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Public Onsale : Fri, 21 Nov 2025 at 10:00 AM“Shemekia Copeland is the greatest blues singer of her generation.” –The Washington Post
“Shemekia Copeland has established herself as one of the leading blues artists of our time. Profound and truly powerful...inviting you to think and to party.” –NPR Music
“Shemekia Copeland gets her message across loud and clear. She transcends with a mix of styles including gospel, rock, blues, soul, and Americana, proudly representing her generation with style and grace in a voice too strong to be ignored.” –No Depression
Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. 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. The Chicago Tribune says, “Copeland is the greatest female blues vocalist working today. There’s no mistaking the majesty of her instrument, nor the ferocity of her delivery.”
On Copeland’s new album, Blame It On Eve, the songs all hit hard, with jaw-dropping performances that instantly take hold and command repeated listening. “There’s serious business on the new 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.”
Blame It On Eve was recorded in Nashville and produced by instrumentalist/songwriter Will Kimbrough (who also produced her previous three albums). It features 12 new songs that tackle subjects as important as a woman’s right to choose and climate change, but also leaves space for Copeland to have fun and unwind. From the autobiographical, rocking blues boogie Tough Mother to the anthemic title track’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. Shemekia’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.
Born and raised 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 music continued to evolve. From her debut through 2005’s The Soul Truth, Shemekia earned eight Blues Music Awards and a host of Living Blues Awards. 2000’s Wicked received the first of her five GRAMMY nominations. After two successful releases on Telarc (including 2012’s GRAMMY-nominated 33 1/3), Copeland returned to Alligator Records in 2015 with the GRAMMY-nominated, Blues Music Award-winning Outskirts Of Love, melding blues with more rootsy, Americana sounds.
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.”
Copeland has performed thousands of gigs at clubs, festivals and concert halls all over the world, and has appeared in films, on national television, NPR, and has been the subject of major feature stories in hundreds of magazines, newspapers and internet publications. She’s sung with Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, Dr. John, James Cotton and many others, and has shared a bill with The Rolling Stones. She entertained U.S. troops in Iraq and Kuwait in 2008, a trip she says, “that opened my eyes to the larger world around me and my place in it.” In 2012, she performed with B.B. King, Mick Jagger, Buddy Guy, Trombone Shorty, Gary Clark, Jr. and others at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama. She has showcased on PBS’s Austin City Limits, was featured in a six-minute story on the PBS News Hour and was the subject of a major Washington Post Sunday magazine piece. In April 2022, she performed at the United Nations General Assembly Hall to a worldwide audience of millions as part of International Jazz Day celebrations. In 2023, Copeland guested on the GRAMMY Award-winning compilation album, Basie Swings The Blues, on the Candid label. She continues to receive regular radio airplay on stations all over the globe. Additionally, Copeland hosts her own popular daily blues radio show on SiriusXM’s Bluesville.
Forbes declared, “Shemekia is fearless, honest and hopeful...she holds back nothing as she delivers hard-hitting musical truths.” The late John Prine paid her a huge compliment when he said, “She simply doesn’t sound like anybody else.” And none other than Copeland’s friend, the legendary Mavis Staples, announced, “I am so happy Shemekia is delivering these songs that the world needs to hear. Her voice is strong and soulful, and her message comes from her heart.”
With Blame It On Eve, Copeland embarks on what she calls “a vacation from all the heaviness.” Blame It On Eve contains plenty of Copeland’s trademark bold and courageous songs, but here Copeland is also looking to unplug from the weight of world. “My last three records have dealt with breaking news,” she says. “This record is for people like me who want a break from the news.”
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰!
𝐁𝐨𝐱 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 & 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬
Our Box Office is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM to assist you with ticket purchases and inquiries.
𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬:
• In Person: Visit us at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH
• By Phone: Call our Box Office at 888-603-5299 (ext. 1) to speak with a representative
• Online: Secure your tickets at jimmysoncongress.com
𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club only sells tickets through Ticketmaster and our official website. Tickets bought through third-party resellers are not guaranteed to be valid.
𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐔𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦
Stay connected with daily updates, behind-the-scenes content, artist announcements, show highlights, and more.
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𝐔𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 & 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
Our 2025 concert schedule is live, and tickets are now available! From world-renowned jazz legends to rising stars across blues, soul, funk, and R&B, we have a packed year of unforgettable performances.
𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:
https://jimmysoncongress.com/events/
𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞
Give the gift of live music. Jimmy’s gift cards can be used toward any concert or food & beverage purchase.
You can purchase a gift card:
• Online at jimmysoncongress.com
• By Phone at 888-603-5299
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 – 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫
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• Early access to ticket sales
• New artist and show announcements
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• Exclusive promotions and special event notices
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲: www.jimmysoncongress.com/subscribe
𝐉𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐲’𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩:
Want first access to tickets and special perks?
Join Jimmy’s Membership Circle, our exclusive membership program offering:
• Advance notice and presale access to all ticketed shows
• Invitations to special events and private receptions
• Additional VIP benefits throughout the year
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:
https://jimmysoncongress.com/jimmys-inner-circle/
We’re proud to have 800+ members supporting live music with us—thank you!
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club is available to host a wide range of private events, including:
• Corporate gatherings
• Holiday parties
• Weddings & receptions
• Milestone celebrations
Our venue features award-winning acoustics, state-of-the-art technology, exceptional cuisine, and an elegant atmosphere.
𝐓𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬:
• Email: [email protected]
• Event Request Form: jimmysoncongress.com/book-an-event
Thank you for supporting live music and the arts at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club—where world-class talent meets a one-of-a-kind experience in the heart of Portsmouth.
#JimmysJazzAndBluesClub #PortsmouthNH #LiveJazz #JazzClub #BluesMusic #JazzInNewEngland #SupportLiveMusic #DinnerAndJazz #DinnerAndMusic #DinnerAndDrinks #LiveBands #SupperClub #EatLocalPortsmouth #PortsmouthDining #PortsmouthEvents #MusicInPortsmouth #SeacoastNH #SeacoastEvents #VisitPortsmouth #HistoricPortsmouth #MusicLovers #JazzConcert #LiveMusicVenue #JimmysJazzBlues #JazzMusic #VisitNH #LocalPortsmouthEats #DowntownPortsmouth #NewEngland
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH 03801-4005, United States
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Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
