Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza set to return Aug. 4-7: Trombone Shorty, Taj Mahal, Allen Stone, Eric Gales, Donavon Frankenreiter & more!

Summer is just around the corner. The lineup and related details for the forthcoming Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza have just been released. This sounds like an amazing event and Mammoth is one of the most beautiful places on the planet...Robert Kinsler

Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza set to return, August 4-7, 2022

Eric Gales performing at Doheny Blues
Festival in May 2018.
Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

Line-up includes Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Taj Mahal Quartet, Allen Stone, Eric Gales, Donavon Frankenreiter and many more!

Donavon Frankenreiter performing at The Coach House
in May 2021. Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

The Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza, the largest and longest-running music festival in Mammoth Lakes, CA, is proud to announce its line-up for the 26th Annual Event, set to take place Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 4-7, 2022.

In addition to the great and wide-ranging lineup, there will be multiple choices of craft beer available from more than 80 craft breweries including Mammoth Brewing Company. Cocktails will also be sold on all four days of the event.

Carolyn Wonderland at The Coach
House in March 2022.
Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

Festival tickets are now available in multiple price levels that include beer tasting and festival ticket combinations, early entry to the festival grounds on all four days, and grand beer tasting on Saturday and Sunday. All ticket types are available for purchase online at www.mammothbluesbrewsfest.com.

Tommy Castro will perform at the festival on Aug. 6, 2022.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

August 4 —     Donavon Frankenreiter, Ana Popovic, Jelly Bread, Brother Yusef

August 5 —     The Taj Mahal Quartet, Eric Gales, Sugaray Rayford, Beaux Gris                             Gris & The Apocalypse, Dirty Cello, Brother Yusef

August 6 —   Allen Stone, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers featuring Deanna                                Bogart, Ron Artis II & The Truth, Carolyn Wonderland, Chris Cain,                             The Atomic 44s, Sixty Grit Band, Dano Forte's Juke Joint Freak                               Show, more

August 7 —    Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Main Squeeze, Jackie                               Venson, Deanna Bogart, Chris Cain, Sixty Grit Band, more    

Tickets and more information: www.mammothbluesbrewsfest.com.

Ana Popovic sets 20th Anniversary Tour plans

News about Ana Popovic's upcoming 20th Anniversary tour...

Ana Popovic announces first 60 appearances of her 20th Anniversary Tour confirmed for 2020 across the U.S. and Europe

Manhattan Beach, CA --- Ana Popovic has announced the initial sixty confirmed appearances she’ll make this year across The United States and Europe as she celebrates her 20^th anniversary. There will be dozens of additional performances announced as they are confirmed in the coming weeks.  Popovic begins the run on February 19 in Atlanta, GA and wraps the leg on March 28 in Everett, WA.  She’ll then make European appearances from April 23 in to Early May.  A complete itinerary of shows now on-sale follows below.

 

This year marks the milestone 20^th anniversary of Ana Popovic travelling the globe as a touring musician.  She shares, “It’s really hard to believe that twenty years ago, I gave up a career in graphic design, formed the Ana Popovic Band, and decided to be a full-time musician. Soon after, I traveled to Memphis to record my debut HUSH!  I had big dreams back then, and I still dream big today.  I can proudly look back at a career of thousands of shows over five continents. I’ve successfully merged musical styles and inspired a new generation of guitar players male and female to start pursuing their dreams, regardless of where they were born. Sometimes, the clichés about (music) business are right. If you work hard enough and want it bad enough, you can make anything happen.”

 

Ana Popovic performing at Doheny Blues
Festival in Dana Point, CA in May 2011.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Looking back at the beginning, Popovic reflects, “It feels like just yesterday, I started this project in a garage in Belgrade. Friends and family where supportive, a try-out show at a local bar became a steady gig, and through perseverance and hard work, here we are now. To celebrate the occasion, my six-piece band is walking down memory lane playing music of all of my albums. I’m excited to play older tunes I haven't played in a while, giving ‘fans of the first hour’ that sweet 'a-ha feel’. We’re also re-recording tunes on a special 20th-anniversary studio album – one track for every year.”  Additionally, there will be a live CD / DVD release in the coming months, captured in France late last year.  

 

Despite having to juggle work with family, Popovic claims she has the best job in the world offering, “The feeling of freedom. The energy you get from a fantastic show. The people you meet during tours, the friendships built. And the best part - losing yourself in music. Performing with a fabulous band that musically connects to every move and every idea you bring to the stage, while sparking their own musical background to bring out the best in all of us.”

