Brighton Blues Bash! 2 features Etta James and Johnnie Bassett tributes

Food drive part of special Sept. 13 concert at the BCPA

2 Stones Events and the Brighton Center for the Performing Arts are teaming up once again to present Brighton Blues Bash! 2 on Sunday, Sept. 13 -- an evening featuring metro-Detroit's finest performers, presented again by Cooper & Binkley Jewelers.

At 5:30, the late, great vocalist Etta James is honored by a 12-piece ensemble that includes The Woodward Horns (Bobby Streng, Jimmy Smith, Matt Martinez, and James Hughes), guitarists Johnny Rhoades and Kris Kurzawa, bassist Dave Uricek, drummer Rennell Gonsalvez; keyboardist Mark Thibodeau; and vocalists Tosha Owens, Lenny Watkins, and Raye Williams.

“These musicians were the foundation of Love Letters From Detroit, the band Bobby Murray formed to pay tribute to Etta James, who he toured with as her guitarist for 23 years,” said Cal Stone of 2 Stones Events. “Sadly, Bobby passed away this past April, but the musicians want to continue with the concert as both a tribute to Bobby and Etta.”

Singer/songwriter Etta James passed away in 2012 after a lengthy recording and performing career that featured numerous hits: “At Last”, “I’d Rather Go Blind”, “Tell Mama”, “A Sunday Kind of Love”, “Somethings Got a Hold on Me”, “All I Could Do Was Cry” and many more. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Grammy Hall of Fame and Blues Hall of Fame.

Kicking off Brighton Blues Bash! 2 at 4 p.m. — A tribute to the late Johnnie Bassett, Detroit’s Gentleman of the Blues, with The Brothers Groove (Chris Codish, keys; Skeeto Valdez, drums; and James Simonson, bass) joined by Brett Lucas, guitar; and Keith Kaminski, saxophone.

“He was more than just someone I worked with,” explained Codish, who started playing with Bassett around 1993, touring the country and making recordings as The Blues Insurgents. “He was a major influence in my musical development and a good friend. I really didn’t realize what I had lost until he had passed. He was one of a kind.”

The five musicians, who are all first-call Detroit players, also happen to be really good friends who were all seriously influenced by Bassett early on in their careers.

“We’re going to do a mixture of some of the classic blues he played as well as some of his originals,” said Codish. “Some signature songs of his. Some great blues. Some fun. Johnnie’s thing was fun. Always a good time – the blues, but it felt good. It’ll be some dynamite music.”

Learn more about the Johnnie Bassett Tribute by clicking HERE.

The doors for this special Sunday show at the BCPA will open at 3 p.m. to top off a full weekend of blues music with the Brighton Smokin Rock-N-Blues Festival on Sept. 11-12.

Tickets are $30 before Sept. 13; prices will increase to $40 day of at the door. Click HERE for tickets or visit http://www.2StonesEvents.com.

Media Partners include LivingstonPost.com, WHMI 93.5 FM and The Marketeer.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

This special community event to feed one’s soul also includes a food drive for the Livingston Hunger Council, and attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable item; drop-off boxes will be placed in the lobby. Of course, monetary donations will be accepted as well — every dollar donated provides three meals locally.

“We’ve been making food drives part of our events for quite a few years,” said Cal Stone who, along with his wife, Whitney, runs the Brighton-based 2 Stones Events. “Livingston County may be the richest in the state but there is definitely a need. This concert/food drive is a great way to help your neighbors.”

The food drive held at the initial Brighton Blues Bash! (featuring Mr. B. and Thornetta Davis) last September was a huge success.

“It was a PERFECT event!!!,” said Cathy Wormsbacher of the Livingston County Hunger Council, noting that $563 was donated along with 247 pounds of food. “This is incredible. Thank you again for all of your support!!”

The LCHC works to prevent hunger in this community by maintaining a food response system:

· Meals and snacks provided at seven locations during Summer Lunch Bunch, which supports children and families throughout the summer

· Frozen weekend meals served by Meals on Wheels

· 46 food distribution sites available throughout Livingston County

· Distributes food through Mission Nutrition Mobiles and senior mobiles

· Fresh produce grown in a local community garden and fresh produce carts spread across Livingston County

· Mission Nutrition Livingston serves meals to households at school food mobiles

"2 Stones Events has taken us under their wings for many years by letting us host food drives at their events, giving us a stage to talk about the Hunger Council and bring awareness to the community,” said Cathy Wormsbacher, chair of the Hunger Council, who noted that the donated food is dropped off to Gleaners for disbursement. “We appreciate the support!"

For more than 24 years, 2SE has booked major concerts at the BCPA featuring international artists (Wynton Marsalis, George Winston, Marty Stuart, Branford Marsalis, and Ramsey Lewis). Whitney McClellan-Stone, VP of 2SE, said the BCPA is one of the best venues for live performances in southeast Michigan, with 900 seats, free parking, close to freeways, great acoustics, and a nine-foot Steinway piano.

DETAILS

• Brighton Blues Bash! 2

• Brighton Center for the Performing Arts (7878 Brighton Road; at Brighton High School)

• Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026

• Doors open at 3 p.m.

• 4-5 p.m. – Tribute to Johnnie Bassett

• 5:30-7 p.m. – Tribute to Etta James

• Tickets are $30 online at www.2StonesEvents.com; $40 at the door

• Event includes a food drive for the Livingston County Hunger Council, and attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item or make a donation