MIKE WHEELER BAND FEATURING DEMETRIA TAYLOR

Demetria Taylor has been performing at BLUE CHICAGO since 2010.  She is the seventh child of eight from the family of the late blues legend Eddie Taylor Sr. and is helping keep the legacy of her father alive. Eddie is best known as the rhythm guitarist in the band of Jimmy Reed but he also had his own solo career and recorded some wonderful sides for the VJ label including the classic “Bad Boy”. Her mother Vera Taylor was also a blues singer. Demetria has fond memories of blues greats and friends of the family coming by the house– including Floyd Jones, Carey Bell, Sunnyland Slim, Johnny Littlejohn, Sam Lay, Willie Kent, Tail Dragger, Eddie Shaw, Johnny B. Moore and Magic Slim.

Born in Chicago, Demetria grew up surrounded by Blues music listening on records to her biggest influences including Etta James, Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton and most importantly, “The Queen of The Blues” Koko Taylor (no relation to the Eddie Taylor family). Demetria started playing drums at age 14, coached by her older brothers Larry and Tim, both professional blues drummers. She played in family shows across Chicago which also featured brother Eddie Taylor Jr. on guitar. She also sang in the gospel choir at Trinity All Nations Church on Chicago’s south side.

“I put God first and everything else will work out”, says Demetria, who is married with eight children. “I feel that singing is something I was born to do. Sometimes on the stage my eyes tear up as I feel the music I’m singing. I love to listen to all types of music, but the blues caught my ear. I’ll never give up my dream.” Demetria has toured nationally and internationally and performs in many clubs and festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival. Her first album, Bad Girl, is on Delmark Records.  Demetria was nominated in 2012  Blues Music Awards for “Best New Debut Artist”.

Mike Wheeler has a vast knowledge of music and a voice that's reminiscent of the late Sam Cooke. He can sing and play everything so well that you may forget what the original record even sounds like. From Jazz to Rock, from popular music to Top 40, he slides in and out of musical genres with sophistication, ease and indulgence. Mike Wheeler is a brilliant staple in the Chicago blues community, playing and writing songs for a variety of Chicago artists including, Nellie Tiger Travis, Peaches Staten, Sam Cockrell, Demetria Taylor, Big Ray & Cadillac Dave. Mike was a well known member of Big James &The Chicago Playboys, a notable band in Chicago and recorded five albums with the group. He has travelled the world as an ambassador for Chicago blues music. He's been to Monaco, France, Switzerland, Spain and Belgium, just to name a few. He's also shared the stage with the most elite musicians the world has known, including Willie Kent, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, George Benson, Jimmy Johnson and Shemekia Copeland. Mike was inducted in the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame in 2014.   
Mike uses Elixir Strings.

Larry Williams is a Bass Extraordinaire with unmatched stage presence and charisma. Influenced by artists such as Bennie Williams, Jerome Scott, Sam Cockrell, Larry Graham, James Jamerson, Willie Dixon, Stanley Clarke and Verdine White just to name a few. Larry's style is clean and driving, reminiscent of the late greats yet modern, enabling him to play with the best in the business. From Gospel to Alternative, Larry can play it all. He has played on national and international stages. He has performed with Albertina Walker, Tyrone Davis, James Cotton, Jimmy Johnson, Buddy Guy, Vicki Winans, Koko Taylor, B.B. King and George Benson along with countless others. He has recorded on three major blues labels: Alligator, Blind Pig and Delmark Records. He is a true example of someone who knows what he was born to do!!
Larry uses Elixir Strings.

Cleo Cole began playing drums at the age of 10. He was influenced by his older brother Jethero Cole. Cleo played in his grammar and high school bands and also attended the Conservatory of Music where he was taught by Peter Romalis. He then began playing around town with various artists such as Doug McDonald, Alvin Cash, Floyd Taylor, Zora Young, Maurice John Vaughn, Shirley King, Big James, Nellie Travis, Peaches Staten, Sam Cockrell and Pistol Pete. His influences are Omar Hakim, Dennis Chambers, Billy Cobham, Bernard"Pretty"Purdie, Killer Ray Allison, Willie "Big Eyes"Smith and Willie "The Touch" Hayes. He has traveled all over the world. He was part of the Legendary Blues Cruise 2011 where he bonded with his fellow drummers. Cleo plays Yamaha Maple Customs and has a stick endorsement with Vic Firth. He has recorded on Blind Pig and Delmark Records. Cleo Cole is a drummer that you must see and hear for yourself!!!

