Friday, March 20
12:30 p.m. Robin Rogers The blonde, blue-eyed songstress out of Charlotte, N.C. has quite a bit of that Koko Taylor roar in her.
2:30 p.m. Lurrie Bell The 49-year-old son of the late, legendary Chicago harp player Carey Bell wields a Stratocaster and has a lusty voice somewhat reminiscent of B.B. King.
4:30 p.m. Coco Montoya A one-time protégé of Albert "Iceman" Collins, L.A.-based singer/guitarist Montoya is a familiar figure on the blues festival circuit.
6:30 p.m. Curtis Salgado The 55-year-old veteran of the Northwest blues scene has played for a few years in Robert Cray's band and in 1995 did a short stint as lead singer with Carlos Santana. He sings and plays harmonica.
8:30 p.m. The Fabulous Thunderbirds Singer/harp man Kim Wilson has been the constant over the band's 35-year history (which has included since-departed guitarists Jimmie Vaughan and Duke Robillard). Having scored a handful of hits in the mid 1980s ("Tuff Enuff," "Wrap it Up"), the Austin-based quintet soldiers on as a more-than-dependable roadhouse R&B band.
Sat., March 21
11:30 a.m. Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps Houston-bred, L.A.-based Teresa James brings a kind of Bonnie Raitt/Susan Tedeschi feel to her singing — gritty but feminine. Sexy.
1:30 p.m. Eric Lindell The former skate punk from San Mateo, Calif. makes full-voiced R&B with flavors of his adopted hometown of New Orleans.
3:30 p.m. Ruthie Foster The singer/guitarist, who hails from central Texas, incorporates a variety of genres into her blues-based sound, from the folk leanings of Odetta to a heavy dose of gospel.
5:30 p.m. Tommy Castro and the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue Veteran singer/guitarist Castro leads an all-star lineup that includes seasoned performers Ronnie Baker Brooks, Magic Dick (of J. Geils) and Deanna Bogart.
8:30 p.m. Delbert McClinton At 68, Delbert shows no signs of reforming from his road-dog ways. His lone major hit, "Giving it Up For Your Love," ascended to No. 8 on the singles chart in 1980. The singer/harmonica player, who has worked in country as well as R&B, always surrounds himself with a talented, yeomanlike band.
Sun., March 22
1 p.m. Seth Walker The Austin singer/songwriter/guitarist brings an element of 1950s pop flavor into his music, not unlike that of James Hunter. His voice is more honey than sandpaper.
2:30 p.m. Tinsley Ellis The Atlanta singer/guitarist has played so many gigs in Tampa Bay he might as well have a PO box here. His guitar solos can really kick up a ruckus.
4:30 p.m. Darrell Nulisch The singer/harmonica player came onto the scene in 1978 as part of Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets. He leads his own band, performing with an easy, urbane swagger.
6:30 p.m. Bernard Allison The youngest son of fabled bluesman Luther Allison, Minneapolis-based Bernard has carved out a thriving career as a festival fave. He tightens up his sound with funk and Hendrix-inflected rock.
8:30 p.m. Irma Thomas See accompanying story.
This article appears in Mar 18-24, 2009.