Meet
THE BANDS
Meet THE BANDS
The show-stopping lineup for the Annual Coeur d'Alene Blues Festival.
Sugaray Rayford
Sugaray Rayford's most recent album, "In Too Deep," has taken the music world by storm, clinching two prestigious awards in 2023: the Blues Music Awards Soul Blues Album of the Year and the 2022 Blues Blast Magazine Soul Blues Album of the Year. Following his 2020 Grammy® nomination for "Somebody Save Me," which also garnered him two major Blues Music Awards for B.B. King Entertainer and Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year for two consecutive years, Rayford is now reaping the accolades for his latest masterpiece.
Randy Hansen Band
We are thrilled to announce Randy Hansen as the headliner to kick off our Main Stage—an unparalleled guitar wizard paying homage to the legendary Jimi Hendrix while showcasing his own original musical prowess. Although recognized locally in the Inland Northwest for his contributions to Heart by Heart, where he collaborates with original Heart band members performing iconic Heart songs, Randy Hansen is acclaimed worldwide for his embodiment of Jimi Hendrix's spirit.
Stephanie Anne Johnson
Stephanie Anne Johnson has opened for artists such as Mavis Staples, Robert Cray, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Durand Jones, Cedric Burnside, Buffalo Nichols, Black Joe Lewis and even Bernie Sanders at The Tacoma dome. A singer’s talent is complete when they can bring a crowded dive bar to a collective hush and also get one of the biggest audiences on the planet to a collective standing ovation. Stephanie Anne Johnson is that special singer. Stephanie can don a cowboy hat and sing over a slide as old timers weep. And Stehanie has wowed judges on the immensely popular NBC TV series, The Voice, showcasing their gifts. Perhaps it’s no surprise that Johnson is so affecting. Their mantra, after all, is “Find your joy and go there.” Their prowess exudes whether they are singing the Black national anthem - “Lift Every Voice And Sing” - to a packed auditorium or whether they're cooing acoustic lullabies to Saturday night tavern regulars. Their music, which is rooted in all that’s American, expresses the pain of the past, the roots of the down home and the hope that hard work will lead to proper reward. The latest album 'Jewels' was released on April 7th, 2023.
Too Slim & The Taildraggers
Straight Whiskey Blues with a Southern Rock Beer Chaser! Tim “Too Slim“ Langford is a monster guitarist and unabashed blues rocker whose influences run the gamut from Lightnin’ Hopkins, Freddy King, Duane Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Robin Trower. He is a prolific singer/songwriter whose songs have now yielded an impressive 14 studio albums, 2 solo albums and several live CD’s on the Vizztone and his own Underworld Records labels. Too Slim and the Taildraggers are Tim “Too Slim" Langford on guitar/vocals, Zach Kasik on bass/vocals and Chris Reiser on drums/vocals. Brace Yourself, the new live release, is the latest effort in the evolution of their contemporary Blues/Rock sound and The Remedy their latest studio effort debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top Blues Album Chart. ‘High Desert Heat’ their 2018 release charted 11 times in the Billboard Top Blues Album Chart in 2018 and is nominated for Best Blues/Rock album at the 2019 Blues Music awards. High Desert Heat was also featured in heavy rotation on Sirius XM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville.Their 2016 release ‘Blood Moon’ was nominated for Blues Rock Album of the Year at the 2016 Blues Blast Music Awards and was voted Blues Rock Album of the Year at the 2016 Jimi Awards. The awards go back for years. Tim “Too Slim" Langford has received Lifetime Achievement and Hall Of Fame awards by three Northwest blues societies, as well as more than 40 regional and national music awards. Too Slim and the Taildraggers music has also been featured on MTV’s series, The Real World and Road Rules. Too Slim and the Taildraggers ever evolving musical direction cannot easily be classified into any box or category, what we know they do is flat out rock.
David Raitt &The Baja Boogie Band
David Raitt & The Baja Boogie Band have been on an extensive tour circuit, headlining shows across the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the past nine years. Their distinctive blend of Blues, Delta Blues, Rock, Rhythm and Blues, and Swing has graced the stages of esteemed festivals such as the Calgary International Blues Fest, Wallace Blues Fest, Cerritos Beach Baja Festival, Big Sky Blues Festival, Flathead Blues Festival, among others. Notably, the band spends its winters in Baja, where David resides, adding to the band's unique allure.
