The second annual Pocket Full of Blues Festival will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2008. The music begins at 4 PM and will continue into the wee hours. The gates will open at 3 PM so come early and stake out your spot. Produced by Johnny Nitzinger and Judy Zoch in association with the Hip Pocket Theatre, this year's festival will be huge with 8 bands. It's so big this year we are using the main theatre stage as well as the backyard bandstand so the music won't stop except during the Auction.

This is a fundraiser to help support the Hip Pocket Theatre's music program during the performance season from June through October. The season opens June 6th so mark that date. We'll let you know more about the performance season soon.

The Bands:

John Nitzinger performing on the Main Stage at 11:15 PM.
John Nitzinger, a Texas legend, has been a worldwide force behind rock and roll since the ‘70’s.  His song writing style is unique and diversified.  He is known for his contribution to the development of the signature sound of “Texas Rock and Blues”. 

Proof of his Texas legendary status, Nitzinger was one of the first four artists to be inducted into Buddy Magazine’s Texas Tornado’s Hall of Fame in 1978, “as a Texas Tornado of Guitar, one of the best musicians in Texas, perhaps in the world.”

During the ‘70’s, John wrote half of five albums with the rock band, Bloodrock.  He was awarded a Gold Album from Capitol Records for “Bloodrock 2” and was soon signed to Capitol on a solo venture.  Two classics were released; the self titled “Nitzinger” and “Nitzinger One Foot In History”.   The hit single “Louisiana Cockfight” is considered to be a classic. <CONTINUED...>

Andrew (Jr Boy) Jones performing on the Main Stage at 10 PM.
Guitarist, songwriter and singer Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones began working professionally at age 16 with Freddie King's backing band, the Thunderbirds. He got his first guitar from his uncle, jazz musician Adolphus Sneed. Jones cites an eclectic array of influences: Freddie King, Cornell Dupree and Larry Carlton. For many years, he's backed various Dallas-area vocalists on guitar,
but in the mid-1990s, he came into his own as a vocalist with an album for JSP Records, I Need Time (1997), which showcases his crafty songwriting, great guitar playing, and powerful singing.

In 1967, Jones joined Dallas-area vocalist Bobby Patterson's outfit, the Mustangs. Through most of the 1970s, Jones backed various artists, including Patterson, Johnnie Taylor and Charlie Robertson. In late 1987, he went to California and joined the Silent Partners with bassist Russell Jackson and drummer Tony Coleman, the latter of whom is best known for his work with B.B. King's orchestra. Jones recorded with Bay-area piano player and singer Katie Webster on her critically praised Alligator Records album, Swamp Boogie Queen. <CONTINUED...>

Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat performing on the Main Stage at 8:15 PM.
Jim Suhler, born in Dallas, Texas, December 30, 1960, grew up in east Dallas, first exposure to music was by Beatles, Rolling Stones, and British Invasion bands on Dallas AM top 40 radio station KLIF in the 1960’s. Began playing guitar at age 14 and was influenced at that time by Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, ZZ Top, Johnny Winter, Led Zeppelin and others. Jim was also influenced by Rory Gallagher, AC/DC and the Ramones.

During these formative years, Jim was exposed to Texas guitar talent like Bugs Henderson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Anson Funderburg, Jimmie Vaughan & Rocky Hill. Jim played in an array of forgotten cover and original bands during these years, initially backing other vocalists or guitarists.   Jim played guitar for hard rock band Overlord in 1985, playing Dallas’ punk/underground venues such as Twilite Room, Theater Gallery and Nairobi Room.  Then Jim co fronted the Road Hogs from 1986-1988, with harmonica player/vocalist Memo Gonzalez, recording a long lost 45 for Pee Wee Records, “Dogged & Driven b/w “Hot & Bothered”. <CONTINUED...>

The Rocky Athas Group performing on the Main Stage at 6:30 PM.
Rocky Athas was honored as one of the Top Ten guitarists in Texas by Buddy magazine and was inducted as a ‘Texas Tornado’ alongside such noted guitarists as ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Eric Johnson, Bugs Henderson, Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Vaughan.

