The 10th annual Snow Hill Blues Jam, this Saturday at the Old Firehouse on Green Street, will honor the memory of event co-founder Mike Armstrong, who lost his battle with cancer last September at the age of 61.
Margot Resto, who helped form the Snow Hill All Stars band for the inaugural Blues Jam in 2008, offered some insight into the original concept for the festival, first launched by Armstrong and visual artist Bill Rolig.
“They wanted to have a big party basically and get the community involved and get some music happening in this town,” she said. “They wanted to spice up the cultural life here.”
Joining the all stars on bass was her husband, Angel Resto.
“We put together our own little band just for the event,” she said.
Along with the event organizers’ spouses Diane Armstrong and Deborah Rolig, another driving influence behind the blues jam was Ann Coates, owner of Bishop’s Stock Fine Art, Craft & Wine on 202 West Green Street.
“She is pretty much the cultural catalyst in this town,” Resto said. “Her influence and love for it all has helped us to do this. She was the main force for getting it done for the past nine years.”
For nearly a quarter century, Armstrong gigged around the area with Lauren Glick and the Mood Swingers, whose namesake continues to miss her longtime musical partner.
“Since [Armstrong] died a big piece of me is gone,” Glick said. “He taught me the trade. I learned about the business of music and how to act accordingly.”
Glick said Armstrong’s grasp of music was startling, which made practicing new material a breeze.
“We could work songs over the phone and Mike would know it in an instant,” she said. “Basically both of us would show up and play. Mike was one of the best blues guitar players ever.”
In addition to Armstrong’s passing last year, Resto said the Snow Hill All Stars’ other guitarist, Burley Strand, passed away on stage in November of 2014.
“He was playing in church and collapsed,” she said.
Despite those obvious losses, the event has soldiered on.
“We’ve been taking hits, but kept on going because we know with music that’s what you do,” Resto said. “The way we honor them is to keep it going.”
This year, she said a new guitar duo consisting of her son, Gabe Resto, 15, and Chris Sajadi, 17, are prepared to carry the tradition forward.
The teenage guitarists became acquainted while receiving instruction at the Academy of Music Performance in Salisbury.
“It gives kids an alternative to band at school,” she said. “They learn how to play with a group and work together.”
During their time playing together, Resto said the pair have become like guitar brothers.
“They play off of each other and support each other on stage,” she said. “These kids have learned how to listen to each other and the band. I knew the interplay would be great for them and great for the crowd to see.”
This year’s lineup will also include an appearance by blues great Daryl Davis, who gave Resto her initial entry into performing music on stage.
While in her early 20s, Resto attended a performance by Davis at BJ’s on the Water, in Ocean City, when her life took an unexpected turn.
“My friend had told him that I liked to sing,” she said. “I hadn’t been a performer, but was always singing, so he invited me on stage.”
Despite some initial misgivings, Resto belted out the Otis Redding classic “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of The Bay” and made an instant impression on Davis. He handed her a tape following her performance.
“’You learn these songs and the next time I come into town you’re going to sing them with me,’” she recalled him saying.
Following that encounter, Resto dug in to the cannon of legendary females blues singers, finding inspiration from the likes of Koko Taylor, Ruth Brown and Irma Thomas, along with her favorite, Aretha Franklin.
“He taught me a lot of the tricks of the trade,” she said.
Davis also helped connect Resto with her future band mates in The Love Pigs, guitarist Marco Hiemenz and drummer T. Lutz.
“They came to one of his gigs looking for singers because their singer he moved out of the area,” she said. “They were pretty hot at the time and had a lot of booked gigs.”
The off-chance conversation led Davis to introduce the trio, who subsequently formed the Love Pigs.
Resto is always ecstatic anytime she gets to share a stage with Davis, and marvels at his ability to perform with seemingly little effort.
“He has the ability to make it look like it’s so easy, with these gigantic fingers and hands, to just completely tear up that keyboard and make people feel they’re a part of it,” she said. “He doesn’t just entertain – he pulls them in and lifts them up.”
Resto said she contacted Davis, who will be making his second appearance at the Snow Hill Blues Jam, looking for referrals. She didn’t anticipate having him perform.
“I was basically asking him to give me some names I could call and he said, ‘I might be available that night, let me contact some people and get a band together,’” she said.
The Snow Hill Blues Jam will take place at the Old Firehouse on Green Street. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $25.
The Show Hill All Stars will perform from 7-8 p.m. with a lineup that includes Margot Resto on vocals, Angel Resto on bass, Gabe Resto and Chris Sajadi on guitar, Miss T on saxophone, and Robert “The Great Unknown” Buckner behind the drums. Also, 11-year-old Bella Resto will join her family as a backup singer.
The Daryl Davis Revue will play from 8:20-9:30 p.m., with a jam session scheduled until 10 p.m.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at www.snowhillmd.com, in person at town hall in Snow Hill, or at the door, until sold out.
