Meet the Divas!
Bridget Kelly Band
Lisa Biales
Inspired by classic & electric blues, the Bridget Kelly Band has placed their unique stamp on the blues-rock genre; with high-energy live performances and a hybrid sound that mixes Texas Blues with various Southern Blues traditions. The sultry vocals of singer Bridget Kelly and incendiary lead guitar work of Tim Fik
forge a signature sound that combines female urban blues with riff-driven guitar blues; all held together by a dynamic rhythm section. With the release of their 2nd CD: "Forever in Blues" (June, 2014) the group gained serious media attention, with excellent reviews from music critics in the U.S. and U.K. The album, which
contained 15 original songs, was a top-4 pick by the International Blues Broadcasters Association (IBBA) in the summer of 2014, and the CD charted regularly on the Roots Music Report (RMR) Top-50 Blues Chart (August through October), reaching the #14 spot for the week ending Oct. 23rd.
The "Forever in Blues" CD climbed to #2 on the RMR State of Florida chart and hit #1 on the Blues Debut chart for two weeks
running (ending Oct. 6th) and peaked at #2 on the Blues411.com chart the week of Dec. 2nd , 2014. The Bridget Kelly Band’s music has made the playlists of DJs hosting popular syndicated blues radio shows around the globe, including KFFA (Helena, Arkansas)— Sunshine Sonny Payne’s “King Biscuit Time”, Tony Colter’s “Blues Report” on BB King’s Bluesville (CH 70 Sirius-XM radio), Kevin Black's "Black on Blues" and Tony Corner’s “Blues Corner” (in the UK), Chefjimi Patricola’s “Blues411.com, Baker’s Dozen”, John Hammer’s “Hammered by the Blues”, Kevin Beale's "Blues on the Marsh", the Kool Breeze show, the “Good Morning Blues show” (WRFG Atlanta), Clive Newton’s “Voice of the Red Sea Blues”, Crossroads Café, “ATC” Blues, “The Raven & the Blues show”, Blues & Roots radio, WWOZ (New Orleans), Radio IDL (Tulsa),
“Crossroads” with Chris Helm, Josep Palmada’s Red Hot Blues show”, Cleve Baker’s “Confessing the Blues”, DJ Wyatt’s “Yippee-ki-ay -- Rattled Beats show”, Vinny Bond Marini’s “Blues on the Couch”, Radio Wesser, Cool Hand’s “Juke Joint”, Ian Mckenzie’s “Blues Before Midnight”, DJ Yorkie’s “Monday Madhouse”, “Blues
Club” with Switch Dunmow, the “Eclectic Chair” with Trish Lewis, “Saturday Blues” with Sister T, Wild Bill Kenton’s “Blues 102”, “Friday Night Blues” with Norma Martinez, Gil Anthony’s “Blues Power”, and numerous other radio shows throughout the U.S., Canada, Germany, Spain, Australia, and France.
Check out more on the Bridget Kelly Band here: www.bridgetkellyband.com
Regina Bonelli
Singer, songwriter, musician Regina Bonelli has just released her debut blues/R&B album “Open Up The Door”. The album is full of heartfelt original material channeled from her personal experiences in love, life, and single parenthood and as a native of the urban jungle that is New York City. The record is already receiving airplay and is in heavy rotation on SiriusXM Radio BB King’s Bluesville station, where two tracks, “Open Up the Door” and “Mystical Love” are being played. It is receiving spins on stations across the U.S., Europe and Australia.
Dubbed the "Reigning Queen of NYC Blues" by Big City Rhythm & Blues magazine and a member of the New York Blues Hall of Fame, Regina has delivered a narrative of songs each telling their own individual story. Her intensely soulful vocals, keyboard playing and musical compositions, joined with the expressive guitar chops and production work of renowned bluesman, Michael Hill, take “Open Up The Door” to a place that will surely strike a chord with listeners.
Check out more on Regina here: http://www.reginabonelli.com
http://www.facebook.com/regina.bonelli
An Ohio native, LISA BIALES (pronounced Be-Alice) grew up in a musical family and started performing at the age of thirteen. Singing from the heart, and writing playful music about the simple things in life, she weaves a down-home blues vernacular with finger style acoustic guitar to create songs that feel like they’ve been around forever.
As a member of the long-time folk duo Prairie Orchid, with Sarah Goslee Reed, Biales played over 100 shows a year as an artist-in-schools educational
performer.
Biales has released seven albums to date. JUST LIKE HONEY, her 2012 release produced by EG Kight and Paul Hornsby, landed on the Blues, Americana, and Roots charts at #2, #14, and #13 respectively. It also made the Roots Music Report’s top 100 Blues albums of the Year. Her song “Playing With Angels”, about the healing benefits of a canine companion, went to #1 in 2008 on the Australian Indie Radio Chart. Her song “I Believe” was featured in the popular TV show ”Girlfriends” on the CW Network, and her CLOSET HIPPIE album received extensive airplay on Sirius XM’s The Coffee House, where up-and-coming singer-songwriters are discovered.
In 2010 Francis Ford Coppola cast Biales in his film, TWIXT, which was released in Europe to rave reviews. Biales also portrayed the beloved Patsy Cline in the two-woman play “Always, Patsy Cline” to a week of sold-out shows.
Dubbed the “Belle of the Blues” for her crystal clear voice and charming stage presence, Biales recorded her latest project, again with Kight as producer. Aptly named BELLE OF THE BLUES, the album has garnered rave reviews. It was also nominated for a Blues Blast Music Award for Acoustic Album of the Year.
Biales lives with her husband Marc on 62 acres in Southwest Ohio, and has two grown sons. When she’s not performing, she enjoys gardening, raising chickens, and taking walks with her dog Zelda.
Nita Belk
In 2001, Nita Belk bought a bass, and took it home to her kitchen where she’d cook soup and learn to play and sing. Nita B has experimented with a number of musical styles, but has fallen in love with Blues, Jazz and Upbeat Jumpin’ sounds. In a short musical span she has been honored by Charlotte, NC’s local music scene, played numerous music festivals where she shared billings with world renowned performers, and she opened for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra to a crowd of 25,000. You may catch her performing more low-key, sultry music at upscale venues as Nita B Duo and Nita B Trio, or experience the full band, Nita B & Her Soirée, with music that runs the gamut from suave, elegant & chic to fiery grittiness that gives you goosebumps and makes your toes curl.
Tullie Brae
The soulful blues singer and multi-instrumentalist credits her gift to her roots in gospel music, like so many great and soul singers before her. Her musical journey started when she began singing in church where her Dad was pastor. She played piano, drums and guitar and early on assumed the role of choir director. Her artistic reputation grew within the gospel community which led to touring professionally with gospel groups.
For more info check out her page! www.tulliebrae.com
Barbara Diab
Blues Enchantress, BARBARA DIAB, brings a unique honesty to each song with her powerful vocal range.
Born in Australia and raised in Ontario across the river from Detroit, Barbara has been greatly influenced by Motown, American roots, gospel and her true love, the Blues. In 2011, Barbara and Pierre Lamontagne, her bass-playing husband, founded The Smoked Meat Band, now firmly established on the Quebec Blues circuit.
Her début album is due in 2015 featuring the legendary bassist, Stephen Barry and world-class drummer, Tony TC Coleman (B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Otis Clay). Barbara performs with her producer, guitarist JD Slim and is a regular guest of reknown artists, sharing the stage with Elizabeth Blouin-Brathwaite, Jean Millaire, Steve Rowe and Nuno Mindelis of Brazil. A rising star on the world blues scene, her warmth and generosity transform her audiences into a family...all begging for more.