The San Luis Obispo Blues Society welcomes Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys on Saturday, February 20. The show will open with Lenny Blue and the Otter Guys at 8:00pm in the SLO Vets Hall at 801 Grand Avenue. Free dance lessons are offered at 7:30pm. All tickets are sold at the door, 21 and over only; Blues Society members $17; general public $20. For more information or to volunteer, call 805/541-7930 or visit www.sloblues.org.

Rosie Ledet & The Zydeco Playboys
Affectionately known as the Zydeco Sweetheart, Rosie Ledet fronts the Zydeco Playboys with a sultry voice and an irresistible accordion that continues the party music tradition of Clifton Chenier and Queen Ida. Since 1994, Rosie has recorded eight albums with over 90 original compositions and has performed at blues, zydeco, and heritage music festivals throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

Born in rural Louisiana in 1971, Rosie taught herself to play her husband’s accordion by playing along with the recordings of Boozoo Chavis and John Delafose. She sings and writes in both Creole French and English, and is famed for double entendres. Rosie’s lyrics are anchored by a female perspective, “I try to give a woman a voice - they seldom get one in this kind of music,” while her dance-friendly tunes, like all authentic zydeco, are relentlessly rhythm oriented. Rosie tells interviewers that she thinks of zydeco as “sped up blues.” Ledet’s version of zydeco honors the Cajun traditions and Afro-Caribbean rhythms of the genre, while incorporating R&B influences. Currently, the Zydeco Playboys feature Andre Nizzari on guitar, Pernell Babineaux on bass, Kevin Stelly on drums, and Malcom Walker on rubboard. Visit her website for soundclips: www.myspace.com/rosieledet.

Lenny Blue and The Otter Guys
Lenny Blue and the Otter Guys play a lively and danceable musical stew of blues blended with R&B, soul, west coast swing, funk and world-beat.  The band features Lenny Blue on guitar and lead vocals, Ed Frawley on lead guitar, Curtis Miller on drums, Jambo on bass guitar and Scott Andrews on saxophone. Listen to “Down to New Orleans” on  www.myspace.com/otterguys.

The Sharing the Dream 15th annual Concert and Festival, honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will take place on Saturday, January 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Laguna Middle School in San Luis Obispo. Sharing the Dream honors Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision of equal respect for all people. The non-profit has provided culturally responsive events to the citizens of San Luis Obispo County since 1994.

The concert will include an All-Star Jam featuring Grammy award-winning artist Louie Ortega, local sensation Al ”Shival” Redwine, Balaram Redwine, and Founder of Sharing the Dream, Michael LoveGene.

Also featured will be performances by the Higher Movement Dancers, House of Prayer Choir, Tim Jackson, Pastor Gerald & Betty Purify, David Smith, and California Arts International. The program includes guest speakers, videos of speeches by Dr. King, a presentation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognition of the top three winners of Sharing the Dream’s 1st annual Essay and Art Contest. The prompt for the Contest is: I believe the King Holiday is meaningful and important for all Americans’ and should be celebrated in our county because…

Children, students and seniors are free. A suggested donation of $10 for adults helps Sharing the Dream promote and organize this and future celebrations and educational opportunities, like the above mentioned 1st annual essay and art contest. Lunch by Bon Temps Creole Café will be available at $5 a plate.

About the performers:
Glenn Starkey of the New Times has said that Ortega’s “hauntingly sweet voice [is] the perfect vehicle for his smartly written songs about love and life.” Ortega won a Grammy in 1990 for his performance and translation of the song “Soy de San Luis.”
Shival has played with artists such as Carlos Santana, Grateful Dead Drummer Mickey Hart, Nigerian Drummer and Grammy winner Babatunde Olatunji, Master Percussionists Airto Moriera and Renaldo Jackson. Event organizer Kim Harris says that, “Shival’s fun, rhythmic, and culturally diverse style makes him a visionary in the music world.”

Sponsors include: The City of San Luis Obispo, KCBX FM Radio, New Times, Sierra Club, Information Press, Bill Gaines Audio, The Drum Circuit, Bon Temp Creole Café, and Carlton and Regina Brown.
Vendor space and sponsorships are still available. For more information email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 805-784-9410 or visit www.slosharingthedream.org.

February:  Bob Marley’s Birthday Bash & Black History Month

“We must start to care and give back”  --Ras Danny

On Thursday, Feb 4th, Ras Danny & Reggae All Star Productions will produce "Trenchtown Tribute" a benefit Reggae Show for the Trenchtown Youth, at Down Town Brew from at 7 - 11pm. This show is open to all ages.

Proceeds from the show will go to buying musical instruments for the Trenchtown Culture Yard, one of Bob Marley’s favorite charities, on the infamous First street~Trenchtown, Kingston 12. Ras Danny is taking drum kits, guitars, bass, and amps to replace the guns and violence with musical instruments. He cares that his own grandchildren, living in Jamaica, will grow up safe and have a future. By giving back he is demonstrating his love and devotion.

Another show will take place at Mother’s Tavern on Saturday, February 6th in honor of Bob Marley’s birthday and is the 10th Annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash, started by Ras Danny in 2000. Ras Danny is one of the original reggae musicians and friends of Bob Marley that started the annual reggae event in Trenchtown the year after Marley’s passing due to cancer.

This will benefit the SLO Senior Nutrition Center.