Bill Lupkin at Billy's in Grand Rapids Fri Nov 27

Bill Lupkin along with his brother Steve Lupkin have been playing harp-based Chicago blues for 30 years. Amplified harp man Bill and bass playing Steve have deep roots in the vibrant Windy City scene with people like Jimmy Rogers, Johnny Littlejohn, and Junior Wells. Between the two of them they have played and shared the stage with just about all of the old-school greats from that city. The brothers played the classic Chicago neighborhood blues bars like the north end Wise Fool's Pub ('71 with Buddy Guy), Ma Bea's on the gritty west side (with Howlin' Wolf), and the famed Pepper's Lounge on South State Street. Bill has performed with Muddy Waters (Wise Fool's '70) and Fred Below (Europe '69). Indiana native Lupkin made somewhat of a career within the relatively short commute to Chicago by gigging with the heavy cats. He knows his stuff and can back it up with a rich, fat toned harp. He's on the roster of Chicagoan Nick Moss' Blue Bella record label with a CD called Hard Pill to Swallow. This show features a guitarist who has played with Moss and a drummer formerly of the Junior Wells band. (Picture by Kate Moss at Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago)