It was a gorgeous day for a ride! The 8th Annual Stevie Ray Vaughan Remembrance Ride And Concert was again held at The Bronco Bowl on October 6th. The event was founded by Jeff Castro to raise funds for the SRV Memorial Scholarship Fund set up by the Vaughn family to benefit Oak Cliff music students. The rally began at Hooters and as the Bronco Bowl parking lot filled with bikes, there was a sense of pride and celebration. Inside, musicians were already on stage and vendors were ready to sport their goods.
The music began at 12:15 with each of the three stages providing shows every 15 minutes. There wasn`t a silent moment. At the Main Stage the performers of the day were Wes Jeans & Josh Taylor, Tracy Conover and Billy Gordon & The Blue Rockers. At Hooters Canyon Club Stage were Joanna Ramirez, Johnny Nitzinger, Josh Alan and Rocky Athas. The Holiday World Lava Lounge presented Kerrie Lepai, Beth Garner, Blue Lisa & The Howling Dogs.
A few highlights of the shows that I was able to see were:
Joanna Ramirez with her powerful voice along with her band performed tunes from her CD Satisfy Me as well as Albert Collins` Tired Man and Stevie Ray`s Empty Arms.
Beth Garner`s unique voice and impressive guitar talent with her young band performed tunes from her CD Much Later For You and was proof that a young girl can play the blues.
Johnny Nitzinger played a heart felt tune he wrote Where She Goes I Go. Known for his loud playing, Johnny and his band continued to play as stage hands drilled on the loose drum stand. (No, we couldn`t hear the drills.)
This was my first experience of Tracy Conover`s talent. Fabulous voice, excellent guitar playing and sizzling sex appeal, Tracy (pictured below) has it all. She played Big Boss Man and Stevie Ray`s Mary Had A Little Lamb, some Magic Slim, Jimmy Reed, and other get down dirty blues. She performed her originals such as Escape From Myself and I Wanna Be An Angel, written for Stevie Ray.
The music began at 12:15 with each of the three stages providing shows every 15 minutes. There wasn`t a silent moment. At the Main Stage the performers of the day were Wes Jeans & Josh Taylor, Tracy Conover and Billy Gordon & The Blue Rockers. At Hooters Canyon Club Stage were Joanna Ramirez, Johnny Nitzinger, Josh Alan and Rocky Athas. The Holiday World Lava Lounge presented Kerrie Lepai, Beth Garner, Blue Lisa & The Howling Dogs.
A few highlights of the shows that I was able to see were:
Joanna Ramirez with her powerful voice along with her band performed tunes from her CD Satisfy Me as well as Albert Collins` Tired Man and Stevie Ray`s Empty Arms.
Beth Garner`s unique voice and impressive guitar talent with her young band performed tunes from her CD Much Later For You and was proof that a young girl can play the blues.
Johnny Nitzinger played a heart felt tune he wrote Where She Goes I Go. Known for his loud playing, Johnny and his band continued to play as stage hands drilled on the loose drum stand. (No, we couldn`t hear the drills.)
This was my first experience of Tracy Conover`s talent. Fabulous voice, excellent guitar playing and sizzling sex appeal, Tracy (pictured below) has it all. She played Big Boss Man and Stevie Ray`s Mary Had A Little Lamb, some Magic Slim, Jimmy Reed, and other get down dirty blues. She performed her originals such as Escape From Myself and I Wanna Be An Angel, written for Stevie Ray.
The last act on the Main Stage was Billy Gordon & The Blue Rockers with a motorcycle on stage. (Much needed for a biker event.)
Winding up the event was guitar virtuoso the Rocky Athas band at The Canyon Club`s “After Party”. Rocky, an Oak Cliff native, has played with Stevie Ray, headlined with Eric Johnson and is admired by numerous other big names.
Winding up the event was guitar virtuoso the Rocky Athas band at The Canyon Club`s “After Party”. Rocky, an Oak Cliff native, has played with Stevie Ray, headlined with Eric Johnson and is admired by numerous other big names.
This year was another well organized event of great music, bikes, wonderful people and all for a good cause. The Gypsy`s provided security. Sponsors were David McDavid Auto Group, 93.3 The Bone, Holiday World of Dallas, Hooter`s, Jester Cycle & Machine Works, Express Signs, Audio Video Technologies, Charley`s Guitar Shop, Holiday Inn, Texas Business Assistant, Sysco, Red Hot & Blue, obee`s, Xtremeblues.com and DA` BLUES.
