Meet The Bands

Blues Cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene

Blues Cruise will feature The Fat Tones and Laffin' Bones, Friday March 30 at 7:00 pm. These are two great party bands, The Fat Tones are Hall of Famers with the Inland Empire Blues Society having won multiple awards multiple times. The Fat Tones Bobby Patterson just won 2011 Best Blues Guitarist as well. Laffin' Bones just won Best Blues Band. This is the Tones & Bones Fat & Laffin' Party Time Blues Cruise.

We are hooking 2 Cruise boats together and putting a band on each one, Then tying their sound systems together so the sound is in each boat. They will do alternating sets. Party is from 7-10PM Friday March 30th. Boat will cruise on the lake from 7:30 - 9:30 pm with partying at dockside before and after, including Full bar and dancing.

The Main Event

Four band, two stage non-stop music festival in the Resort Convention Room March 31st from 7:00 pm - 1:00 am. A full bar and loads of delicious food will be available.

The Coeur d'Alene Resort's Convention Center will host a party that includes two stages and four incredible bands on Saturday, March 31st. With a stage on each end, there is no down time. Two stages of Blues make for a seamless transition from one band to the next.

Big Mumbo Blues Band

7:00 pm
Winners of the Best Blues Band from the I.E.B.S. for 3 years in a row. Being a 3-year winner, the I.E.B.S declared Big Mumbo ineligible to win again this year, so they won 5 other awards instead, including Best Male Vocalist, Best Female Vocalist, Best Keyboardist, Best Drummer, Best Female Performer. A six-piece soul thumping R&B blues band that has started this party every year for a good reason. They're really good at it...

Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings

8: 30 pm
One of our two international headliners, Roy Rogers is arguably the best slide guitarist performing today. He has had eight Grammy nominations as a producer and performer. He has received numerous accolades for his songwriting (Grammy Nomination for 'Song for Jessica', Grammy nomination with Bonnie Raitt on 'Gnawin' On It which he co-wrote), as well as his work on movie soundtracks and television.

Rogers was a featured guitarist with John Lee Hooker's Coast to Coast Blues Band in the early 1980s. He has recorded not only on his own to critical acclaim, but also with others including Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Norton Buffalo, Steve Miller, Sammy Hagar, Ray Manzarek and many others. He has been touring worldwide since 1982 and has performed in some of the world's most prestigious festivals including Montreux, North Sea Jazz Festival, Pori, Pistoia, New Orleans Jazz Festival and more. His ability to electrify and move audiences is legendary.

Coco Montoya

10:00 pm
Our second headliner was mentored by legendary bluesman Albert Collins. Coco went on to become the guitarist for John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers for ten years before leading his own band to win Best New Blues Artist in Memphis at The Blues Awards back in 1996. Critics rave and audiences adore this true master of the electric blues.

His last album, I Want It All Back , was produced by Keb Mo' and Blues Revue said, "Blistering contemporary blues... piercing attack, funky, shivery guitar tones and aggressive, soulful vocals." The Village Voice declared, "The fiery blues that issue forth from Coco Montoya's guitar are awe-inspiring and boogie requiring." A self taught guitar slinger who plays with an emotional intensity few string benders possess, he plays left-handed and up side down in the style of Albert King and Jimi Hendrix. He has played every major Blues Festival around the world and is a favorite performer at every one of them.

Kenny James Miller Band

11:30 pm
Our Festival closer, hailing from Kalispell, Montana. This very rocking trio has tore it up around the Northwest lately, having just been given the Best New Blues Band award from the Inland Empire Blues Society. Known for their great live performances, this mostly original band has become a mainstay at area festivals.

Last Spring they were also a Washington State Blues finalist for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis having won the Spokane Semi-Final Competition. But mostly, this band rocks the blues.

Join us at Splash

On Friday and Saturday evening at The Coeur d'Alene Resort's Splash Lounge, the Blues Festival features two of the areas most popular dancing blues bands.

After the Blues Cruise Friday night, Splash will feature Sammy Eubanks. Award winning vocalist and favorite front man Sammy Eubanks and his band will rock the house. His last album Riding Alone just won Best Blues Album from the I.E.B.S. and he was also awarded Best Male Vocalist by The Washington State Blues Society. Be prepared to dance...

Saturday night in Splash will feature The Fat Tones. This favorite rock out blues band will also be playing our Blues Cruise on Friday night. Smoking hot blues and a favorite regional dance band, this one is fun. Bobby Patterson is also an I.E.B.S. winner this year, for Best Blues Guitarist. "Their harmonies are amazing, Bobby Patterson's guitar playing is world class, and their songs are guaranteed to make you dance." - Robert Horn W.B.S. Bluesletter.

Sunday Gospel Brunch

A Gospel Brunch on Sunday, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at Dockside Restaurant. The Spokane Community Gospel Ensemble, featuring a cappella vocalists made up from the Spokane Community Gospel Mass Choir.