Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials Credit: Photo via LilEdandBluesImperials/Facebook
Slide guitar legend J.B. Hutto is in part responsible for Chicago-based bluesmen Lil’ Ed Williams and Dave Weld coming together in the late-‘80s to establish the Blues Imperials.

The four-piece that counts Conan O’Brien among its superfans swings into the outdoor Safety Harbor Art & Music Center stage on Friday, Jan. 27 for its first Tampa Bay appearance since a 2007 spot at Bluesfest.

Tickets to see Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials in Safety Harbor tonight are still available for $25 at the door.

This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2023.

Josh Bradley is Creative Loafing Tampa's resident live music freak. He started freelancing with the paper in 2020 at the age of 18, and has since covered, announced, and previewed numerous live shows in...