Earth Got The Blues at Great Hall

Eric Wendelken, Jake Vohs, Tom Stoddart and Andy Bullington PHOTO BY CARY HAZLEGROVE If you like blues and jazz from the heydays of the 1940s and ‘50s, you will not want to miss Earth Got The Blues when this local four-some performs in the library’s Great Hall on Saturday, Feb. 13.

The free 7 p.m. concert features Andy Bullington on guitar, Erik Wendelken playing bass and singing, Jake Vohs on drums and vocals with saxophone and harmonica by Tom Stoddart. Bullington said the group formed two years ago, joining in their preference for Chicago-style blues and jazz with original songs mixed in. The upcoming event will feature hits by music greats such as Little Walter, Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker, B.B. King and more.

“I’ve always loved this kind of music,” said Bullington, who also plays with The Shingles. “When I moved to the island in 2001, Tom and I talked for a long time about doing this. Tom and I got together originally and worked as a duo at Jetties Beach for a couple of summers. When he got a band together at the Rose and Crown we finally got a chance to do it. It’s the same four guys all the time.

“We’re using old ‘50s amplifiers and Erik is using a stand-up bass, so we’re trying to make it as authentic as possible. That’s kind of neat.”

Bullington said he likes music from the classic blues and jazz eras for its rich, soulful sound and because it stretches his abilities.

“It’s a privilege to be able to play it,” he said. “With this band, I hope it connects people to an earlier time when music was simple and times were better.”

Earth Got The Blues performs every Thursday night from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Rose and Crown. I