Not included in the ticket price are a barbecue, silent auction and cash bar. All drink proceeds will support the Lower Shore Land Trust.
Margot Resto, who helped form the Snow Hill All Stars band for the inaugural Blues Jam in 2008, offered some insight into the original concept for the festival, first launched by Armstrong and visual artist Bill Rolig.
“They wanted to have a big party basically and get the community involved and get some music happening in this town,” she said. “They wanted to spice up the cultural life here.”
Joining the all stars on bass was her husband, Angel Resto.
“We put together our own little band just for the event,” she said.
Along with the event organizers’ spouses Diane Armstrong and Deborah Rolig, another driving influence behind the blues jam was Ann Coates, owner of Bishop’s Stock Fine Art, Craft & Wine on 202 West Green Street.
“She is pretty much the cultural catalyst in this town,” Resto said. “Her influence and love for it all has helped us to do this. She was the main force for getting it done for the past nine years.”
For nearly a quarter century, Armstrong gigged around the area with Lauren Glick and the Mood Swingers, whose namesake continues to miss her longtime musical partner.
“Since [Armstrong] died a big piece of me is gone,” Glick said. “He taught me the trade. I learned about the business of music and how to act accordingly.”
Glick said Armstrong’s grasp of music was startling, which made practicing new material a breeze.
“We could work songs over the phone and Mike would know it in an instant,” she said. “Basically both of us would show up and play. Mike was one of the best blues guitar players ever.”
In addition to Armstrong’s passing last year, Resto said the Snow Hill All Stars’ other guitarist, Burley Strand, passed away on stage in November of 2014.
“He was playing in church and collapsed,” she said.
Despite those obvious losses, the event has soldiered on.
“We’ve been taking hits, but kept on going because we know with music that’s what you do,” Resto said. “The way we honor them is to keep it going.”
This year, she said a new guitar duo consisting of her son, Gabe Resto, 15, and Chris Sajadi, 17, are prepared to carry the tradition forward.
The teenage guitarists became acquainted while receiving instruction at the Academy of Music Performance in Salisbury.
“It gives kids an alternative to band at school,” she said. “They learn how to play with a group and work together.”
During their time playing together, Resto said the pair have become like guitar brothers.
“They play off of each other and support each other on stage,” she said. “These kids have learned how to listen to each other and the band. I knew the interplay would be great for them and great for the crowd to see.”
This year’s lineup will also include an appearance by blues great Daryl Davis, who gave Resto her initial entry into performing music on stage.
While in her early 20s, Resto attended a performance by Davis at BJ’s on the Water, in Ocean City, when her life took an unexpected turn.
“My friend had told him that I liked to sing,” she said. “I hadn’t been a performer, but was always singing, so he invited me on stage.”
Despite some initial misgivings, Resto belted out the Otis Redding classic “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of The Bay” and made an instant impression on Davis. He handed her a tape following her performance.
“’You learn these songs and the next time I come into town you’re going to sing them with me,’” she recalled him saying.
Following that encounter, Resto dug in to the cannon of legendary females blues singers, finding inspiration from the likes of Koko Taylor, Ruth Brown and Irma Thomas, along with her favorite, Aretha Franklin.
“He taught me a lot of the tricks of the trade,” she said.
Davis also helped connect Resto with her future band mates in The Love Pigs, guitarist Marco Hiemenz and drummer T. Lutz.
“They came to one of his gigs looking for singers because their singer he moved out of the area,” she said. “They were pretty hot at the time and had a lot of booked gigs.”
The off-chance conversation led Davis to introduce the trio, who subsequently formed the Love Pigs.
Resto is always ecstatic anytime she gets to share a stage with Davis, and marvels at his ability to perform with seemingly little effort.
“He has the ability to make it look like it’s so easy, with these gigantic fingers and hands, to just completely tear up that keyboard and make people feel they’re a part of it,” she said. “He doesn’t just entertain – he pulls them in and lifts them up.”
Resto said she contacted Davis, who will be making his second appearance at the Snow Hill Blues Jam, looking for referrals. She didn’t anticipate having him perform.
“I was basically asking him to give me some names I could call and he said, ‘I might be available that night, let me contact some people and get a band together,’” she said.
The Snow Hill Blues Jam will take place at the Old Firehouse on Green Street. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $25.
The Show Hill All Stars will perform from 7-8 p.m. with a lineup that includes Margot Resto on vocals, Angel Resto on bass, Gabe Resto and Chris Sajadi on guitar, Miss T on saxophone, and Robert “The Great Unknown” Buckner behind the drums. Also, 11-year-old Bella Resto will join her family as a backup singer.
The Daryl Davis Revue will play from 8:20-9:30 p.m., with a jam session scheduled until 10 p.m.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at www.snowhillmd.com, in person at town hall in Snow Hill, or at the door, until sold out.
Not included in the ticket price are a barbecue, silent auction and cash bar. All drink proceeds will support the Lower Shore Land Trust.