Your local blues society, the IBCs, Lucy Van Sickle

If you happen to live in the Pittsburgh area, your local blues society would be the Blues Society of Western Pa. They're having a meet and greet blues event at 6 p.m. Sunday night (3/15) with Wil E Tri and the Bluescasters. Alas, they'll be competing with the fine Chicago bluesman John Primer, set for the same night at the Thunderbird Cafe. But with the time difference, you could make both shows. If you have to make a choice, though, Primer would be mine -- sorry, BSWPA guys, but shows like this don't come around all that often.  

Also, the always hard-working BSWPA is working on selecting its entry onto the 2009 International Blues Challenge. They still have a few band slots to fill, and the bands already competing are listed on their web site. The IBCs are turning into a major national blues event, giving regional bands a chance to compete in the Memphis finals, plus plenty of exposure. It's a great way to keep the blues alive at the local level. Here's a review of last year's show, which points out out the IBCs have grown.

By the way, if you don't live in the Pittsburgh area, you probably have a blues society near you that might be worth your while. And if you don't live in the Burgh, drop me a line and let me know what you'd like to read here, in addition to the local stuff we try to write about.

By the way, 2, I ran into harp player Lucy Van Sickle the other night at a small reunion for photogrpaher Joe Rosen, CMU grad and now big-city lensman in NYC, and most important, a great blues fan who travels the land shooting blues festivals. Lucy seems interested in getting back into the local blues scene. Her wicked harp and tough vocals used to be a real pleasure.

I got to know Joe and Lucy back in the late '70s, when we all hung around blues clubs like Mancini's and Fat City (the old Swissvale version), and Lucy's early harp skills would get her a chance to sit in with visiting bands. Heres a very old, very dark photo, scanned and retouched a little (I know, but you should've seen the original!) of Lucy and Muddy from Mancini's, probably 1980 or '81.