Shemekia Copeland will headline Blues Fest in Davenport

Award-winning vocalist Shemekia Copeland will headline the Mississippi Valley Blues Society’s Blues Fest in Davenport on Saturday, Sept. 19, a news release says.

Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time, according to the release. The multi-GRAMMY nominee is beloved and honored worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory songs, as well as for her winning, engaging personality. “Copeland is the greatest female blues vocalist working today. There’s no mistaking the majesty of her instrument, nor the ferocity of her deliver," says The Chicago Tribune.

On Copeland’s GRAMMY-nominated 2024 Alligator Records album, Blame It On Eve , the 12 songs all hit hard, with jaw-dropping performances that instantly take hold and command repeated listening. “There’s serious business on the album,” Copeland says, “but there are a lot of smiles here too, a lot of joyous moments. It’s my blues for sure but it’s the brighter side. Issues are always important to me, but so is rocking, dancing and just having fun. And that’s something we all can all agree on.” The album has become a fan and media favorite, winning a slew of “Album Of The Year” awards, including the DownBeat Critics Award; the Living Blues Readers and Critics Awards, and the Album Of The Year Blues Music Award. Additionally, Copeland won Living Blues and Blues Music Awards for Artist Of The Year and Blues Blast magazine's Music Award for Female Blues Artist Of The Year.

She will take the main stage from 8-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Mississippi Valley Blues Society’s Blues Fest, LeClaire Park, 400 Beiderbecke Drive, Davenport.

Tickets are $20-$55. Admission is free for attendees 25 and under. Ages 17 and under must be accompanied by a paid adult, and ages 18–25 must show a valid photo ID at the gate. For more information, visit here.

"Blame It On Eve"

"Blame It On Eve"was recorded in Nashville and produced by instrumentalist/songwriter Will Kimbrough (who also produced her previous three albums). The songs tackle subjects as important as a woman’s right to choose and climate change, but also leave space for Copeland to have fun and unwind. From the autobiographical, rocking blues boogie Tough Mother (featuring Luther Dickinson), to the anthemic "Blame It On Eve’s" good-humored but serious focus on reproductive self-determination to the happy hour of "Wine O’Clock," Copeland is inspired throughout.

Famed multi-instrumentalist Jerry Douglas adds his dobro to the fascinating, true story of Tee Tot Payne, the obscure early 20th century Alabama musician who taught Hank Williams the blues, and sacred steel player DaShawn Hickman brings his magic to the feisty and uplifting "Tell The Devil." Copeland's friend, roots-rocker Alejandro Escovedo, joins in on the anguished, celestial query "Is There Anybody Up There?" On the sad lover’s tale "Belle Sorciere," Copeland sings the chorus in French, with the haunting melody composed by Pascal Danae of the Paris-based band Delgres (who were recently featured on the cover of Rolling Stone France). Copeland’s blistering, deep blues delivery of "Down On Bended Knee" —by her late father, the great bluesman Johnny Copeland — sets up the thought-provoking closer "Heaven Help Us All," a song originally made famous first by Stevie Wonder and later by Ray Charles. Taken as a whole, the passionate, charismatic, joyous and at times confrontational "Blame It On Eve" is bound to become among the most celebrated releases of Copeland’s impressive, still-unfolding career.

About Shemekia Copeland

Born in Harlem in 1979, Shemekia Copeland first stepped on stage with her famous father at New York’s Cotton Club when she was eight. Upon release of her Alligator Records debut "Turn The Heat Up" in 1998 when she was only 18, Copeland instantly became a blues and R&B force to be reckoned with. The New York Times and CNN, among many others, praised her talent, larger-than-life personality, dynamic, authoritative voice and true star power. With each subsequent release, Copeland’s fame has continued to grow, while her music has continued to evolve.

With 2018’s "America's Child," Copeland brought out the first of her celebrated trilogy of albums concerning the state of the world, sung from her perspective as a young, Black woman and new mother. MOJO magazine named America’s Child the #1 blues release of 2018. It won both the Blues Music Award and the Living Blues Award for Album Of The Year. In addition to earning a GRAMMY Award nomination, Copeland’s groundbreaking 2020 follow-up, Uncivil War, was named the 2020 Blues Album Of The Year by DownBeat, MOJO and Living Blues magazines. “Shemekia Copeland is a powerhouse,” said Rolling Stone. “She can do no wrong.” She received her fifth GRAMMY nomination for "Done Come Too Far," which closed the trilogy with a searing set of truth-to-power, rock and Hill Country blues-fueled songs. “Shemekia Copeland is an antidote to artifice,” said The Philadelphia Inquirer. “She is a commanding presence, a powerhouse vocalist delivering the truth.”

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