Blues Hall of Famer Joe Louis Walker at Arena Theater, July 30

     Summer plans just got hotter! Blues man Joe Louis Walker, a Blues Hall of Fame inductee, and four-time Blues Music Award winner and powerhouse guitar virtuoso, will take to the stage at Arena Theater on Saturday, July 30, at 7:30pm; doors opening at 7:00pm. Tickets are $25, online at ArenaTheater.org or at the door.

      Walker has been called “a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues,” and he is already being referred to within the blues world as a living legend. However, at this stage of his life, Walker profoundly shares, “I’d really like to inspire younger musicians to carry on the legacy of blues/roots music. But play, and do it your way. Don’t be afraid to mix it up.  There’s no right, or wrong way. Just the way you wanna express yourself. And above all, enjoy yourself."

    It took Joe Louis Walker 20 years to establish himself, but once he released his debut, “Cold Is the Night,” in 1986, he quickly became a staple in contemporary blues. Walker drew upon blues, soul, and gospel in equal measure, a combination that sounded electrifying upon his national debut, but this hybrid also allowed him to play in a variety of settings, both on-stage and on record. Later recordings, such as 1996’s “The Gift,” and 2009's “Between a Rock and the Blues,” offered acclaimed examples of his versatility, leading to a 2013 induction in the Blues Hall of Fame. He made his Alligator debut with 2014's “Hornet's Nest,” and remained until moving to the L.A.-based Cleopatra for 2020's “Blues Comin' On,” and 2021's “Eclectic Electric,” a collection comprising mostly covers. More info at JoeLouisWalker.com.

     The Arena Theater bar and snack stand will be open.

Photo credits:

Top: Joe Del Tufo

Bottom: Arnie Goodman