BRATTLEBORO — The Vermont Arts Council and Latchis Arts will present the Mud Season Blues Benefit Concert featuring Bob Stannard & Those Dangerous Bluesmen at the Latchis Theatre, 50 Main St., on Friday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m.
Stannard and his band play straight-up blues from the likes of Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson II, James Cotton, Little Walter, and Paul Butterfield.
“We are excited that the Dangerous Bluesmen are coming together to put on a great show and support the arts,” said Karen Mittelman, executive director of the Vermont Arts Council, in a news release.
Proceeds from the concert will be shared between the Vermont Arts Council and Latchis Arts.
“We do a few slow tunes, but the overwhelming majority of music we play is designed to get you out of your seats, on your feet, and dancing like it's your last day on earth,” Stannard said.
Stannard is an eighth generation Vermonter who has been playing and singing the blues since 1969. Since then, he has opened for or played with a slew of top musicians, including Big Joe Burrell, Maria Muldaur, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Isaac Hayes, and his idol, Charlie Musselwhite.
Stannard joined BB King on stage at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland, and has jammed with acclaimed author (and sometime musician) Stephen King.
Stannard will be joined on the Latchis stage by Those Dangerous Bluesmen, a quintet with impressive credits: Jeff Salisbury (drums/vocals), who has played with Albert King and fronts his own band; Kenny B (bass), who has been on the road for 18 years with Muddy Waters' guitarist Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson; Brad Morgan (keyboard/vocals), who has played with Satin & Steele for more than 35 years; Joe Moore (sax/vocals), who played with the Isley Brothers and Wilson Pickett and fronts his own band; and John Falk (guitar/vocals) who has played around Vermont for many years.
An advocate for the arts, Stannard is wrapping up a six-year term on the Board of Trustees of the Vermont Arts Council, including two years as chairman.
“Having art in our lives is what makes for a civilized world. Art is all that matters,” Stannard said.
To learn more about the Vermont Arts Council , visit www.vermontartscouncil.org.
Latchis Arts works to promote and host cultural activities and to preserve the Latchis Memorial Building for future generations. Visit www.latchisarts.org for more information.