"Special thanks to the Law Offices of John D Spear."
 
The 6th Annual Bonita Blues Festival will be held on -
March 9th and March 10, 2012 at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs ...

2012 Feedback

" ... Back in Germany remembering the Bonita Springs Blues Festival - you really did a great job, thanks! Here is my little story to "Trampled Under Foot":

I've been a week in Warsaw (Poland) and spent an evening in a little Cafe, where local artists perform. I got into a conversation with a musician named Amelia. She knows a lot about blues, mentioning the band "TUF" as extraordinary! Back in Germany, I went researching on them in the internet and I decided have to see them somehow. I went to their homepage, their tour dates and chose Bonita Springs as the place to go! And I am glad that I did. It has been a great Festival with great artists and an amazing performance of "TUF"! I am looking forward to come back again, maybe even next year.

"Keeping the Blues alive" - All the best to you - Andy from Lampertheim, Germany ... "

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Blues Fest Guide

Need to see and hear the Blues on the other 51 weekends this year ... ? Of course you do. Check out:
Print Magazine & Online Guide of Blues Fests, Societies, Artists and more!
Home The Bands Stringtown
Stringtown
Rick Russell

Saturday 2:00pm

Rick Russell: Mandolin, Dobro, Banjo, Guitar, Keyboards, Harmonica, Vocal

Rick comes from a musical family (“All five of us played something, my folks saw to it, even though they didn’t play themselves”) He began taking piano lessons at an early age. Growing up in Western N.Y. Rick quickly was drawn to the popular rock music that was burgeoning in the late 60’s & early 70’s. His musical path reached a crossroads when he was exposed to a “magical” treasure of old recordings that his older brother had collected. “Old stuff, field & chain gang hollers, recorded on 78s. He had old Leadbelly, Josh White, Lightning Hopkins, Robert Johnson, & Woody Guthrie vinyl's and I just thought that was the realist stuff I’d ever heard. It opened another window for me to view the world of music”

In springtime of 2009 Rick & Danette were married and they put the finishing touches on Electric Loom Studio. It was then the concept of Stringtown was born and in the summer of 2010 they debuted to packed houses. In May 2011 they released “Stringtown” their first CD, recorded at their beloved homestead. On occasion Rick plays keyboards & harp with the local blues powerhouse “The Juice”.

Danette Russell
Danette Russell: Upright & Electric Bass, Mandolin, Flute, Vocals

Danette studied classical flute privately in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a first chair soloist in high school orchestras and on to solo events & ceremonies. Growing up in Southern Ohio, "as far as you could get out of Kentucky on a quarter tank of gas”, as she affectionately puts it, Danette soaked up the music from that region. A rich combination of bluegrass, and the gritty music born in mining communities along with spirituals she learned in church, combined with rock, blues, & country that came through Cincinnati on a regular basis- all shaped her musical spirit. Along the way Danette learned some guitar and eventually found mandolin and settled on bass, both electric and upright as her primary instruments in the band. Danette has incorporated her roots, feel, and openness to all genres of music into the solid foundation of the Stringtown sound. Danette is also co-founder of the duo “Jezebelz” formed in October 2011 with Jane Buonomo.

Jeff Jodice
Jeff Jodice: Drums, Keyboards, Bass, Vocals

Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Jeff graduated from the reknowned Berklee Music College. While developing his own style he was influenced greatly by James Jamerson of Motown fame as well as funk masters like Rocco Prestia. He also kept a keen ear open to the great rock bassists like Mel Schacher, Jack Bruce & John Entwistle. He played in many of the top show bands, concerts, & big bands in the Boston area before moving to SW Florida 20 years ago. Since then he has performed with many of the areas most high profile bands. A “musicians musician” Jeff is equally adept on many instruments. He has played bass, keyboards, & drums with the Catman Doodz, and with Jazz composer/pianist John Chapman. Jeff & Rick Russell first met back in 2005 playing gigs on Sanibel and hit it off. When the band needed a full time drummer Jeff answered the call and has added his bass, and soulful keyboard playing to the Stringtown sound as well. Jeff is also an established & accomplished commercial photographer.

Mike Carrington
Mike Carrington: Guitar, Drums, Bass, Vocals

Mike like many kids first played in his school band. His first instrument was the trombone. “I was always hanging around an uncle who had played the honkytonks and claimed Tex Ritter showed him guitar licks”. By the early 60s Mike’s musical tastes were rooted in the world of the folk music revival of the time, & and an old flattop guitar was his instrument. That all changed with the onset of the British Invasion. It was a huge influence & it wasn’t long after he got his first electric. He studied guitar with Jim Dale who was musical director for CBS variety shows in the 70’s like Sonny & Cher. Over the years Mike has played lead & rhythm guitar, bass guitar & drums, and worked private events and casinos in Las Vegas. He shared stages with a wide variety of headliners from all ends of the musical spectrum. (Rick Derringer & The Village People among them) Locally Mike has stayed busy playing with several prominent bands. A chance meeting led to him sitting in with Stringtown. He is also equally adept on bass & drums. The combination of roots music and blues influence affords Mike the perfect setting to apply his tasteful playing.

 
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2012 Festival Fast Facts

imageWhen
Friday March 9th,
Saturday, March 10th


imageTime
Friday, ~ 2pm-9:15pm
Sat., ~ 11:30am-9:30pm


imageWhere
Riverside Park - Bonita
Get Directions

2012 - Friday Line Up

MudboneMudbone
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Deb & the DynamicsDeb & the Dynamics
3:15pm - 4:00pm
Damon FowlerDamon Fowler
4:30pm - 5:45pm
Karen LovelyKaren Lovely
6:15pm - 7:30pm
Tinsley EllisTinsley Ellis
8:00pm - 9:15pm

2012 - Saturday Line Up

Gator NateGator Nate
11:30am - 12:15pm
Kim Page BandKim Page Band
12:45pm - 1:30pm
StringtownStringtown
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Skyla BurrellSkyla Burrell
3:15pm - 4:15pm
Mel MeltonMel Melton
4:45pm - 6:00pm
Trampled Under FootTrampled Under Foot
6:30pm - 7:45pm
Magic Slim & the TeardropsMagic Slim & the Teardrops
8:15pm - 9:30pm