Press Release

Come April Tibbits Will Be Singing The Blues In The Night

Date: 3/17/08

COLDWATER, MI—

Saturday, April 12, at 8:00 Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, MI, will host Bill Lupkin and the Chicago Blues Coalition. Part of the Chicago Blues scene for more than 38 years, harmonica player-vocalist Bill Lupkin brings one of the best tones in the Blues Biz in his efforts to keep the classic 50s Blues alive. These are Bill Lupkin’s Blues; rooted in the classic Fifties stylings but updated to the 21st century.

Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Lupkin made his move to Chicago at the end of the 1960s, when blues was still mainly heard in the ghetto clubs on the South and West Sides, and most of the great names of the post-war era were active. Bill wasted no time falling in with the Aces and the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Junior Wells, pianist Bob Riedy, and the legendary Jimmy Rogers, just out of retirement. Jimmy's Chess recordings and tastes did a lot to define the place of the harmonica in Chicago Blues.

Kyle Palarino of “A BluesWax” had this to say, “There are many categories of Blues music. I call Bill Lupkin’s Blues ‘honest Blues.’ He plays every song with respect for the musicians he learned from in Chicago in the late 1960s and ‘70s. There are sounds of many artists that he played with or watched in those years … Lupkin shows the way from song to song like a troop leader. His harmonica jumps out on each song. His vocals have a warmth and wisdom to them and there is a strong assertiveness at the mike. Lupkin has been well seasoned and uses his experience to the fullest … The atmosphere is fun with a reverence for the past.”

This is a one night only performance at Tibbits. Bill Lupkin backed by Nick Moss on guitar, Gerry Hundt on guitar or mandolin, Steve Lupkin on bass, Mark Forneck on bass and Tim Wire on keyboards will be appearing at 8:00 P.M. Saturday, April 12. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 517-278-6029, going on line at www.tibbits.org, or by stopping in the administrative offices at 93 W. Chicago Street during normal business hours. Bill Lupkin and the Chicago Blues Coalition will also be appearing at the Kalamazoo Blues Festival in July.