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Coco Montoya and JJ Grey & Mofro Headline Waukesha BluesFest August 10 & 11

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The Waukesha Rotary Club has announced the headliners for the 2012 Waukesha BluesFest. Friday, August 10th will feature California blues guitarist Coco Montoya, and on Saturday, August 11th, JJ Grey will bring their soul infused blues rock to the Waukesha BluesFest stage.

Born into a family with generations-old roots in rural Florida, JJ Grey was raised with a combination of backwoods wisdom and old-school blue-collar values. Grey’s original songs are inspired by legendary musicians, including Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, soul greats Otis Redding and Toots Hibbert, and country stars George Jones and Jerry Reed. After over a decade of hard touring and five studio albums Grey still spends eight months of the year on the road, bringing his music to his loyal, ever-growing, worldwide fan base, laying it all on the line with each and every performance. JJ Grey & Mofro have played countless festivals, including Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, Austin City Limits Festival, Byron Bay Blues Festival in Australia and Montreal Jazz Festival. Over the course of his career, Grey has shared stages with the likes of B.B. King, Allman Brothers Band Band and many others. Grey’s songs have appeared in film and network and cable television programs including House, Friday Night Lights, and The Deadliest Catch. Brighter Days is JJ Grey’s first-ever live DVD/CD. The two-disc set includes a full length movie and a long-awaited live album. Singing and telling stories with preacher-like conviction, JJ Grey breaks down the wall between the audience and the performer. “I’ve always felt that music opens the door,” says Grey, “but we’ve all got to walk through it together.”

Mentored by legendary bluesman Albert Collins, Coco Montoya went on to become the guitarist for John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers for ten years before making the move to lead his own band. A self taught guitar slinger who plays with an emotional intensity few string benders possess, he plays left-handed and up side down in the style of Albert King and Jimi Hendrix. Upon releasing his debut solo album, Coco received the award for “Best New Blues Artist” at the Blues Music Awards in 1996. I Want It All Back, Coco's 7th solo album and debut on Ruf Records, was released in March 2010. His first words unveil a voice that possesses as much soul as his guitar. That leap of faith, to trust in his voice, came at the suggestion of Coco's friend and album co-producer, three time Grammy winning artist Keb' Mo'. The world knows Coco as the blazing guitarist who nightly transforms genuine human emotions into eloquent notes that connect with the hearts of his audience. By developing Coco's vocal vulnerability backed by his aching guitar for the emotional reference, these songs connect faster than any records Coco has previously recorded. Coco Montoya has toured the world many times over playing just about every major Blues Festival and much more. No matter how you shake it, there always seemed to be a certain feeling of destiny attached to Montoya’s rise to renown, as if he were placed on this earth to play the blues guitar whether he liked it or not. And so he does, bending those strings as though each bone-melting note could be his last.

Waukesha BluesFest, “An American Music and Art Festival," is in its sixth year and is held at Naga-Waukee Park in Delafield, 1/2 mile north of I-94 on STH 83. Gates will open at 12:30 pm both days with the music running from 1 pm until 10:30 pm. The full music lineup will be announced in mid-April.

In addition to the live music entertainment, Waukesha BluesFest will feature an exceptional selection of food from popular local restaurants, a full selection of beverages and an Art Show featuring regional and locally known artists.

Major sponsors include the Waukesha law firm of Cramer, Multhauf & Hammes, LLP, and the Waukesha Rotary Club with additional supporters soon to be announced.

Advance tickets go on sale Monday, April 23rd. Waukesha BluesFest fans can recognize significant savings by purchasing their tickets in advance. From April 23 through June 30, a single day pass will cost $10 and a 2-day pass will cost $17. From July 1 through August 9 ticket prices are $15 for a single day pass and $25 for a 2-day pass. At-the-gate prices will be $20 for a single day and $35 for the 2-day pass. Special rates are also available for groups of 10 or more. Parking and taxes are included with the admission price. Tickets will be available on-line at www.waukeshabluesfest.com. Tickets will also available by mail and at a number of local area businesses. Proceeds from the event will be distributed by the Waukesha Rotary Club Charitable Fund to local charities and civic projects.

For additional information on the event visit www.waukeshabluesfest.com, email [email protected], or call 1-800-366-1961.

About the Waukesha Rotary Club:
The Waukesha Rotary Club was formed in 1920. Since then, the Club has initiated more than eight hundred members in its 91 years. The Waukesha Rotary Club is one of 33,000 Rotary Clubs in more than 200 countries and geographic areas, and its members total 88 of more than 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide. Rotary Club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto “Service above Self.” Past recipients of the Waukesha Rotary Club’s charitable giving include Angel’s Grace Hospice, Whiterock Elementary School, the Volunteer Center of Waukesha County, The Women’s Center, Inc., Salvation Army, Waukesha Family YMCA, UP Connection, Inc., Literary Council of Greater Waukesha, Haiti and many more. For more information on the Waukesha Rotary Club, visit www.waukesharotary.org.

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