 

Today, you’ll find Popovic in a select group of excellent modern blues guitar players. One reason could be the fact that she’s always willing to work a little harder and travel a little further to hone her craft. That dedication has resulted in 12 albums, two DVDs, six nationwide Experience Hendrix tours, six Blues Music Awards nominations and sharing the stage with legends B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Gary Clark, Joe Bonamassa and many others.  Her latest studio album, Like It On Top, focuses on empowered, successful, inspiring female role models.  The release opened at #2 as the iTunes most downloaded US blues albums, as well as peaking at #2 on the Billboard Top Selling Blues albums chart.  Recorded in Nashville, TN and produced by four-time Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’, the blues influenced album features guest appearances from Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robben Ford and Keb’ Mo’.

Twenty years in to her professional career, Ana Popovic has travelled countless miles since she stepped forward from Belgrade, Serbia (ex-Yugoslavia).  After attending study at The Conservatory of Jazz and World Music in the Netherlands, she lived in Amsterdam for a decade.  With single-minded pursuit of her art and career, she then relocated to Memphis, TN to record and work with Southern musicians. Two years ago, she and her family relocated to Los Angeles, California where she now lives.

Called “one helluva a guitar-player” by Bruce Springsteen, and nominated for six Blues Music Awards, Ana has appeared on the covers of Vintage Guitar and Guitar Player magazine. Her albums Can You Stand The Heat and Unconditional were USA Today Picks-Of-The-Week and featured on NPR Weekend Edition, who praised her "Fiery technique on the Stratocaster". Nearly all of Ana's albums reached the top of the Billboard Blues Charts. She and her six-piece band have toured tirelessly, sharing stages with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa and many others. 

 

Confirmed appearances include:

2/19     Atlanta, GA                                                    Terminal West

2/20     Chattanooga, TN                                            Songbirds North Stage

2/21     Shelby, NC                                                     The Don Gibson Theatre

2/22     Durham, NC                                                   Blue Note

2/23     Annapolis, MD                                               Ram’s Head On Stage

2/24     New York, NY                                               Iridium

2/25     New York, NY                                               Iridium

2/26     Warrendale, PA                                              Jergel’s

2/27     Buffalo, NY                                                    The Tralf

2/28     Jim Thorpe, PA                                              Mauch Chunk Opera House

2/29     Pawtucket, RI                                                 The Met

3/01     Pawling, NY                                                   Daryl’s House

3/10     Chicago, IL                                                     City Winery

3/11     Milwaukee, WI                                               Shank Hall

3/12     Bloomington, IL                                             Castle Theatre

3/13     Fond Du Lac, WI                                            Thelma Sadoff Center

3/14     Rothschild, WI                                                21^st Annual Blues Café at Rothschild Pav.

3/15     Minneapolis, MN                                           Dakota

3/17     Colorado Springs, CO                                    Stargazer’s Theatre

3/18     Golden, CO                                                     Buffalo Rose

3/19     Salt Lake City, UT                                         The State Room

3/20     Boise, ID                                                         The Olympic

3/21     Coeur D’Alene, ID                                         Coeur D’Alene Blues Fest

3/25     Portland, OR                                                   Jack London Revue

3/27     Tacoma, WA                                                  Alma Mater

3/28     Everett, WA                                                    Historic Everett Theatre

 

4/23     Goes, NL                                                        Podium ‘T Beest

4/24     Esslingen, DE                                                 Diesselstrasse

4/25     Maastricht, NL                                                Muziekgieterij

4/29     Dortmund, DE                                                Musiktheater Piano

4/30     Homburg, DE                                                 Musikpark Homburg

5/01     Oss, NL                                                           Groene Engel

5/02     Groningen, NL                                                Rhythm & Blues Fest Oosterpoort

 

5/15     Hutchinson, KS                                               Historic Fox Theatre

5/16     Springfield, MO                                             Stomp The Blues Fest

 

6/20     Dudelange, LUX                                            Fete De La Musique Fest

6/25     Leffinge, BE                                                   De Zwerver

7/03     Ville De Clichy, FR                                        Autour De La Guitare

7/04     Cabannes, FR                                                 Nuit de Blues De Cabannes

 

7/09     Norwich, NY                                                  Chenango Summer Concert Series

7/10     Nescopeck, PA                                               Briggs Farm Blues Fest

7/11     Natick, MA                                                     TCAN Center For The Arts

7/12     Rockland, MA                                                North Atlantic Blues Fest

7/13     Mystic, CT                                                      Blue Mondays Concert Series

 

7/14     Barcelona, SP                                                 Keeping The Blues Alive Cruise

10/15   Verviers, BE                                                   Spirit of 66

10/16   Beaufort, LUX                                                Flying Dutchman

10/17   Worpswede, DE                                              Music Hall Worpswede

10/18   Lubeck, DE                                                     Rider’s Music Club

10/20   Aschaffenburg, DE                                         Colos-Saal

10/21   Torgau, DE                                                     Kulturbastion

10/22   Erfurt, DE                                                       Museumkeller

10/23   Reichenbach, DE                                            Die Halle

10/24   Zurich, CH                                                      Moods

10/25   Rubigen, CH                                                   Muhle Hunziken

12/04   Unna, DE                                                        Lindencrauerei

For more information, visit: anapopovic.com

Ana Popovic Likes It On Top

A super-talented singer, songwriter and guitarist, here is the latest news focusing on young blues great Ana Popovic... 

