W O M E N B R I N G T H E B L U E S
Paxico Blues Fest 2023 Lineup
KELLI BAKER: 6:30-8:30PM
Kelli Baker is the driving force behind New York’s powerful original blues/rock band, The Kelli Baker Band.
Signed under Sony Music with Bad Jeu Jeu Records, Kelli Baker recently completed a wildly successful national tour with The Kelli Baker Band.
The Kelli Baker Band won the Long Island Blues Society “Road to Memphis” competition in October of 2022, and was sent to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge in January of 2023.
The Kelli Baker Band is nominated for “Best Band-Non Cover” 2023, Best of Long Island series.
The Kelli Baker Band has recently recorded at Cove City Sound Studios with Richie Cannata (Billy Joel, Lords of 52nd St) and John Arbuckle (Justin Bieber, Jon Bellion).
KARA GRAINGER: 4:30-6PM
Kara Grainger’s music career began in a small suburban town of Sydney Australia and has taken her on an incredible journey throughout the globe. Combining slide guitar, soulful vocals and a heartfelt approach to songwriting, Kara's truly unique sound will leave you uplifted, inspired and always wanting more.
At the age of 16 Kara joined with her brother Mitch Grainger to form the band "Papa Lips". The band toured consistently throughout Australia and produced two studio albums that received national air play. The band was heavily influenced by the sounds of Stax recording in Memphis, and by the Funky style of blues and soul that derived from New Orleans.
Her debut solo album entitled "Grand and Green River" received critical acclaim and remained in the top 30 of the Americana Charts for 38 straight weeks. Since then Kara has made three further albums whilst residing in the US. In 2011 "LA Blues" was recorded live at Studio City Sound. The cd paid tribute to some of Kara's earliest blues inspirations and in 2013 kara recorded and released"Shiver and Sigh" through Los Angeles record label "Eclecto Groove." The album was produced by grammy award winning producer David Z with some of LA's finest musicians, including Mike Finnigan, Hutch Hutchinson, James Gadson and Kirk Fletcher among others.
She has traveled to Indonesia for the Jakarta International Blues Festival and to Japan opening for "The Swampers and Donnie Fritts", the infamous house Rhythm section for "Fame Recordings" in Muscle Shoal. The band has also toured in Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and Spain. In the US Kara has performed everywhere from 'The Portland Waterfront Blues Festival', 'Blues from the Top' in Colorado and "Austin City Limits". She has also opened the show for many extraordinary acts such as Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal and Jonny Lang, to name a few.
J LOVE: 2:30-4PM
The J Love Band is one of the hottest Funk, Soul and R&B bands in the Kansas City area. J Love and her talented band generates energy and excitement everywhere they perform.
Their repertoire primarily consists of classic soul and R&B music from legendary artist such as Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Etta James and many others. In addition, this all-star group is capable of performing instrumental jazz.
The group performs regularly at a variety of local venues throughout the Kansas City area. In addition they perform at private events locally and throughout the country.
We are fortunate to have this returning Paxico Blues Fest legend this year!
MARIA THE MEXICAN: 12:30-2:00PM
For MARIA THE MEXICAN principal Maria Elena Cuevas it’s not about her…then again, it is. The band is actually named for Maria and sister Teresa (Tess) Cuevas’ grandmother, Maria Teresa Alonzo Cuevas, a pioneer in Mariachi who in the 70s founded Mariachi Estrella, one of the first all-female Mariachi bands in the US. The band eventually performed for more than 30 years but tragedy struck Mariachi Estrella in 1981 when seven members were killed in the Hyatt Skywalk collapse in Kansas City.
Influenced by traditional Mariachi music, Maria The Mexican is a mezcla of Mexican folklore and Rock n’ Roll. For ten years, Maria Elena Cuevas performed with her grandmother’s mariachi band Mariachi Estrella. In 2012, Maria connected with longtime Alt-R&B musician Garrett Nordstrom to form the fusion of Maria The Mexican. MTM is mixed with a touch of blues, soul, funk, and rock n’ roll enhanced by the musical knowledge and sounds of Nordstrom. With a southwestern flare and melancholy motifs, Maria The Mexican rocks it out in Spanish and English with a host of emotion.
On stage there is an amalgam of traditional Mexican and American rock instrumentation – drums, bass, electric guitars, acoustic guitars, traditional Mexican stringed instruments, pedal steel guitar, congas and percussion, trumpet, keyboards. And a passionate delivery of American roots music forms dosed with traditional Mexican harmonic and rhythmic influences alongside traditional Mexican music – Mariachi, Cumbia and more. The repertoire comes to life with original music – from incendiary love songs to social and political commentary – written and arranged in collaborations between Maria and Garrett Nordstrom and penned in both English and Spanish.
ALYSSA GALVAN: 11-12PM
Alyssa Galvan, is following in the footsteps of some of the great female guitarists including Memphis Minnie, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bonnie Raitt, and Susan Tedeschi. At age 17, Alyssa has a powerful guitar/vocal combination which helps highlight her unique vocals that are rich in tone and timbre. She indulges in several genres of music, holding an especially close bond with Blues, Folk/Americana and punk rock.
Since the age of 13, Alyssa has performed live regularly as a solo musician at local venues and large festivals within her region. By age 15 she released her self-titled acoustic album and is currently working on her second album scheduled to be released later this year.
She was thrilled to represent her local blues society at the 2022 & 2023 International Blues Challenge as a youth showcase performer. Alyssa also performed with her band The International Crossroads Project at the 2023 IBC. In June/July 2023 Alyssa will be joining her band for their European tour performing in Croatia at the Thrill Blues Festival and at Five Bar and Lounge as well as in France at the Cahors Blues Festival and two of The Gatsby Bar locations.
