DOWNEY — The Downey Arts Coalition is hosting a night of blues entertainment Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Epic Lounge in Downey. Doors open at 7:30 pm and the show starts at 8:30. 

Scheduled to perform are RJ Mischo, Nathan James and TJ Norton. 

Mischo is an award-winning blues singer, harmonica player and band leader, with 30 years of international touring experience. 

His music is a combination of originals and obscure gems that create an exciting mix of boogies, shuffles and electric Chicago blues. 

He has released 14 original blues albums and has been featured on 25 additional blues albums. 

Nathan James has been touring Europe and America for 20 years. He began early as the guitarist for the legendary blues singer James Harman. 

He is a master of the Piedmont fingerstyle, which involves thumbing the bass string while picking out a syncopated melody with one’s fingers. James learned to play by listening to old records by Blind Boy Fuller and Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Blake and Blind Willie McTell. 

James is considered one of the most versatile roots and blues artists worldwide, and has performed with notable blues musicians Kim Wilson, Pinetop Perkins, Mark Hummel, Janiva Magness, Gar Primrich, Hollywood Blues Flames, and Rick Holmstrom, among others. 

TJ Norton is a blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter originally from the UK. Over the course of 30 years he has honed his craft in the tradition of old time blues players by ear, sitting in with experienced musicians, studying recordings and making it all his own. 

His music is influenced by Lightnin’ Hopkins, RL Burnside, U.P. Wilson, Paul Oscher, and others. 

“Blues music has exposed me to worlds I wasn’t born into,” Norton said. “It has brought me into personal contact with a range of people with different experiences of life. I find people’s stories very interesting and educational. Blues music is stories told with sound via the voice and/or instruments.”

Tickets to this concert are $22 and can be purchased online at rootsnblues.eventbrite.com. Attendees are required to show proof of Covid vaccination or a negative Covid test result within 72 hours. Masks are required upon entering and at the bar.