus for him to pursue music as a career. He received his first guitar at the tender age of three and quickly demonstrated exceptional talent. He gained national attention with appearances on afternoon and late night television shows (Tonight Show, Ellen, Jimmy Kimmell, and Conan O Brian). In 2007, Quinn met music legend Buddy Guy , who invited him onstage and would later invite him to tour and record with him throughout the next decade.

Over the years, Quinn has evolved from a remarkable young talent into a mature, emotive artist known for blending blues, rock, and classic influences. His discography includes multiple albums, with his fifth release, “Salvation,” recognized as his most personal work, exploring themes of loss, love, and resilience. He has been praised not only for his exceptional guitar skills but also for his songwriting, drawing inspiration from both his musical roots and his own life experiences.

Quinn’s personal journey profoundly influences his music and stage performance. His music reflects years of growth, resilience, and emotional depth shaped by life experiences including personal loss and soulful introspection. His recent albums explore themes of love, hardship, and redemption, which translate into performances full of honest emotion and at the same time full of raw energy and enthusiasm, making every concert not just a show but a personal and transformative experience.

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Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind (10/22/2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT

JasonRicciMusic.com

Who Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind?

Jason Ricci stands as one of the most electrifying and boundary-pushing figures in modern blues. Know for his blazing harmonica technique and high-energy performances, Ricci blends traditional blues with rock, funk, punk, and even jam-band influences.

His playing is fast, inventive, and deeply expressive, often pushing the harmonica far beyond its expected limits while still honoring the emotional core of the blues.

For The Villages Blues Society, celebrating Ricci's music means embracing both the rich traditions of the blues and the exciting directions it continues to explore.

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Mathias Lattin (11/11/2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 23:00:00 GMT

MathiasLattin.com

Who Is Mathias Lattin

Mathias Lattin won the 2023 International Blues Challenge and Best Guitarist at the tender of 20-years old; conceivably making him the youngest to win both.

The grandson of NBA Hall of Famer, David “Big Daddy” Lattin, he displays his talent on the stage not the basketball court. He is a 2020 graduate of Houston’s acclaimed Kinder High School of Performing and Visual Arts. He began his foray into the Houston Blues scene when he was 12 years old. Jonn Del Toro Richardson invited him to attend the weekly Blues jam he hosted at The Big Easy. He garnered national attention when he joined the Keeshea Pratt Band (IBC 2018) in 2020. After touring with the Keeshea Pratt Band and joining Brazilian Bluesman Cris Crochemore for the 2022 IBC, Mathias decided to take a shot at the IBC as front man.

UP NEXT is the debut release of the emerging Texas musician. He wrote and produced the project which displays some of Lattin’s musical influences. The wealth and breadth of great music/musicians in the Houston music scene had a major impact on the 21-year-old Lattin. UP NEXT is proof that the music is alive and in capable hands.

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Big Al and The Heavyweights (11/21/2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 23:00:00 GMT

https://www.bigal.net

Who is Big Al and The Heavyweights?

Big Al and the Heavyweights originally formed in 1996 as the Unknown Blues Band, with founding members Al Lauro, Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule), and pianist Rick Gergen (Sweethearts of the Rodeo). Of course, Warren is no longer in the band. Still, Big Al has formed a solid array of musicians that features guitarist-vocalist extraordinaire Marcel Anton, Dave Mendez from New Orleans, and harp player and vocalist from Detroit, Dangerous Dale Robinson.

Blues Power is the eighth album from South Louisiana roots veterans Big Al and the Heavyweights, delivering a fiery mix of modern blues, funk, bayou soul, zydeco flavor, and high energy musicianship. Released via the VizzTone Label Group, the album marks a new chapter for the band with revitalized energy and a return to their original four piece format after the passing of longtime member Wayne Lohr. (americanbluesscene)

The record celebrates the group's signature Gulf Coast blues style while pushing forward with fresh compositions, rich grooves, and standout performances from longtime vocalist/guitarist Marcel Anton, bandleader/drummer Big Al Lauro, harmonica ace Dale Robertson, and bassist Dennis Cedeno. (bandcamp)

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Eric Johanson (12/22/2026)

Tue, 22 Dec 2026 23:00:00 GMT

FOR MORE INFO:

https://www.ericjohanson.com/

Who is Eric Johanson

Eric Johanson blends sharp songwriting with a deep connection to the guitar, creating music that’s dynamic, soulful, and rooted in a mix of rock, blues, and modern influences.

His playing is expressive without being flashy—riff-driven and rhythmic one moment, fluid and melodic the next—always serving the song rather than overpowering it.

There’s a rawness to his sound, but also a sense of purpose, pulling from the weight of tradition while pushing toward something new.

Whether channeling the swampy pulse of his New Orleans home or leaning into heavier, fuzz-laden textures, Johanson’s music strikes a balance between grit and finesse, power and restraint.

As American Songwriter puts it, he “displays his guitar prowess but within the borders of melodies and lyrics that push the boundaries of blues/rock… searing guitar work, and persuasive songwriting.”

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