Page 62 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2025 Digital Edition

Taj Farrant. Photo by Melanie MacLeod

TEENAGE BLUES

By Michele Lundeen very first time on stage was with John Stamos and The Beach
Promoting youth talent in the blues is one of Boys, at the age of five years old. From there, through a series
the keys to keeping the blues alive and well. Meet of people she met, she was led to her local blues society, the
eight young, talented artists who have revealed Washmo Blues Society. “That is when I found the blues.”
insights about their remarkable paths to the blues Australian native Taj Farrant sings and plays electric and
and their personal expression of the genre. They acoustic guitar, but can also play drums, bass and keyboard.
come from many points around the globe, but Taj, who’s 15 and lives in Missouri, says he knew he wanted to
they all have a common denominator – to learn play guitar after seeing Angus Young with his dad at an AC/
and share their musical voice that is already and DC concert. Then his dad introduced him to the band Thin Lizzy
profoundly rooted in the blues. These are young and guitarist Gary Moore. “I was hooked on his technique and
hearts, yet old souls. sound,” says Taj. Moore’s Still Got the Blues album was what
“Growing up in Mississippi, the blues had always really got him interested in playing blues.
been around me, it’s in the air down here,” says 18-year- “My dad showed me a lot of artists,” says 16-year-old
old Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport who lives in guitarist, singer, songwriter Danny “Guitarwood”
Richland, MS. Hearing the raw emotions of legends like Joe Garwood from Nashville, TN. “As I started to progress,
Willie Wilkins, B.B. King, Eddie Taylor, Billy Branch, Charlie everything about guitar started to make sense and it opened
Christian, James Brown and Howlin’ Wolf, as well as stories up a whole new world, giving me influences like Jeff Healey,
from family, friends and his own personal experiences, made Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer and Kenny Wayne Shephard.”
him realize that the blues isn’t just music, it’s a way of life. “Harmonica is my main instrument and I also play guitar,”
Young Rell’s main instruments are guitar and harmonica, but shares 17-year-old Kiersi Joli from Nashville. “I grew up
he also plays some bass and drums – and he sings. “The voice listening to a variety of music, but it wasn’t until my harmonica
is just as much an instrument as anything else – it’s the first teacher introduced me to the blues that, for the first time, I could
instrument, especially in the blues. I love using it to bring the ‘feel’ the music! I loved how blues sounded coming from my
stories in my music to life.” harp! I play other genres but I call it ‘blues-blending.’ Ronnie
“My voice is my main instrument,” says 15-year-old Shellist helped me learn how to study the original blues artists
Meaza Joy, who resides in Missouri, about 50 minutes and to break down a riff or lick in the context of the song to
west of St. Louis. She started playing the ukulele, but once better convey the emotion you want to share.” Kiersi adds
on stage, the uke went down and she says, “I grabbed one that she’s also a vocalist: “It wasn’t until I started professional
of the band’s guitars, turned my back and quickly worked vocal lessons that my singing really began to develop. Now I
out the next song. From then on, I’ve played the guitar.” Her get a lot of compliments on my mature, powerhouse vocals.”

60 Blues Festival Guide 2025