Written by Sara Kocher | 03 November 2009

The Kirk Fletcher Band featuring Kirk Fletcher, guitarist for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, and the Hollywood Blue Flames, will light up stage at the holiday SLO Blues Show on Saturday, December 5. The dance concert will take place at the SLO Vets Hall, 801 Grand Avenue at 8:00 p.m. Free dance lessons are offered from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the sound of Kirk Fletcher’s guitar is the epitome of the contemporary L.A. blues scene. At 34, Fletcher has toured and recorded with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, and the Hollywood Blue Flames. In addition, he has recorded with Janiva Magness, Lynwood Slim, 2000 Lbs of Blues, and others; has released two solo albums, and has appeared with a score of other well known Blues performers. Since 2005, he has been nominated six times in the Blues Music Award categories of best instrumentalist and, with the Mannish Boys, band of the year and album of the year.
Born in 1975 in southern California, Fletcher’s first gig was playing guitar at the Macedonian Church of Christ, where his father was the minister. By the time he left high school, he was listening to B.B. King and playing guitar in bands that ran the gamut from gospel to rock. Early friendships with Robben Ford, Al Blake, and Junior Watson fueled his interest in the blues. By the time he was 25, he was playing for the Kim Wilson Blues Review, with whom he recorded the Grammy nominated album Smoking Joint, followed by a stint with the Charlie Musselwhite Band. In 2002, Fletcher joined the Hollywood Blue Flames; by 2005 he was also playing with the Fabulous Thunderbirds and the Mannish Boys. Most recently, Kirk has been performing all over Europe as a headliner and occasionally touring in the U.S. with Doyle Bramhall and Michelle Branch. Fletcher is currently working on his third solo album, My Turn.
All SLO Blues Society tickets are sold at the door; 21 and over, please. Tickets for Blues Society members are $17; general public $20. A group discount of 25% is available with the purchase of 10 or more tickets in advance. For more information, contact Dan at 805/541-1837.
For more information or to volunteer, call 805/541-7930 or visit our website (www.sloblues.org).