Blind Willie, local talent on tap for June Jam

Tickets are on sale now for the 27th Annual June Jam, Alive in 2005 — A Reason to Believe, set for Saturday, June 18, at the G&R Campground in Houston.

This year’s all-day outdoor benefit concert will feature a variety of local and regional talent, including a trio with deep local roots: Blind Willie.

With Carl Peters on guitar, Rob Robertson on bass and Allen Townsend on drums, plus all three contributing vocals, Blind Willie brings originality, style and energy to a classic rock repertoire that ranges from Aerosmith to ZZ Top and everything in between from the ’50s to the ’90s.

While Blind Willie does keep it danceable and familiar, they also like to mix it up and keep you guessing and saying, “Man, I haven't heard that one in a while!”

Blind Willie’s name is a tribute to early 20th century bluesman Blind Willie McTell, probably most widely known as the composer of “Statesboro Blues,” popularized by the Allman Brothers.

The three members of Blind Willie have been active on the Delaware music scene for almost 30 years each. Peters and Robertson first played together in the early ’80s, when Peters joined Hyde Park. Prior to that, he had been a member of Seaford’s Nasty Habits. After leaving Hyde Park in 1986, Peters went with Drawbridge from Cambridge. Just prior to Blind Willie, he played with the Mari Rhodes Band and Straight Shooter.

Robertson was an original member of Hyde Park, going back to 1976 or so. More recently, he has played guitar with Hyde Park, Cathy Martin & the Hot Rods, Black Bottom, the Waterbillies, East Roc and, most notably, Chubby Checker & the Wildcats.

Townsend’s music career had seen him in local bands such as Avery McTooth, Bounty Hunter, High Tide and DoubleTake. He also has played with Prism and the John Turner Blues Band in Italy when he was stationed there in the military. Townsend and Peters first played together in 1991 in a rockin’ southern gospel group called 11th Hour and recently again in the rock trio Straight Shooter.

Also featured will be Love Seed Mama Jump, the popular six-piece, guitar-driven rock band from Sussex County. Known for blending modern beats and melodic hooks delivered with powerful, impassioned lead vocals and killer harmonies, Love Seed has released five CDs independently and developed a strong East Coast following.

Love Seed also is the official rock band of the Washington Redskins and play after every home game at FedEx field. Their tunes have been featured on MTV, ESPN and X-Box’s Project Gotham Racing, as well as radio stations throughout the country.

Other acts will include Mary Lou and the Untouchables, Glass Onion, Lennex, Hot Buttered Elvis, Backstreet Law and Scrapple, plus the winner of the People’s Choice Concert Series being held at Bubba’s in Dover. The winner will be named following the final competition May 18.

This year’s Jam benefits the Make A Wish Foundation, the USO and several area families with extreme needs.