HIGH FREQUENCIES: Blooze, Booze & BBQ

Chicken Raid 2018 hits the West side

Frank And Mud By Donald Schelhaas 02
Photo credit: Donald Schelhaas
FATHERS & SONS: Danny “Mudcat Dudeck onstage at the Northside Tavern with Mr. Frank Edwards.

Digging through some used CDs at a yard sale recently, I came across one I’d never seen before: Georgia Music Hall of Fame presents Blues Came To Georgia. An anthology of 15 tracks by 13 Georgia artists, it’s a wonderful collection showcasing some of the many blues musicians of this state’s rich musical past — and present. Three of the elders of Georgia Blues on the compilation — Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, Eddie Tigner, and Essie Mae Brooks — will be playing this weekend at the Northside Tavern during Chicken Raid 2018, an event honoring a fourth blues artist found on the CD, Mr. Frank Edwards (1909-2002).

Chicken Raid, now in its 16th year (the event’s name comes from Edward’s classic tune, “Chicken Raid,”), has expanded to a two-day, indoor and outdoor event, bringing together blues forebears and contemporary players in day-long celebrations of the blues where Howell Mill Road meets Brady Avenue between 14th and 11th Streets.

Performers for 2018 include Northside Tavern “Blues Mentors” Watkins, Roy Lee Johnson, Tigner, Macon’s own Robert Lee Coleman, Albert White, and Perry GA’s Brooks. Performers making their way to Atlanta for the event include Asheville, NC’s Mateo Alexander; Spartanburg, SC’s Freddie Vanderford and Brandon Turner; Mac Arnold from Greenville, SC, making his Chicken Raid debut; and François Blues from Paris, France.

Regular performers at the Northside Tavern and other area blues clubs donating their time include Mudcat and the Atlanta Horns, Bill Sheffield, Ross Pead, Frankie’s Blues Mission, Nate Nelson and Hayley Gray, Cody Matlock, Albert White (Piano Red’s nephew), Swami Gone Bananas, and Uncle Sugar featuring Eddie Tigner.

A press release from organizer Daniel Dudeck, who shared the stage many nights with Edwards, says: “There are no operating costs — equipment is loaned and there’s a small, indispensable regiment of volunteers who keep things running smoothly. Except for the occasional gas stipend for out of town performers who donate their talents, all door money goes to the oldest living generation of performers, our mentors. Over the past few years we’ve been blessed to find so many of these legacy artists in our region who’ve become regular names on the bill. For some of these artists, this is a rare, but annual, occasion to perform for fair compensation.”

And, there will be BBQ provided by Fat Matt’s Rib Shack, so you can get your foodie on , too — while paying respects and enjoying the music.

Thursday, March 15, the Cabbagetown Park Amphitheater was renamed the Joyce Brookshire Memorial Amphitheater in honor of the old mill community’s longtime community activist and folksinger, Joyce Brookshire, who passed away last June. The newly-renamed amphitheater was inaugurated by longtime Atlanta singer/songwriter Elise Witt, who performed Brookshire’s “Cabbagetown Ballad” in memory of her friend and fellow musician, after which, Slim Chance & the Convicts and the Chumblers performed sets, kicking off a series of outdoor shows to be presented from 7 to 9 p.m. the third Thursday of each month between now and October. If necessary, rain dates for the upcoming performances will be the fourth Thursday of the month as needed.

Upcoming … Michelle Malone celebrates the release of her new album, Slings & Arrows, with early and late shows at Eddie’s Attic March 24. In addition to selling vinyl (there may even be a few blue ones left) and CDs copies of her 15 release, Malone will also be offering the newest in her swag selection at the merch table, prayer candles! There are two: one featuring “St. Michelle Malone, Patron Saint of Slings & Arrows, “ready to fight the good fight;” the second acknowledging St. Trish Land, “Our Lady of Perpetual Rhythm & Joy.” Bet you can’t burn just one!

Lord High Admirals, preparing for their for their April 20 record release party at Avondale Town Cinema, have a pop-up gig this weekend at the Ormewood Park Makers Festival. The latest offering from Paul Schwartz (Big Fish Ensemble), the band is schedule to take the stage at high noon. …

Mitch Easter, fresh off the road with Alejandro Escovedo, brings his combo to Atlanta for the first time in a long while at the Vista Room, March 30. Easter guided jangly guitar pop into the ’80s and throughout the world with his own band, Let’s Active, as well as producing R.E.M.’s early tracks. Easter shares the bill with the Swimming Pool Q’s. Wait, it’s Good Friday, Easter weekend, now I get it! …

Contact Tony Paris regarding upcoming gigs; noteworthy news, rumor, and innuendo; or, if you just want to say, “Hi,” at cl.highfreqs@gmail.com. Facebook “messages” and PM’s are not acknowledged.

 






Scenes
Bars & Clubs
Concerts
Music Events
Stories
Festivals