Mike Farris, The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra feat. Terrie Odabi amd JT Lauritsen to NBF2023
New artists ready for Notodden Blues Festival 2023
Notodden Blues Festival is today pleased to add Grammy winner MIKE FARRIS and the 17-time Blues Music Awards-nominated band THE ANTHONY PAULE ORCHESTRA feat TERRIE ODABI and the Norwegian international favorites JT LAURITSEN & THE BUCKSHOT HUNTERS to an already strong artist list for the 2023 festival. “These are very good artists who will leave their mark on this summer’s festival. Norwegian JT Lauritsen & the Buckshot Hunters will also come and launch their new album at the festival. This is good festival content that we are happy to have put in place for our 35th anniversary,” says festival manager Jostein Forsberg.
MIKE FARRIS
Grammy-recipient Mike Farris is ready for Notodden Blues Festival 2023. Farris is a God-given vocalist and stage personality. With a singing voice that combines Bon Scott and Al Green, Mike Farris delivers each and every song with the electricity of Saturday night and devoutly intensity of Sunday morning.
The music of Mike Farris is very versatile and has roots in early American blues, gospel, rock and soul. Farris has sung blues and rock as the frontman of The Schreaming Cheatah Wheelies and with Stevie Ray Vaughan’s former band Double Trouble, and in 2015 he received a Grammy award for the album “Shine for all the People” in the category “Best Roots Gospel album”.
Mike Farris has enough heart, soul and energy to light up an entire city. In his unique way, he mixes Memphis soul, New Orleans gospel and southern blues in a performance that is soulful, honest and beautiful to the bone.
Mike Farris quickly made a name for himself after a short but hectic tour in Norway last autumn. Then he also stopped by Notodden as part of the concert “A Blues Night To Remember”. It was a Notodden debut that was talked about loudly, and the refrain from everyone this evening was that Mike Farris had to come back to the blues festival next summer. We can now confirm that he does. Farris will play a concert in Heddal stave church and several other festival stages, as well as that he will contribute to Little Steven’s Blues School. At the concerts at Notodden, Mike Farris is backed up by the popular JT Lauritsen & the Buckshot Hunters.
Video: Mike Farris
THE ANTHONY PAULE SOUL ORCHESTRA featuring TERRIE ODABI
Get ready for powerful soul and blues at the Notodden Blues Festival led by super vocalist Terrie Odabi and guitarist Anthony Paules’ fantastic soul band with three brass players and a comp that is dense as hail. The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra feat. Terrie Odabi is classic soul and brass-driven blues as we like it, but all too rarely heard in Norway. “It is wonderful to be able to introduce this band for the first time in Norway. This will be a soul fest, blues groove, festivity and top atmosphere,” says festival director of Notodden Blues Festival Jostein Forsberg.
Few artists own the stage and the audience like Terrie Odabi. Odabi is often referred to as “the most dynamic blues and soul woman from San Francisco since Etta James.” Only a singer with Odabi’s combination of power and finesse can withstand such comparisons. Terrie Odabi is much loved by blues fans and is one of the most respected blues artists in the US today.
The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra was formed in San Francisco by guitarist Anthony Paule in 2007. Inspired by the soul and blues of the 1960s and 70s, this brass-driven powerhouse creates its own classics while staying deeply rooted in the origins of this African-American music genre. After repeated appearances as a guest vocalist, Terrie Odabi has now officially become the lead vocalist of The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra, filling the position previously held by Wee Willie Walker and Frank Bay.
During its 15-year existence, APSO has recorded and released six singles and five albums with Frank Bey and Wee Willie Walker, and has received 17 Blues Music Awards nominations. The band is currently preparing for another new album. APSO has its own musical identity, but if we are to draw some comparisons, the thoughts quickly go to artists such as Al Green, Mavis Staples, Etta James, Bobby Bland, Carla Thomas, Bobby Womack and the record companies Stax and Motown.
Video: The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra feat. Terrie Odabi
The 35th edition of Notodden Blues Festival is happening august 3rd to 6th 2023. Among the artists who have already been launched are Beth Hart, Bernhoft, Vanessa Collier, Hellbillies, Jonas Fjeld, Jace Everett & Amund Maarud, Damer i Blues, Notodden Blues Band, Roy Rogers, Amund Maarud & Knut Hem, etc.
Ticket sales are underway at Ticketmaster.
