The thirteenth Ponderosa Stomp will celebrate the forgotten heroes and heroines of rock, R&B, blues, soul and rockabilly when the two-day concert series takes over New Orleans’ Orpheum Theater on October 6 and 7.
Gary U.S. Bonds. 1961 headshot.
This year’s bill will feature psychedelic rock pioneer and Texas native Roky Erickson, who will perform the music of the 13th Floor Elevators. Also on the lineup are influential ‘80s/’90s garage punk outfit The Mummies, “Quarter to Three” hitmaker Gary U.S. Bonds, Cajun/country music mainstay Doug Kershaw, garage rock innovators The Gories, R&b guitarist/singer Barbara Lynn and many more.
In addition to its series of concerts, the Ponderosa Stomp will also host a two-day conference at the Ace Hotel New Orleans on October 5 and 6. The gathering will include performer interviews, panels, film screenings and a record show.
Founded in 2002, the Ponderosa Stomp shines a spotlight on popular music pioneers who influenced more prominent artists like Elvis, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, David Bowie without ever become household names themselves. The event often puts these artists on stage for the first time in decades, giving fans and laymen alike a rare chance to see them perform their repertoires.
[The Ponderosa Stomp] is this incredible multi-day event of the less familiar names from music history. It’s a labor of love. For the last 15 years, we have not missed one,” says Yo La Tengo frontman Ira Kaplan. “The number of artists that you never thought you’d get to see, and then the people you hadn’t even heard about — it really is revelatory every time”
Tickets and travel packages for the Ponderosa Stomp are now on sale.
Here’s a look at the lineup for the 2017 Ponderosa Stomp:
+ Roky Erickson performing the music of his legendary psychedelic ‘60s band the 13th Floor Elevators
+ late ‘80s/early ‘90s garage rockers The Mummies
+ “Quarter To Three” hitmaker Gary U.S. Bonds
+ “Louisiana Man” artist and Johnny Cash Show guest Doug Kershaw
+ Detroit White Stripes antecedents The Gories
+ rhythm and blues great Barbara Lynn, who was covered by the Rolling Stones
+ Archie Bell of “Tighten Up” fame
+ father of “The Voice” Winner, Sundance Head, and “Treat Her Right” singer Roy Head
+ masked Japanese garage band, The Stompin’ Riffraffs
+ piano pounder Linda Gail Lewis
+ Little Richard, Otis Redding, Ike & Tina Turner sideman turned R&B Soul Singer Winfield Parker
+ a Texas Honky Tonk Revue Featuring Frankie Miller, Darrell McCall, and James Hand
+ the “husky, soulful voice” (All Music Guide) of Evie Sands
+ Chicago blues harmonica great Billy Boy Arnold, who was recently covered by JD McPherson
+ first generation rockabilly artist Johnny Knight
+ a Swamp Pop Revue Featuring GG Shinn, Warren Storm, and TK Hulin
+ Louisiana’s Lil Buck Sinegal and the Top Cats + National Heritage Fellowship award winner Santiago Jimenez
+ T-Bone Walker acolyte and accompanist, Chuck Willis creative collaborator, and Ray + Charles sideman Roy Gaines
+ New Orleans rhythm and blues man Willie West
+ GRAMMY-nominated Yep Roc band Los Straitjackets
+ LA’s rockabilly masters Deke Dickerson and the Eccofonics
+ Austinites Eve and the Exiles.
