Grand Forks Downtown Development Association

Blues on the Red: Becky Barksdale and Ken Valdez

The Downtown Development Association begins the ninth season of Blues on the Red concert series, powered by JLG Architects on Saturday.

Starting at 6 p.m. in Town Square, Ken Valdez takes the stage, opening for headliner Becky Barksdale, who will take the stage at 8. Blues on the Red happens the last Saturday of June, July and August.

“These concerts have a great following in Grand Forks,” said Stacey Majkrzak, executive director of the DDA. “We were excited as an organization to take the lead from the previous group and we have a fantastic band line-up for this season.”

The concert is free and open to the public, and runs from 6-10 p.m. in Town Square. Wild Hog Smokehouse is back again this season serving food and beverages. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and their dancing shoes.

“Blues music appeals to a lot of people,” Majkrzak said. “Whether you like country, rock or pop music, there are elements of blues in all of it and I would encourage people to come down and take a listen. It’s going to be a great time.”

01+BB_Live1_©2011+Chuck+RyanBecky Barksdale was recently inducted into The Gulf Coast Music Hall Of Fame. She embodies the vast Texas blues guitar tradition of a Freddie King, the flirtatious sensuality and assertive independence of a Bessie Smith, and the raw passionate vocals of a Janis Joplin. Born in Port Arthur, Texas, she is currently based out of Los Angeles where she is a favorite on the West Coast blues and R&B circuit.

It was Barksdale’s grandfather who gave her a guitar when she was twelve. A professional at sixteen, she is certainly respected with in the industry, and you most certainly have heard her musical compositions highlighted by her scorching guitar work and gritty, soulful vocals on numerous trailers and soundtracks for acclaimed motion pictures like Mission Impossible lll, Terminator, Predator, and Inception, just to name a few. She also spent over two years on the road with Michael Jackson as his lead guitarist.

 

Ken Valdez4Ken Valdez was born and raised in Santa Fe, NM, and now calls St. Paul, MN home. He has gone back to his roots and has released his latest and indeed his greatest work to date. It is raw, fresh and sharp. There is no doubt Ken’s rare blend of raw talent, sensitivity, and down-to-earth grittiness give his music a wide appeal. His voice and guitar sound/style is unmistakable. His vision, talent and drive have pushed the envelope on creativity and has only added on to his already unique sound. He has played with the likes of Jonny Lang, Melissa Etheridge, Nickelback, the late BB King, Sammy Hagar, Keith Urban and many more.