It was our musical vacation of a lifetime! 6 stages, 4 days & nights of world class blues music, all in a four-star Las Vegas resort! The Big Blues Bender returned to the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. It is a 4-Day music festival that occurs in the resort. The event runs from a Thursday to a Sunday, with the first official set beginning late afternoon on Thursday, and the final note of music in the wee hours of Monday morning. We drove down to Vegas on Wednesday.
It featured some of the world’s finest blues musicians performing on multiple stages, indoor and outdoor. On average last year, the Big Blues Bender featured 45 billed artists, 22 sets a day, and 17+ hours of programming a day. They call it a “Bender” for a reason!
We had been looking at the event for many years. We always decided to pass. But a year ago we finally went. Living on the outskirts of Reno, it was a seven-hour drive to Vegas. Since I’m pushing 83 it was a bit too much. I told my wife, Sheri, that I would opt for flying if we go again. That is the only bad news. Well, that and the fact that we were underwhelmed by the food choices at the resort. Expensive and not that good in our opinion.
The good news for us was that we said goodbye to port-a-potties and roasting in an open field all day. At the Bender, our private oasis awaited! Dip back to our room for a power nap or a bathroom break. We could enjoy a fine dinner in the steakhouse or play a few hands of blackjack, all within paces of the entertainment! Comfort, convenience, and world class entertainment is the hallmark of the Big Blues Bender. If you go in the future, you’ll see why their motto is “Everything, An Elevator Ride Away! Plus, parking is free. We even validated our valet ticket daily. The two main venues are huge and have big screens in case that really tall guy decides to sit in front of you.
One of the bands we really love is the Mavericks. But we were deeply saddened to learn that Raul Malo, their lead singer, was experiencing post-surgery complications and, as a result, they were unable to join us. We later learned that he passed. We were incredibly fortunate and grateful that Walter Trout agreed to step in as a headliner. Walter understands what it means to face life’s toughest challenges, having survived a nearly life-ending illness just a few years ago. When he learned that a fellow musician was in need, he did not hesitate to lend a hand and step up for the Bender family. We have seen him before and he is really good. Trout did a set on two different days.
The Bender keeps getting Bigger! They announced the addition of some excellent artists to the 2025 Big Blues Bender lineup. They included Samantha Fish, Rory Block, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal (IBC Band Winner) and Joce Reyome (IBC Solo Winner). Their latest addition to the Big Blues Bender lineup was none other than Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers! They were great! Murray can sing okay and the band was amazing! Bill Murray is touring with the band “Blood Brothers,” featuring blues musicians Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia. Zito played two sets on his own and Castiglia is part of The Three Kings band. Murray’s band showcased a blend of rock classics and blues.
Bill Murray, renowned for his comedic roles in films, has embraced a new artistic venture by performing live music with the Blood Brothers. This collaboration began after Murray joined the band during the Murray Brothers Caddyshack Golf Tournament, where he performed several songs, leading to the idea of a full tour together. Bill Murray’s collaboration with the Blood Brothers marks an exciting chapter in his career, allowing him to explore music while entertaining fans in a new way.
We really enjoyed The Cash Box Kings from Chicago. They specialize in Chicago-style blues from the 1940s and 1950s, as well as Delta blues style music from the 1920s and 1930s. The Cash Box Kings were created by singer, songwriter, and harmonica player Joe Nosek, who now heads the band. The band is named with respect to Cashbox, a defunct publication that kept a music chart from the 1940s through the mid-1990s that rivaled Billboard. ‘Holler and Stomp’, the CBK’s Blind Pig label debut, was nominated for Blues Blast Music Awards for “Band of the Year,” “Song of the Year” and “Best Traditional Blues” CD.
Another group we enjoyed were The Three Kings. The Three Kings is a dynamic tribute act honoring blues legends B.B. King, Albert King, and Freddie King, brought to life by three contemporary blues guitarists: D.K. Harrell, Chris Cain, and Albert Castiglia.
