Blues News

7.2.08
    On Friday June 27th the Kirk James Blues Band played in Cortez for the 2008 Bike Tour of Colorado. Cortez was one of seven stops along the bicycle tour and we played to about 1,000 people in the park. Once the sun started casting long shadows in the green grass, the riders started filing in. There was burgers and beer. Then there was dancing. Everyone had a great time.

6.13.08
    The Kirk James Blues Band will perform at the 2008 Animas River Blues Festival in Aztec, New Mexico. Saturday, July 5th at the Riverside Park in Aztec. We had played at the inaugural event in 2006. And we are glad to have been asked to play again this year.
    John Lee Hooker Junior will headline this year. With Bernie Pearl Blues Band, Sugarhouse and Mojambus. A great setting for the concert with an abundance of shade.
    Get your tickets early. See ya there.
    For more info go to: www.animasriverblues.com

6.4.08
On Saturday June 7, 2008 the Kirk James Blues Band will be performing during The Women's Resource Center "Men Who Grill." This is their annual summertime grilling competition and "fun-raiser" held at Buckley Park in Durango. Tickets are $15 each and all proceeds benefit The Women's Resource Center. Get a sampling of tasty grilled tidbits from dozens of grilling teams (both amateur and professional chefs) who wear costumes and decorate their booths with their own unique theme.
    For more info click on www.wrcdurango.org

3.14.08
For those who attended last night's event of Soup for the Soul, thank you so much for your support. The organizers sold 350 tickets which made for a great event. The food provided by the various restaurants was great. Though I didn't get to sample enough of the soup. Hope to see you there in 2009.

3.4.08
Thursday, March 13th, Kirk James will be playing Solo Blues during Soup for the Soul at the Fort Lewis College Ballroom. Soup and appetizers from 13 local restaurants and chefs. Tickets are $40 per person. To see the poster artwork, Click here.

2.11.08
    On Saturday, March 15th, the Kirk James Blues Band will be playing for the Aztec Boys and Girls Club 2008 Harley Raffle. Starting at noon until 3:00 pm at the Aztec Senior's Center. They will be raffling off seven (7) 2008 Harley-Davidson motorcycles with a ticket cost of $100 each. Get your chance to win!
    For more information check out their web site at http://www.aztecbg-club.com

9.10.07
    Kirk James will open for Eric Johnson. It has been in the works and is now official. On Wednesday September 26, 2007 Kirk will play solo as the opening act for Eric Johnson and his electric band at the Fort Lewis Community Concert Hall. The show starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased at durangoconcerts.com.
    For more information about Eric Johnson go to his site at ericjohnson.com

8.20.07
    We have a few dates I'd like to highlight during the Labor Day Weekend. We will be playing different bike events for the Four Corners Biker Rally, motorcycle shops and biker bars. Take a look at the Schedule page for details of where you'll run into us. Have fun and ride safe!

7.18.07
    Guitarist Bill Perry died at age 49. Bill Perry was a powerful guitarist/vocalist/songwriter who not only recorded with his own band, but had toured with Richie Havens, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm. A great friend of Popa Chubby in the New York City Blues scene. Tuesday July 17, Bill was found in his apartment in Sugar Loaf, NY. A heart attack victim, though no official cause has been made public. For more information - http://www.billperry.com

6.14.07
    Book Your Holiday Party Now! Whether you admit it or not, June is a good time to start planning your Holiday Party. Each Holiday season I get calls from individuals and companies wanting to book the Kirk James Blues Band for a Christmas party. Only to find out that we were not available for the night that they chose because they waited too long to schedule the event.
    Bands book themselves months and months in advance. Scheduling a holiday party too late in the season can be a gamble. Many times companies have booked us a year in advance while we were in the middle of playing their party. Early planning will pay off for you to get the music and location you are satisfied with. If you need help in lining up a place for your event, we can help with determining the different options.
    Friday and Saturday nights get booked up quickly, so consider having your party on a Thursday or even Sunday night. This doubles the possibilities of options for everyone involved.
    If you have any questions on our schedule for the Holiday Season, just call or e-mail.
    Kirk James - 970-259-5977
    Contact Me

5.17.07
    Backyard Bash - Sunday May 27, 2007 during the Memorial Day Weekend Virginia's Steakhouse will be serving up Great Food and Live Music for an all ages event outdoors behind the restaurant. Sit in the garden area overlooking Vallecito Lake. If the weather is questionable the entertainment will take place indoors. For more information contact Virginia's Steakhouse at 884-9495. Virginia's Steakhouse and Lounge 18044 County Road 501 Bayfield, Colorado 81122.