"His reputation as an amazing guitarist is no exaggeration. This guy is the real thing."
TEXAS SOUTH WEST BLUES

© Photographer Alwyn R Coates

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Performing on the Main Stage at 4:45 PM.

Kenny Traylor is from Ft. Worth, Texas and for thirty five years he has shared his musical talent and love for the “Blues” throughout the United States and Europe.  Inducted in 2002, Kenny Traylor was awarded as one of the elite “Texas Tornado” guitarists by Buddy Magazine.  He has toured with such artists as Ben E. King, Sam and Dave, Johnny Taylor, and many other top soul singers.  Kenny is currently one of the premier artists in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and consistently appears at Blues festivals across the Southwest.  He has performed lead vocals for such projects as the Coors Light ad campaign and has had a song featured off of his first CD in a movie.  Currently he has three CD’s released.  Kenny’s first CD, “Born with the Blues”,  which was produced with long time friend, Jerry Hudson,  features songs from artists such as Muddy Waters and Freddie King.  This exceptional work contains fourteen songs, ten of which are his original songs.  His second CD, “Something’s Gotta Change”, was produced by seven time Handy Award winner, Anson Funderburgh. <CONTINUED...>

The Lake Rats performing in the Back Yard at 9:15 PM.
The Lake Rats are a Hip Pocket phenomenon. They began in 1999 when Scott Ferree and Harris Kirby performed the music for R. Crumb Comix. They were given their name in 2002 when Molemo! joined the band and they performed the music for Beyond Blue Hole, Pinky and B.B. in Paradise, as well as many other plays which have followed.  Lake Rat music is inspired by greats such as The Band, Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Townes Van Zandt. The Lake Rats are about inspired, no-frills, non-commercial music in a live setting, performed for a community of friends who want something Real. Will there be surprise guests this time? Hmmmmmm..

Edd Lively performing in the Back Yard at 5:45 PM.

Edd Lively and the Movers play effective funk, R&B, classical slide and the famous Texas shuffle. From the R&B sounds on "Mess Me Around", slide guitar on "Prescription of the Blues" to Texas shuffle on "So Sad So Blue"; this band covers a full spectrum of blues sound. All members of the band are veterans, cutting their teeth througout the years with bar gigs, different bands, and the seemingly endless nights of wondering when the big break was going to come; it came.
        The talented Edd Lively proves himself as an inventive, talented, and hardworking singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Combining these talents with those of Willie Smith on guitar, Ed Stradley on drums, Randy Cates on bass, and Tommy Young on the Hammond B3 organ; the winning combination is all here. Their debut CD "How Can I Rock You" started off with a funky tune "Texas Women" which is in tribute to all the women of the Lone Star state. Just the beginning, however of what delights lay ahead in the rest of this release. With songs such as "Be True to Yourself", "So Sad So Blue", and the title track "How Can I Rock You," it keeps your toes tapping and your emotions in anticipation of what's next. Their version of Amos Milburn "Bad, Bad Whiskey and Jimmy Reed's "It's a Sin" are tastefully done, with a clear, distinctive, personalized stamp. I expect to hear a lot more from this very talented band. Their debut CD was just a taste of things to come.

Bruton & Price Swingmasters Trio performing in the Back Yard at 4:00 PM.

Bruton & Price Swingmasters Revue

“Some Serious Blues, Here!”
— says R&B impresario Jerry Wexler, who should know

Fort Worth blues-band mainstays T. Sumter Bruton III and Michael H. Price might have begun working together as early as 1980, but for two factors — Bruton’s long-term involvement with his and Jim Colegrove’s crackerjack show-band, The Juke Jumpers, and Price’s commitments to a jazz trio called Diddy Wah Diddy and the East Texas bluegrass outfit known as Salt Lick. <Continued...>