Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials – 10/7

“Electrifying, raucous, pure Chicago blues…. Lil’ Ed is a guitarist extraordinaire….slashing slide and flamboyant stage persona.” – Chicago Tribune

“Rough and ready blues played with unmitigated intensity…Swirling, snarling, riveting slide…. The Blues Imperials pound out riffs and rhythms like they’re overdosing on boogie juice. Scorching and soulful, joyous and stomping.” – Living Blues

Lil’ Ed Williams comes to the blues naturally. His uncle, Chicago slide guitar king and songwriter J. B. Hutto, taught him how to feel, not just play, the blues. Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials—bassist James “Pookie” Young (Ed’s half-brother), guitarist Mike Garrett, and drummer Kelly Littleton—have remained together for nearly 30 years, the band fueling Ed’s songs with rock-solid, road-tested musicianship.

The Big Sound Of Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials is the band’s album featuring Lil’ Ed’s incendiary playing and playful, passionate singing, produced by Williams and Alligator president Bruce Iglauer. Williams wrote or co-wrote most of the album’s songs; the Chicago Reader calls the band’s music “a soundtrack for dancing and celebration infused with a sense of hard-won survival.”

Born in Chicago on April 8, 1955, Ed grew up surrounded by music and was playing multiple instruments by age 12. He and Pookie formed the first incarnation of The Blues Imperials in 1975 and built their reputation playing West Side clubs. A studio session for Bruce Iglauer led to the band’s debut album Roughhousin’ (1986), recorded live with minimal takes.

Mike Garrett joined in 1987 and Kelly Littleton in 1988; the band’s live show and touring grew from there. They have played major festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival and many others, and have performed internationally in countries such as Canada, Great Britain, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Japan, Australia, India, Turkey and Panama.

Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials released eight Alligator albums between 1986 and 2012. Their fan base—known as “Ed Heads”—expanded over the years; Conan O’Brien brought the band to national TV audiences on two occasions. Awards include the Living Blues Award for Best Live Performer (2011–2013) and the Blues Music Award for Band of the Year (2007 and 2009). The Associated Press says, “Williams fills Chicago’s biggest shoes with more life and heat than anyone on stage today.”

“We’re not band members,” says Williams, “we’re family, and families stay together.” Night after night, gig after riotous gig, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials bring their big, dynamic Chicago blues sound to fans around the world.

DOORS: 5:30PM
SHOWTIME: 7PM

Event details
- Date: October 7
- Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
- Venue: The 443 Social Club & Lounge, 443 Burnet Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203

Ticket info
- The 443 is an intimate listening room with table service that seats 75 people.
- The green squares/circles on the floor plan are bar-height tables; the orange squares are regular-height tables.
- Most seats are sold as “Tables for Two” (ticket admits TWO people).
- A limited number of single seats are available; single attendees may share a table with other single attendees.
- Multiple tickets purchased under the same name will automatically be seated together (up to 6 people).
- Requesting a specific table is a perk reserved for our VIP Patron members. If you’re interested in supporting our mission, you can find membership information HERE.
- If anyone in your party needs special seating arrangements—walker, cane, service animal, wheelchair, low table requirement, or you want to be seated with another party—please EMAIL US after you place your order.

Links
- Official website: https://www.liledblues.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilEdandBluesImperials/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Rb0PWL2XJTCKrhZ2FSd5E?si=KS9-tgjwR5KrY3i2j0KUrw
- Tickets on EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lil-ed-the-blues-imperials-at-the-443-tickets-1994583338458?aff=oddtdtcreator
- Video: https://youtu.be/fU4aw907pT4?si=GhXqnsPavaE2mxta