Ana Popovic Likes It On Top

Hits The Road with New Concept Album That Focuses on Empowered, Successful, Inspiring Female Role Models Who Want It and Can Do It All

Ana Popovic, the blues and rock guitarist and singer who is one of the world's most respected players, will release Like It On Top, a concept album in which she explores ten different aspects of women's empowerment on ten new songs. Just off a series of major European festivals, Popovic is on the road for a 35-date US tour (see dates below).

Recorded in Nashville, Tenn., and produced by four-time Grammy winner Keb' Mo', the blues influenced album features guest appearances from Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robben Ford and Keb' Mo,' and will be released worldwide Sept. 14.

"Being on top" is about achieving your own potential. Succeeding in juggling work, family, social life, expectations of the others, of the society, while pushing limits. Renewing yourself and inspiring others."

Like It On Top celebrates those women who take initiative, develop, inspire and motivate. It's about feeling good about yourself and what you do." Its ten songs cover topics that are partly autobiographical and partly broader statements aimed at every women -- desire and fantasy, feeling empowered about your craft, confronting dominant macho male attitudes, escaping an abusive marriage, and how to have a strong man as your partner.

Ana Popovic performing at Doheny Blues
Festival in Dana Point, CA in May 2011.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

But it also credits the men who are motivated and enlightened enough to support women in their quest to be their best versions of themselves. The first single, "Like It On Top," emphasizes that behind every strong, successful woman stands the man that understands the importance of having women be leaders in society. And the final track, the gentle "Honey I'm Home," gives a shout-out to an ever-growing number of families in which men give up their careers to support a woman's career.

"I hope that my music inspires others to motivate ladies all over the world to be successful, energetic, empowered women on a mission, and to motivate men to give them that chance," Popovic says. "The majority of women need to work harder than men to prove themselves or need to cope with a feeling of constant pressure to never make a mistake and be perfect. I believe that women no longer only have the right to earn a living and to take care of themselves and their families."

Ana Popovic has been moving West all her life. She fell in love with American blues as a kid, starting back home in Belgrade, Serbia (ex-Yugoslavia) during the fall of Communism, then moved to the Netherlands to study at the conservatory of jazz and world-music. She lived in Amsterdam for over ten years, and then in a single-minded pursuit of her art and career, she relocated to Memphis, TN to record and work with Southern musicians. Finally, two years ago, she moved her family to Los Angeles, California where she now lives.

"The time has come to step it up," Popovic says. "Becoming the outstanding leaders of tomorrow. Corner-office ladies in business, politics, and the electric guitar!"

Ana has recorded nine studio album and been nominated for six Blues Music Awards, and has appeared on the covers of Vintage Guitar and Guitar Player magazines. Her albums Can You Stand The Heat and Unconditional were USA Today Picks-Of-The-Week and featured on NPR Weekend Edition, who praised her "Fiery technique on the [Stratocaster] . 

Nearly all of Ana's albums reached the top of the Billboard Blues Charts. She and her six-piece band have toured tirelessly, sharing stages with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa and many others.

'Like It On Top' Track List:
1. Lasting Kind Of Love (ft. Keb' Mo')
2. Like It On Top (ft. Robben Ford & Keb' Mo')
3. Sexy Tonight (ft. Kenny Wayne Shepherd)
4. Slow Dance (ft. Robben Ford)
5. Funkin' Attitude
6. Last Thing I Do
7. Virtual Ground
8. Brand New Man
9. Matter Of Time
10. Honey I'm Home

