FRYEBURG — The horn-fueled, award-winning band Roomful of Blues is touring in support of its new CD, “Hook, Line & Sinker,” and will make a stop on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center.

Since 1967, the group’s blend of swing, rock ‘n’ roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it five Grammy Award nods and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues Music Awards (one for Blues Band of the Year in 2005).

Roomful has shared the stage with stars ranging from bluesmen B.B. King, Otis Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughan to rockers Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana.

The band, led since 1996 by guitarist Chris Vachon, is well-known for its stellar horn section featuring tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, who first joined the band in 1970.

With a nonstop performance schedule for more than 40 years, Roomful has earned a legion of fans around the globe. Twice, the DownBeat International Critics Poll selected Roomful as Best Blues Band.

In 2003, Roomful joined Alligator Records with its Grammy-nominated “That’s Right!” album. This was followed up with “Standing Room Only” in 2005 and “Raisin’ A Ruckus” in 2008. “Hook, Line & Sinker” highlights the band’s intense vocals and instrumental power and features 12 songs from Little Richard, Dave Bartholomew, Amos Milburn, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Floyd Dixon and others.

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Making up Roomful along with Vachon and Lataille are newest members vocalist Phil Pemberton, bassist John Turner and trumpeter Doug Woolverton, and longtime members drummer Ephraim Lowell, keyboardist Travis Colby, and baritone and tenor saxophonist Mark Earley.

Over the years, Roomful has played countless clubs and concerts and many major festivals in the United States and abroad. Over the years, more than 50 musicians have been members of Roomful. Famed alumni include guitarist Ronnie Earl, vocalist Lou Ann Barton, saxophonist/vocalist Greg Piccolo and harpist/vocalist Sugar Ray Norcia.

Besides its recordings, Roomful often backed legendary musicians like Jimmy Witherspoon, Jimmy McCracklin, Roy Brown, Joe Turner, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson and Earl King.

Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. concert are $22.50 for adults, $20 for seniors 65 and older; $10 for students. Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center is at 745 Main St. For more information, call 935-9232 or visit www.fryeburgacademy.org/pac.

Roomful of Blues, on a nationwide tour promoting its new CD, “Hook, Line & Sinker,” will perform on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center in Fryeburg.


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