The Village at Squaw Valley is not just keeping Tahoe blues, it is extending it, with the series beginning two weeks earlier than ususal.
This summer’s one local band will open Bluesdays on Tuesday, June 17. The Blues Monsters played before 700 people in the 2012 series finale. The veteran Tahoe and Reno-based band includes Chuck Dunn, Tom Barnes, Barry Slayton and Michael Overhauser. The lead singer-guitarist is the host of “Chuckie Dunn’s Choose Blues” show on KTKE 101.5 Truckee Tahoe Radio, which airs from 4-5 p.m. and midnight to 1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
“We are excited to extend the series into June and look forward to the incredible vibe that Bluesdays brings to the Village each week,” said Caroline Ross, the executive director of the Squaw Valley Village Neighbourhood Company.
Bluesdays, Squaw Valley’s Tuesday tradition will be highlighted by two bands from Tupelo, Miss., one of the best saxophone players in the business and for the second straight year Nikki Hill, Studebaker John, Chris Cain and Mark Hummel with Little Charlie Baty.
The free two-set shows are from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Village.
“It’s a cool gig to be playing in a beautiful place like that,” Hummel told Tahoe Onstage. “It’s kind of rare. Mostly the only time we play outdoor stuff is festivals.”
Hummel, who has presented his Harmonica Blowout revue to the Crystal Bay Casino a number of times, debuted at Squaw Valley last summer. He produced the album “Remembering Little Walter,” which received a Grammy Nomination and is up for two 2014 Blues Music Awards. His 24th album (27th if counting vinyl releases), “The Hustle is Really On,” will be released April 15 on Electro-Fi Records, his sixth with the label.
Hummel also is the author of “Big Road Blues: 12 Bars on I-80,” an inside look into the world of a traveling musician.
Elvis Presley would be extra proud of his birthplace if he knew about the Bluesdays lineup.
Tupelo’s Homemade Jamz Blues Band will make its Tahoe-area debut July 15. The trio, siblings Ryan, Kyle and Taya Perry, plays on homemade instruments. The band captured the world’s attention by finishing second in the 2008 International Blues Challenge when drummer Taya was 9 years old.
Also from Tupulo, Paul Thorn is an accomplished songwriter and more an Americana player that a blues artist. While bluesmen are known for paying their dues, Thorn paid a particular price for one of the songs he wrote, a true life story about being knocked out by boxing champion Roberto Duran. After his matchup with the Panamanian known as “Hand of Stone,” Thorn elected to pursue rock ’n’ roll. The son of a Pentecostal preacher is a charismatic and gregarious performer who has played in recent years at Crystal Bay and Sand Harbor.
Terry Hanck debuts at Bluesdays on Aug. 26. Like Hummel, he is about to release a new album, “Got to Bring it Home,” and will be in Memphis for the Blues Music Awards, nominated for Best Horn.
Bluesdays
Tuesdays in the Village at Squaw ValleyJune 17 — The Blues Monsters
June 24 — Mark Hummel w/ Little Charlie Baty
July 1 — Chris Cain
July 8 — Studebaker John
July 15 — Homemade Jamz Blues Band
July 22 — Candye Kane
July 29 — Paul Thorn
Aug. 5 — Hamiliton Loomis
Aug. 12 — Shane Dwight
Aug. 19 — Nikki Hill
Aug. 26 — Terry Hanck
