September 2010
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The dog days are here and it has been a hot wet summer. That didn’t keep Blues On The Chippewa from attracting several thousand people to Durand for two great days of music and good times. All the bands were in top form. Starting with Lucas K And The Coolhand Saints first thing Saturday morning at the art fair over on the Old Courthouse steps to the Love Buzzards through the Sue Orfield Band with Ellen Whyte on Sunday Night.
I talked with people that came from several places in Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa, as well as all over Wisconsin for Blues On The Chippewa. I couldn’t be there for the whole event, but I heard from several sources that Everett Smithson and Mary Cutrofello were especially awesome. I wish I could have been able to do the Downtown Durand bar tour Saturday night with all the music being performed with all the days’ groups. By the way be sure you express your appreciation to all of these establishments for supporting this great event, the next time you drop in to wet your whistle or grab a bite to eat. Shari’s Chippewa Chippewa Club’s “Afterglow Jam” was definitely the place to be on Sunday night.
Let’s give a big shout of thanks to all the supporting businesses in Durand for helping to put on this excellent annual event! And especially the organizers deserve our appreciation for all the work it takes to put a FREE show like this on. Thanks Rob, Shari, Dan, Faith and your entire group. You make life better for all of Western Wisconsin!
By the time this issue of G & P Report hits the streets Tuesday Night Blues will be down to the last free concert of the season. We will be closing out the 2010 series with local legend Howard “Guitar” Luedtke who will be performing with his band Blue Max, including “Magic” Deb Klossner on bass. These folks opened our inaugural season in 2009 on a cold rainy Tuesday night, and rocked a good crowd. Hopefully this year it will be a more pleasant sunny evening.
Here is what Wikipedia says about him: Howard Luedtke, also known as Howard "Guitar" Luedtke, is an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and musician. Luedtke is considered one of the best slide guitar players in the American midwest, and currently tours with his band Howard "Guitar" Luedtke & Blue Max. Blue Max is a Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin based blues-rock band that has been performing in the upper Midwest for the past two decades. Luedtke interprets the blues material by Johnny Winter, John Lee Hooker and Willie Dixon.
Averaging over a 150 shows per year (solo and with Blue Max), Howard has traveled all over the midwest and Europe performing his tribute to the blues. His power-trio band is rounded out by his wife, Deb Klossner on bass and a wide assortment of drummers. From New Ulm, Minnesota, Klossner had been performing since 1983. After four years of performing with several rock bands in Southern Minnesota, Klossner joined Blue Max in 1987. Over the years Howard "Guitar" Luedtke & Blue Max has opened for the likes of Johnny Winter, Hubert Sumlin, Tinsley Ellis, Koko Taylor, Jeff Healey and Lonnie Brooks.
In 2001, Luedtke & Blue Max placed second in the Rock category of Contest 4 of Ed McMahon's NextBigStar.com Internet video contest
If you have never caught this group you have cheated yourself. So come on down to Owen Park in Eau Claire on August 31st and treat yourself to a really good concert and festival atmosphere. Help us give the 2010 Tuesday Night Blues season a rousing sendoff. It’s gonna be really good.
See Ya there!
