Piedmont Bluz

The New York City based acoustic blues duo known as Piedmont Bluz will make a rare Tallahassee appearance at Blue Tavern. Piedmont Bluz consists of Valerie and Ben Turner, of whom thecountryblues.com said: “Just when people think the old country blues of the mid-Atlantic has faded away, along come the wonderful husband and wife duo who are the heirs to the Piedmont blues tradition. They play the truehearted, authentic country blues with love. It’ll warm your heart.”

Expect great music, interesting stories, as well as a bit of history as they share their musical traditions with you. An acoustic act like this doesn’t come around often – see them while you can!

The Piedmont Bluz duo is dedicated to the preservation of Country Blues and the Piedmont style – a special kind of fingerpicking that was prized by early blues musicians – and their mission is to help keep this rural, east coast tradition alive through musical entertainment. The duo has performed at festivals and venues all across the country, as well as internationally, and are much loved wherever they go. They feel that “there are stories to tell, people to remember, and things that must be said” so, in addition to tickling your ears with delightful music, they weave a bit of history into the presentation of each song.

Valerie Turner sings and plays fingerstyle guitar in the Piedmont tradition, continuing a long history of the mid-Atlantic folk and country blues. Occasionally, she also adds a touch of old-time banjo to their set. Valerie was a student of the late, great Virginia bluesman, John Cephas, who famously carried on the guitar-harmonica duo tradition of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee with his partner, harmonica ace Phil Wiggins. Valerie also studied with guitar master Woody Mann. In many ways, she carries on the music of the great women of the acoustic blues, Etta Baker, Memphis Minnie, and Elizabeth Cotten. She is one of the very few authentic, female practitioners of the genre known as “East Coast Blues.” Ben Turner, who predominately plays washboard and bones, is the other half of this magical duo. He also chimes in with subtle harmonica riffs and runs, and is a perfect accompaniment for Valerie’s guitar and vocals. Ben counts Newman Taylor Baker of the Ebony Hillbillies and Washboard Chaz of Louisiana fame as his inspiration.

These performers are carrying on a long tradition of African American folk music and they are important cultural ambassadors of the acoustic blues.

$10 cover

Belmont & Jones, Tallahassee’s purveyors of early blues, will open the show at 8 pm; Piemont Bluz will play at 9 pm.