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Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon defies all expectations. The blistering guitarist, soulful vocalist, singular songwriter and city bus driver fuses his muscular, rock-inspired blues guitar playing with his original, keenly detailed slice-of-life songs, blazing his own blues trail. With the 2016 release of his Alligator Records debut, The Chicago Way, Cannon burst onto the international stage as one the most electrifying bluesmen to emerge from Chicago in decades. His live performances unfailingly earn him heaps of critical praise and hordes of wildly enthusiastic fans. Cannon has played major cities all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe. He recently performed for the first time in Japan, delighting and surprising audiences with one unforgettable gig after another. Now, with the release of The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp, Cannon builds upon the foundation he’s laid, creating and defining his vision of contemporary blues.

Intrepid Artists Int’l is proud to exclusively represent Mike Zito throughout the entire world! Mike has been a long time friend of the agency and we are ecstatic to have him on our team! Be on the look out for Fall and Winter tour announcements!

“Deep, contemporary Chicago blues… razor-sharp guitar and compelling, forceful singing”
–Chicago Tribune

“Cannon is at the front rank of Chicago bluesmen. He creates wide-screen modern arrangements for wry, thoughtful songs, molding a sound that’s both tempestuous and scrupulously controlled.”
–MOJO

Expectation-defying Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon will release his second Alligator album, The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp on Friday, September 20, 2019. The songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and Chicago Transit Authority bus driver blazes his own visionary blues trail, fusing his original, keenly-detailed tales of everyday life with his muscular guitar playing. Blues Music Magazine says, “Cannon has all the fire and spontaneity of the Chicago legends. His songwriting is a timely and original look at the world he sees by day on a bus and in blues clubs by night, and his assertive voice is the perfect vehicle to deliver the message.”

With the release of The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp, Cannon builds upon the foundation he laid with his 2016 Alligator debut, The Chicago Way. The new album, produced by Cannon and Alligator president Bruce Iglauer, features twelve Cannon originals, ranging from wryly sung, slice-of-life songs flavored with a healthy dose of Cannon’s sense of humor to burning social commentary. His gritty, rock-tinged blues guitar work echoes the sounds of the city. His impassioned vocals are filled with muscle and personality. His potent original songs are inspired by his deep Chicago roots, the wisdom of his grandparents and his years of observing the public while driving a bus. “It’s not about the solos,” Cannon says, “It’s about the songs. People get used to everyday life, so it’s easy to miss the things around them. I write about those things. I know the problems of Chicago, the hardship. But I choose to love and respect the city because of the Chicago blues giants that came here from down south. I’m proud to be standing on the shoulders of every great Chicago blues musician who came before me.”

Upon release of The Chicago Way, Cannon burst onto the international stage as one the most electrifying bluesmen to emerge from Chicago in decades. His live performances unfailingly earn him heaps of critical praise and hordes of wildly enthusiastic fans. Cannon has played major cities all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including stops in the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Poland, and Japan, delighting and surprising audiences with one unforgettable gig after another. He has played the Chicago Blues Festival on ten separate occasions, initially as a sideman, then as a special guest, a sidestage band leader and finally as a main stage headliner. When he’s home, he drives a bus by day and performs by night. Using every vacation day and day off and working four ten-hour shifts a week, Cannon arranges his schedule to gig out of town as much as possible.

Now, with The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp, Toronzo Cannon continues to deliver his messages loud and clear. Between his distinctive original songs, endless guitar chops and soulful vocals, Cannon has grown from being a local attraction to become a world-renowned ambassador for Chicago blues. PBS Television’s Chicago Tonight says, “Cannon is just your typical CTA bus driver who moonlights as a sought-after Chicago blues musician. As a guitarist, singer and songwriter, he drives the sound of Chicago blues from the city to blues clubs and festivals around the world.”

Intrepid Artists Int’l is proud to exclusively represent Ana Popovic throughout North America! Ana has been a long time friend of the agency and we are absolutely thrilled to have her back on our team! We can’t wait to see what the future holds. 

Blues Rock Artist – Eric Gales

Contemporary Blues Male Artist – Kenny Neal

Instrumentalist Horn – Vanessa Collier

Soul Blues Male Artist – Sugaray Rayford

Dear Music Lovers, Fans of The Blues Rock & Soul and Friends of Intrepid Artists,

Hope this finds you ALL well! Intrepid Artists Int’l will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary on the weekend of November 8th & 9th, 2019 in Charlotte, NC USA.
Two Night Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 29th at 10am est for the LOW PRICE of $40.00usd for our Nov 8-9 “Rock n’ Roll, Soul & Blues Revival… The Sequel” to be held at The NEW Amos’ Southend on November 8th and The Neighborhood Theatre on November 9th.

Once all the two night tickets are gone, there will be a limited number of one night tickets for Saturday ONLY that will be released for $25.00usd. This is a NON PROFIT EVENT! “If” by any chance, there is a profit made off tickets sales, and merch, It will be donated to a charity in the name of Alex Kaminshine who worked with us and passed away last year.

So far the following artists are: Eric Gales Kenny Neal, John Nemeth & The Blue Dreamers, Davy Knowles, Toronzo Cannon, Albert Castiglia Band, Gary Hoey, Vanessa Collier, The Steepwater Band, Empire Strikes Brass, and a little thing we are calling, “Intrepid Does The Stones” are all CONFIRMED with more artists to be announced soon!

