The weekly blues concert series on Sundays continues in December at Coconut Falls Tiki Bar and Grill in Fort Myers.
This month’s lineup includes Sean Chambers, Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia on Dec. 6. Nick Schneblen was originally scheduled for Dec. 13. Instead, the series lineup has changed and Annika Chambers will play on Dec. 13.
On Dec. 20, Josh Rowand The Pitbull of Blues is scheduled to play, and the day will include a birthday celebration for Den Rowland. The month wraps up with the Mark Telesca Band on Dec. 27.
All four shows run Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 with $5 off your entree purchase.
Sean Chambers
Florida born Sean Chambers began his career in the blues back in 1998 when he toured with the legendary Hubert Sumlin as his guitarist and band leader until 2003. During Sean’s tenure with Mr. Sumlin, Britain’s own Guitarist magazine named Chambers as “One of the top 50 blues guitarists of the last century.” In 2009, Chambers went into the studio to record his critically-acclaimed album “Ten Til Midnight.” In 2018, Sean Chambers released his 7th album “Welcome To My Blues” on American Showplace Music.
Mike Zito
He may be one of the most lauded artists in the contemporary blues arena today, and rightfully so, but for Mike Zito, the thing that counts the most is maintaining his honesty, authenticity and integrity. Those are the qualities that have steered Zito’s career since the beginning and continue to define every effort he’s offered since. “I have nothing to hide; it seems my honesty is what people relate to most,” he once told Vintage Guitar magazine. “Anders (Osborne) told me early on, ‘If you don’t believe what you’re singing, you’ll never be a good singer.’ I try not to write fluff; I try to make every word count.”
Annika Chambers
Annika Chambers, like so many powerful vocal artists, can trace her love of music back to early childhood. “I grew up singing in the church,” she says. Not that she had to tell us. Citing the gospel influences of Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples and Whitney Houston, you can’t help but feel the Spirit moving through the entire room when Annika throws herself into the heart of a song.
But it was during her two tours of duty in the US Army that Chambers realized the gift she had. “One of my colonels heard me singing, and he said, ‘Why don’t you sing the Anthem for one of our ceremonies?’” She was an immediate hit and became their first choice for all their music events, joining the gospel choir and even winning the talent show on her base. From there, Chambers became part of a touring band making the rounds through Kosovo and Iraq, providing a welcome lift for the troops’ morale. She also planned special events, concerts, dances and karaoke nights, always doing her part to infuse the good time music into their lives.
Josh Rowand
Josh Rowand is an electrifying master of his guitar. He allows the guitar to come alive and speak to his audience as he shows just how a guitar wants to be played with his energized soulful rendition of the blues.
It has been said that Josh is a “Silent Conductor” and he demonstrates this while on stage with only his guitar or while performing with his band. Josh was honored to perform in Montreal Canada at the 2012 Montreal International Jazz Festival, where he laid down his own breed of blues and was rewarded with an overwhelming response from the audience as well as outstanding comments from a Canadian Reporter where Josh’s music and impressive slide guitar work was compared with George Thorogood and Johnny Winter.
Mark Telesca
Mark Telesca started off 2020 with a new solo acoustic CD titled “ Higher Vibrations” along with a new book titled “Love Music-Hate Cancer”
“Higher Vibrations” is a collection of 16 songs. Nine original songs composed by Mark. The remaining seven songs are a mix of Pre-WWII blues and spirituals. His finger style guitar playing and storytelling lyrics combined with his powerful vocal seems to be the perfect combination for making a strong connection with his listeners.
Coconut Falls Tiki Bar and Grill is located at 17200 S. Tamiami Trail in Fort Myers.
For more information, call 239-990-9901, visit online at www.coconutfalls.com or follow them on Facebook.