Ronnie Hicks has been a highly respected mainstay on the Chicago blues scene for many years as a producer, keyboard player and member of the respected Maschen Company Band. He has played with Z.Z. Hill, Little Milton, Albert King, The Chi-Lites and Cicero Blake. Ronnie started out by singing in a vocal group called the Soul Majestics when he was fifteen and showed a strong interest in playing the keyboards from an early age. Ever since then he’s been bringing joy to audiences all over the world

MAE SIMPSON

Mae Simpson has been shaking up the Minneapolis music scene ever since her band formed in 2018, performing on larger and larger stages to a growing base of loyal fans across the Midwest. Led by her powerful vocals, the six-piece band brings audiences to their feet. The Minneapolis-based singer songwriter weaves elements of funk, soul, pop, rock and country into her sound. Mae and her bandmates leave it all on the stage. Their high-energy show creates a powerful connection with the audience. Hailing originally from South Carolina, Mae has been passionate about singing and creating music for as long as she can remember.  Her broad and soulful voice and deep well of creative energy are complemented by the musicianship and passion of the band. The band has released two EPs, Feel It Comin’ in 2018 and Did You Make it Back in 2020. The band’s debut full-length album, Chandelier & Bloom, released September 1, 2023. 

“Her raspy, dynamic voice is larger than life,” said Colleen Cowieof Minnesota Public Radio, “but not as large as her uncontainable energy that radiates from the stage.” 

Simpson has opened for acts including Dermot Kennedy, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Robert Clay, Ike Reilly, Langhorn Slim, RubbleBucket, and Pert Near Sandstone. She has performed multiple times on the iconic First Avenue main room, The Fillmore in Minneapolis, the Basilica Block Party, Live On King Street in Madison, Wisconsin, and the Blue Ox Music Festival. If you are a fan of artists like Alabama Shakes, Lake Street Dive and Bruce Springsteen, Mae Simpson is right up your alley.

"Mae’s powerful voice has remnants of Janis Joplin and Ella Fitzgerald, tied together with a rasp of Joan Jett. Brought together by an extremely talented and passionate band, Mae Simpson Music is a ticking time bomb for breaking into the national array of local artists to make it “big.” – Richard Dollarhide (Music in Minnesota)

“It’s impossible to stand still during a Mae Simpson Music set. Simpson’s raspy, dynamic voice is larger than life — but not as large as her uncontainable energy that radiates from the stage.” – Colleen Cowie (Minneapolis Public Radio)

“Mae Simpson‘s horn-laden soundcheck lures us to the Backwoods Stage for one of the most energetic and memorable performances of the weekend. The Twin Cities-based band led by astounding vocalist and namesake Mae Simpson bucks Blue Ox’s bluegrass-leaning tendencies with a lively blend of rock and roll, blues, folk that throws the couple hundred night owls looking on with us into an after hours frenzy.” – Josh Hoppert (Milwaukee Record) 

LARRY TAYLOR BAND

Larry Hill Taylor, legendary blues singer and drummer, is the oldest in the musical family of the late singer Vera Hill Taylor and master guitarist Eddie “Playboy” Taylor—VeeJay recording artist, Jimmy Reed's music partner, who powered Chicago blues with the boogie and "lump."

Today Larry’s a legend in his own right. He faithfully carries his Mississippi-born parents' traditions. With his band, the Soul Blues Healers, he brings the rhythm and spirits of his West Side Chicago neighborhood--from Howlin' Wolf to James Brown. The music reaches all types of audiences and brings people together.

WOMANISH GIRL

Self-proclaimed rock & rollers and lovers of the blues, Womanish Girl is a Kansas City-based duo composed of guitarist and vocalist Katy Guillen and drummer Steph Williams. After collaborating for nearly 7 years in the 2014 IBC Finalist and internationally touring band Katy Guillen & The Girls, Guillen and Williams carry on their undeniable collaborative chemistry and appreciation for roots & blues music in this stripped down formation. They pour their years of touring and creating together into an interpretation of the blues that is raw, energetic, and deep as Womanish Girl. 

