STLBlues :: A Blues eZine

50 Local Bands to Play “Big Muddy”

The Budweiser Big Muddy Blues Festival will feature 50 local bands on five stages throughout the event. “Big Muddy” has been expanded to three days in 2006, with more than 15 bands slated to play on the “new night,” Friday, September 1st beginning at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, September 2, 2006, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay will kick-off the festival by declaring it “Bennie Smith Day,” honoring legendary local bluesman Bennie Smith. Mayor Slay will present the proclamation to Smith shortly before Smith and his band Urban Blues Express perform on the Budweiser Main Stage at 4:30 p.m. Bennie Smith & The Urban Blues Express will be followed by New Orleans’ funk band, Papa Grows Funk at 6:30 p.m. The Fabulous Thunderbirds will headline the main stage, with a 75-90 minute set beginning at 8:30 p.m.

Smith, one of St. Louis’ patriarchs of electric blues, is credited with teaching St. Louisan Ike Turner a thing or two on guitar, and has performed and recorded with everyone from Bobby “Blue” Bland and Charles Brown to Jimmy Reed and Hubert Sumlin. A longtime fixture on the St. Louis blues scene, Smith has been playing with the Urban Blues Express for more than a decade, and was named Best Blues Artist in the Riverfront Times’ readers’ poll in 2004 and 2005.

On Sunday, September 3rd, additional main stage performers include Louisiana guitar virtuoso Sonny Landreth (8:30 p.m.), soulful songstress Shemekia Copeland (6:30 p.m.), Eddie Cotton and The Mississippi Cotton Club (4:30 p.m.), and Jimmy “Duck” Holmes (3 p.m.).

For more info, FAQ's, or to sign the guestbook, please visit BigMuddyBlues.com

A complete list of bands scheduled to play on all five stages at the 2006 Budweiser Big Muddy Blues Festival is listed below. Click here for a printer friendly schedule!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st

St. Louis
Headliners Stage
First St. & Lucas St.

Hampton Inn
Gateway Arch stage
Second St. & Lucas St.

Embassy Suites
stage
Martin Luther King Drive

Regional Arts
Comission stage
Second St. & Morgan St.

5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Marcel Strong
& The Apostles

7 – 8 p.m.
David Krull
& The Cryin’ Shame Band

8:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Rich McDonough Band

10 – 11 p.m.
David Dee
& The Hot Tracks Band

5 – 6 p.m.
Marquise Knox

6: 30 – 7:30 p.m.
Shakey Ground Band

8 – 9 p.m.
Jimmy Lee Kennett

9:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Erika Johnson

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
J.R. Reed

7 – 8 p.m.
Pipin’ Hot Biscuits of Blues

8:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Buffalo Bob Blues Band

10 – 11 p.m.
Erma Whiteside Band

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Billy & The Movers

7 – 8 p.m.
Bone Daddy
& The Blues Shakers

8:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Baker-McClaren Band

10 – 11 p.m.
Steve Pecaro Band

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd

Budweiser
Main Stage

St. Louis
Headliners Stage
First St. & Lucas St.

Hampton Inn
Gateway Arch stage
Second St. & Lucas St.

Embassy Suites
stage
Martin Luther King Drive

Regional Arts
Comission stage
Second St. & Morgan St.

3:00 PM
Blue on Blonde

4:30 PM
Bennie Smith & Urban Blues Express

6:30 PM
Papa
Grows Funk

8:30 PM
Fabulous Thunderbirds

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Arthur Williams
Blues Masters

5 – 6 p.m.
Soulard Blues Band

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Billy Peek

8-9 p.m.
Alvin Jett & Phat NoiZ
Blues Band

9:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Barbara Carr Band

3 – 4 p.m.
Bottoms Up Blues Gang

4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Rockin’ Jake Band

6:15 – 7:15 p.m.
Lisa Campbell

8 – 9 p.m.
The Mighty Big Band

9:45 – 11 p.m.
Keith Doder and
Blues City Band

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Leroy Pierson

5 – 6 p.m.
Beau Shelby

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Roland Johnson
& Soul Endeavor

8 – 9 p.m.
On Call Blues Band

9:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Ground Floor Band

4 – 5 p.m.
Billy Barnett Band

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Blues Handle

7 – 8 p.m.
Stacy Johnson
& Broadway Rhythm

8:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Rondo’s Blues Deluxe

10 – 11 p.m.
Tony Campanella Band

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd

Budweiser
Main Stage

St. Louis
Headliners Stage
First St. & Lucas St.

Hampton Inn
Gateway Arch stage
Second St. & Lucas St.

Embassy Suites
stage
Martin Luther King Drive

Regional Arts
Comission stage
Second St. & Morgan St.

3:00 PM
Jimmy "Duck" Holmes

4:30 PM
Eddie Cotton & The Mississippi Cotton Club

6:30 PM
Shemekia Copeland

8:30 PM
Sonny
Landreths

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Inner City Blues Band

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
St. Louis Jazz All Stars

7 – 8 p.m.
Vince Martin Blues Band

8:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Marsha Evans Coalition

10 – 11 p.m.
Big George Brock & The House Rockers

3 – 4:30 p.m.
Brian Curran

5 – 6:30 p.m.
New Rising Sun Blues Band

7 – 8:30 p.m.
Mojo Syndrome

9 – 10:30 p.m.
VooDoo Blues Band

3:30 – 5 p.m.
Tom Hall

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Silvercloud & Ron Edwards

7:30 – 9 p.m.
Renee Smith & Sole Blues

9:30 – 10:30 p.m.
The Sportsmen

4 – 5 p.m.
Johnny Fox

5:30 – 7 p.m.
Uncle Albert Band

7:30 - 9 p.m.
Rx Blues Band

9:30 – 11 p.m.
Shawn Kellerman

Here's a look back at the 2005 Big Muddy -

Thumbnail panels: