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Celebrating its 15th year, the 2025 New England Winter Blues Festival will be loaded to the hilt with harmonica royalty and a monster band that the whole Blues world is talking about. Headlining is the hippest harmonicat the world has ever known, Rick Estrin (Rick Estrin & the Nightcats), harmonic legend Jerry Portnoy (Muddy Waters Band, Eric Clapton Band) bonafide harmonica genius Jason Ricci (Jason Ricci & the Bad Kind, Desoto Tiger), the smooth yet monsterous Sugar Ray Norcia (Sugar Ray & Bluetones, Roomful of Blues), NH native Nick “Mr Nick” David and his powerhouse band, gulf Coast Records recording artists, The Wicked Lo-Down.
Rick Estrin
One of the most charismatic figures in the Blues world, Rick Estrin boasts an expert command of the harmonica and of the stage. He is of the most clever and prolific songwriters in Blue music whose songs have been covered by the likes of Robert Cray, Ko-Ko Taylor & John Hammond.
By the time he was a teenager, Estrin had immersed himself in the urban, African-American culture surrounding him. He got his first harmonica at age 15, and by age 18 was proficient enough to begin sitting in at black clubs around the city. He first jammed with blues master Lowell Fulson and immediately was hired to open five shows for R&B giant Z.Z. Hill. He worked five nights a week for almost a year with guitar legend Travis Phillips in a band fronted by famed pimp/bluesman Fillmore Slim (who was the centerpiece of the acclaimed Hughes Brothers documentary American Pimp). Slim introduced Estrin to singer Rodger Collins, the man who would become Rick’s first real musical mentor. Collins schooled Rick on the finer points of songwriting and show business. At 19, Estrin relocated to Chicago and worked with some of the city’s best bluesmen. He met and jammed with the legendary Muddy Waters, who told Rick, “You outta sight, boy! You got that sound! You play like a man!” Muddy wanted Estrin to go on the road with him, but Estrin missed Muddy’s phone call and it never happened. Estrin eventually moved back to the Bay Area, met guitarist Charlie Baty and formed Little Charlie & The Nightcats. With Charlie’s retirement from touring in 2008, Rick brought in guitar virtuoso Kid Andersen and formed Rick Estrin & The Nightcats.
Jerry Portnoy
There are not many legends left in the Blues world, but Jerry Portnoy is one of those that is still around today. During a career that includes six years as a member of the fabled Muddy Waters Blues Band, another six as leader of the Legendary Blues Band, four years at the head of his own band The Streamliners, and another four as a featured member of the Eric Clapton Band, his touring schedule has carried him to every state in the union and twenty-eight foreign countries on six continents, with performances at the White House, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, the Smithsonian, London's Royal Albert Hall, and at major jazz festivals worldwide, including the Newport Jazz Festival, the Montreaux Jazz Festival, the Warsaw International Jazz Jamboree, the Hawaii Pacific Jazz and Music Fair, and the Grande Parade du Jazz in Nice, France.
Jerry has played on several Grammy Award-winning albums while recording with a wide variety of artists, including Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Hubert Sumlin Bill Wyman and many others.
“One of the most stimulating musicians I have ever played with.”
— Eric Clapton
Jason Ricci
A wizard, a magician, a virtuoso are some of the many ways to describe the harmonica genius that is Jason Ricci.
Ricci has appeared as a guest harmonica player on albums with Johnny Winter, Ana Popovic, Joe Louis Walker, Cedric Burnside, Walter Trout, Mike Zito, JP Soars, Nick Moss, Peter Karp, Nick Curran, The Mannish Boys, Too Slim and The Tail Draggers, Walter Trout and many many more. Ricci has toured or professionally played shows with John Fohl, The Iguanas, Damon Fowler, Pappa Mali, Walter Trout, Nick Moss, JP Soars, Mike Zito, Eric Johanson, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Anders Osborne, Joe Krown and more…
Jason is one of the most influential, recorded, celebrated, interviewed and famous harmonica players working in the world today.
Sugar Ray Norcia
Sugar Ray Norcia boasts of the smoothest, most soulful voices in modern day Blues, coupled with powerful, real deal harmonica. Ray has had a storied career, fronting Ronny Earl & the Broadcasters, Roomful of Blues & his own, wonderful band Sugar Ray & the Bluetones.
