Sound: Mike Wanca, Pa. Sound Reinforcement

*Band Bios are written and provided by the bands

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"The Hottest Band in Contemporary Blues Music"

Chosen to perform and compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee - Friar's Point will travel to Memphis the first week in February, 2009 and perform at the legendary night clubs on Beal Street February 4th – February 7th.  The band will be competing against Blues Artists from around the world.
 
Introducing Friar's Point , a rising force on the tri-state music scene.  This Pennsylvania-based band explores blues genre from classic to contemporary artists as well as the influence of blues music on Southern Rock, Classic Rock, Soul and R&B. 

The band takes it's name from a town in Mississippi that is home to Hirsberg's Drugstore, where many classic blues artists would play to passers-by from it's porch.  It is said that it was here that Muddy Waters heard Robert Johnson playing, and was so intimidated by his talent, that he left town.  It is this lore which has inspired the band to adopt the name of this legendary town.

Friar's Point formed in July of 2006 originally as the Long Rider Blues Band.  In only a few short months, the Long Riders had national act exposure opening for Trent Tomlinson, Jackyl and closing for Robin Trower.  In their first year, the band had also been selected as a performing act for The 2007 Lehigh River Blues Jam in Catasauqua, Pa. and The 2007 Mahoning River Blues Festival in Youngstown, Ohio.  After several personnel changes during the summer of 2007 the band strengthened it's sound with different instrumentation and took on the name of Friar's Point.

Friar's Point band members have live performance experience which is unparalleled… Their individual resumes include performing on the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland and Nashville circuits, and date back as far as 1975. 
 
Friar's Point features Mary Dunbar on lead vocals
- and their rock solid rhythm section featuring: 
Pat Powers (harmonica, guitar & vocals)
Matt Koch (keyboards & vocals)
Chris London (lead guitar & vocals)
Jim Baldwin (bass guitar)
Brian Berlanda (drums, percussion & vocals). 

Mahajibee Blues

Back for An Encore, By Popular Demand....

They were blues lovers buried in a basement in Pittsburgh, PA in 1999. Listening, playing, and watching DVD’s of anything blues-related that they could get their hands on. There was no real desire to lug equipment all around Western PA. A regular group started to attend these sessions and decided to call themselves “Mahajibee”, a slang term, because what the heck, this isn’t going anywhere. But in 2000, Mahajibee climbed out of the cellar and into a whole new world.
It was June, 2002 that changed things forever. They were invited to host a CD release party for Memphis recording artist, Barbara Blue, at Rosebud’s Café (see CD"S) in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. The band knew that after hitting the big stage in front of a blues audience that it felt like “home”. Since then they have shared the spotlight with an assortment of professional oldies, rock and blues artists including Johnny Angel and the Halos, Pat Travers, Deep Purple, Robert Bradley's Black Water Surprise, Shirley King, Billy Price, Tinsley Ellis, and Kim Wilson. The invitations to Tri-State Festivals, Blues Festivals, Community Festivals, and Summertime Concert Series’ have continued to grow year after year. They were honored to participate in local fundraisers as well as benefits for 9/11, Katrina victims of New Orleans, The Sago Mine disaster victims of West Virginia, Endless Mountains Blues Fest for the benefit of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, and on July 19th, 2008, a blues fest for the benefit of Disabled American Veterans in elmhurst, Pa.
The band released their first original-studio CD entitled “Mahajibee” in August of 2007. Songs are receiving airplay on local and regional blues radio stations as well as in Europe, Canada and Australia.

Mahajibee is driven by two guitars (Leone & Holbdy), harmonica - keyboards (Tevis), bass (Ambrass) and drums (McConnell). They visit all styles of the blues and invite you to a nearby festival to enjoy a live performance. Bring the family and don't forget to stop by the tent to say "hello" after the show!

Lady Blue And The Tramps

Return Engagement By Popular Demand.....

Joy Koltenuk  -  Lady Blue , Vocals & Percussion

Singing since the age of three, with roots that stem from the Appalachian Mountains and a Southern way of life, she has an appreciation and love of the music, especially blues and rock n’ roll.  She was inspired as a child by recordings of Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Elvis, Ray Charles, more recently Koko Taylor, Etta James, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan (to name a few) and sang throughout her childhood in church and at school, honing her skills as a vocalist and entertainer.  For 25 years or so, she's been entertaining up and down the East Coast where road experience and living life to its fullest have helped to inspire the heartfelt lyrics for the band’s originals, showcased at every performance.  Her powerful, sultry voice is complimented by the funk and dynamics of the band.  

Steve Koltenuk - Guitar, Backup Vocals

Steve has been playing guitar for over 24 years, so understandably he's been influenced by Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary Moore, Robben Ford, Danny Gatton, and Jeff Beck. Known for his big guitar sound and his love of music, especially classic rock and blues rock, he always strives for that tasteful, unique style all his own. That impressive sound comes from a combination of high quality, hand made guitars (Thorn from California) and amps (Fuchs from New Jersey).  He leads the solid, rockin' sound of the band in the writing, arranging, and performing of covers and originals that are foot stompin', boogie till you drop or slow, melt your heart tunes.  

Brad Dolin – Drums, Lead & Backup Vocals

Brad's been a professional drummer for over 20 years and is experienced in many diverse styles, being happiest when playing classic rock and blues. His influences include BB King, John Mayall, and of course, Muddy Waters. He is an accomplished lead and harmony vocalist, is well known throughout the local area and in several states for his precision playing (sometimes called the "human metronome") and has an extremely entertaining stage persona.  

John “WCW” Sloan – Bass & Backup Vocals

Since the age of sixteen, John has had a guitar in his hand.  As a teenager, he'd jam to Rolling Stones blues and rock classics on his first guitar - a Sears acoustic. His major blues influences have been adult-oriented FM radio bands like ZZ Top, George Thorogood, Robert Cray, etc.  John joined the band as rhythm guitar player, but tried the bass at the prodding of the band after too many bass player personnel changes.   He soon found that this was truly his instrument and his collection of classic and high quality bass guitars continues to grow.  John adds that solid “bottom” that creates the tight, dynamic rhythm section the band is famous for.

Dealer In Wares


Dealer In Wares pictured with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame  drummer, Artimus Pyle, Lynyrd Skynyrd

Sarah Yzkanin - Vocals, Harmonica, Piano
Tim Beckage - Lead Guitar
Chris Price - Drums

Blues Influences include:

Paul Rodgers, Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher,Leadbelly,Big Bill Broonzy,Jimmy Page

Hailing from Olyphant, Pa., Dealer in Wares began as a blues/rock duo and was co-founded by Sarah Yzkanin and Tim Beckage.  

In November of 2007, they joined forces with an old friend and dedicated musician, Chris Price. Chris’s raw talent proved to be the perfect fit and his drumming completed their sound. After adding Chris to their lineup, they were awarded First Runner Up in the 2007 First Night Scranton Battle of the Bands. A few days later, they opened for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer of the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle & The Long Island Street Survivors, at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, Pa.

Dealer In Wares' “Willow Song” placed number 14 in American Idol Underground’s top 50 rock songs in September of 2007. 'Pretense', another original, placed number 43 the next month and number 48 in January of 2008. In their first 9 months as a band they played at over 21 venues, appeared on local television, and received radio play from 102.3 FM - The Mountain, KCTV - King's College Radio, and IBIMW internet radio. Music critics agree that the band is a force to be reckoned with and they are determined to take this project as far as it can go.

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