The Sofia Presents
Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout
music series - Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout - 02/25/2025 at 7:00 pm
Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout
MARK HUMMEL is the Grammy Nominated, two time BMA winning creator of the Blues Harmonica Blowouts since 1991, a traveling road show that has hosted every major player on the instrument from James Cotton, John Mayall, Charlie Musselwhite, Magic Dick, Lee Oskar, Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza, Rick Estrin, Howard Levy, Jason Ricci and dozens more. Hummel has played with a who’s who of blues legends, Jimmy Rogers, Brownie McGhee, Lowell Fulsom, Eddie Taylor, Percy Mayfield, Charles Brown, Jimmy McCracklin and many more. Mark’s newest cd True Believer is moving up the blues Charts. Mark has recorded over 30 records.
CURTIS SALGADO is the original co-singer in Robert Cray Band who became the inspiration for John Belushi’s Blues Brothers when he came to meet Curtis while filming Animal House in Eugene, OR. Curtis joined Roomful of Blues in early 80s and also Santana for a brief spell. Salgado has long been a major draw in the NW but lately has spread his name world wide as a phenom vocalist and fine harmonica player. Over the last decade Curtis signed with Alligator Records and released four Blues Award winning CDs plus winning multiple BluesAwards as Entertainer of the year and Soul Singer of the year several times over. Curtis’s newest is Fine By Me and has entered the Billboard Top Ten in the BluesCharts.
NICK MOSS & DENNIS GRUENLING are the Blues Music Award winning band on Alligator Records that are quickly rising to the top thanks to show stopping performances round the world. Nick has played in Willie Big Eyes Smith’s touring band and recordings as well as several years with the legendary Jimmy Rogers. Moss has 15 albums to his credit( his last won a BMA for album of the year and Band Of The Year) Their Brazilian bassist RODRIGO MONTOVANI is now one of the most in demand upright players on the blues scene today, appearing with Jontavious Willis and Big Creek Slim on their most recent records. Dennis has won Harmonica Player of the Year in 2019 and is considered an innovator on the instrument by many.
SWEET MARTA is a Spanish harpist/vocalist who is making a name for herself across Europe & now North America. Marta is considered the best straight blues female player in the biz! Prepare to be knocked out by her!!
WES STARR is the longtime Austin based drummer who’s played with a who’s who of Texas legends, Asleep At The Wheel, Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball, Delbert McClinton, Omar and the Howlers, Jimmy Vaughn, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Anson and the Rockets, Golden State Lone Star and many more. Starr has done the Blowouts off & on for the last 14 yrs.
BOB WELSH is the guitarist and pianist for Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio, Fabulous Thunderbirds and Charlie Musselwhite, has been on of the most in demand players in blues today.
HISTORY OF SHOWS
Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout™ started on a Sunday night in 1991 at Ashkenaz in Berkeley with four harmonica players - Rick Estrin, Mark, Dave Earl and Doug Jay. Each player performed a twenty to thirty minute set and everyone jammed together with Hummel’s Blues Survivors as backup. Over the next five years it grew to become a multi venue event around California and included bigger names like William Clarke, Norton Buffalo and Paul DeLay. By the year 2000 the Blowout was headlining Yoshi's in Oakland as a four night show with Rod Piazza, Kim Wilson, Rick Estrin, James Harman and Billy Branch. These shows were recorded for Mountain Top Records.
Since then it’s become a who’s who of older and younger players, black, white, male and female, national and international. From icons like Snooky Pryor, Carey Bell, James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, John Mayall, John Hammond, Little Sonny, Lazy Lester, Billy Boy Arnold, Sam Myers, Corky Siegel, Magic Dick, Huey Lewis, Lee Oscar, Jerry Portnoy, Howard Levy and Paul Oscher to younger players like Sugar Ray Norcia, Jason Ricci, Son Of Dave, Aki Kumar, Curtis Salgado, Kenny Neal, RJ Mischo, Sugar Blue, Annie Raines, Carlos Del Junco, just to name a few.
The selection of guitarists has also been a stunner including Duke Robillard, Rusty Zinn, Bob Welsh, Little Charlie Baty, Anson Funderburgh, Jr. Watson, Billy Flynn, Steve Freund, Mike Keller and many more.
