The blues this weekend

It looks to be a good weekend for blues in the Burgh. Here are a few of the highlights:

Friday

French blues guitarist Fred Chapéllier will join Billy Price at the Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville. The two have appeared together here and in France, and are working on a joint CD at Bonedog Records in McKeesport.  The Thunderbird's own Pawnbrokers will open the evening.

Meanwhile, away across town at the Rhythm House in Bridgeville, there's a "Helping the Kids Lose the Blues" music and buffet benefit for Circle C Youth & Family Services with Shari Richards and Norm Nardini and his band. Sounds like a good cause.

Saturday 

Back in town from their Delaware base is the band Nothin' But Trouble, winners of the International Blues Challenge round held by the Blues Society of Western Pa. earlier this year. NOTE: I've been told that Bubs McKeg, the other IBC winner, is also on the bill. That should make for a fine evening.

 Sunday

 Sunday afternoon, beginning at 4 at Grazie's in Wexford, a benefit for the Mars Home for Youth, featuring some of Pittsburgh's finest women of the blues. Here's the lineup, subject to change:

4:00PM - Patti Spader
5:00PM - Rozanne Matthews
5:PM - Andrea Pearl
6:00PM - Jill Simmons
6:30PM - Angel Blue
7:00PM - Ms Freddye from Blue Faze
8:00PM - Katie Simone
9:00PM - Annie Freidland Pittsburgh ’s Boogie Woogie Piano Mama” will start off the Jam

You're on your own for the rest of the weekend, but here's a tip from BeerNotes: It's the time of the year for pumpkin ales and Oktoberfest beers. The best I've sampled to date is a mug of Ayinger Oktoberfest -- very smooth and mellow and rich. Almost as good as a great blues vocal.