Marcia Ball and Tinsley Ellis

Marcia Ball, born in Orange, TX, and raised in Vinton, LA, blends East Texas blues with Louisiana swamp rock. Known for tracks like "Soulful Dress," she achieved fame through energetic shows and collaborations with Angela Strehli and Irma Thomas. Ball’s albums, such as "Sing It!" and "Presumed Innocent," have earned critical acclaim and award nominations, including Grammy and W.C. Handy nods. Active since the '70s, she frequently collaborates with artists like Delbert McClinton and is signed with Alligator Records.

Born in Atlanta, Tinsley Ellis is a powerhouse blues-rock guitarist. Renowned for his fiery style akin to Stevie Ray Vaughan, he draws from legends like B.B. King and Freddie King. His 1988 debut "Georgia Blue" established his blues circuit presence, and "Storm Warning" earned broader acclaim. Collaborations include Tom Dowd and Donald "Duck" Dunn. Highlights include popular albums like "The Hard Way" and "Winning Hand." In 2023, he performed 100 solo acoustic shows, and his first solo acoustic album, "Naked Truth," dropped in 2024.