Performance Schedule The official schedule has been finalized, which includes 16 sets of music on two stages. CLICK HERE to download the Performance Schedule. The disclaimer: All performance times are subject to change without notice; the festival is rain or shine, no refunds. Jonny Lang Saturday, June 14 Closing the show on Saturday night will be guitarist & singer Jonny Lang, making his first appearance in Guerneville since 2004. Lang burst onto the music scene in 1996 at the age of 15, capturing critical acclaim and worldwide fans. Over a decade later, at the age of 27, Lang has matured into a top live performer, blending blues, funk and rock, while continuing to develop his guitar work, songwriting and soulful vocals. Click photo for full biography & artist websites. Shemekia Copeland Saturday, June 14 When singing sensation Shemekia Copeland first appeared on the scene in 1997 with her groundbreaking debut CD, TURN THE HEAT UP, she quickly became, at 18 years old, a roots music superstar. Critics from around the country celebrated Shemekia's music as fans of all ages agreed that an unstoppable new talent had arrived. Shemekia released two more CDs: 2000's Grammy©-nominated WICKED and 2002's TALKING TO STRANGERS (produced by Dr. John), and in that short period of time, collected five Blues Music Awards, a Grammy© nomination, five Living Blues Awards, and was honored with the coveted "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" Award by the DownBeat Critics' Poll. Rock legend Robert Plant called her "the next Tina Turner." Shemekia has already had a lifetime's worth of career highlights, including performances on national television, appearances in films, and sharing stages with some of the biggest names in the music world. Click photo for full biography & artist websites. The Fabulous Thunderbirds Saturday, June 14 For over 30 years, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the quintessential American band. The group's distinctive and powerful sound, influenced by a diversity of musical styles, manifested itself into a unique musical hybrid via such barnburners as "Tuff Enuff" and "Wrap It Up". Co-founder Kim Wilson, the sole original member, still spearheads the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation. Click photo for full biography & artist websites. Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks Saturday, June 14 Singer-songwriter Dan Hicks is truly an American original. Since the early 1960s, Hicks has deftly blended elements of Swing, Jazz, Folk and Blues music to create the appealing sound he sometimes calls "Folk Jazz". Dan's irresistible sense of rhythm, hip lyrical styling, laid-back vocalizing, and infamous on-stage wit will make most who listen fans for life. He's a snappy dresser, too. "So few truly original figures exist in pop music that Dan Hicks should be a national treasure." -- San Francisco Chronicle Click photo for full biography & artist websites. Chris Cotton Saturday, June 14 In these times when artists of all types are creating new niches for themselves, one artist that should not and cannot be overlooked is American roots artist Chris Cotton, resident of San Francisco. Some people could call his new album "The Big Sea" Americana, Deep Blues, Outlaw Hillbilly, Fierce Hokum, or straight American roots music. Chris Cotton doesn't want you to call it any of these things. Subtly defying genre seems to be Chris's forte these days, and if you were to ask him what to call his own music, he'd probably say "Call it whatever the hell you want." Chris has been compared to legends like Leadbelly and Tom Waits... emphasizing simplicity in form, yet complexity in style. Click photo for full biography & artist websites. Bill Noteman & The Rockets Saturday, June 14 Raw expressive vocals, searing harmonica, sizzling guitar, and cooking keys dipped in the sauce of a smoldering rhythm section. This is the original music and feeling of Bill Noteman and the Rockets. Bill is an amazing harmonica virtuoso and an extremely entertaining front man – skillfully supported by original members "Mojo" Larry Platz on guitar, David “Rockin 88’s" Neft on keyboards, bassist Dave “Fingers” Falco, and drummer Steve "The Shuffler" DuBois. Los Lonely Boys Sunday, June 15 In the six years since Los Lonely Boys were introduced to the music community, everything has changed for the unique and gutsy musical hermanos from West Texas. And yet, nothing has. Forgiven, their new CD to be released July 1, 2008, expands upon the trio's first two releases, with its deeply personal and stunning fusion of electric blues and Texas roots, of soulful grooves and good old-fashioned rock'n'roll, of searing six-string licks and Latin beats. Their early success has been staggering; two million+ copies sold of their debut CD, a Grammy for the monster single "Heaven", and remarkable reviews of their live concerts. Click photo for full biography & artist websites. Robben Ford Sunday, June 15 Robben Ford is one of the premiere electric guitarists today, particularly known for his blues playing as well as his ability to be comfortable in a variety of musical contexts. A four-time Grammy nominee, he has played with artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, George Harrison, Bonnie Raitt, and many, many others. Click photo for full biography & artist websites. Coco Montoya Sunday, June 15 Montoya learned his chops as an early protege of Albert Collins, then as a member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Since stepping out as a bandleader in 1993, Montoya has released five solo albums and performed non-stop at clubs & festivals all over the world. At every show, fans’ jaws dropped, and critics raved about Montoya’s mind-bending guitar licks and fervent vocals. “The fiery blues that issue forth from Coco Montoya’s guitar are awe-inspiring and boogie requiring,” says The Village Voice. With his new CD, Dirty Deal (joined by his friends from Little Feat), Montoya turns up the intensity with another dose of his feral, soul-stirring music. Click photo for full biography & artist websites. Earl Thomas Sunday, June 15 For a blues singer, Earl Thomas sounds suspiciously content. People sometimes fret about how the singer never gets the credit he deserves, but these ideas do not come from Thomas. “I’m on top,” the northern California resident said in a recent interview. “I live as I always wanted to live. I live in the town where I always wanted to live, I have the perfect house, good friends, a sense of community, and I can run in the woods everyday. Actually, I’m blessed.” What kind of bluesman says things like that? What happened to bar fights, bitter breakups and whiskey-drenched years on the road? And to aging delta blues legends falling off their stools in midsong and unknowingly repeating songs for drinks? Some people “won’t let the blues evolve,” Thomas said. “I think that the blues has been trying to evolve since the beginning.” Click photo for full biography & artist websites. John Nemeth Sunday, June 15 John Németh is a rising blues star; a singer steeped in the tradition and reminiscent of B.B. King, Ray Charles and Junior Parker, and a harmonica player of riveting intensity and virtuosity. His decade long career has found him opening for Robert Cray & Keb' Mo', performing at major music festivals around the world, and receiving praise from nearly everyone in the blues community. "Either John Németh is one of the greatest vocalists in the world or this was the best performance of his life, or both." Bob Horn, Washington Blues Society Click photo for full biography & artist websites. Volker Strifler Band The Volker Strifler Band is an extraordinary group of musicians that are more than the sum of their shared and individual experience as performers. Together they conjure up a seductive mix of old and new styles and hard to find original music that is a sizzling package of blues mixed with a little R&B, jazz and soul, and a taste of the Delta just to let everyone know it’s still the blues! From upbeat dance songs to down-home back porch burners, you will know from the first song you are in for one great musical experience. Supported by world class musicians Gary Silva on drums; Don Bassey on bass; Roland ‘Chip’ Condon on keys; David Shrader on sax and Carl Bowers on tenor trombone the Volker Strifler Band will leave you breathless with their live performance, roaring for more every time.