What: The GREAT Salt City Blues Concert 7
When: Tuesday, December 26 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 6:00)
Where: Middle Ages Brewing Beer Hall
The area’s best musicians will be paying tribute to the music of Kim Simmonds & Savoy Brown, Ann Peebles, & Skip James & The GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert finds a new home!
The GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert 7 will be a held at a new venue this year ( the previous 6 concerts were held at The Palace Theatre). One of Syracuse’s newest venues, The Middle Ages Brewing Beer Hall is located at 120 Wilkinson St. in Syracuse and is a new 8,000 square-foot music and events place on the second floor of the Middle Ages Brewing Co.
The GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert 7 will be paying a special tribute to Kim Simmonds & Savoy Brown, the Blues/Rock institution that was formed in London, England in 1965 by band leader & guitarist, Kim Simmonds.
Savoy Brown was a big part of the British Blues boom of the 60‘s, along with Fleetwood Mac, Cream, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds and a host of other U.K. bands that brought the Blues back to popularity in both Europe & the United States.
Savoy Brown was a huge touring concert attraction in the States after breaking out in Detroit on their first U.S. tour in 1969. They stayed based in London until the late 70’s when Kim Simmonds moved to the States where Savoy Brown’s popularity was the greatest. The late 80’s found Kim moving to the Central New York area and finally settling down in Oswego, NY after marrying Oswego native Debbie Lyons and together they resided in Oswego, raising a daughter, Eve Simmonds. Kim lived in Oswego until his untimely passing on December 13th, 2022.
Kim Simmonds was a big part of the Central New York music scene and often employed many local area musicians in the ever changing line-up of Savoy Brown. These included such local legends as former Kingsnake,Pete McMahon, vocalist extraordinaire Joe Whiting, the late drummer, Dave Olsen of The Robert Cray Band fame, as well bass player Pat DeSalvo & drummer Garnet Grimm, the latter two still being members of Savoy Brown at the time of his passing and the rhythm section of Savoy Brown the last two decades. Grimm & Whiting will be taking part in the GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert 7 paying tribute to their former band mate.
Savoy Brown’s legacy will continue to live on with a catalog of over 40 albums recorded including two album’s on Baldwinsville’s Blue Wave label who also released three of Kim’s solo albums. Kim Simmonds will always be considered as one of the greatest Blues/Rock guitarists of all-time and Kim’s hand print is enshrined on Hollywood’s Walk Of Fame.
The GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert 7 will also be paying tribute to Memphis Soul great, Ann Peebles, who is best known for writing and singing the classic hit song, “I Can’t Stand The Rain” made most popular by Tina Turner in 1984. Ann Peebles retired from touring after suffering a stroke in 2012. Vocalists Marcia Hagan & Donna Colton will be handling the vocals on seven of Ann’s greatest songs at the GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert 7.
On the acoustic stage, The GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert 7 will pay tribute to the Delta Bluesman, Skip James, a Blues Hall of Fame artist who recorded in the 1930’s and continued to record in the Blues revival of the 60’s after being rediscovered. Skip James passed in 1969, but his songs lived on, including his often covered gems, “I‘m So Glad“ ( covered most famously by Cream ) , “Devil Got My Woman“ & “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues”. Woodstock native and New York Blues Hall of Fame artist, Elly Wininger, will be performing four of Skip James’ classics at The GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert 7 .
Ticket Info:
Tickets are $30.00 advance / $40.00 at door, if available and go on sale, Nov. 1st.
Tickets are available online at ticketweb.com
& in person at Sound Garden in Armory Square & Middle Ages Brewing
A Blue Wave Production – For further info. Contact: Greg Spencer: 315-638-4286 – gspencer57@verizon.net / http://www.bluewavereords.com
The GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert 7 participating musicians are:
Tas Cru
Morris Tarbell
Mark Doyle
Joe Whiting
Mark Westers
Donna Colton
Marcia Hagan
Rolland Brunet
Dan Morison
Jeff Stockham
Rod Zajak
Garnet Grimm
Don Williams
Dave Schneider
Rob Hoston
Mira Grimm
Scott Ebner
Elly Wininger
Additional information about The GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert series:
The GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert is an annual event held the day after Christmas. A series of 10 GREAT Salt City BLUES Concerts will be presented. This is concert #7 and each concert has been performed in front of a full capacity audience.
Each concert is unique and never to be repeated with a changing line-up of performers featuring some of the area’s greatest musicians. Each concert is a thematic show honoring some of our greatest Blues Artists with participating musicians chosen specifically because they are best fitted for the show.