Blues at the Blueseum

For one day each year the Balloon Museum becomes the "Blueseum" as nationally recognized and local musicians play and sing the Blues to an enthusiastic crowd.

While the Blues genre is defined by melancholy rhythms and sad lyrics originating from the Deep South in the early 20th century, today's Blues performers keep that spirit alive with new twists on the old form, and updated versions of the classic tunes.

Join us for Blues at the Blueseum, and let your heart and soul become one with the music!

2013 will be the best Blueseum yet! Join us for two National Headliners: Joe Louis Walker and Lil' Ed ad the Blues Imperials.

Entertainment Schedule:

3:00-4:00 p.m.- Alex Maryol

4:15-5:15 p.m. - The Chris Dracup Band

5:30-7:00 p.m. - Joe Louis Walker

7:30-9:00 p.m. - Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials

Joe Louis Walker

San Francisco’s Fillmore District of the 1960s is known worldwide as the birthplace of psychedelic rock. But it was also a hotbed of modern electric blues, and it was the place where one of the genre’s top musical trailblazers, Joe Louis Walker, was born, raised and schooled. The award-winning guitar slinger, deeply soulful vocalist and gifted songwriter has been releasing groundbreaking music since 1986, but his career goes all the way back to the mid-1960s. As a 16-yearold, he was the house guitarist at San Francisco’s famed musical playground, The Matrix, where he played with or opened shows for everyone from Lightnin’ Hopkins (who once threw him off the stage) to Jimi Hendrix to Thelonious Monk. These ear-opening surroundings explain the ease with which Walker blends blues, rock, gospel, jazz and country, making it seem as if the walls between the styles never existed in the first place. The New York Times raves, “Walker is a singer with a Cadillac of a voice. He delivers no-nonsense, gutsy blues. His guitar solos are fast, wiry and incisive, moaning with bluesy despair.” According to Living Blues, he is “one of today’s modern musical masters.” Rolling Stone simply calls him “ferocious.”

Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials:

From working at Chicago’s Red Carpet Car Wash to appearing on national television, from gigging at the smallest ghetto blues bars to performing on the biggest international concert stages, master bluesman Lil’ Ed Williams has come a long way. Mixing smoking slide guitar boogies and raw-boned Chicago shuffles with the deepest slow-burners, Lil’ Ed and his blistering Blues Imperials – bassist James “Pookie” Young, guitarist Mike Garrett and drummer Kelly Littleton – deliver the blues, from gloriously riotous and rollicking to intensely emotional and moving. Not since the heyday of Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers has a blues band made such a consistently joyful noise. Currently celebrating 24 rip-roaring years together, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials ply their musical talents with skills that have been honed to a razor’s edge. As much a family as a band, Lil’ Ed, Pookie, Mike and Kelly have outlasted sports stars and presidents, musical fads and fashion trends. And together, they continue to make blues history with each and every performance and new recording.

Chris Dracup Band

Chris Dracup, a life long resident of New Mexico, began performing live at the age of fifteen in his hometown of Taos, NM. Since then he has been a vocalist and lead guitarist with some of New Mexico's favorite bands, including "The Muttz", "The Rattle Cats", "The Chris Dracup Trio" and "Soul Kitchen". Known largely for his stunning and soulful electric blues guitar, he works in a diverse range of musical styles. His acoustic guitar playing draws heavily from the blues tradition, an eclectic mix of Delta slide, country blues and world music influences. His songwriting has garnered critical and popular acclaim and won him an enduring local fan base. Chris was voted “Best Blues Artist by the Local-IQ readers “Smart List” 2013

Alex Maryol

The son of Greek-American restaurateurs, Alex Maryol grew up in Santa Fe New Mexico and was raised on the music of Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Elvis Presley. He began songwriting during his teenage years while performing at smoky bars and coffee shops in downtown Santa Fe. While primarily influenced by blues greats such as Lightning Hopkins and Buddy Guy Alex maintained a love for all musical genres from classical to grunge.
In his early twenties Alex gained notoriety by performing at festival favorites such as the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival and the King Biscuit Blues Festival.

• Local microbreweries will be on site serving beverages.
• Food will be available for purchase.
• Coolers allowed but are subject to search. No alcohol or glass containers may be brought into the museum.
• Museum admission is included with ticket, make sure to check out one of Albuquerque's most unique museums.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Tickets available now at the Balloon Museum Box Office or at Hold My Ticket, click on the link below. Tickets will also be available day of show at the Balloon Museum Box Office.

Tab Benoit at Blueseum 2012