THE 2025 WINTER BLUES FESTIVAL

The Winter Blues Festival has become a Tradition at The Fallout Shelter, this being our 5th Annual event and this year will go down in the history books as one of the greatest assemblies of blues harp masters to ever appear on one stage. The Wicked Lo-Down will once again be the house band as we welcome four of the greatest living blues harp players!

Rick Estrin

When he was 12, his older sister gave him a copy of Ray Charles’ The Genius Sings The Blues, and he became infatuated with the music. Albums from Jimmy Reed, Champion Jack Dupree, Mose Allison, Nina Simone and others soon followed. 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.

Jason Ricci

Jason Ricci is one of the most influential, recorded, celebrated, interviewed and famous harmonica players working in the world today.

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…

In 2002 Ricci started his own nationally touring band “New Blood“. New Blood toured 300 days a year all over North America and Europe for 10 years straight. In 2004 Jason ricci came out as gay/bisexual or “queer” as he prefers to be called and caused controversery and attention, some negative at the time for Jason and his career but served as a milestone for the LGBTQ Community in the Blues Music world and beyond.

After a few independent CD’s, in 2006 New Blood would ultimately sign with Randy Chortkoff’s now famed record label Delta Groove releasing two records “Rocket Number Nine” and “Done with the Devil” the later of which would be nominated for a 2010 Blues Music Award for “Best Blues Rock Album”.

In 2010 Jason was also nominated and won The Blues Music Award for “Best Harmonica Player”. Jason would also go on to record and tour Europe with Blues Rock legend Walter Trout.

After ten years of musical success, health and continuous sobriety in 2010 Ricci fell prey to addiction, mental illness and a break up with his long term partner pianist and web designer Brady Mills. This was followed by another arrest in 2011 and another year-long period of incarceration, this time in an Indiana jail. After his release in 2012 Ricci would cut two critically well received albums and tour with celebrated New York City singer songwriter JJ Appleton. In addition to recording and touring with Appleton by 2013 Ricci also formed a new band “Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind” with New Orleans guitarist John Lisi. Signing with The Eller Soul Label Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind would cut two records “Approved By Snakes” and “My Chops are Rolling“. Working with Appleton, The Bad Kind and occasional tours with Alligator recording artist and Chicago Blues icon Nick Moss would mark the start of a successful return. By 2015 Ricci was nominated and won another Blues Music Award for Best Harmonica. Also in 2015 Jason Ricci was invited to induct The Paul Butterfield Blues Band into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. At the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Ricci would appear televised on HBO for twelve and half million viewers performing Butterfields song “Born In Chicago” with Zac Brown, Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, Paul Shaffer, Anton Fig, Felicia Collins and Willie Weeks. The same yearJason Ricci would go on to work with and record on Johnny Winter’s Grammy Award Winning recording “Step Back” as a featured performer alongside Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa, Dr John, Brian Setzer, Paul Nelson, Joe Perry, Ben Harper, Billy Gibbons and more.

Jerry Portnoy

“One of the most stimulating musicians I have ever played with.”
                                                                              — Eric Clapton

Jerry Portnoy was born in 1943 and grew up in the blues-rich atmosphere of Chicago's famous Maxwell Street Market during the golden age of Chicago Blues. He began his professional career in the late 60s and since that time has performed, live and on television, for millions of people around the world.

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, and was a Grammy Award nominee in 1997 for his work with the Muddy Waters Tribute Band. Television credits include appearances on Saturday Night Live, Soundstage, MTV, VH1, and the Disney Channel, as well as writing and performing original music for Sesame Street. In addition, he has lectured at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, and his definitive 3/CD instructional package, Jerry Portnoy's Blues Harmonica Masterclass, is widely regarded as the premier teaching tool for those wishing to learn the instrument.

Sugar Ray Norcia

Singer,harp man and three time Grammy Nominee Sugar Ray Norcia’s career kicked into high gear in 1979 when he formed the original Sugar Ray and the Bluetones with guitar giant Ronnie Earl and it has stayed there ever since.Norcia has received a total of twenty two Blues Music Award Nominations including winning two Blues Music Awards in 2014 and has appeared on over sixty albums.In 2012 Ray was inducted into Rhode Island’s Music Hall of Fame.In 2016 Sugar Ray and his band The Bluetones released a CD called “Seeing Is Believing”. Sugar Ray was nominated for an unprecedented seven 2017 Blues Music Awards including Traditional Blues Male Artist and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year!

The Wicked Lo-Down

The Wicked Lo-Down are no strangers to the Fallout Shelter having sold out every one of their appearances. They're the "house band" for our annual Winter Blues Festival and they've headlined their own shows here as well. The Lo-Down is fronted by one of the most respected and heralded singers and harp masters, Mr. Nick David. Their lead guitarist is the brilliant Paul Size who spreads the wealth to co guitar ace Jeff Berg. Brad Hallen and Nick Toscano provide one of the tightest and powerhouse rhythm sections you'll see anywhere! This is electrifying high energy blues with rock and soul overtones guaranteed to leave a mark!

The Fallout Shelter is an all ages performance venue welcoming worldwide, world class music in an intimate setting. Our studio audience attends to watch the creation and production of the music television series The Extended Play Sessions. The Fallout Shelter events are immersive experiences for both audience and performers alike...a live music experience like no other. We are fully ADA compliant and have wheelchair access. We have a wide selection of beer and wine for your adult beverage pleasures and each show comes with a free commemorative event poster. Our doors open at 6PM. Seating is General Admission. We recommend you arrive at the time the doors open.