When Kenny learned about the disruption to life caused by the fires in Lake County, he volunteered to bring the band back out from Baton Rouge to do two make-up dates over the Labor Day weekend, Saturday September 1 and Sunday September 2.

Starting at 6:15 each evening (gates open at 5:30), these top blues musicians plus opening bands will perform on the veranda of the Hotel with the audience gathered in the intimate garden between the Hotel and Restaurant. The ticket price of $50 plus tax includes a barbeque dinner.

Kenny Neal is one of the legends of the Louisiana blues scene. (see sample video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puayq7Koj_A).
Kenny is an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist widely renowned as a swamp-blues master. He learned music at an early age from his father, the singer and blues harmonica player Raful Neal. Kenny tours the country with members of his famous family, two of whom (Darnell and Frederick) will be with him at the Blue Wing.
“We got to know Kenny when he lived in the Bay Area before moving back to Baton Rouge,” says Butcher. “He brought down the house at our Festival in 2012 and subsequently did a great show at the Soper-Reese. When in the area I try to get him back, and very much appreciate the special effort he’s making this time.”

Opening for Kenny Neal will be two exceptional local bands. On Saturday September 1 it will be the master blues guitarist Howard Reggie Dockens and his band, consisting of Lynn Bryant on keyboards, Robert Watson on bass and Billy Johnson on drums.

The opener on Sunday September 2 will be one of the most accomplished Lake County bands, “Clean Sweep,” led by blues harp virtuoso Pat Gleeson. Other band members are Mike Gymnaites (guitar), Keith Crossan (sax), Joanie Lane (vocals), Dave Falco (bass) and John Sheridan (drums). Sitting in for David Neft on keyboards will be the one-and-only Queen of Boogie Woogie, Wendy DeWitt.