Waukesha BluesFest Announces Saturday, August 10th Headliner: Moreland & Arbuckle

Waukesha BluesFest, “An American Music and Art Festival, presented by the Waukesha Rotary Club, is in its seventh year and will be held Friday and Saturday, August 9 and 10, 2013 at Naga-Waukee Park in Delafield, 1/2 mile north of I-94 on STH 83.  Gates open at 12:30pm both days with the music running from 1pm until 10:30pm.

MORELAND & ARBUCKLE will headline Waukesha BluesFest on Saturday, August 10, 2013 with a 9pm performance.  Drawing loose comparisons to The Black Keys and Jack White, the band fuses traditional blues with rock sensibilities to create a modern blues vibe destined to continue building on the energy of the current blues/rock revival.  Moreland & Arbuckle make a rare visit to Wisconsin for their performance at this summer’s Waukesha BluesFest.

Since their beginnings in the Kansas heartland a decade ago, guitarist Aaron Moreland and vocalist/harpist Dustin Arbuckle have captured the visceral spirit of the early 20th century Delta blues and the raw energy of post-World War II urban blues and distilled it all into a hard-driving and powerful garage-rock configuration of guitar, vocals, harp and drums.  Moreland & Arbuckle build on that solid foundation with their latest release Just A Dream.

The 12-song set showcases Moreland’s dynamic and compelling guitar work – two tracks were recorded on his cigar-box guitar consisting of three guitar strings and one bass string – Arbuckle’s emotionally charged vocals and edgy harp, and drummer Brad Horner’s rock-solid backbeat.  Just A Dream adds a few layers of sophistication to the rootsy sensibility previously captured in the band’s acclaimed 2010 debut, Flood.

“The clear objective was to retain the gritty, raw feel that we created on our prior release, but push everything up about four notches as far as sound quality, the selection of songs, the production and every other aspect of the record,” says Moreland.  “Everything we’ve done in the past was set up in one big room and recorded in a couple days.  On this record, we spent far more time, and our quality control was far more stringent than it’s ever been.  When this record was finished, I thought, yeah, this is what I wanted to achieve.”

But the real substance is in the music itself, which consists primarily of tunes penned by Moreland & Arbuckle but also borrows from outside sources in a couple instances.  “White Lightnin’” is a contribution from legendary guitarist Steve Cropper, whose work with Booker T. and the MGs on the Stax label during the ‘60s and early ‘70s literally defined American soul music.  In addition to contributing the song, Cropper also lays down a searing guitar solo to go with it.  “The version Steve sent us on a demo was kind of a slow blues tune,” says Moreland. “Our version is about 45 miles an hour faster than the original.”

There is a great deal of the Moreland & Arbuckle story that has yet to unfold.  “The possibilities are completely open,” says Arbuckle.  “Our music could go in so many interesting directions from here, and yet still maintain a significant piece of what it was at the very beginning.  That’s an exciting place to be.”  If the band has any plan at all, it’s “to just keep evolving and making great music without getting stuck in a rut,” says Moreland.  I think we’re lucky in that we have a unique sound and a unique style that I don’t really hear anywhere else.”

Moreland & Arbuckle will be supported by a name well known in the Midwest and across the country, Bryan Lee and The Blues Power Band as their opening act at 7:30pm on Saturday, August 10, 2013.  Born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Bryan Lee has gone on to great heights as a blues singer and guitarist including leading the house band at the Old Absinthe Bar on Bourbon Street in New Orleans for many years.  In addition, Bryan was nominated for a Grammy Award for his work on an album with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and subsequently appeared with Shepherd on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  

As previously announced English blues act THE JAMES HUNTER SIX will headline Waukesha BluesFest on Friday, August 9th, 2013 with rising R&B star Nikki Hill opening as the direct support to James Hunter.  The complete line-up of acts will be announced for the 2013 edition of Waukesha BluesFest very soon!

In addition to the live music entertainment, Waukesha BluesFest features an exceptional selection of food from popular local restaurants, a full selection of beverages and an Art Show featuring regional and locally known artists. Applications for artists interested in being considered for the Waukesha BluesFest Art Show are still being accepted, contact Lynn Gaffey at the Almont Gallery in Waukesha at 262-542-1522.

Advance tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 1st.  Waukesha BluesFest fans can recognize significant savings by purchasing their tickets in advance.  Tickets will be available on-line at www.waukeshabluesfest.com.  Tickets will also be available by mail order and at a number of local area businesses.

Major sponsors of Waukesha BluesFest include the Waukesha law firm of Cramer, Multhauf & Hammes, LLP, Waukesha State Bank, Cooper Power Systems and the Waukesha Rotary Club with additional supporters soon to be announced.  Proceeds from the event will be distributed by the Waukesha Rotary Club Charitable Fund to local humanitarian charities and civic projects.
 
For additional information on the event visit www.waukeshabluesfest.com, email info@waukeshabluesfest.com, or call 1-800-366-1961.

About the Waukesha Rotary Club:

The Waukesha Rotary Club was formed in 1920.  Since then, the Club has initiated more than eight hundred members in its 91years.  The Waukesha Rotary Club is one of 33,000 Rotary Clubs in more than 200 countries and geographic areas, and its members total 88 of more than 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide.  Rotary Club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto “Service above Self.”  Past recipients of the Waukesha Rotary Club’s charitable giving include Angel’s Grace Hospice, Whiterock Elementary School, the Volunteer Center of Waukesha County, The Women’s Center, Inc., Salvation Army, Christmas Clearing Council, Safe Babies Healthy Families, Easter Seals, Haiti and many more.  For more information on the Waukesha Rotary Club, visit www.waukesharotary.org.