Shawn Strickland: Winner of the 2011 Billtown Blues Challenge in Williamsport, PA
and the 2012 Natchel' Blues Challenge in Virginia Beach, VA competed in the 2012
International Blues Challenge in Memphis and will be competing in the 2013
International Blues Challenge. Some of his influences include diverse styles of
Snooks Eaglin, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Big Bill Broonzy, piano players James Booker,
Dr. John, and Ray Charles, harmonica players Junior Wells, James Cotton and Sonny
Boy Williamson, and even soul singers like Sam Cooke,Otis Redding and James
Brown. With this love for blues and blues based music, Shawn took the best of each
influence and created a style all his own that can be described as a blend of blues raw and dirty.
Larry Tickle: Larry has been playing music in the area for over 50 years. Being in
numerous bands from different genres over the year Larry has developed a style all
his own. Larry has played with local acts over the years such as Ramsey, Whiskey
River, and Tickled Pink. Some of Larrys influences include Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton,
Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Jimi Hendrix.