Annika grew up singing in the church, but it was during her two tours of duty in the US Army that Chambers realized the gift she had. Chambers became part of a touring band making the rounds through Kosovo and Iraq, providing a welcome lift for the troops’ morale. Returning to Houston in 2011 brought the creation of Annika Chambers and The House Rules Band. By the end of 2014, Chambers’ debut album, “Making My Mark”, was climbing blues charts across the US and Europe. Her meteoric success and rising attention brought Annika Chambers the coveted nomination for 2015 BMA (Blues Music Award) “Best New Artist 2015”. She also won Blues Music Award in 2019 in the ‘Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year’ category. Her sophomore release, “Wild & Free”, did not disappoint, with a debut at #7 on the Billboard Blues chart! Chambers has a deep passion for supporting and inspiring the next generation of musicians, donating time speaking in classrooms about the legacy that is the blues.
2021 Lineup
Cece Teneal and Soul Kamotion
Lead singer, CeCe Teneal is an award-winning, undeniable talent whom both critics and fans call “a musical force to be reckoned with,” and her achievements in the industry over the past decade are certainly a testament to that view. The funkiest musicians to ever touch the stage, Soul Kamotion is the smooth and passionate. They have as their song “90 MPH” suggests, one gear – high energy. CeCe Teneal & Soul Kamotion has been captivating the globe with original, live music for more than 16 years. Their blend of soul, rock, and rhythm and blues music uplifts and inspires audiences with messages of hope, love and the belief that anything is possible. They pride themselves on creating incredible live music experiences that transcend cultural and generational barriers.
Johnny Rawls
Johnny is a soul blues legend. The term soul blues was invented to describe his music. He is an internationally recognized recording artist, music producer, and songwriter who tours extensively throughout North America and overseas. The Blues Music Awards, Blues Blast Awards, Living Blues Critics Poll Awards, and the W.C. Handy Awards have all acknowledged Johnny with multiple awards and nominations including Soul Blues Album of the Year, and Soul Blues Artist of the Year. Johnny is also honored to be mentioned on two markers along the Mississippi Blues Trail. He’s been around the world and literally played everywhere. Every time as entertaining as ever. 50 years and still going strong. In 2021 he was nominated for Blues Music Awards for Soul Blues Album – Where Have All the Soul Men Gone and Soul Blues Male Artist.
Doug MacLeod
MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit and unforgettable live performances. At the heart of a Doug MacLeod performance is his knack for storytelling, bringing characters-from the faceless to the legendary-to strikingly real life. Doug is a multiple Blues Music Award winner, most recently the 2020 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Artist of The Year and the 2018 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Album Of The Year ‘Break The Chain’. His new album with producer Jim Gaines will be released in 2021. He was nominated in 2021 for the Blues Music Award for Acoustic Blues Artist.
Terrie Odabi
Few vocalists own the stage like Terrie Odabi. When the statuesque Oakland native begins to sing, a hush falls over the audience. They’re about to take a ride through the highs and lows of soul music, led by a beautiful singer who packs her shows with heart-pumping energy and poignant memories. Terrie performs original stirring blues straight from the soul. Her compelling arrangements create a contemporary sound that support Terrie’s witty lyrics and compelling voice. She takes pride in her urban roots, appealing to a wide, new audience. 2014 & 2015 Winner of Bay Area Regional Finals International Blues Challenge; 2015 Winner of the Black Music Award for Best Female Blues Artist; 2020 Blues Music Award Nominee. In 2021 she was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Soul Blues Female Artist.
Jimmy Carpenter
Saxophonist, singer-songwriter, and arranger, began his musical journey over 35 years ago. Jimmy has written, arranged and recorded the horns for many artists, and has gained a reputation as a master Blues, Rock-n-Roll and R&B saxophonist. Jimmy has also released three solo albums: Toiling in Obscurity, (2008); Walk Away (Vizztone 2014), and Jimmy Carpenter Plays the Blues (Vizztone 2017). After many years in New Orleans, he currently lives in Las Vegas with his partner in crime and musical inspiration, Ms. Carrie Stowers. In addition to leading his own band and playing with numerous others, he is the Musical Director for the Big Blues Bender, and leader of the Bender Brass, The Bender’s house band. He is the current president of the Las Vegas Blues Society, and in 2020 & 2021 was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Instrumentalist – Horn.
James Armstrong
Born into a musical family in 1957 in Los Angeles, James Armstrong had blues music in his blood from the very start. His Mom was a blues singer, his Dad played jazz guitar. Armstrong formed his first band in the 7th grade, and by age 17 he was touring the country. James would start making waves on the local California blues circuit by his 20s, becoming the youngest member of Smokey Wilson’s band. In the 1980s, James was a founding member of the band Mama Roo and received his first recording contract for Crescendo Records. Armstrong continues to tour extensively. He pays tribute to the past with the traditional blues, and his unique songwriting skills. Using both slide and pick, James’ guitar playing is some of the smoothest in the business. James regularly brings his vibrant and welcoming live shows to people around the globe.
Dawn Tyler Watson
Multiple award-winning, Montreal based Singer/Songwriter Dawn Tyler Watson has earned her place among the International Blues elite. Her fiery stage presence and soul-stirring performances have garnered her national and world-wide recognition. With two recent Maple Blues Awards; Songwriter of the Year, and Best Album/Producer, she was also nominated by the Blues Foundation in Memphis for a 2020 Blues Music Award for Vocalist of the Year. Her latest record “Mad Love,” has just won the 2020 JUNO award for Blues Album of the Year! Since hooking up with a 7-piece killer band fronted by award-winning guitarist Ben Racine, Watson’s star has been on the rise. She took the coveted first-place prize at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2017. With a sound that’s infused with Jazz, Soul, Rock, and Gospel, Watson pushes the boundaries of traditional Blues into a whole new dimension.
Latimore
Benjamin William Lattimore (born September 7, 1939) known professionally as Latimore, is an American blues and R&B singer, songwriter and pianist. Latimore was born in Charleston, Tennessee, and was influenced by country music, his Baptist church choir, and the blues. His first professional experience came as a pianist for various Florida-based groups including Steve Alaimo. He first recorded around 1965 for Henry Stone’s Dade record label in Miami, Florida. In the early 1970s, he moved to the Glades label, and had his first major hit in 1973 with a jazzy reworking of T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday”, which reached No. 27 on the R&B chart. He made an appearance in May 2014 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In 2017, Latimore was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Bernard Allison
As a true “Son of the Blues”, Bernard possesses the requisite guitar feel and vocal intonations necessary to propel his blues to the next century. He delivers the energy level essential to captivate audiences and indulges showmanship and spontaneity to drive his performance in fresh, innovative directions each night. Bernard Allison totes the same smokin’ six-string shooter that his father, the late great Luther Allison, assaulted the blues with. Bernard is blessed with his father’s soulful voice, spiritual devotion and a musical freedom, which experiments with the blues. Born in Chicago, he was the youngest of nine children. Like Ken Griffey Jr., hanging out in baseball locker rooms as a youth, Luther’s son was a kid running on stage throughout the bands’ sets. Experiences like that profoundly affect one’s aspirations. “That’s when I decided that I wanted to be up there with him. I think I was seven.”
