Recently named the winner of the 2024 615 Blues Revival Competition at Papa Turney’s in Nashville, Kelli Baker is known in some circles as “The Phoenix,”. Kelli was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona before moving to New York in 2012, where she quickly became a vibrant presence in the city’s music scene. Her journey began in the church choir, later evolving into fronting a hard rock band, forming a folk duo, and finally, honing her craft in New York’s renowned blues jams. She closed 2024 with an awesome run in Florida, where she supported and shared the stage with the multi-awarded blues icon, Mike Zito. She'll return to the stage with Mike in early 2025. 

Kelli achieved the #1 Blues Song on the Roots Music Report with her rendition of “Dr. Feelgood (Love is a Serious Business)” and won the Long Island/Brooklyn/Queens division of the International Blues Challenge. Recently, she was honored by the National Women in Blues in Memphis. 

Kelli has headlined the Women of the Blues Fest in McIntosh, MN, and the Paxico Blues Fest in Paxico, KS, which attracts 5,000+ attendees annually. She will return to Paxico in 2025. Kelli is a regular performer at prestigious blues clubs, including The Rhythm Room in Phoenix, AZ, and The Sand Dollar in Las Vegas, NV. In New York City, she regularly graces stages like The Bitter End and The Cutting Room. 

__

Noé Socha is a Brooklyn-based guitarist and harmonica player from Carpi, Italy. His music blends influences from folk legends like Bob Dylan and Delta blues icons such as Muddy Waters, with a touch of Hendrix-inspired flair. Noé has toured, performed, and recorded with notable artists like Nona Hendrix, Vernon Reid, and GRAMMY winners Javier Limón and Paula Cole. Recently, he was featured on Kelli Baker’s 2024 Winter Blues Tour, including a performance at the Winter Blues Experience in Cincinnati, OH. He continues to perform across New York City and teaches with The Blues and Beyond project.

In 2017, Noé released Blues and the World Beyond as part of Likho Duo. He’s been featured in Mastercard’s Start Something Priceless campaign and on the iHeartRADIO podcast Sleepwalkers for his project “The Everyday Project.” He was also interviewed on CBS New York for the story “Blind in the Pandemic.” As a brand ambassador, Noé represents Breedlove Guitars, D’Angelico Guitars, Gibson Guitars, Seydel Harmonicas, Supro Amplifiers, and Pigtronix Guitar Pedals.

__

The Venus Kings is an American blues and soul group based in Atlanta, GA. Formed in 2023, the band consists of Brandon Bolton on guitar, Neal Wauchope on keys/bass, Eleye Mostai on drums, and Colby Davis on lead vocals. Their exciting blend of blues, old soul, funk, and roots music, paired with their proficiency as players, is unrivaled.