Here’s an easy one – I am writing about Wesley Crider this week. Wesley, the 2004 International Thumb Picking Champion, is one of the finest guitarists I have ever seen, and I would just about bet he is one of the finest you have ever or never seen, as well. If Chet Atkins was still alive, I believe he would say Wesley is the man. He will be at Riverfront Nights on September 11, but you don’t have to wait until then – you can see him right now by clicking here with your sound cranked up. You can also see a fantastic patriotic melody he does - just do it – click here. I like it at the 1:45 point as it really gets good! And the 2:40 point. Heck, I like the whole thing. Beautiful, eh? This is what a world-class, world champion guitar player sounds like, folks. He plays a hand-made Wesley Crider edition Wallace guitar made right in Tennessee! Speaking of class, Wesley has plenty of that, too, as he is a genuinely nice man and quite humble considering his talent level. Wesley teaches at Chatta-Music, so if you want to learn the guitar, head over to Ringgold Road and see him.

Speaking of Chatta-Music, my friend Dennis Massengale owns the new store and they have just put in a full recording studio. They have a special $150 Demo Package deal that performers can utilize to make a demo CD. You get an hour on the clock to record after you get the mix you want. But wait, there’s more – tell him you read about it in my column and he’ll throw in an extra 25% in time, making it an hour and 15 minutes recording time. Take the CD, make some copies and head out to venues and get yourself booked! Just tell Dennis you read it here and get the extra time at no additional charge. Check it out here.

I had a chance to judge the Colgate Country Challenge at T-Bones last Friday and the talent was unbelievable – in a good way. I judge again tonight (Thursday) at Spectaters on East Brainerd Rd. If you are over 21 and can sing some good country music, come on out at 5:30 and get signed up. There is a national TV appearance and a $100,000 in it if you win the local, regional, and national competition. Here are the rules and 411 - click here.
Nightfall continues it’s great 2010 line-up with Moreland &Arbuckle Friday night. Roughwork opens the evening. Click here for info.
Aquapalooza was a blast, as always. If you missed it, you better start planning for next year, as this event gets bigger every year. The best way to plan is to just buy a boat. Boats are fun and you meet a lot of nice folks on the lake. The Cadillac Saints did a great job, as did Convertible. The sound was superb and could be heard by every boater there, except for the idiots with their radio’s blasting. Jessica Arnold of Erwin Marine performed the National Anthem at 6 p.m. and was very impressive.

A musical, 110 In the Shade, continues tonight at St. Luke United Methodist Church, and runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this week. For more information simply click here.
Oz & Jaynes return to Chattanooga on Friday night, with a scheduled performance at T-Bones Café at Main & Chestnut St. I have seen them play many times, but it has been a while and they are always entertaining.

Want some good jazz in a really nice atmosphere? Try the Foundry at The Chattanoogan Hotel this weekend when Ben Friberg brings his trio in for a two night set. This is a very nice room and Ben’s group is super talented in the jazz genre.

Want some fried chicken with your blues? Try Champy’s on MLK and catch Husky Burnette there on Friday evening. It’s close enough to Nightfall, so you can just bounce between the two.

Bob’s Pick-O-The –Week is the Colgate Country Challenge at Spectaters this evening from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. See above for info.

Bob’s Pick-O-The-Weekend is Oz & Jaynes at T-Bones on the Southside, and Milele Roots at Fox Cay on the Northside. (Well, Harrison.)

Live in Chattanooga this week!

Thursday, July 22
Chattanooga Market Party at Miller Plaza – 5 p.m. – Folk School
The Palms At Hamilton – Nathan Farrow, Jimmy Harris, David Anthony
Rhythm & Brews – Velcro Pygmies
Bud’s Sportsbar – Channing Wilson
Spectaters – Blake Morrison
Market Street Tavern – Open Mic
JJ’s Bohemia – Rouge Writers Review, Eddies Of The Wind
Bart’s Lakeshore – Tim Lewis & Reece

Friday, July 23
Nightfall – Moreland & Arbuckle, Roughwork
Chattanoogan Hotel Foundry Lounge –Ben Friberg Trio
Rhythm & Brews – The Wrong Way (Sublime Tribute), Kink Ador
Tremont Tavern – Funktastic 5
Champy’s Chicken – Husky Burnette
Buds Sportsbar – Bounty Hunter
T-Bones – Oz & Jaynes
Spectater’s – Sweet n Lowdown
Fox Cay at Island Cove Marina – Milele Roots
Bart’s Lakeshore – Black Friday
The Palms At Hamilton – Jimmy Harris, David Anthony
Village Sports Bar – Channing Wilson
Market Street Tavern – Roger Alan Wade
JJ’s Bohemia – Racing Death, Dead Rabbits
Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant – Tim Hughes Quartet
Bluff View Art District – MeloManiacs from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Ziggy’s – Suicide Doors, Bowster

Saturday, July 24
The Incline Summer Music Series
Rock City Summer Music Series – New Binkley Brothers
Ultimate Cycle – Husky Burnette, Dead Levy @ 2 p.m.
Barking Legs Theater – Grayson Capps
Saturday River Market Party @ Aquarium – Jennifer Daniels, Uptown Big Band
Chattanoogan Hotel Foundry Lounge – Ben Friberg Trio
Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant – Dana Rogers
Chattanooga Choo-Choo – Jason Thomas & The Mean Eyed Cats
Market Street Tavern – Bluegrass Pharaohs
The Palms At Hamilton – Jimmy Harris, Jacob Newman
Village Sports Bar – Channing Wilson
Spectater’s – Bones Of Bastone
Buds Sportsbar – Bounty Hunter
Tremont Tavern – Jesse Lafser
Mudpie – Husky Burnette, Dead Levy
Bluff View Art District – MeloManiacs from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Rhythm & Brews – Slippery When Wet (Bob Jovi Tribute), Rock Daddy
JJ’s Bohemia – Jack Oblivian, Bohannons, John Paul Keith, Josh Mayfield
Ziggy’s – Tone Deaf Pig Dogs, Avid Gardner, 52 ways

Sunday, July 25
The Incline Summer Music Series
Rock City Summer Music Series – New Binkley Brothers
Chattanooga Market – Johanna Jacobsen, Lyndsey Highlander, Kurtis
Tremont Tavern – Pay The Reckoning, Irish Music Session

Monday, July 26
Market Street Tavern – Old Time Music Jam
The Palms At Hamilton – Monday Night Big Band

Tuesday, July 27
Table 2 – Live Jazz by the Ben Friberg Trio
Tremont Tavern – Open Mic
Market Street Tavern – Billy Hopkins
The Palms At Hamilton – Gentleman’s Jazz Quartet
Spectaters – Channing Wilson
Bart’s Lakeshore – Tim Starnes, Jacob Newman
Acoustic Café Ringgold – Open Mic
JJ’s Bohemia – Kaiser Cartel

Wednesday, July 28
The Palms At Hamilton – Rhonda Layne, David Anthony, Jimmy Harris
Village Sportsbar – Open Mic
Las Margaritas Riverview – Priscilla & Little Rickee
Market Street Tavern – Ben Friberg Trio
Buds Sportsbar – Nathan Farrow

See you there!

Email Bob Payne at davrik2000@yahoo.com or click here for Facebook Page.