Day Of The Dead Meets Delta Blues in Eugene, Oregon

Oct. 21, 2009 - PRLog -- In true Day of the Dead tradition, some of the area’s finest blues finger-style guitarists will resurrect songs, spirits, and stories of the early Delta Blues legends from the midst of a graveyard on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at Cozmic Pizza in Eugene.

Called Ghosts of the Delta, the all-ages event, from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., features Al Rivers, Jerry Zybach, Walker T. Ryan, and Adam Scramstad, who will honor more than a dozen departed masters, from Charley Patton and Son House to Muddy Waters and Mississippi John Hurt. KRVM DJ, Jivin’ Johnny Etheredge will emcee in costume to fit the theme.

The event raises money for the Rainy Day Blues Society’s Blues in the Schools program, which provides music programs to Lane County public schools free of charge. Admission is a suggested donation of $4-$8. Kids under 12 are free.

In addition to singing songs and telling stories of the departed from a stage set up like a cemetery, complete with tombstones for dead bluesmen, the event features numerous other Day of the Day traditions, such as a Food for Lane County Altar, where attendees can bring canned food — one for each loved one they want to memorialize. There will also be ongoing kids activities, such as special Day of the Dead/Blues crafts, and Blues in the Schools workshops on how to play the harmonica, washboard, and other instruments at the breaks. A kids parade at the end, backed by Delta music, will also help honor passed loved ones.

Last year, Blues in the Schools provided interactive music workshops to more than 750 students, grades 3-12 throughout five different districts in Lane County and will double that number this year. The program is 100 percent volunteer-run and introduces kids to one of America’s foundational music forms —

the blues — through live music, rhythm training, singing, songwriting, and even harmonica instruction — courtesy of some of the area’s most prominent blues musicians. Kids receive a 16-page Blues Booklet, a coupon for 20 free blues music downloads, a coupon for a free music lesson at the Lesson Factory, and a Hohner harmonica during harmonica workshops.

To arrange a school presentation, get involved in presenting to students, or to help sponsor the program, contact program coordinator, Josh Coen, at (541) 338-9338, schools@rainydayblues.org, or Tim Volem at (541) 345-3089. Or visit www.rainydayblues.org.

About the Musicians

Al Rivers is a solo acoustic bluesman who often plays with his band, The Shade Tree Mechanics. In 2008, Al won the Rainy Day Blues Society’s regional competition to represent the society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Al is also an integral part of Blues in the Schools, teaching blues history, singing, and songwriting in the classrooms.

Jerry Zybach is an accomplished vocalist, guitarist, bassist, band leader, songwriter, arranger and producer. Jerry’s progressive blues band, Jerry Zybach & the StageHogs, has been a favorite at festivals and shows in the Northwest and was named by the Eugene Weekly's "BEST OF EUGENE" as one of the top blues bands for 2006. Jerry is deeply involved with Blues in the Schools and regularly teaches students through the program.

Walker T. Ryan has been playing music for more than 45 years, and was an integral part of the early ‘60s folk scene of NY’s Greenwich Village.  He is known for his expertise in blues and folk guitar and mastery of such styles as Robert Johnson, Son House, Muddy Waters, Fred McDowell RL Burnside, Mississippi John Hurt, and Skip James. In 2008, Walker won best traditional blues act with Papa Soul, in the Rainy Day Blues Society’s 2008 Rooster Awards.

Adam Scramstad is an acoustic/electric finger-style blues musician, born and raised in Oregon. A strong and creative songwriter, Scramstad’s repertoire also covers a broad range of early American folk/blues artists’ works such as: Son House, Bukka White, Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Lightning Hopkins, Blind Blake, John Fahey, and Elizabeth Cotton. In 2009, Adam won the Rainy Day Blues Society’s regional competition to represent the society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

About the Rainy Day Blues Society

The Rainy Day Blues Society is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization based in Eugene, Oregon. It was founded in 2004 to preserve and promote blues music as part of our cultural heritage and tradition. The organization’s goal is to raise public awareness through education and by fostering an environment in which local blues artists can grow and flourish. The society hosts a free, open-to-all membership meeting and concert on the third Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at Mac’s at the Vet’s.

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The Rainy Day Blues Society, in Eugene, Oregon, is dedicated to bringing historically significant, culturally rich blues music to our schools and community.