Upcoming shows:
Aug. 7 - Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
Aug. 8 - Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
Aug. 15 - Dakota Jazz - Minneapolis, MN
Aug. 16 - Dakota Jazz - Minneapolis, MN
Aug. 17 - Fargo Blues Festival - Fargo, ND
Aug. 18 - Ann Arbour Blues Festival - Ann Arbor, MI
Aug. 24 - Dosey Doe - Woodlands, TX
Aug. 25 - Arlington Music Hall - Arlington, TX
Aug. 26 - One Theatre - Austin, TX
Sept. 2 - American Music Festival - Virginia Beach, VA
Sept. 8 - Big Blues Bender - Las Vegas, NV
Sept. 9 - Tin Pan - Richmond, VA
Sept. 11 - Rams Heads On Stage - Annapolis, MD
Sept. 12 - City Winery - Washington, DC
Sept. 13 - Sellersville Theater - Sellersville, PA
Sept. 14 - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT
Sept. 15 - Whitaker Theatre - Harrisburg, PA
Sept. 16 - Bull Run - Shirley, MA
Sept. 17 - The Loft @ City Winery - New York, NY
Sept. 18 - The Stanhope House - Stanhope, NJ
Sept. 20 - Stageone at FTC - Fairfield, CT
Sept. 21 - Flying Monkey - Plymouth, NH
Sept. 22 - Funk N' Waffles - Syracuse, NY
Sept. 23 - Tralf Music Hall - Buffalo, NY
Oct. 3 - Yoshi's - Oakland, CA
Oct. 4 - The Siren - Morro Bay, CA
Oct. 5 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA
Oct. 6 - Blue Note - Napa, CA
Oct. 8 - City Winery - Atlanta, GA
Oct. 9 - City Winery - Nashville, TN
Oct. 10 - Songbirds Guitar Museum - Chattanooga, TN
Oct. 12 - The Blind Tiger - Greensboro, NC
Oct. 13 - Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival - Kure Beach, NC
Oct. 14 - Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC

Follow Ana Popovic here:
Official Website: anapopovic.com
Facebook: facebook.com/AnaPopovicMusic
Twitter: twitter.com/anapopovic
YouTube: youtube.com/user/anapopovicband

All-star guitarists pay homage to Jimi Hendrix

My review was originally published in the Monday, Oct. 13, 2014 print edition of The Orange County Register.

From left, guitarist Buddy Guy, bassist Billy Cox, drummer Chris Layton and singer-guitarist Mato Nanji during a performance of "Hey Joe" at the Experience Hendrix Tour. Photo: Robert Kinsler

All-star guitarists pay homage to Jimi Hendrix

Players such as Buddy Guy, Zack Wylde and Jonny Lang make the Experience Hendrix tribute a satisfying evening.

BY ROBERT KINSLER / CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Published: Oct. 11, 2014 Updated: 8:02 p.m.

Although Jimi Hendrix was only 27 when he died in September 1970, the Seattle native left behind a legacy highlighted by his groundbreaking guitar playing and exceptional songwriting.

The enduring power of the late guitar hero was tangible throughout the Experience Hendrix Tour stop staged at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday night (Oct. 10, 2014). In a fast-moving 3 1/2-hour show that featured many of the world's greatest living electric blues guitarists, there were countless moments to celebrate at the 9th edition of the traveling tour.

The list of greats included headliner Buddy Guy, Billy Cox (the bassist who played with Hendrix in Band of Gypsys and the Jimi Hendrix Experience), Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Zakk Wylde, Eric Johnson, Doyle Bramhall II, Jonny Lang, Rich Robinson (of the Black Crowes), Ana Popovic and Mato Nanji (of Indigenous fame). Among the players holding together the rhythm section were drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tony Franklin.

Players would come and go, with the seemingly endless number of combinations resulting in thrilling renditions of Hendrix classics. A rear project screen projected artful images of the ever-youthful Hendrix as a fitting backdrop throughout the concert.

Early standouts included the show opening “Stone Free” (featuring Cox on bass and lead vocals, and guitarists Dani Robinson and Nanji sharing solo duties), “Message to Love” (featuring Rich Robinson's shining fret work) and “Ezy Rider” (boasting thrilling guitar work from Johnson). Not much later, Wylde increased the energy level at the venue with a ferocious mini-set including an epic take on “Little Wing” and metal-infused rundown of “Purple Haze.”

After a brief intermission, Popovic impressed with her slide guitar work on the fiery “Can You See Me.” Bramhill's version of “Angel” was an elegant offering, with his dynamic guitar solo-centered build enthralling the crowd. Lang kicked off his mini-set with a rousing “All Along the Watchtower” on which he played acoustic guitar while Nanji and Wylde handled electric duties. The highlight of his set was a take on “The Wind Cries Mary” with Lang singing powerfully while Johnson played a superb solo.

Shepherd and singer Noah Hunt took a heavy blues approach to their time, including during the crowd-pleasing “Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)” and “Voodoo Chile.”

The night ended with 78-year-old Guy showcased. Still a master showman and guitar player, he delighted the crowd as he was joined by Cox for his mini-set and unleashed his fast-fingered style of Chicago blues.

The stellar event came to an end with a forceful version of “Hey Joe,” with Nanji singing lead vocals and letting Guy shine on lead guitar. A special night, and a fitting tribute to a music legend, to be sure.