"SUGAR RAY IS THE REAL DEAL. THERE IS NOBODY BETTER TO REPRESENT THIS MUSIC." - KIM WILSON, THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS
"SUGAR RAY HAS GREAT TONE AND PHRASING, SINGING AD PLAYING THE HARP. ONE OF MY FAVORITES." -CHARLIE MUSSLEWHITE
Nick David
For the last 25 years dynamo Blues shouter, unorthodox harmonica ace and extraordinary stage presence Nick David has been entertaining audiences in New England and around the world. Nick spent 12 years fronting the widely regarded Mr. Nick & the Dirty Tricks, which included the Billboard charted album “Oh Wow” produced by the legendary Curtis Salgado. Nick has performed and recorded with many notable musicians, including; Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, The Holmes Brothers, John Popper, Otis Grand, Jerry Portnoy, Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl, Curtis Salgado, Big Bill Morganfield, Jason Ricci, James Harman, The Nighthawks, Rick Estrin & Junior Watson to name a few.
The Wicked Lo-Down
Formed in 2020 just before the Covid lockdown by Blues guitar giant Paul Size (The Red Devils, Mick Jagger, Sugar Ray & the Bluetones) and powerhouse blues belter Nick David (Mr. Nick & the Dirty Tricks, Queen City Kings), they blend raw, genuine Texas Blues and hard hitting Northeast R&B into their own completely original house rockin' sound. They have released one critically acclaimed, all original album, “We Hot”, consisting of ten well crafted, rock solid barn burners. Their follow up, Out of Line, eleased on the Gulf Coast Records label in early 2024 is a collection of mostly originals spanning Texas Blues, Chicago Blues, Rock-n-Roll, and R&B and will be sure to have people snapping their heads and exulting, “Who in the @#$& is this?!?!”
“The Wicked Lo-Down spews an originality that’s not to be denied.”
~ Americana Highways
“The Wicked Lo-Down, a musical consortium set to redefine the very fabric of their genre.”
~ Rock & Blues International
“The Wicked Lo-Down guitarist Paul Size was a Red Devil, and he sounds as fiery as ever 32 years down the line on a record that may end up being as legendary as that Red Devils debut”
~Making a Scene Magazine
“It took little time for them to convince me they are the real deal! They channel their inner Johnny Winter and T-Birds styled Texas blues and New England R&B to create a uniquely cool sound.“
~Blues Blast Magazine
“Nick David has a blues and rock ‘n’ roll sound that’s deep and soulful. His singing, writing, and harp playing are old school, yet fresh all at once. The Wicked Lo-Down is a fantastic group behind Nick. Paul Size on guitar is legendary in Texas Blues. Together they bring an exciting new album to the genre and Gulf Coast Records.”
~ Mike Zito
“With an emphasis on songcraft and a nod to blues legends, this release establishes the band's distinct presence in the contemporary music scene, making it a must-listen for enthusiasts seeking an innovative blend of blues, rock, and unexpected surprises.”
~ Blues Matters UK
“The playing is top notch and equally important is the attitude with which these guys attack their instruments- no shy wallflowers in this bunch, they pick up their axes, chase down some righteous grooves and bloody NAIL it every time”
~The Rock Doctor
“Made up of an all-star five piece (each of its members boasting a resume as long as your arm)”
~ Paris Move
“The biggest surprise on the disc is the heavy blues take on Britney Spear’s pop single, Toxic, which is made all the tastier by guest Monster Mike Welch’s appearance on guitar. Britney dear, the song is no longer yours!”
~ Capital Area Blues Society
“Meanwhile ‘Action Woman’ is driving, pounding and urgent, with David making it damn clear he wants an “action woman, can’t get no satisfaction, woman” as if when the Stones sang “I can’t get no satisfaction” they didn’t have a goddamn clue what desperation was.”
~ Blues Enthused
“The Wicked Lo-Down blends raw Texas blues and hard hitting Northeast RnB into their own, original, house rockin’ sound”
~ Metronome Magazine
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St,Manchester,NH,United States