5.10.07
    Bike Give-away - On Saturday June 2, 2007 the Kirk James Blues Band will be playing at Four Corners Framed Art in Gem Village, just West of Bayfield. They will be giving away a Custom 1994 Harley-Davidson. Tickets are $100 each and only 300 will be sold. Go buy one or two tickets to increase your chances of winning. Before the drawing there will be food and drink. Ticket cost is tax-deductible to benefit the Wild Turkey Federation. For more information contact Greg at 884-2421. Four Corners Framed Art 39722 US Hwy 160, Bayfield, Colorado 81122

4.23.07
    Here's another update about the benefit for Deb Marler in October 2006. The total amount of money raised that day was $7,000. Lady and Joe have updated their photos page of the event on The Word On Wheels Global Ministries web site. Check out the photos at http://wordonwheels.org/photos

4.17.07
    People keep asking "When will you be updating the photo page?" Well, I have finally taken the time to format and upload 54 more photos. A few old ones with many new ones. And I still have a few more to get to. Click Here to go straight to the Gallery. If you have photos of the band, send them to me... and maybe I'll post them on the site. E-mail

3.27.07
    An update about our friend Deb Marler, who was in a serious bike accident in July of 2006, has been recovering very, very well. After numerous surgeries Deb is getting back on her feet. She is out of the wheelchair and walking with the occasional assistance of a cain. Joe and Lady of The Word On Wheels Global Ministries, graciously provided the wheelchair for Deb. The have also uploaded some great pictures of the October 1st Benefit held for Deb. You can view the photos at their web site at http://www.wordonwheels.org/photos/2006-1

3.19.07
    I'd like to thank everyone who came out last Saturday night to the Junebug Catfish House. The place was packed with friends, family and fans of my music and the blues. In fact the place was "Smokin'!" It was such a great time seeing those of you who made it for the evening. Folks I hadn't seen together in awhile. And a lot of fun was had by all. I look forward to doing it again, soon.

12.28.06
    I just read in the local newspaper that the Durango Transit will be running for those who don't want to drive on New Year's Eve. Starting at 7:00 PM on Sunday through 3:30 AM on Monday. A one-way trip will cost a $1. The buses will leave the College Drive and Main Avenue stops every 30 minutes. And they service the immediate Durango area. For more information call the City Transit Line - 259-5438.

12.19.06
    Here are some of the details for The New Year's Eve Celebration at Mutu's Italian Kitchen in Durango.
• $10 Cover when the Kirk James Blues Band starts playing at 10:00 pm.
• The dinning guests pay no cover charge. (You can dine early and then return later for the dance party.)
• Full Menu and Special Entrees are Available
• Reservations suggested
• Located at 701 E. 2nd Ave in Durango
• Call 970-375-2701 with questions
    The food is great. So come early and enjoy the restaurant as well as the dance party.

12.15.06
    This New Year's Eve The Kirk James Blues Band will be performing at Mutu's Italian Kitchen in Durango. The restaurant will be serving dinner at the regular times. We'll start at 10:00 pm and finish around 1:00 am. We've played a couple of parties in this room and this will be a great time. They are located at 701 East 2nd Avenue in Downtown Durango.
    For further details contact Mutu's at 375-2701.

12.8.06
    Wishing to all the best of the Holidays!

11.1.06
    The Durango Business Improvement District is putting together a CD of local musicians called "Rhythms of Durango." The compilation will feature original music by as many as seventeen artists from Durango. The release date is set for November 24th.
    The last I heard, one of my songs is expected to appear on the CD. As more information about the project comes available, I will post it here on the Blues News Page.

