January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9: Last year the “fiery” blues of internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Alice Stuart attracted one of the biggest crowds the Spanish Point Boat Club has ever hosted.
Now the trailblazing blues icon is back to grace our shores and is playing a set at the same venue this Saturday evening.
Stuart has toured the world with a host of musical legends including Van Morrison and Mississippi John Hurt and has been nominated for a Grammy and a Handy Award (The blues equivalent of a Grammy).
Driving force
She has been widely recognised as a driving force in country, folk and blues music and in her early years paved the way for female artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Joan Jett and Christie Hynde (of The Pretenders). As musician and historian Taj Mahal put it: “Alice cut the road that Bonnie (Raitt) traveled.”
Organizer and folk musician Michael Cacy said Stuart was, “an artist not to be missed for her good moody blues, songwriting from the soul, and incredibly tasty guitar work”.
In the early 1960s, Stuart had a weekly gig on the west coast produced TV series on “Hootenanny”. In 1964, Alice took the stage at the Berkeley Folk Festival, and again in ‘66 and ‘70 which led to touring with folk and blues legends such as Joan Baez, Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Albert King and others. Alice made a move to Los Angeles and was hired for her finger-style guitar playing and vocals to join Frank Zappa’s band “Mothers of Invention”...the only woman to ever play with the band.
Stuart soon became known as “one of the foremothers of rock and roll” and it was noted in Rock: The Illustrated History of San Francisco Rock Music, that she came before her time.
Before the wave brash ladies of rock such as Chrissy Hynde and Pat Benatar, Stuart was brandishing her Stratocaster with an all-male band.
During the 70s she wrote her own music and fronted her own band playing lead guitar on national and international circuits.
She toured the US and Europe with Van Morrison and Commander Cody and appeared and recorded with Jerry Garcia, John Hammond, Elvin Bishop, Dave Mason, Sonny Terry, Tower of Power and many others.
Now she brings her Bolshie blend of blues and folk to Bermuda.
When: Saturday, May 12Where: Spanish Point Boat Club
Time: 8pm
Tickets: $12
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