D.K. Harrell was deeply inspired by B.B. King from a young age. After a moving encounter with B.B. in 2013, where he received personal advice and a guitar pick from the legend, Harrell dedicated himself to carrying on King’s legacy. His stage presence and playing style strongly mirror B.B.’s. Chris Cain (a guy we love) reveres both B.B. and Albert King. A pivotal moment in his career came when Albert King invited him on stage, leading to a friendship that left a lasting impact on Cain. Albert would attend Cain’s shows in Memphis, fostering a bond built on mutual respect. Albert Castiglia discovered Freddie King through his admiration for Eric Clapton. After diving deep into Freddie’s discography, he came to idolize Freddie’s raw power and soulful voice. Castiglia now collaborates with Freddie King’s former keyboardist, Lewis Stephens, in the Blood Brothers band.
The trio, each deeply connected to one of the original Kings, unites to celebrate their legacies with electrifying performances. Their shows blend technical prowess, heartfelt blues, and joyful chemistry, backed by a full band including brass and keys. With no egos and plenty of passion, The Three Kings promise a powerful, dance-inducing blues experience poised to captivate festival audiences worldwide. This video features Chris Cain who we really enjoy.
GA-20 is an American blues band from Boston. The band is named after the guitar amplifier manufactured by Gibson from 1950 to 1961. They primarily play Chicago blues. In 2018, GA-20 were nominated for a Boston Music Award for Blues Artist of the year. They have been nominated for the award seven years in a row. They won Blues Artist of the Year in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. They were nominated for their first Blues Music Award in 2022 for Best Emerging Artist. Like many others, they played two sets on different days in different venues. They told the crowd that Hound Dog Taylor was one of their favorites. Mine too!
Tab Benoit was featured in two sets. His playing combines a number of blues styles, primarily Delta blues. He plays a stock 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline electric guitar and writes his own musical compositions. In 2007, Benoit won his first B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award presented by the Blues Music Awards, described variously as “the highest accolade afforded musicians and songwriters in Blues music” and “the premier blues music event in the world”. He was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame on May 16, 2010.
“King” Solomon Hicks is an American guitarist, blues, jazz singer, and composer. His style of music ranges from jazz, blues, classical, gospel, R&B, funk, Afro-Cuban, and classic rock. Hicks has been a blues guitarist since he was 13. He plays a Benedetto GA35 guitar. Benedetto jazz guitars are hand crafted by Robert Benedetto an American luthier of archtop jazz guitars. His first recording was when he was 14 with the Cotton Club All-Star Band. The CD is called Embryonic. We had not seen him before. He is good. Very enjoyable!
Caron Nimoy “Sugaray” Rayford is a soul blues singer and songwriter. He has released five albums to date and been granted three Blues Music Awards. Rayford’s 2019 album, “Somebody Save Me”, was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category.
In 2010, Living Blues magazine noted that “Sugaray is a first-rate blues artist with a deep-running, church honed soulfulness.” His latest album, “In Too Deep”, was released on March 4, 2022. We were lucky and saw him at one of our Sacramento events a few years back.
We also saw Eddie 9V (9-volt) who made a name for himself in the blues scene in the American South, wowing all types of audiences with his searing Freddie King-style approach to guitar and his original retro/soul songs. An “old soul” at the tender age of 27, Eddie makes his home in the swamps of Georgia and has played clubs and festivals throughout the region.
We had not even heard of Toronzo Cannon who is an American electric blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He grew up on the South Side of Chicago near Theresa’s Lounge where he heard blues artists including Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. Cannon first bought a guitar at age 22. He played reggae music before playing blues. Among the influences he has named are Albert Collins, B.B. King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix.
It was getting late but we stayed awake to hear The Teskey Brothers for the first time. The Teskey Brothers are an Australian blues rock band from Melbourne, named after the two brothers who formed the group in 2008. They started by playing in the streets and at parties, then playing larger venues.
We had a blast! Or should I say a bender. It is a great event, well worth the time and expense.
I am 82. I have been many places, seen and done many things. I have enjoyed most genres of music. I was a DJ. I was an army brat and a soldier, losing a leg in Vietnam. I learned adaptive sports and taught them to people all over our great nation and overseas. I have guided and lead expeditions down raging rivers.
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