The San Luis Obispo Blues Society is presenting “An Afternoon of Blues,” a free concert featuring local and national musicians, in Arroyo Grande on Sunday, July 30 as part of the Village Concert Series. Beginning at 1:00 p.m., the blues concert, which will take place at the Rotary Bandstand on the Village Green in the historic downtown center of Arroyo Grande, will feature three acts that include soloist Doc Stoltey, followed by the Karen Tyler Duo, and the Shota Kava Blues featuring Valerie Johnson.
Kicking things off for the concert will be nationally recognized artist Doc Stoltey. A local resident of Atascadero, Stoltey, better known as “The Doc,” is an accomplished musician who hails on guitar coupled with the sounds of National steel guitar and harmonica. His music combines a style of rhythm and blues blended with country and “foot-stomping, good-time ballads.”
Following Stoltey is an eclectic blend of unique blues known as the Karen Tyler Duo. Having fallen in love with classic Memphis, Piedmont, swing, boogie-woogie, gospel, and Texas acoustic blues, she intertwines elements of these styles into her song writing, says Tyler.
Accompanied by her husband/bass player, Fred Murray, Tyler is an accomplished musician who won the Monterey Bay Blues Festival’s Battle of the Bands in 2003, and has also been the “#1 Blues Artist” for two years in row by popular vote at www.worldmusiccharts.com.
To round the concert off will be a performance by the locally renowned Shota Kava Blues. Borne of the Central Coast, the Shota Kava Blues feature a musical blend of blues, funk and rock & roll.
Accompanying the Shota Kava Blues group is acclaimed vocalist Valerie Johnson who was once the lead singer for the group Big Brother and the Holding Company-a group made famous for touring with Janice Joplin.
The concert is also sponsored by the Rotary Club of Arroyo Grande, which suggests that attendees bring picnic baskets, lawn chairs, and blankets and encourages all to check out the club’s charitable projects. Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab will be providing ice cream at the event and will donate a portion of their proceeds to the Rotary charities.