South Skunk Blues Soceity Update

 First I want to thank everyone who have helped us to keep the Blues alive here in Skunkland.  We estimate over 1,000 people total attendance at the two day 20th annual Bowlful of Blues.  The music was great and it was a success!    I have updated the list of people we thank for making this possible (see attachment)!  If I have missed anyone please let me know.  When you look over the list of all that have made the Year of the Skunk and the Bowl a success this year you can see how many people have lent a hand!  It is quite a large group!  Thanks!

In October and November the South Skunk Blues Society will be meeting at the VFW in Newton on the 1st Mondays (10/1 &11/5) at 6:30 PM.  Please feel consider coming to our meetings and seeing if you might be able to lend a hand to our efforts as a volunteer!  We will soon begin planning for the Blues in the Schools, Blues Under the Blue Roof and next years Bowlful of Blues!  We will be having elections for board officers coming up in a few months and would appreciate having some folks come forth and offer to lend us a hand.

Membership Drive Continues:
First I want to say thanks for your support welcome to our new members and those that have renewed their memberships!  I will be sending out a reminder email to those who’s renewal is coming due or are past due.  If you know you are past due or know someone who you think might want to join the Skunk please take a look at the membership form.  Fill it out if you know you are past due or forward it on to a friend to complete.  It is our members that keep this volunteer based non profit organization going.

Is there anyone out there who is interested in buying a 20th annual Bowlful shirt.  We have a few left over and have been asked to see what if would cost to get some larger (2X shirts...) on a limited special order basis (we sold out early on the larger shirts).  If you are interested send me an email and let me know.  We will be determining the cost of these shirts in the very near future.

What is next?  We have added some shows to the list of Blues that is coming to our area!  Come on out to see and listen to some great music and enjoy the company of others.  Support the venues that are bringing Blues music to our area!  Remember that, if in doubt, please check with the venue before driving a distance.  Schedules sometimes change and it is tough to keep up on these sometimes.

September 14: JJ Express with Jane Eilers, 8-12  First Avenue Speakeasy – Newton, No Cover (see attached poster)

September 21: David Zollo, solo, 8-12,   http://davezollo.com/home.cfm   First Avenue Speakeasy – Newton,  No Cover

September 22: Honeyboy Turner Band (from Lincoln Nebraska), 8-12,  Cadillac Jacks – Baxter,  No Cover   Here is his web site  http://www.honeyboyturner.com/  (see attached poster)

September 28: It’s Complicated, 9-1,  First Avenue Speakeasy – Newton,  No Cover  http://www.reverbnation.com/itscomplicatedband  

October 2:  Dorian Michael, 6:30 PM,   Newton Public Library  This Tuesday evening concert is free and open to the public.  Refreshments will  be provided by the Friends of the Newton Public Library. 
    http://www.dorianmichael.com/

October 5: Bryce Janey/Curry Harter, 8-12 (Bryce won 2011 Iowa Blues Challenge) First Avenue Speakeasy – Newton,  No Cover  http://www.thejaneys.com/       http://heartlandentertainment.com/fr_curry.cfm

October 12: JJ Express with Nick Knudsen, 8-12 with Des Moines Spoken Word Delegation pre-show First Avenue Speakeasy – Newton  No Cover

October 13: Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Induction,  Downtown Des Moines Marriott  700 Grand Avenue · Des Moines  7 PM Celebrate the history of the blues in Iowa, preserving the blues in America and partying with the BB King Entertainer of the Year and Alligator recording artist Tommy Castro!  Bob Pace and Scott Cochran, Billylee Janey, Gary Gibson and Jim DeKoster will be inducted!  Both Bob Pace and Scott Cochran played the Bowl this year and so did Billylee Janey’s son Bryce.  Also note that Gary Gibson is scheduled to play at the Speakeasy on 10/26 and Bob Pace on December 1) !  Former Iowa Blues Hall of Fame inductees George Davis and Gil Davis will lead the host band Sumpin’ Doo with each of the inductees joining in after their induction.  (See attached press release).

October 19: Rob Lumbard, solo, 9-12,  First Avenue Speakeasy – Newton,  No Cover http://roblumbard.com/

October 20:  Mojo Machine (8 PM) opens for Jefferson County Green Band (10 PM), Elks Lodge – Grinnell,   No Cover but free will donation accepted   http://jeffersoncountygreenband.com/band-bio/

October 26: JJ Express with Gary Gibson, 8-12,  First Avenue Speakeasy – Newton,  No Cover  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OppgW3P8xxA&feature=related  (Come and congratulate Gary as he will have been inducted to the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame the previous Saturday)

November 10: Matt Woods, solo, 9-12, First Avenue Speakeasy – Newton, No Cover http://www.mattwoodsmusic.com/   (Matt won the Iowa Blues Challenge in 2012)

November 16: Fat Tuesday & the Greasefire Keys  First Avenue Speakeasy – Newton,  No Cover,  (Scott Long, Greg Sutherland, Mark Monroe and Janey Hooper)   

December 1: Bob Pace Band (with John Mattingly), 9-1, First Avenue Speakeasy – Newton,  No Cover  (Bob is in the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and also the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame)  
 http://bobpaceband.com/

December 21: - Matt Woods and Thunderbolts (8 PM)  opens for Lil Ed and Blues Imperials (10PM), Elks Lodge – Grinnell,  (Thunderbolts 2nd to last show before they go on hiatus)  More details on advance ticket sales will be forthcoming.  A block of rooms are available at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Grinnell if you call 641-236-9600 and ask for the South Skunk rate.  These rooms are available at the South Skunk discounted rate ($77.00) only if you make reservations by 11/21.


And lastly please thank and support our corporate sponsors!!!  If not for them, we could not keep the blues alive.  Their support is essential:

Fulton Mechanical: Jeff and Laura Fulton
The Arts Connection  - Newton
August Bergman Inn – Newton
VFW, Men’s Auxiliary Club Post 1655  - Newton
Dr. Mark Wetzel DPM, Foot & Ankle Center  - located in Newton
Vern's Garage, (Specialist Cut & Color), Newton
Jasper County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Barney's  - Newton
Riggs Printing - Newton
Blue Moon BBQ and Cadillac Jacks in Baxter
Side Tracks Tap  - Kellogg
Sugar Grove Vineyards and Gathering Place  - Newton
The Vernon Company  - Newton
I 80 Farms  - Colfax
Revolution Cycle  - Baxter
Town and Country Sanitary Services- Baxter
Conner’s Cardinal Corner – Newton
Dickerson Mechanical – Colfax & Altoona
Wallace Family Funeral Home

See you soon,

 Craig Peterson
President, South Skunk Blues Society             
P.O. Box 951                                   
Newton, Iowa 50208                     
641-227-3209   craig@partnercom.net
Website - http://southskunkblues.org/
Face book -  https://www.facebook.com/#!/south.skunk.1   (South Skunk)
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bowlful-of-Blues/248977208549411     (Bowlful or Blues)

The South Skunk Blues Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving and cultivating Blues music. The Society promotes Blues Music education, public performance opportunities for Blues artists, and seeks to increase the exposure to and appreciation of Blues music by the general public.