In 2013 the tribute to Little Walter Blowout was recorded for a CD on Blind Pig Records called Remembering Little Walter. This recording was nominated for a Grammy award and won two Blues Music Awards ( Album of the Year and Best Traditional Blues Recording).
Year after year Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout™ continues to play festivals nationally and internationally as well as sold out venues coast to coast.
CURTIS SALGADO is the original co-singer in Robert Cray Band who became the inspiration for John Belushi’s Blues Brothers when he came to meet Curtis while filming Animal House in Eugene, OR. Curtis joined Roomful of Blues in early 80s and also Santana for a brief spell. Salgado has long been a major draw in the NW but lately has spread his name world wide as a phenom vocalist and fine harmonica player. Over the last decade Curtis signed with Alligator Records and released four Blues Award winning CDs plus winning multiple BluesAwards as Entertainer of the year and Soul Singer of the year several times over. Curtis’s newest is Fine By Me and has entered the Billboard Top Ten in the BluesCharts.
NICK MOSS & DENNIS GRUENLING are the Blues Music Award winning band on Alligator Records that are quickly rising to the top thanks to show stopping performances round the world. Nick has played in Willie Big Eyes Smith’s touring band and recordings as well as several years with the legendary Jimmy Rogers. Moss has 15 albums to his credit( his last won a BMA for album of the year and Band Of The Year) Their Brazilian bassist RODRIGO MONTOVANI is now one of the most in demand upright players on the blues scene today, appearing with Jontavious Willis and Big Creek Slim on their most recent records. Dennis has won Harmonica Player of the Year in 2019 and is considered an innovator on the instrument by many.
SWEET MARTA is a Spanish harpist/vocalist who is making a name for herself across Europe & now North America. Marta is considered the best straight blues female player in the biz! Prepare to be knocked out by her!!
WES STARR is the longtime Austin based drummer who’s played with a who’s who of Texas legends, Asleep At The Wheel, Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball, Delbert McClinton, Omar and the Howlers, Jimmy Vaughn, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Anson and the Rockets, Golden State Lone Star and many more. Starr has done the Blowouts off & on for the last 14 yrs.
BOB WELSH is the guitarist and pianist for Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio, Fabulous Thunderbirds and Charlie Musselwhite, has been on of the most in demand players in blues today.
HISTORY OF SHOWS
Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout™ started on a Sunday night in 1991 at Ashkenaz in Berkeley with four harmonica players - Rick Estrin, Mark, Dave Earl and Doug Jay. Each player performed a twenty to thirty minute set and everyone jammed together with Hummel’s Blues Survivors as backup. Over the next five years it grew to become a multi venue event around California and included bigger names like William Clarke, Norton Buffalo and Paul DeLay. By the year 2000 the Blowout was headlining Yoshi's in Oakland as a four night show with Rod Piazza, Kim Wilson, Rick Estrin, James Harman and Billy Branch. These shows were recorded for Mountain Top Records.
Since then it’s become a who’s who of older and younger players, black, white, male and female, national and international. From icons like Snooky Pryor, Carey Bell, James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, John Mayall, John Hammond, Little Sonny, Lazy Lester, Billy Boy Arnold, Sam Myers, Corky Siegel, Magic Dick, Huey Lewis, Lee Oscar, Jerry Portnoy, Howard Levy and Paul Oscher to younger players like Sugar Ray Norcia, Jason Ricci, Son Of Dave, Aki Kumar, Curtis Salgado, Kenny Neal, RJ Mischo, Sugar Blue, Annie Raines, Carlos Del Junco, just to name a few.
The selection of guitarists has also been a stunner including Duke Robillard, Rusty Zinn, Bob Welsh, Little Charlie Baty, Anson Funderburgh, Jr. Watson, Billy Flynn, Steve Freund, Mike Keller and many more.
In 2013 the tribute to Little Walter Blowout was recorded for a CD on Blind Pig Records called Remembering Little Walter. This recording was nominated for a Grammy award and won two Blues Music Awards ( Album of the Year and Best Traditional Blues Recording).
Year after year Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout™ continues to play festivals nationally and internationally as well as sold out venues coast to coast.
Doors open 1 hour prior to showtime. This show is All Ages
Read about our Health & Safety protocols HERE