SOUTHERN AVENUE, ALEXIS P SUTER BAND TO ELECTRIFY FANS AT READING BLUES FEST

The Grammy-nominated Memphis-based blues/soul band, Southern Avenue, will be performing Saturday night at 8 p.m. in the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Grand Ballroom, along with the Alexis P Suter Band, as part of the Reading Blues Fest.

The band -- named for a street that begins in east Memphis and runs to “Soulsville,” the original home of Stax Records -- was founded in 2015, and in 2016 they reached the finals of the International Blues Challenge for their eponymous debut album on Stax.

One of the founders, guitarist Ori Naftaly, grew up in a small town in Israel, where he learned to play the guitar in a variety of styles during high school. After graduating from the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, he started his own blues band, recorded a critically acclaimed album -- A True Friend -- in 2012, and won the Israeli Blues Society competition that same year. In 2013, the band was voted the Best Israeli Blues Band of 2013, earning them an invitation to the 29th International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn. 

The Ori Naftaly Band reached the semifinals -- the first Israeli band to do so -- and Naftaly decided to move to Memphis that year. There, he met two sisters, vocalist Tierini Jackson and drummer Tikyra “TK” Jackson, and they hit it off. Together they founded Southern Avenue and have been together ever since.

They released two more albums, the Grammy-nominate Keep On (2019, for Best Contemporary Blues Album) and Be the Love You Want (2021) and have toured relentlessly throughout the United States and in more than a dozen countries. Now Ori and Tierini are married with three children, whom they take along on tour.

While touring with kids can be challenging, Naftaly said in a recent blog, “the opportunity to share your music with audiences around the world and connect with fans on a personal level is truly unique and special.”

Southern Avenue will release their new Alligator debut album early next year. Meanwhile, they have released a single from the album, “Found a Friend in You,” which has received critical praise and airplay from the influential NPR Music stations WFUV-New York, WMOT-Roots Radio in Nashville, and many other stations, and has entered Americana Radio’s Singles Chart.

Over the summer, Southern Avenue toured as part of the Outlaw Music Festival, along with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, impressing both their fellow artists and their growing fan base.

Southern Avenue’s music is a blend of Memphis blues, warm vocal harmonies, and uplifting messages reminiscent of The Staple Singers. Along with Naftaly, Tierini and Tikyra, the rest of the band consists of a third Jackson: percussionist/violinist/vocalist Ava Jackson; and keyboardist and honorary family member Jeremy Powell.

The Alexis P Suter Band

Three-time Blues Music Award nominee Alexis P Suter is a familiar face to Reading blues fans, along with audiences everywhere. Her powerful six-piece ensemble blends blues, soul and rock music, and her voice is passionate and soul-baring. The band members are guitarist Jimmy Bennett, drummer Ray Grappone, bassist Peter Bennett, pianist Dan Weiss and backing vocalist Vicki Bell.

The band burst into the music scene as regular performers at Levon Helm’s legendary Midnight Rambles in Woodstock, NY., (established in 1975). They opened for Helm almost 100 times. They have been in high demand at North American Roots and Blues festivals and events. And Suter has been nominated for BMAs in the Best Contemporary Blues Artist, Koko Taylor Vocalist and Best Soul/Blues Female Vocalist categories.

To purchase tickets, and for more information on this concert and a complete schedule, visit www.readingbluesfest.com