Blues news: Sammy Eubanks to host seventh annual ‘Blue Christmas;’ Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival announces 2018 dates, headliners
For seven years now, local legend Sammy Eubanks has used blues music to help fans shake off the winter blues, at least for a night.
“We started doing this show, Sammy Eubanks and Friends, where we would invite a couple other bands down and we would do either a blues-oriented show or a country-oriented show,” Eubanks said. “When we went to do a Christmas show, ‘Blue Christmas’ stuck out so that’s what we’ve been doing.”
At his annual “Blue Christmas” concerts, Eubanks plays a mix of original songs, covers and, of course, Christmas tunes, including “Please Come Home for Christmas,” a song originally released by blues singer and pianist Charles Brown in 1960.
It’s one of Eubanks’ favorite songs to perform and has become a “Blue Christmas” staple.
Eubanks hosts “Blue Christmas” with guests Bobby Patterson and Big Honey on Friday at the Knitting Factory.
After “Blue Christmas” and the new year, Eubanks will get back to work finishing songs for a new album. He’s shooting for a collection of all-original material, something he’s never done before.
He’s also planning 2018 tour dates and hopes to return to regional events like the Wallace Blues Festival and the Big Sky Blues Festival while also performing in cities he hasn’t yet visited.
No matter where he performs, he’s grateful for the support he receives in Spokane.
“I would just like to thank everybody in this community for their support and hope they continue to support live music, whether it’s us or anybody else that plays around doing what we do,” he said. “We all appreciate the support and without them, we’re playing to chairs.”
In other blues news, the Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival is ending the year on a high note after recently being named the Best Blues Festival by the Inland Empire Blues Society for the third year in a row.
To celebrate, the festival has announced the dates of the 2018 festival, its ninth year, as well as a few headliners.
The 2018 festival will be March 23-25 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort and will feature the likes of five-time Grammy award nominee Marcia Ball, the Andy T Band featuring Alabama Mike and guitarist Anson Funderburgh, Portland’s Rose City Kings and the Rafael Tranquilino Band, from Seattle.
Kennewick’s own Shoot Jake will play the Blues Cruise on March 23 along with Inland Northwest act the Sidemen.
Tickets for the 2018 festival are on sale now for $39. Tickets for the Blues Cruise are $25 and will be available soon. Overnight stay packages are also available.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.cdabluesfestival.com.