Robin Barrett & Coyote Kings with Tiphony Dames
Since 2006 Bluesrockers, Coyote Kings, have been performing and recording, winning awards, collecting rave reviews, and playing to enthusiastic audiences and devoted fans. With five albums released and one on the way, “That little ‘ol band from Walla Walla” has established themselves as a musical force in the Northwest and World-wide. A few of the notables Kings have gigged and shared the stage with include George Thorogood, Elvin Bishop, Too Slim & The Taildraggers, Curtis Salgado, The Mannish Boys All-Stars, Roy Rogers, Charlie Musselwhite, Sugaray Rayford, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Chris Duarte, Hamilton Loomis, Ian Siegal... the list goes on. Tihony began doing festivals and events with Coyote Kings in the early summer of 2015. Since then, her overwhelmingly infectious energy has been helping the Kings wow audiences, show after show. Tiph’s career has just begun. Following the success of her 2017 self titled release with Coyote Kings, Tiph was again featured on Coyote Kings' ROCKET CD, released in 2019! With a new album coming, Coyote Kings w/Tiphony Dames continue to light up stages across the Northwest. This group has played every major regional Festival and club, from Sunbanks to Wallace, this is a party of rocking blues! A hot ticket! As they like to say, "It's gonna be a LARGE time!!!
Justyn Priest
Justyn Priest, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist extraordinaire, brings his special brand of hard-luck soul and blues to the festival. Soaring guitar leads, soulful funky bass, stone solid drumming, screaming keys, and an otherworldly saxophonist. Northwest blues rock at its finest, steeped heavily in tradition as well as exploration to continue paying homage to American music from the roots through modern times. Priest has made a name for himself in the region as a solid performer and instrumentalist and is poised to continue his climb as a rising star. Not to be missed. For fans of Freddie King, Albert King, Allman Brothers Band, Jimi Hendrix, Derek Trucks, Peter Green, and Robben Ford.
SideStep
SideStep is a trio formed from the R&B roots of Mumbo Jumbo and Step Brothers. Danny McCollim on keys, Jon Goforth on saxophone and Pat Barclay on guitar. All these names are known in the Spokane area for their excellent musicianship and ability to bring the party! This is a very special group coming together. These gents play a mix of old school R&B, Funk, Rock, Dance. Smooth Jazz and Adult Contemporary. AND they make it fun for everyone. This is a breakfast you’ll remember.
Whack-A-Mole
Whack-A-Mole on the Mish-An-Nock, a 6 piece band featuring Season 6 American Idol Finalist Amanda Dunn on vocals. Ryan and Amanda Dunn met being in bands and married after playing together off and on for the last 10 years in rock, country, and funk bands. Ryan is a much sought after guitar player, a regular with the VooDoo Church, the founder of Whack A Mole and often seen in only the best of blues and other bands around the Inland Northwest. Amanda was also in many of those bands. For a few years now they have fronted Whack A Mole. A band that belts out Rock, Motown, Funk, Disco, and whatever the people want! Perfect for a boat rocking, this band is here to party, here to please. Here to play what the people wanna dance to! These are all players with decades of experience and education who love what they do and do it well. A group of super talented friends and you never know which mole will pop up at a show, but you will always be beaten over the head with a good time.
Steamboat Rocks
This band has the right name for Rocking the Boat! And that is what they will do! Many people will remember Tom “Stomp” Brimm as the original bass player for Too Slim & The Taildraggers. He’s been hailing from Moses Lake WA all this time, now joining Scotty Bouck on guitar and Lee Lester on drums as a band in demand in Central Washington. They have only recently made their way to the Spokane area and we are thrilled to get this rockin’ blues trio coming our way to Idaho!
Meghan Sullivan
Meghan has made a name for herself in the Inland Northwest performing as a soloist, duo or leading her own band. An accomplished vocalist and guitarist, Meghan recently opened for Samantha Fish. For this event, she will be coming solo. Her soulful style and warm tones should provide just the smooth company needed for the bourbon tasting
Rusty & Ginger
Sara Brown and her husband Jesse perform as a duo under the name Rusty & Ginger. Recent winners of an Inland N.W. Country Music Award, they draw from all their influences of blues, country, rock, soul, and funk. Expect Festival favorite Sara Brown to capture your heart! A regular on the big stage, from Wallace Blues Festival to this one, she is another I.E.B.S. winner, Hall of Famer, having won in the recent past for Best Female Blues Performer. Also acclaimed by Hollywood, Sara Brown won a trophy from Universal Studios in 2002, being named Singer of The Year. She has been an opener for Ana Popovic as well as Beth Hart. Known for her fabulous shoes, fabulous voice and fabulous stage presence, Sara brings a fun filled sassiness to her shows and a smile to all who see her. Find out why everyone loves Sara.
Doghouse Boyz
Perennial favorites, Doghouse Boyz are the Winners of the 2017, 2016 & 2015 I.E.B.S. Best Acoustic Blues Act. The Doghouse Boyz duo consists of the 2018 Best Blues Slide Guitar winner Neil Elwell, now in the I.E.B.S. Hall of Fame, on acoustic guitar, dobro and vocals. They play original blues as well as dynamic renditions of old favorites and obscure tunes from ‘back in the day.’ For this show, Neil will be joined by Tom Brewster, who used to play with Pat Coast among others. His usual duo buddy, Ramiro, will be joining Whack A Mole on the Blues Cruise. This will be fun.