The W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival’s music lineup offers as eclectic of a lineup as it ever has, according to Dorin Luck, who assisted in bringing in the 17 acts.
The festival—which will be June 12-15—announced its music lineup Wednesday and the immediate reaction on its Facebook page was a gaggle of comments about the Friday night headliner, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, a band popular for its 1990s alternative rock anthems “Bittersweet” and “Broken Hearted Savior.”
Getting the band to the Handy Fest was not a long-term goal for Luck. Instead, Luck said he was watching music on YouTube about a year ago when Big Head Todd and the Monsters popped up. Luck, who knew the band from their past success, at first thought he’d soon be watching a tribute band performing some of the Big Head Todd hits but was surprised to find out it was the original band, still playing and touring after all these years.
After a little digging, he learned the band was taking part in a 2025 Blues Cruise (headlined by Joe Bonamassa), in which numerous blues bands play to crowds on a cruise through the Caribbean.
“I thought ‘Goodness gracious, that’s worth looking at,’” Luck said.
Luck said the band’s current style features a mix of many sounds—blues, rock, alternative rock—and they might even throw in a cover here or there.
The Colorado band also has a following in their home state, which just might translate to some of that state’s license plates in downtown Henderson in June, Luck said.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters go on 9 p.m. Friday, June 14.
Saturday night’s headliner, Mr. Sipp, is about as accomplished in the blues field as one can be.
“He’s at the top of his game,” Luck said, adding he’s a superb musician who is also a charismatic entertainer on stage.
Mr. Sipp, whose real name is Castro Coleman, has long list of awards. According to his website, he was the 2014 International Blues Challenge Winner by way of The Vicksburg Blues Society, the 2014 Gibson Best Guitarist Award Winner and the 2014 Bobby Rush Entertainer of the Year Award by the Jus’ Blues Foundation and more. He’s also been nominated for a Grammy for best traditional blues album for “The Soul Side of Sipp” which was released in 2023.
“He really does put on a big show,” Luck said. “He’s a perfect headliner for this festival.”
Mr. Sipp goes on 9 p.m. Saturday, June 15.
Peeling back to earlier in the festival, Luck spoke about the mix of sounds and artists the audience will get to experience. On Wednesday, for example, Grainne Duffy, an Irishwoman with a Bonnie Raitt feel, will start off the evening. She will be followed by John Primer & the Real Deal Blues Band. Luck said Primer is a true, old school bluesman who at one time was the leader for Muddy Waters’ band. “He’s a part of history,” Luck said. And the night ends with Vanessa Collier who’s a multiple blues award winner and the “whole package,” according to Luck.
Wednesday night—“That’s a nice mix,” he said.
Thursday night is Zydeco night and two audience favorites, Chubby Carrier and The Bayou Swamp Band and Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers, will again perform.
“How lucky are we to have both of these bands play for us on the second night?” Luck said. “People want to hear these two bands.”
Thursday night is also a big fundraiser night for the festival, when Handy Fest volunteers sell red beans and rice (among other dishes) so that the festival can remain free.
On Friday, unofficial festival house band and Evansville’s own, Blues 4U, will open at noon. Blues 4U has played at every Handy fest since its beginnings.
“We told them early on that they’d always have a spot, and they’d have to fire us,” Luck said. “They never fired us.”
For Friday’s ticket, which includes Bosco France, Piper & The Hard Times, Robert Jon & The Wreck and the Danielle Nicole Band, Luck again mentioned the mix of styles and sounds.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” he said.
Saturday has Doug MacLeod, who is a singer/songwriter who mixes in humor on the stage. Tyron Benoit, from Louisiana, is a “gumbo mix” of styles that you can’t “pigeonhole,” Luck said. Tad Robinson Band will bring a full band with horns, and The Cold Stares are akin to The Black Keys, Luck said.
Finally, before Mr. Sipp comes on, Desoto Tiger featuring Damon Fowler, Jason Ricci and Boogie Long, is a trio of accomplished musicians from other bands teaming up for the Handy Fest.
“It’s going to be interesting to see what they come up with,” Luck said.
From 1998-2021, Luck booked the acts for the festival. He said he’s proud of the lineup that he helped Brian Bishop, the current Handy Fest music chair, put together for the 2024 rendition.
“I’m going to put this festival right up there with pretty much anything we’ve ever done,” he said.
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