Southern Avenue with Toronzo Cannon
City Winery Nashville Presents Southern Avenue live on October 18th at 7:30pm
Toronzo Cannon:
“Tough-voiced, lyrically eloquent and musically focused…hard-grinding blues, rock and soul...Melodically rich guitar that seethes with emotion. Most impressive is his songwriting: his lyrics are full of wisdom laced with humor and life-toughened resolve.”
--Living Blues
“Chicago’s Toronzo Cannon has emerged as the city’s next great ambassador of electric blues…His guitar playing and stage persona are both wildly entertaining, and his music feels overtly modern.”
--Chicago Sun-Times (by Mark Guarino)
Southern Avenue:
Southern Avenue are ushering in a brand-new era of Memphis soul...blending the classic sound of their Memphis roots with a fresh dose of optimism and resilience...heavenly vocals.
--Relix
The Memphis-based collective has set the blues world abuzz....compelling, exhilarating anthems that urge the listener to lean in and create the world in which they want to live.
--No Depression
Alligator Records recording artists Toronzo Cannon and Southern Avenue will perform at City Winery in Nashville on Friday, October 18, 2024. Cannon, celebrating the release of his new album Shut Up & Play!, is a worldwide fan favorite. Gary Clark, Jr. declared, “Toronzo is a beast. He lights the room up,” and Joe Bonamassa rightly pronounced, “Toronzo’s a great guitar player, excellent vocalist and an amazing personality.” GRAMMY-nominated Southern Avenue, whose label debut will arrive early next year, have recently released a new single, Found A Friend In You. They have just come off the road with new friends Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, as well as having performed a roof-raising set at Farm Aid 2024 in Saratoga Springs (with Dave Matthews watching and grooving to the entire set from the side of the stage).
Award-winning, world-beloved Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon, along with his band The Chicago Way, will perform first. His new album, Shut Up & Play!, is already being hailed as the best of his career. With his richly detailed, truth-telling original songs, blistering, inventive guitar work and impassioned vocals, Toronzo Cannon is on the cutting edge of today’s contemporary blues scene and is known as one of the genre’s most creative artists. His sound is inspired by his heroes, including Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Albert King, Son Seals and Jimi Hendrix. On Shut Up & Play!, Cannon blazes his own path with 11 emotionally charged originals. From serious to humorous, his imaginative songs are fueled by his powerful, cathartic guitar solos and his soulfully authoritative voice.
Cannon has performed at clubs and festivals at major cities all over the U.S. and continues to bring his music directly to his fans. He’s toured Canada, the UK, made his way across Europe and even to Japan. He has played the Chicago Blues Festival on ten separate occasions, bringing tens of thousands of his fellow Chicagoans to their feet. His live performances unfailingly earn him heaps of critical praise and hordes of wildly enthusiastic new fans. “Listen to a master bluesman at work,” declared the UK’s Blues & Rhythm magazine. “This is modern blues at its creative best.”
Southern Avenue’s music is a vibrant blend of Memphis blues, warm sister harmonies, and uplifting messages that build connections reminiscent of The Staple Singers. Guitarist Ori Naftaly, whose passion for blues and soul music led him from Israel to Memphis, alongside the undeniable talents of the Memphis-born Jackson sisters—lead vocalist Tierinii Jackson, drummer/vocalist Tikyra "TK" Jackson, and percussionist/violinist/vocalist Ava Jackson—has crafted a sound that blends Memphis' historic spirit with a modern twist. With keyboardist and honorary family member Jeremy Powell, Southern Avenue's original songs are not just a nod to the past but also a bold step toward defining the future of Memphis music.
Their new single, Found A Friend In You, captures Southern Avenue's story of unity and shared purpose, a journey that began when the band's members first came together in Memphis. What started as a collaboration quickly turned into something deeper, as they forged a connection rooted in music, trust, and love. The song reflects the highs, the struggles, and the unbreakable bond that has made Southern Avenue more than just a band.
