Bernard Allison exemplifies predestination’s upside: The son of acclaimed bluesman Luther Allison, Bernard, the youngest of nine, picked up the guitar at age 10, made his recording debut with the elder Allison at 13, and joined Koko Taylor’s Blues Machine on lead guitar at 18.
Following the muse and the work, Bernard further honed his skills in London, Ontario and during an extended stay in Europe. It was with his first album, 1990’s The Next Generation, that junior truly struck out on his own.
“In order for anything to expand, you have to take a risk,” Bernard says in his bio. “Blues is about experimenting and getting your feelings across to someone else. And if you want to keep it going, people are going to have to give it all a chance, because we’re losing all our creators.”
Bernard Allison plays Stevie Ray’s Blues Bar (230 E. Main St., 582-9945) Thursday, June 4. Cover is $15 and the show starts at 8 p.m.
Baxter’s station
John Baxter and his band the Bottomfeeders have finished a new EP called Sherwood. No official Louisville release show has been set, but stay tuned to myspace.com/johnbaxterandthebottomfeeders.
The Confessional
Jyn Yates reports that The Confessional have finally set a release date for their forthcoming album: June 19 at the Kentuckiana Pride Festival on the Belvedere at 10 p.m.
Late Night Vibrate II
Violinist extraordinaire Maestro J takes the reins of Late Night Vibrate 2 at The Rudyard Kipling (422 W. Oak St., 636-1511) on Friday, June 5. Showtime is 10:30 p.m. Cover is $10. Darnell Levine joins in.
Vandaveer
Lexington-by-way-of-D.C. soloist Vandaveer returns to The 930 Listening Room (930 S. Mary St., 634-2554, www.the930.org) on Friday, June 5.
Glassworks series continues
Also on Friday, Ultra Pulverize, Prizzy Prizzy Please and The Delicious make it happen this go-round ($8; 7 p.m.). More info at www.louisvilleglassworks.com.
Music Cast
Jazz instructor/musician Bobby Falk has a slew of local dates lined up, and he brings some live cuts to our offices. Listen at Bluegrass Catastrophe (bluecat.leoweekly.com).