Start the weekend off right with Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys, $25.75, minors OK with parent/guardian (doors: 7 pm, show: 8 pm).
They are joined by legendary drummer Tony Coleman who has had an illustrious career touring the world with B.B. King, Otis Clay, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Albert Collins, Etta James, James Cotton, Katie Webster, Z.Z. Hill, O.V. Wright and Buddy Guy.
The son of a traveling bass player and singer, Johnny “Wheels” Kennicott had music in his blood since birth, but expressing himself musically took on new importance when Johnny broke his neck in a childhood accident, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.
Johnny found, through determined trial and error, he could manipulate his paralyzed diaphragm to not only sing, but also blow the harmonica. Since that time, Johnny has been traveling the Pacific Northwest music scene, spreading the gospel of the blues.
Although the Swamp Donkeys, including Brandon Logan and Taylor Frazier, are typically tagged as a blues band, the diversity of the members’ musical backgrounds becomes evident as the worlds of R&B, soul, jazz, funk and rock are blended under a blues umbrella.
Local up-and-coming blues band Sleeper Wave opens the show. Since formation, they have performed at many local venues, and won the Cascade Blues Association Youth Journey to Memphis challenge: a strong testament to their musical talent.