10.2.06
    Yesterday we held a benefit for our friend Deb Marler. In mid-July of this year Deb was in a serious motorcycle accident. Thankfully she survived, but she sustained very extensive injuries. After nearly two months in the Denver hospital she was finally released and was able to attend the event. Seeing all of the people and friends there really raised her spirits as well as raised money to help cover medical expenses.
    I performed as a duo with Kevin Blaum on harmonica. We played at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Durango Colorado. And though Deb was temporarily in a wheelchair she was able to come out onto the dance floor and scoot around for a song.      We had many local and regional businesses contribute door prizes and silent auction items as well as a One-Stop Poker Run.
    I don't have an official count of the funds raised but I hope to have more information at a later date. Thanks to all that made the fundraiser a success.

9.13.06
    I got a call from my friend Michael McCallister, the bass player with the band SUGARHOUSE asking if I could "Fill In" on guitar. Jason, their guitarist has moved away from the Four Corners area and the band has some dates that they need filled.
    Michael and I discussed dates and details and I agreed to play some with them while they look for a permanent replacement. I will perform with them as my schedule allows.
    I can still be seen playing in my own project, the Kirk James Blues Band.

8.23.06
    Just got an update on the funds raised for the Hurricane Relief Concert series held at Fort Lewis College on October 22, 2005. The Kirk James Blues Band was one of many bands in the Hurricane Relief Concert series.
    We've found out that the Rotary Club took the $4,000 that were raised at the concert series and administrated the funds by putting them into their matching multiplier formula and totaled a contribution of $70,000.
    Wow! That's killer math! We were glad to have helped as much as we could by contributing our time for the Hurricane Relief fund.

7.30.06
    The Kirk James Blues Band played a fundraiser for Lila Swank of Farmington New Mexico. This was a benefit to help cover Lila's medical expenses while undergoing cancer treatments. There were three different Motorcycle Poker Runs. Prizes, drawings and the winning poker hand were awarded to those who attended the event.
    We had a great time playing music in between announcements for prizes. All kinds of prizes were donated from area businesses and establishments from around the Four Corners region. The day's event raised over $6,000. A great group of motorcycle riders gathering to help a friend in need. We wish you the best Lila.

7.17.06
    Sad news. Blues elder Sam Myers passed away on this day at age 70. For the past twenty years or so, Sam sang and played harmonica with Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets. Back in the 1950s he played drums with Elmore James in the original Broom Dusters lineup. He will surely be missed.
    For more information about Sam Myers and to make contributions in Sam's name with the Southwest Blues Heritage Foundation, click here http://www.sweetsammyers.com

7.1.06
    For those of you who made it to the Animas River Blues Festival in Aztec, New Mexico... Wow! Wasn't that a blast! This was a festival that you should not miss. There were between 800 and 900 people there on Saturday afternoon for the first event of this festival.
    The Kirk James Blues Band performed as well as the Jeff Strayhan Band, Sugarhouse and the headliner with Guitar Mac from Sacramento California. It was a great setting for the concert at the Riverside Park in Aztec with abundant shade with a killer PA system.
    From my point of view, while having played numerous festivals and events, this was very well organized for me and the band. The stage manager was very helpful and the event went as scheduled in a very timely state. Of course the crowd was very eager to hear as much blues as we could kick out for them.
    For those of you who missed it, put the Animas River Blues Festival on your calendar for 2007. Hopefully we will see you there.

6.26.06
    Thanks to all of those people who came out to the Music in the Park in Cortez on Sunday June 25. Everyone that attended Sunday's concert was very enthusiastic and they found plenty of shade for the event. The Parque de Vida Amphitheater is a cool setting for an afternoon of music and we appreciate having a nice venue like this for this concert series. We hope to play for you again next year.

10.22.05
    I'd like to respond to those who have wanted to hear additional details about the latest happenings with the Kirk James Blues Band.
    The Kirk James Blues Band was one of many bands in the Hurricane Relief Concert series held at Fort Lewis College. The Community Concert Hall was the venue set for the series. The concerts were to benefit the evacuees of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The attendance on this Saturday night was sparse, but those who were there were very enthusiastic. Thanks to all that helped the cause.

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