'Let The Blues Be Your Muse!' at Waterline Writers May 20

"Let The Blues Be Your Muse!" will be a blues-themed literary evening hosted by Waterline Writers and Kiss The Sky at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at Water Street Studios, 160 S. Water St. in Batavia.

The event includes poetry, prose, essays and lyrics that not only evoke or celebrate blues music, but also build on and play off each other to create a unique literary experience.

Participants include Latrina Childs, Joan Colby, Sharon Kotzin Frolick, Paula K. Garrett, Robert Hellenga, Dave Ramont, Al Schubert, Christopher Stolle, and Emily Hollis Tipping.

Thank you to all 30 writers who submitted so many good pieces from which to choose, to Kiss The Sky's Steve Warrenfeltz, who suggested this concept, and to musicians Scott Tipping and Dave Nelson, who helped curate this event!

Scott Tipping has been a member of The Mighty Blue Kings, Backyard Tire Fire, Magic Box, Cornmeal and currently plays guitar with Grammy and Emmy nominated singer/songwriter Peter Himmelman.

His latest project, "Bluebird Sessions Vol. 1," pays tribute to the historic recordings that were made in 1937-1938 at The Sky Club in Aurora. The project features a host of national artists including Nora O'Connor, Robbie Fulks, Dave Hererro as well as local legends like Mick Ducker and Mae Koen, who is featured here on "I Won't Be in Hard Luck No More."

Guitarist Dave Nelson performs with Heartsfield, Electric Dirt, Rachel Drew & The Bitter Roots and many Chicago area musicians. He worked with producers Steve Warrenfeltz and Scott Tipping as a major contributor to the "Leland Bluebird Sessions." These sessions paid tribute to the blues artists of the late 1930s.

For 40-plus years, Nelson has taught, performed, written and recorded many different and diverse styles of music. But none resonate so close to his heart than primitive American blues music. This original and truly American art form captivated him early on in his musical life.

The real life stories of the men and women who pioneered this music is what Nelson believes to be some of the most visceral and fascinating history of our country and whose influences reach so far into numerous genres of music today.

Nelson is with Clayhead Records and can be heard at "Heartsfield/Rockin' the Country" and "The Minutes I'm In," a recording with Ben Schiltz, a local writer.

This collaboration with the Fox Valley Music Foundation, Kiss the Sky Records and Water Street Studios sets the stage for the Art of the Blues June 8 at Water Street Studios in Batavia; the Blues and Roots on Water Street June 9 in Batavia; and the 22nd annual Blues on the Fox Festival in Aurora June 15-16.

For more information, contact Paula Garrett or Anne Veague at waterlinewriters@gmail.com.

Visit waterlinewriters.org or find "Let the Blues Be Your Muse!" on Facebook.