Dennis Gruenling, Joe Filisko, Jim Liban, Nick Moss, Doug Deming and Hank Mowery blow in for Thursday’s show that pays tribute to Little Walter and benefits Blue Star Connection. See how you can win free tickets below.
Blues Harp Honcho: Dennis Gruenling plays Thursday’s Harmonica Summit.
By Mary Mattingly
LocalSpins.com
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Usually, it’s the guitar players that get the most attention in the blues world.
Not so with the Grand Rapids Harmonica Summit.
Paying tribute to influential blues harp player Little Walter, the second annual West Michigan summit at Wealthy Theatre on Thursday night will showcase the harmonica with help from Dennis Gruenling, Joe Filisko, Jim Liban, Doug Deming, Nick Moss and Grand Rapids’ own Hank Mowery.
Mowery, who’s organizing the event, promises a world-class show. “This show is not just a bunch of people on stage banging around on instruments,” Mowery said. “This is world-class entertainment.”
Just as important, proceeds benefit a Blue Star Connection, a nonprofit organization that provides access to musical instruments for children and young adults facing serious issues such as cancer, as well as setting up music therapy programs. “(Blue Star Connection is) something we’ve been hearing about all year,” said Mowery. “We thought it was a good fit for what we’re doing.”
Joe Filisko (Photo/Chris Panteka)
SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE BLUES HARMONICA
Of course, the harmonica – in all its wondrous forms – is not an instrument that always finds the spotlight that it deserves. “With events like Blues on the Mall, you get a lot of guitar players coming into to town. … (This show) is a show for harmonica players. It’s a tribute to great players who’ve done a lot for the instrument,” Mowery said.
“I’m a harmonica player. I’ve (wanted) to do a show like this for awhile. There’s two things (organizers) wanted to do: raise money for a cause that we support and put on a great show. … I’m very excited about the lineup. The players are not household names, but the lineup is spectacular. These are the best harmonica players in the world.”
That includes Gruenling, voted the best modern blues harmonica player for three years running, diatonic harmonica whiz Joe Filisko and post-war blues harmonica great Jim Liban. Also gracing the stage will be popular Chicago guitarist and harmonica ace Nick Moss, 2013 Sean Costello Rising Star Award nominee Doug Deming and, of course, blues harpist Mowery, who recently released “Account To Me,” an acclaimed tribute to the late Gary Primich.
Little Walter
WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS FROM LOCAL SPINS:
“Like” the Spins on Music Facebook page here
at https://www.facebook.com/SpinsOnMusic,
then email jsinkevics@gmail.com with “HARMONICA” in the message
field. Make sure you include your full name in the email.
The first three people who do that will win a pair of tickets
to Thursday night’s Harmonica Summit at Wealthy Theatre.
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Those players will pay tribute to one of history’s true harmonica greats: Chicago icon Little Walter, a widely respected innovator who died in 1968.
“He’s definitely one of the most influential people for this style that there has ever been,” Mowery said. “Every year, we pay tribute to someone else, bring in world class harmonica players to come play.”
Jim Liban
In addition to the aforementioned harp virtuosos and guitarists, the show will feature the rhythm section from Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones – drummer Devin Neel and bassist Andrew Gohman – as well as guitarist Troy Amaro and pianist Chris Corey, providing accompaniment for all of the performers.
Community outreach has been significant, with sponsors pitching in to cover costs, spread the word about the event, and even feed performers and volunteers. Presented by the West Michigan Blues Society, sponsors include Old Orchard, WYCE-FM, Riverfront Hotel Grand Rapids, Brick Road Pizza, Crop Marks Printing, Local Spins, Irwin Seating Company, Jen Q Photography and Carolyn Mowery. “A lot of the performers are coming in from out of town,” Mowery said. “The Riverfront Hotel will be providing rooms for players coming in, which was a huge expense for us last year.”
Nick Moss (Photo/Grant Kessler)
With increased support, Mowery hopes to further expand the show in the future. “With the way this has grown, we would definitely like to eventually bring out a living legend,” Mowery said. “That’s a goal of mine. Each year, we add more sponsors, so it is definitely something we can achieve.”
In the end, the event is about the organization it supports. Through the Blue Star Connection, Mowery hopes to set up a music therapy program at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “We’re hoping to raise money, get people through the door,” Mowery said. “Not only is (Blue Star Connection) a great cause, the show (that attendees) will get is just spectacular.”
Doors open at 6 p.m. Thursday, with the show starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 the day of the show and $8 for Community Media Center members. Get tickets online here.
For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
