COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – A Music Company Inc. announces the return of Blues on the Mesa for the fourth season after an overwhelming amount of support from Colorado business sponsors and attendees in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Hosting the event since its inception is the title sponsor, Gold Hill Mesa, 142 Raven Mine Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80905. Gold Hill Mesa has worked closely with A Music Company Inc. for over a decade in the production of its annual summer concert series, Music on the Mesa, as well as special events. Be sure to stop by the COMBO info booth while you’re there and say “Hi” to us!
The talent lineup features regional and national talent. Opening the festival is the Johnny O. Band out of Boulder, Colorado. With funky grooves and high energy jams, their music is both captivating and danceable. The band plays many originals as well as some great songs by blues masters of the past. Going strong for 22 years, the Johnny O. Band maintains a firm foothold on the Colorado music scene. In the past two decades Johnny O has toured in Brazil, all across Europe and recently played shows in Canada and Mexico. The band has opened up for the Allman Brothers, Taj Mahal, Buddy Miles and Jimmy Vaughn, among others. Johnny O has traveled to Memphis, Tennessee for the International Blues Challenge on three separate occasions representing Colorado after winning the Colorado Blues Society IBC solo duo competition in 2011 and as winners of the Colorado Blues Society band competition in 2009.
Next on stage is Rex Peoples & X Factr, a high-energy musical celebration for fans of all ages, playing Blues and Classic R&B, the likes of Albert Collins, Etta James, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf and others. Awards and Accolades include “Best Blues Vocalist”, (7 times) Colorado Blues Society; International Blues Competition Winner for the State of Colorado & International Semi-Finalist; Top 3 Album for 12 months running: “Fried Food, Hard Liquor”; Rex Peoples & X Factr is a Colorado Legend with over 100 gigs per year. NOTE: Factr is intentionally spelled without the “o” to represent the intangibles that make the religious shout, the partiers dance, and remind us of the emotions that make us say, “That’s my song!”.
Eef and the Blues Express have been grooving the Colorado stages since 2010. They were a semi-finalist at the2017 International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN, and were at the IBC previously in 2015. Eef and the Blues Express play festivals in and out of state, have toured the Mid-West, and have opened for numerous national acts including Coco Montoya, Tommy Castro, Samantha Fish, and Nick Moss. Everywhere they play they are praised for their great musicianship, energy and good vibe. In 2015 and 2018 they were nominated by the Denver newspaper ‘Westword’ for ‘Best Blues Band’. In 2019 and 2013 Eef was awarded ‘Songwriter of the Year’ at the CBS Members Choice Awards.
Next is national recording artist and headliner in her own right, Davina & The Vagabonds, a jazz blues band based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota and founded by frontwoman Davina Lozier in 2004. After spending several years playing small venues and developing an underground following, the band found critical and commercial success with their 2014 release Sunshine, which charted at number 13 on the Billboard Blues Chart. A Music Company Inc. first introduced Pikes Peak area blues fans to Davina & the Vagabonds at the Crystola Roadhouse in Woodland Park and have brought them to Gold Hill Mesa’s summer concert series, Music on the Mesa.
“The hardest thing to do,” says internationally beloved soul-blues rocker Tommy Castro, “is be yourself, take some chances and bring your fans along with you.” Throughout his long, constantly evolving career, guitarist, singer and songwriter Tommy Castro has always remained true to himself while exploring, growing and creating new music, and he has taken his thousands of devoted fans right along with him. Since his solo debut in 1994, he’s made 16 albums—the last seven for Alligator Records – each its own unique chapter in the book of Tommy Castro. Ranging from horn-fueled R&B to piping hot blues to fiery, stripped-down rock ‘n’ roll, each release is solidly built upon Castro’s unshakable musical foundation – a dynamic mix of 1960s-influenced guitar-fueled blues, testifying Memphis-soaked blue-eyed soul and Latin-tinged East San Jose funk, all driven by Castro’s grab-you-by-the-collar vocals and passionate guitar work. Blues Revue declared, “Tommy Castro can do no wrong.” Amy Whitesell, CEO of A Music Company Inc. states; “We have booked Tommy Castro numerous times at the Crystola Roadhouse and he always packed the house. Once we booked him there on a Monday night and he was amazed that it was no different. The place was filled to capacity! He was one of the first acts we booked when we started A Music Company Inc. in 2006”.
Blues on the Mesa takes place Saturday, September 28, 2024 at Gold Hill Mesa with gates opening at 11:00 AM and music from 11:15 AM to 6:30 PM. There will be a VIP Party inside the community room at Gold Hill Mesa immediately following the festival (21+ only) where attendees will enjoy an intimate experience meeting the artists, up close and personal! This is a wonderful time for autographs and photo opportunities. Amazing local food will be catered complimentary! There will be a cash bar and upbeat, live music provided by the Jelly Roll Bakers General admission and limited VIP Tickets (festival admission and VIP party) are available.
A portion of all proceeds will benefit the Children’s Literacy Center, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded and headquartered in Colorado Springs. The Children’s Literacy Center provides free one to one tutoring to elementary school children reading below grade level. Beginning as a Junior League project in 1991, it has since evolved into a state-wide effort that receives support from a broad base of individual donors, businesses, corporations, schools, and foundations. More information is available at: https://childrensliteracycenter.org
Out of town Blues on the Mesa attendees are entitled to a special discount rate at hotel festival sponsor Hyatt Place Colorado Springs / Garden of the Gods, 503 W. Garden of the Gods Road., Colorado Springs, CO 80907. If you are booking a room please mention Blues on the Mesa for the special rate. Phone: 719-265-9385
To purchase tickets or learn more about Blues on the Mesa visit http://www.bluesonthemesa.org
or contact A Music Company Inc. at 719-237-9953.
Have a wonderful day!
Amy Whitesell
719-237-9953
A Music Company Inc.