(TRINIDAD, CO) – Headlining Trinidaddio Blues Fest Aug 24, 2019 ~ The Sugaray Rayford Band: The MAN and the band! 2018 and 2019 BB King Blues Entertainer of the Year Nominee, Sugaray Rayford graces Trinidaddio’s stage with his world class pedigree. Six Blues Music Award nominations in just the past two years to go with is Blues Music Award wins and nominations going back to 2013, makes Trinidaddio truly fortunate to have Sugaray headline this year’s Trinidaddio Blues Fest.

Sugaray has starred in Tony Award nominated stage plays, fronted the highly acclaimed West coast blues band The Mannish Boys, and has seen his solo career skyrocket as one of the premier soul/blues vocalists and performers in the world today.

Of course, with a front man like Sugaray Rayford, great bands are always part of the equation! The Sugaray Rayford Band is no exception. With a core group that includes The Amy Winehouse Horns and standout performers from across the blues world, The Sugaray Rayford Band is poised to deliver one of the best sets in Trinidaddio history!

Wildly fun, musically fearless and bursting with bravado, 2018’s Blues Music Award winning Band of The Year Rick Estrin & the Nightcats have created one of the blues’ most instantly recognizable sounds and no-holds-barred styles. Featuring the world-class talents of harmonica master, songwriter and vocalist Rick Estrin, guitar wunderkind Chris “Kid” Andersen, keyboard wizard Lorenzo Farrell and dynamic drummer Alex Pettersen, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats serve up sharp and incisive original blues and gritty roadhouse rock ‘n’ roll.

Returning to Trinidaddio, singer, songwriter, and guitar virtuoso Jimmy Thackeryhas carved an enviable niche for himself in the world of electric blues. Known for his gritty, blue-collar approach and marathon live show, Thackery was, for many years, part of the legendary Washington, DC band The Nighthawks. Jimmy’s long time position at top of any list of blues guitar greats makes welcoming him back to Trinidaddio a special treat for us…and for you!

Whether Jimmy Thackery headlines a festival in South Dakota or jams for hours in one of numerous blues bars that dot the musical landscape, he’ll always unleash an intense volley of rockin’ blues guitar guaranteed to leave crowds emotionally spent. His double edged guitar dynamics allow him to fire off tracer missiles, bend a note so it will fit under a limbo bar, run off dive bomber riffs, and find space within the trembling of one stinging note. “I put all my senses on hold and find the zone and follow what’s inside. There’s an electricity from your mind to your heart to your fingers. You just try and remember to breathe.”

Earlier we’ll enjoy new Delmark recording artist, the Rockwell Avenue Blues Band!  2018 brought us the inaugural effort of the newly formed band – Back To Chicago.

The group is composed of five longtime friends who are all familiar names when it comes to delivering real-deal Chicago blues. Three are band leaders themselves, and all have spent a good part of their 200 or so years in the business working together in the ever-changing lineup of The Fabulous Fish Heads, a Chicagoland favorite since the mid-‘80s. As a result, this CD is more of a long-awaited family reunion than anything else.

 Leading up to Rockwell, you’ll have the distinct pleasure of the 2018 IBC winner for Best Band – the Keeshea Pratt Band! The 8-piece musical collective, lends its energy and passion to traditional blues, contemporary blues and offers a preview to the future of blues.

Keeshea Pratt is the siren featured on the microphone with soaring and soulful lead, Mississippi-inspired vocals. She is supported by a talented and diverse group of singers and musicians representing 5 states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi) and Japan.

“Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues!” – That’s the farewell tag on “Mexican Jerry” Muniz’s voice mail. Mexican Jerry is the bearded and tattooed leader and singer/harp player for Los Albuquerque Blues Connection – “The ABC” – one of New Mexico’s longest running blues outfits. With Dave Silva, his guitar and slide playing compadre of 25 years at his side, Jerry calls the crowd out – “Get Up! Levantase! Time to Boogie!” – and they respond with a roar.

For Mexican Jerry, a song is a framework to be filled in anew every night, never sung the same way twice. But it’s always the Blues. Nuthin’ but the Blues.

ABC will follow Trinidad’s own guitar virtuoso and opening act, Jaquie Gipson!

“Jaquie Gipson is one of those guitarists you’re glad you discovered before anyone else did…  I ­­­free time. “Practicing my guitar,” she said. Jaquie then sat down to play a Northwood Mini-Jumbo I had just purchased, and his only response was, “I guess you’ve been practicing A LOT.” – John Fowler, Shoreline Music

In 2017 we began a new tradition and the Friday night PreFest Party became a FREE Event! This year we will carry on that tradition bringing the Blues to the historic streets of Downtown Trinidad. 2019 PreFest Party Lineup: The party will get started as always with the winner of the Colorado Blues Challenge in May… graciously provided by the Colorado Blues Society. ­And the winner is ?? TBD in May!

Next up on Friday, TeleDonna brings a blend of music influenced by at least 4 generations and interpreted in the context of the Blues

Then, the only band to have played at every Trinidaddio Blues Fest and PreFest Party, and will continue that tradition in 2019 – the Los Albuquerque Blues Connection.

Following ABC will be Trinidad native and guitar phenomenon Zakk DeBono & the Broken Circle. 

Finally, from Houston, Texas, 2018 International Blues Challenge winner, the Keeshea Pratt Band! Get a taste of Keeshea before she performs on Saturday at the Fest.

Tickets available on the website. We’ll see you there!