Bibb, Dermody to Perform Acoustic Blues at EIU's Doudna
Feb-11-2010
Blues guitarist Eric Bibb and harmonica player Grant Dermody will bring a rich blend of blues, folk, soul and gospel to Eastern Illinois University on Monday, March 1.
The show is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall, Doudna Fine Arts Center.
Already enjoying success in Europe, Bibb is becoming a familiar face -- and voice -- in the United States. Bibb, winner of the Best Newcomer title in the British Blues Awards, has been nominated for a Grammy and nine W.C. Handy Blues Music Awards.
As a child, Bibb was surrounded by talented musicians, including his father, Leon Bibb. When Eric Bibb was 11, Bob Dylan advised the young guitarist to "Keep it simple -- forget all that fancy stuff."
One of his first albums, "Me to You" (1997) featured appearances by some of his personal heroes -- Pops and Mavis Staples, and Taj Mahal. The album furthered Bibb's international reputation and was followed by tours of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Sweden and Germany.
In 2002, he opened for Ray Charles. He has toured with Robert Cray, John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers, and Robben Ford. His 2004 album "Friends" featured duets with Taj Mahal, Odetta, Charlie Musselwhite, Guy Davis, Mamadou Diabate, Djelimady Toukara and more.
His latest album, "Get Onboard," featuring guest performers Bonnie Raitt and Ruthie Foster, is "a further exploration into the place where blues meets gospel and soul," Bibb said.
Grant Dermody, a harmonica player, singer, songwriter and teacher from Seattle, Wash., is known as an excellent accompanist. He was described as "an understated harmonica virtuoso and a vocalist of subtlety and warmth" by Don McLeese of No Depression magazine.
Although his focus is acoustic blues, Dermody also enjoys adding a unique blues flavor to old-time music. He was a member of The Improbabillies, whose 1998 self-titled CD received critical acclaim in that genre.
Tickets -- $15 for the general public, $12 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $7 for students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.
The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston. For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.
