with special guest 2 Blue with Amy Ryan and Richard Green

The Capitol Region Blues Network presents:

Tinsley Ellis

Artist Website

Southern blues-rocker Tinsley Ellis may speak no evil, but he sings and plays with the conviction of, as Billboard wrote, “…a man possessed.” Over the course of eleven albums and literally thousands of live performances, Ellis easily ranks as one of today’s most electrifying blues-rock guitarists and vocalists. He approaches his music with rock power and blues feeling, in the same tradition as his Deep South musical heroes Duane Allman and Freddie King and his old friends Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes. Atlanta Magazine declared Ellis “the most significant blues artist to emerge from Atlanta since Blind Willie McTell.”

Tinsley Ellis wears his Southern roots proudly. Born in Atlanta in 1957, he grew up in southern Florida and first played guitar at age eight. He found the blues through the back door of British Invasion bands like The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream, and The Rolling Stones. He especially loved the Kings — Freddie, B.B. and Albert — and spent hours immersing himself in their music. His love for the blues solidified when he was fourteen. At a B.B. King performance, Tinsley sat mesmerized in the front row. When B.B. broke a string on Lucille, he changed it without missing a beat, and handed the broken string to Ellis. After the show, B.B. came out and talked with fans, further impressing Tinsley with his warmth and down-to-earth attitude. By now Tinsley’s fate was sealed; he had to become a blues guitarist. And yes, he still has that string.

Averaging over 150 live shows a year, Ellis has played in all 50 states as well as Canada, Europe, Australia and South America. He has shared stages with almost every major blues star, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Son Seals, Koko Taylor, Albert Collins and many others. Whether he’s out with his own band or sharing stages with major artists like Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule or Widespread Panic, he always digs deep and plays, as Guitar Player says, “…as if his life depended on it.”

2 Blue with Amy Ryan and Richard Green

Artist Website

Witnessing Amy’s solo performances at open mic sessions in New York’s  Capital Region, guitarist Richard Green saw an opportunity to combine  his own blues guitar chops with a gutsy female singer with the  potential to lead a great blues band.  The Amy Ryan Band was soon born  and now Amy and Richard have extended their musical partnership  melding together Amy’s country blues mojo and Richard’s urban blues  and rock sensibilities into a new duo act – 2 Blue. With a repertoire  that includes Amy-penned tunes, Richard originals, adaptations of Amy  Ryan Band tunes and select covers, 2 Blue brings a great bluesy feel  to the duo format.

Amy Ryan (guitar and vocals) – originally from New Hampshire and currently a resident of Castleton-on-Hudson, Amy’s bluesy voice quickly distinguishes her from run-of-the-mill songstresses.  Whether accompanying herself on a finger-picked country blues or wailing with the boys in the band she’s got what it takes.

Richard Green (guitar and vocals) – originally from Sheffield, England, Richard’s love and command of the blues fits Amy’s voice like a glove.  Richard has been active in blues and blues-rock bands since he played with Sheffield, England outfit “Steppin’ Out” in the early ’90’s.  He also logged a number of years with Columbia County-based blues band “Kid Kurt and the Bad Boys”

CRBN’s mission is to preserve the blues as a thriving art form in the Capital Region. We pursue this goal by promoting concerts, providing opportunities for local musicians to practice their craft, and through a variety of educational and philanthropic programs.