Orlando Sentinal

Downtown Will be Singing the Blues

Published November 19, 2004

There's a Houseshakers reunion planned at the Orlando Bluesfest and barbecue Saturday at Wall Street Plaza, but it'll take a mighty big stage if

everyone shows up.

"We expect that there will be many, many Houseshakers in the audience," says Jeff Willey, one of the founding members of the Orlando group that was a local fixture when blues was a bigger part of the scene about 15 years ago. He estimates that in various incarnations, the band has been populated by roughly 70 players.

The current lineup, which also features original members Jim Mahoney on guitar, Rob Horvatits on keyboards, Mojo Jones on bass and newcomer Dave Scitney on drums, is anchoring an event that Willey hopes will put blues back on the map again in Orlando.

Doors open at 2 p.m. for the free show, which will feature nine bands as well as blues-friendly food and drinks available for purchase.

The diminished scope of the local blues scene is reflected in the fact that members of the reunited Houseshakers are also members of four other groups: Soul Cactus, the Revival, Red Eye Express and Smokin' Torpedoes.

Rounding out the day's lineup is funkUs, Burnin' Vernon & Wild Blue Yonder, the Midnight Ramblers and the Shaun Rounds Blues Band. Rounds used to watch the original Houseshakers as a teenager.

Willey, now the leader of the Smokin' Torps, organized Saturday's festival to draw another generation of fans to Orlando blues. There will be a table to join the newly established Orange Blossom Blues Society, a grass-roots group dedicated to building a blues revival.

Jim Manuel, who had worked for the same goal in the Orlando Blues Society, will advise the new group. Willey hopes to bring more organization to promoting the music. His first priority is finding a club to host regular shows.

"I'm trying to find a small place with a good atmosphere to start at a grass-roots level," he says. "We need to find a good club owner, start the society and see where it goes."