Winter Blues Weekend
Winter Blues Weekend
Ellicottville to Host Many of the Region’s Best Blues Bands, Jan. 20-22
ELLICOTTVILLE - Fill your Ellicottville experience with a lively weekend of great Blues music during Ellicottville’s annual Winter Blues Weekend, set for January 20-22, 2023. The Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce is excited to present this high-energy, soulful celebration in the heart of our village, with over 15 regional acts performing in all the downtown hot spots.
“Winter Blues Weekend has always been a hit with both our locals and visitors,” said Jessica Wallace, business development manager of the Ellicottville Chamber. “We’re looking forward to welcoming back some of the greatest Blues artists in our area, as well as some new acts. We hope you will give these musicians a warm welcome!”
The music kicks off Friday evening and continues through Sunday afternoon, making it a weekend you won’t want to miss. Kicking back and listening to some amazingly talented musicians is the perfect way to top off a day of skiing at our local resorts. The best part: all performances are free to enjoy! NO COVERS!
“We want to make sure that everyone who comes to Ellicottville can enjoy these live performances at no cost,” said Wallace. “Many restaurants start their entertainment schedules in the afternoon, giving families with young children a chance to plan a fun, musically-inspired lunch or dinner out and take part in all the excitement.”
And surely you will find ample excitement all over town - QPUNK at Madigan’s, Blues Express at Villaggio, Tui Osborne at Holiday Valley, Alexander James at 12 Gates Brewing… the list goes on and on! Here are a few other performances to add to your radar:
TOMMY Z: FRIDAY 6:30PM @ BALLOONS: Hailing from Buffalo, NY, Tommy Z has been described as a “blues treasure” and “one of WNY’s best kept secrets”. He is a guitar-driven, electric blues-based stylist who puts that soulful blues feeling into all the different music he creates. He’s been recognized with numerous awards over the years, including being voted Top Blues Vocalist in Western New York and Top Blues Guitarist. He was also honored with the Muddy Waters Award for “Artist of the Year” by the Blues Society of WNY. He was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and has had the opportunity to perform, write, record and/or co-bill with some of the world’s top artists in the blues/rock genre including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Blues Travelers, Peter Frampton, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more.
MARIA AURIGEMA BAND: SATURDAY 8:00PM @ GIN MILL: Maria enjoys an enthusiastic following in Western New York and Canada and has performed at a variety of clubs and festivals throughout the region. She has performed with national blues artists Tommy Castro, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Tab Benoit, Elvin Bishop, Popa Chubby, Kelley Hunt, Jeff Healey, Debbie Davies and Jimmy Thackery, to name a few. Additionally, she has opened for Foreigner, Blue Oyster Cult, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter, Little Feat, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Foghat, Steppenwolf, Sammy Hagar and Styx.
ROCKABILLY STEVE AND THE BR3: SATURDAY 8:00PM @ FINNERTY’S: When served as an eclectic brew of blues and roots, Rockabilly Steve is an outstanding guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who has blended many genres of music for his unique sound. He refuses to be categorized as one style of music, so what you get is blues with swing, roots with jazz, and so on. Since the age of seven, Rockabilly Steve’s showmanship has captivated audiences with his high energy performances that transport audiences back in time with his blend of blues, jazz, swing, roots, rockabilly, and original music! Dig out your dancing shoes… Rockabilly Steve and BR3 is a band that knows how to entertain.
Book your lodging now so you can look forward to enjoying a weekend of great music, fun dining, eclectic shopping and of course, freshly groomed ski conditions. A complete schedule of live music for Winter Blues Weekend 2023 will be posted on ellicottvilleny.com. Stay updated on other Chamber related news and events by following @visitellicottville on IG/FB. For questions or additional information, contact the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce at 800-349-9099 or info@ellicottvilleny.com.