This year's Deep Blues Festival at Linday's Landing in Orting Washington once again tops expectations and delivers some of the best blues and roots music that you'll see on the west coast in a festival of this size.  It's community vibe and the fact that it's a free festival with free food is something that isn't sustainable, but for the time being is something that everyone in attendance can agree is a cut above just about any festival ever.  

The festival's organizers, Nick Lindsay, Chris Green and Jon-Thomas Butler are avid blues and roots music fans that have poured their hearts, souls and money into sharing the music that brings so much joy to them.  You'll see these guys at so many shows throughout the year supporting the scene and the bands that they most certainly earn the title of "super-fans".  But beyond being fans of the music they are helping to incubate and cultivate this wonderful music scene that is growing exponentially every year.

This year the festival presented GravelRoad with an incredible honor by naming the main stage after the band.  The "GravelRoad" stage was commemorated with a beautiful wood plaque that was artistically crafted by none other than Jon-Thomas Butler.

There were many great performances throughout the weekend from veteran acts and some new discoveries as well.  CW Ayon and Jaw Knee Vee gave some great solo performances, Rootjack kept the energy going in the hottest part of the afternoon, and The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit made a return appearance that everyone at the festival was talking about.  

Below are a few photos from the event, we'll post more as they become available. 

Michael Wohl performs a solo guitar set for the music variety show Plastic Jet Airline on August 9, 2014.  Check out a performance of songs from his forthcoming solo album and west coast tour:

Click here for the full performance: 

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/51155398

"Even in a two-song release, he’s able to imprint his personality on such a stubborn genre; this indicates not just skill, but that American Primitivism, even with its limitations, can and will persist in some form."

Read the full article by Dave Cantor here:

http://www.seattleweekly.com/home/953219-129/michael-wohl-the-new-primitive

"There’s a bit of psychedelia on display as the song progresses from its ancestral roots. As Wohl begins to get lost in the cat’s cradle melody, it begins to free his fingers and expand the sound. It’s subtle but you’ll pick it up after a few listens – and you will listen repeatedly. Wohl may not be a fast riser on your radar but give him a few more releases and you’ll find yourself a fan if you’re on the old Fahey/Kottke trip. Only so much of that old pizzazz left to go ‘round." ~ Justin Spicer, Tiny Mix Tapes

http://www.tinymixtapes.com/cerberus/michael-wohl-moonfeeder-bw-song-of-impermanence?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

GravelRoad completed a very successful European tour that included Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany.

Here's a link to drummer Martin Reinsel's tour blog:

http://gravelroadblues.com/category/gravelroad-news/

Here are some links to the press received on the tour.  They are not in English so you will need to use Google Translate or something simliar.

http://www.fullmoonzine.cz/clanky/sterkovou-cestou-od-blues-k-punku-gravelroad

http://swiebodzice.info/2014/05/19/gravelroad-dali-czadu-w-dobromierzu-foto/

http://radiobiper.info/2014/05/12/vii-miedzynarodowy-biala-blues-festival-galeria/

Here's a link to them are playing to a packed house at the Highway 61 Club in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic on May 7, 2014

Video footage of GravelRoad at Bluesfest in Eutin, Germany on Sunday May 18, 2014.  

this video includes: Baby I Love You, Fireman, Death Bed Blues, Leave Her Alone

Guitar player Stefan Zillioux was born in Würzburg, Germany and spent some of his life living in Germany and was fortunately able to help communicate with the crowd on behalf of the rest of the band who knew very little of the language.

Photos from Bluesfest, Eutin - photos by Krzysztof Szafraniec

https://www.facebook.com/krzysztof.szafraniec/media_set?set=a.743382685684129.1073741830.100000372123991&type=1

As this tour wraps up, plans are already in the works for a fall tour of the Midwest into the South revolving around the Muddy Roots Festival near Nashville TN, where they will be performing on Labor Day weekend with Mudhoney, The Blasters, Bobby Bare, Left Lane Cruiser, Possessed by Paul James, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, ANTiSEEN, Hooten Hollers, among others.  

http://www.muddyrootsrecords.com/mr_events/mr_musicfest/lineup.php

GravelRoad's next show is Saturday May 31 at The Mix in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood.  Catch them as they're still on fire from the tour along with Sweet Jesus and Michael Wohl (solo, Mystery Ship).

Michael Wohl's performs "Song of Impermanance" live at Cafe Racer on April 26, 2014 ~ video by Alex Hagenah

This performance was part of the record release show for Michael's new 7" vinyl record "Moonfeeder" b/w "Song of Impermanence"

"Sweet grooves, tight riffs and a laid back vibe combined with a layered vocal harmony provide the substance needed to conquer the world."

-Heavy Planet

For the full review click here:

http://www.heavyplanet.net/2014/03/new-band-to-burn-one-to-mystery-ship.html

"the Seattle four-piece make a solid argument for American contribution to the form of classic heavy rock...Unpretentious and unaggressive, but still weighted in tone and forceful in their push"

-The Obelisk

For the full review click here:

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/03/19/mystery-ship-bridgeburner-chinatown-7-inch-on-wax/

"Eight Pieces keeps it bare so you can hear the skill and jubilation of playing guitar rather than the heady study of the art form." - J.Spicer, Tiny Mix Tapes

For the full text of the review click here

The Foghorns and guests including Casey Ruff and the Mayors of Ballard will playing all night to celebrate Minnesota, especially the Good Thunder Reading Series.  Come out to the Blue Moon and show your support this Friday night!