You may purchase tickets at Maxx Music thru Ticketfly:

Ticket Link: https://www.neighborhoodtheatre.com/event/1846765/
Event Link: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1846765
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/395270927695131/

The Newly renovated Marriott City Center in the heart of beautiful Uptown Charlotte is once again our host Hotel! We recommend you make your reservation NOW due to limited space. Once the NFL schedule comes out in about a month, prices could go up. See reservation instructions below.

ALL guests will be responsible for all of their own room charges including and tax, parking and any incidentals. Please have your guests use the 800 number or reservation link below to make reservations.

MAKING RESERVATIONS BY PHONE
1. Dial 1-800-359-3204 toll free. Specify the Intrepid Artists Room Block. $149.00usd plus tax.
2. Please provide your arrival date and type of accommodations that you are requesting.
3. Have a credit card available to hold the room.
4. We would advise you make these reservations ASAP as the room block is limited.
5. Check-in time is after 3pm and check-out time is 12pm.

MAKING RESERVATIONS ONLINE

Just tell them you are with The Intrepid Block. We really hope you will join us and assure you that we will serve up a healthy dose southern hospitality as well as plenty of roots and rockin’ blues. Don’t delay in reserving your spot for The Biggest Blues and Roots Party of the Year!

Neon Highway Blues, Gary’s latest release, carries its 11 tracks with the confidence and assuredness of a veteran,and the freshness of someone who’s still in the process of discovery and refinement –with the help of famous friends such as Eric Gales, Lance Lopez, Josh Smith and Hoey’s 17-year-old son Ian Hoey. The release of Neon Highway Blues will, of course, take Gary Hoey back on the highways and byways for plenty of touring and playing, well, the blues –and more. He can’t yet predict where the next road will take him, but Hoey is confident it will be an adventure.

Whether he’s playing scorching originals or classic rock covers, his solos are thrilling and reminiscent of Clapton or Stevie Ray in their fiery youth. One thing that remains consistent is Hoey’s impassioned command of the guitar. He can attack his instrument with feral intensity and then play something very soft and achingly beautiful. This ability to mix feeling, phrasing, technique and tone is the true mark of a master guitarist.

Nick Schnebelen, Blues Music Award Winner has a new record, “Crazy All By Myself”, on VizzTone Label Group. Produced by Grammy and Blues Music Award winner – Tony Braunagel (Taj Mahal, Robert Cray), and backed on this record by Taj Mahal’s Phantom Blues Band.

At the backbone of this power trio is one of the best rhythm sections touring today; Cliff Moore -Electric bass (Michael Burkes) and Adam Hagerman -drums (Hadden Sayers, James Harmon, Smokin’ Joe Kubek), supporting Nick who has built a reputation as a killer lead guitar player and impassioned vocalist. Longtime friend and famous keyboard player, Mike Finnigan (Taj Mahal, Jimi Hendrix. Etc.) will join Nick and band on the West Coast.

On 8th February 2019, Eric Gales returns with his brand new album The Bookends on Provogue/Mascot Label Group and it features collaborations with B. Slade, Doyle Bramhall II and Beth Hart.

The challenge for making The Bookends was for Gales to challenge himself. “As a guitar player it’s been established that I can play a little bit, just a little bit,” he smiles. But for this album he not only wanted to push himself as a musician, but also as a vocalist, to build up his vocal discography. “What spearheaded that was the artists that I have on the record,” he says.

Talking about being in the studio he elaborates; “The whole vocal thing was something I consciously wanted to push and Matt [Wallace] was on the same page, saying, ‘there’s gonna be sometimes you might not like me because I’m gonna push you because I feel that I know what you can do, and its more than just guitar playing’. It was just really powerful and moving.”

BB King Entertainer of The Year
Sugaray Rayford
Lil’ Ed Wiliams

Band of The Year
Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials
Anthony Geraci & The Boston Blues All Stars

Album of The Year
“Rough Cut” – Curtis Salgado & Alan Hager
“Why Did You Have To Go” – Anthony Geraci

Contemporary Blues Female Artist of The Year
Vanessa Collier

Contemporary Blues Male Artist of The Year
Selwyn Birchwood
Toronzo Cannon
Kenny Neal

Blues Rock Artist of The Year
Eric Gales

Traditional Blues Album
“Why Did You Have To Go” – Anthony Geraci

Contemporary Blues Album of The Year
“Wild Again” – The Proven Ones

Song of The Year
“Angelina, Angelina” written by Anthony Geraci sung by Sugaray Rayford
“Cognac” – Buddy Guy, Tom Hambridge, Richard Fleming

Acoustic Artist of The Year
Hadden Sayers

Soul/ Blues Male Artist of The Year
Sugaray Rayford

Traditional Blues Male Artist
Anthony Geraci

Instrumentalist (Horn)
Vanessa Collier

Instrumentalist (Guitar)
Laura Chavez

Instrumentalist (Bass)
Willie J Campbell

Instrumentalist (Piano)
Anthony Geraci
Mike Finnigan

Instrumentalist (Drums)
Jimi Bott
Tom Hambridge
Tony Braunagel