Music Lovers Weekend

November 14 & 15, 2008

Florida's Creative Coast Weekends

Saturday

featuring

click on the featured musicians for biographical information

You can also enjoy a wide variety of music at our island restaurants. From funky to fine, local and touring musicians provide the spirit of our "island style" entertainment.

   Ronnie has been performing since the early 60's and has been fronting his own bands for over 25 years. He has shared the stage and played with some of the biggest names in the blues world, John lee Hooker, James Cotton, Taj Mahal, Gatemouth Brown, Carey Bell, Anson Funderburgh/Sam Mayers, Koko Taylor and many, many others.

   It was also a real honor when Ronnie was asked to performed with harmonica virtuoso, Mark Hummel, where only the top blues harmonica players are invited to perform.  Adding his incendiary guitar work is a young D.C. guitar virtuoso, at only 21 years of age Robert is one of the few young blues players that really 'gets it'.  At a very young age he learned the all-important lesson of going backwards to go forwards and learning the history of the language that is the blues. Robert already possesses traits that take most players much longer to grasp, if ever.  He displays a maturity in his phrasing, tones and choice of notes that are truly remarkable. His name will certainly be added to the short list of other young blues guitarist that 'get it'.  Robert is also a soulful vocalist & his singing is featured in the live shows. 

   Holding down the bottom is a veteran bassman, Bryan has spent many years playing in the D.C. area's top blues, rockabilly & roots bands.  Bryan was the original bass player for the Bob Margolin blues band back in the 70's. Bryan also played with blues legends Robert Lockwood Jr. & Sam Meyers almost 30 years ago!   Bryan later went on to play with some of D.C. most popular groups including Tex Rubinwitz & the Bad Boys, Billy Hancock's Tennessee Rockets, The great Bill Kirchen & The prestigious US Navy bands.  Bryan is an accomplished standup bassist. 

   Rounding out the Grand Dukes rhythm section is a former Modern Drummer Magazine award winner.  George, who lives in Northern VA is a world renowned drummer & has toured / recorded with everyone from jazz icon Dizzy Gillespie to the rock group The Talking Heads, as well as Grammy nominated guitarist Eric Johnson & Handy Award winners the Smokin' Joe Kubek Band with B'nois King.  He also is an endorsee for Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drums and has his own signature line of sticks with Vic Firth.  George is also an in demand clinician, writer & instructor.

   Also from the Washington, D.C. area is keyboard whiz, Mark, he is a highly sought after player for his deeply felt brand of piano and organ. From the deep blues piano of Otis Spann to the New Orleans soul of Professor Longhair to the groovin' organ sounds of Jimmy Smith, Mark's got it down.  He has played with a host of blues greats including Roomful Of Blues, Kim Wilson, James Harman, and Jerry Portnoy, and appears on Kim Wilson's two most recent solo albums. Mark is another young man that truly 'gets it'. This is an awesome, all-star band that is not to be missed! 

   "The Blues Finds You, You Don't Find It", she explains, "It's Like Falling In Love".  Inspired by musicians like Muddy Waters and B.B. King, she fronted her own band at the age of sixteen, "The Blues Messengers".

   At eighteen with the help of a Hartford Ct. agency, Deb went on the road with a band that toured from Maine to Texas, it was an all woman show band called "Sugar".  Just out of high school it was a chance to make a steady salary playing music and get some road experience, four years worth.

   Deb said good by to that part of her life and soon met her husband to be.  While living in Michigan with her new husband, Deb organized another band and decided to headed back out on the road.  It was in Virginia that she came across another all woman all original band, "MOXXIE" in this band Deb would be the lead singer and lay down her Bass for a few years.

   Co-founders of the band Graham (spider) Fineout (drums, guitar, vocals) and Newt Cole (sax & vocals) bring years of top level blues, jazz and rock pedigree to the mix and combine to give the Dynamics their vintage blues & soul sound. In addition to his classic and relentless grooves Fineout also enjoys a stellar reputation as an amazing guitarist and front man. Cole who anchored the horn sections in several of the Detroit areas most celebrated R&B bands adds the necessary spice and overall punch to the Dynamics sound.

   Rounding out the group are Rick Russell (keyboards, harp & vocals) who weaves funky counter rhythms inside and under the grooves, while adding growling harmonica solos throughout the show, and newest member Mike Schvenski (guitar & vocals), a dynamic, six string powerhouse who has been wowing crowds in Southwest Florida for years with Cobalt Blues, Cleanhead, and The Mambo Brothers. Together Deb & The Dynamics have consistently delivered high energy shows to enthusiastic audiences for the last four years, wherever they play in the Southwest Florida area.

   Don Hulgas is the newest member to join the Dynamics.  He has proved to be a wonderful addition, playing shimmering sax solos, solid percussion all the while projecting wonderfully exuberant stage presence. Don comes from a long family tradition of horn players. His father and grandfather were sax players, as well as his grandfather on his mothers side who was also a clarinet and sax player.

Back to Top

   Currently touring in support of their latest release "Acey Ducey", this band keeps the dream alive, and delivers on what counts the most, great music and a great performance.

The Robbie Ducey Band, is a band that brings a rare experience to the stage, they actually sounds better live than they do on disc.  These guys love to play and come at you with one relentless groove after another, full speed ahead with "tasty-smokin'" guitar work, soulful vocals and harmonies.  Ducey has a tight kickin' rhythm section and the band throws down the Boogie gauntlet daring you to not be moved.

Back to Top

Brother Love:  is a melding of great talent you just don't fine everywhere.
Nick Washburn, (Lead Guitar and Vocals) is a former member of Deb and The Dynamics but now he's got a new band Brother Love and their rockin' the house wherever the play. Nick lives on Pine Island by way of Grand Rapids Michigan where he began receiving his notoriety as a twelve year old guitar whiz, playing at Calder Plaza where he was billed as Nick Washburn and the Chickering Blues Band" who incidentally, followed Koko Taylor's set. Chris Chickering (guitar player) says, "Nicks talent is enough to make a veteran guitar player sell his equipment and focus on a career in accounting."  Nick has also played with such notables as Tommy Castro and Bob Margolian. When Nick plays one thing is evident, his story doesn't begin or end here and one thing is guaranteed, "you will" want to watch him play. 
Corky, (Guitar and Vocals) formerly with the Trouble Starters, is best described by fellow band members as half crazy and half helluva guitar player.  What more do you need to know his name says it all, unless your wondering about is ability to write a song and bring the story to life.