MOLLY BRANDT

With her powerful vocals, compelling storytelling, and unforgettable performances, Molly Brandt is making waves in the independent music scene. Drawing inspiration from songwriting legends like Dolly Parton and Tom T. Hall, her songs weave tales of heartache, resilience, and triumph, delving into blue-collar struggles, dive bar revelries, long car rides, and cold-blooded revenge.

With a musical background that includes stints as a classical pianist and jazz vocalist, Brandt found her songwriting voice when she turned to roots music, using a tapestry of Americana styles to tell her vivid, gritty stories. She released her first singles in 2022 and was soon performing at venues and festivals across the Midwest.

Brandt captivates audiences with her fiery delivery, memorable attire and evocative lyrics. Her 2023 debut album, Surrender to the Night, blends honky-tonk, countrypolitan, and alt-rock influences, and she’ll return to the studio in early 2024 with plans to explore an even broader range of roots music.

While we’ll have to wait to hear what this next iteration of Molly Brandt sounds like, one thing we can count on is that it’s going to be unforgettable. “Take a ride with me,” she sings in one song that could be an advertisement for her own music. “Light me up, you know you can't resist / ’Cause I’m like propane and cigarettes.”

 STEPHEN HULL EXPERIENCE

The Stephen Hull Experience gives the blues community exciting evidence that the future of music is in good hands. Born in 1999, a native of Racine, Wisconsin, Stephen Hull started playing blues at age 14 and never stopped, taking cues from Albert King and B.B. King as he developed his sweet, soulful guitar sound. Balancing that with his absolutely stellar lead vocals and infectiously buoyant personality, Stephen has been rising fast in the blues clubs of Chicago and venues across southeastern Wisconsin. Appearing  in blues magazines such as Living Blues (U.S.) and Blues & Rhythm: The Gospel Truth (UK), Stephen has been interviewed by a myriad of media including Lake Effect (broadcast on Milwaukee’s NPR). From the Chicago Blues Fest to the Mississippi Valley Blues Fest, The Stephen Hull Experience is making headlines.

THE NEW FERAL CATS

John Garden: Bass, Voc., Song Writer

John is a standing member of the Midwest Music Hall of Fame. He was one of the founders of the Twin Cities band Raggs and the founder of the legendary Rhythm Roosters, a Twin Cities R&B combo that features John's award winning original songs. John is a highly respected bass player, an award winning songwriter as well as an all around nice guy. And he's still standing... John also lends his songwriting to the New Feral Cats funk!

Sonna Olson: Singer

Sonna began her musical career in northern Minnesota playing the college circuit with her sister, Lorene in the band Source, later named Sabre. Sonna fronted the Personna band in the twin cities in the 1980's. Sonna began playing with the R&B band The Loadings in the 90’s. Her next project was a duo called Amethyst. A few years ago Sonna , her sister and brother-in-law began performing original theatrical show songs around the Duluth area in a trio called Sisters Of Song.

Ross William Perry: Guitar, Voc., Song Writer

Ross William Perry, a gifted singer/songwriter/guitarist, has been doing his homework since the tender age of four and it shows. Focused on a lifetime of playing his music, Ross has been a rising star on the Midwest Blues scene since graduating high school in ’98. Blending his Blues, Rock and Jazz influences, Ross has created a sound that is distinctively his own and never fails to impress."

Nick Zwack: Nick is the co-founder of The New Feral Cats along with Dave Harris, who is no longer with the band.

Nick found his passion for drumming in grade school when the most rhythmic Catholic nuns in Dubuque, Iowa schooled him in the ways of 4/4. Nick cut his drum chops marching in the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps and rocking his first drum kit at the age of 11. Versed in Funk, R&B, Blues and Rock, Nick slides effortlessly between complex drum rhythms all the while keeping the groove going. Since calling Minneapolis home, Nick has kept busy with such bands as Fire Rose, Ross William Perry, The Roosters, Squishy Mud, Joyann Parker & Sweet Tea, Full Moon, Out of the Blue, Michael James & The Headliners, Armadillo Jump, Ronn Easton's All Star Review and Big Bob and the High Rollers.