Panhandle Blues Fest to play Moyie Springs

MOYIE SPRINGS — Time to update the September todo list with a brand-new music event planned for the Moyie Springs area. The Panhandle Blues Fest will kick off its premier performance Sept. 17 at noon, 1710 Moyie River Road.

Organizer Billy Mullaley booked five bands including Spokane Dan and the Blues Blazers, Slow Cookin’ Blues Band, Robin Barrett and Coyote Kings with Tiphony Dames, Eric Neuhausser Trio and Atomic Jive.

Mullaley is from Priest River and his coworker is from Bonners Ferry, and the two thought it would be fun to introduce something new to the summer live music events.

“We thought about it all winter. I decided to take the bull by the horns and organize a blues festival,” he said. “With the kind of response I have been getting, I think it will be a success.”

In fact, Mullaley already has four bands tentatively booked for the summer of 2017. After he covers the expenses associated with the event, he plans to earmark the proceeds for scholarships that will go to the Priest River and Bonners Ferry school districts. He hopes that each year, the event will grow and continue to support the scholarship program.

“I tried to choose bands that don’t play that often in the area,” he said, so that concert goers will be able to have an entirely new experience. Mullaley said he likes all kinds of music except the head-banger kind. Blues is one of his favorites.

“There’s something different about a blues festival,” he said. “The crowd just likes to settle in and listen to some great bands.”

Slow Cookin’ Blues Band features a quartet of veteran blues musicians. Forest Govedare and Larry “Frogman” Brown deliver guitar and vocals. The Inland Empire Blues Society named Slow Cookin’ the Best New Blues Band of 2015, according to the group’s Facebook page. In the short time since they came together, the musicians have been playing throughout the Inland Northwest.

The Coyote Kings from Walla Walla, Wash. have been performing around the Northwest region since 2006. A self-described blues-rock band, Coyote Kings changed its name in 2014 when Robin Barrett came onboard. Barrett fronts the band, singing, writing and playing a wicked blues guitar. Kit Kuhlman is on bass while Gordon Farr plays drums. In 2014, Robin Barrett and the Coyote Kings won the Empire Award for Best Blues Band, and Barrett took Best Blues Guitarist. The following year, the band received the Best Album honors for “Howl” from the Empire Awards, according to a publicist. The Kings have shared billing with the likes of George Thorogood, B.B. King, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Elvin Bishop. The group is currently working on a CD with Tiphony Dames.

The Atomic Jive Band bills its music as “swingin’ rhythm and blues with a get up and dance rockabilly twist,” according to its website. Band members are: Bob Briley on drums; “Fuzzy” (Brian) Seagrave on keyboards; Mike Ruggles on guitar; lead vocalist Estelle; Lee Cardella on electric bass; Russ Hoffer on saxophone; Huckleberry Palmer on trombone; and Michael Baker on trumpet.

People should bring chairs and coolers, Mullaley said. Food will be available from on-site vendors, and overnight camping is free of charge. Organizers do ask spectators not to bring glass containers into the venue, which is privately owned.

Gate admission to the Panhandle Blues Fest is $20 per person, with those under 12 admitted free.

Information: Vendors, call Patty, 509-220-5661; Billy 208-448-2395.