The Curtis Hawkins Band: Bass musician Curtis Hawkins hails from Peoria, IL, but is no stranger to the Quad Cities. Performing in various bands, Curtis’s original band will make you feel the blues deep in your bones and rock your body. Other local musicians include Ian Johnson (Guitar & Vocals), Manuel Lopez III (Keys & Vocals) and Jamie Hopkins (Drums). If you like Steeley Dan, Santana, Prince, the Allman Brothers, and Stevie Wonder, this band is for you.

Sharing the Redstone Room stage with The Curtis Hawkins Band is local favorites, The Candymakers and The Low Down.

The Candymakers are a blues band with the traditions of old-school R&B, funk and soul. This young band offers a sound that is contemporary, yet keeps the essence of music past. Though the band is known for its soulful male and female vocalists, it is anchored by the collaborative genius of its blues driven guitarist, funky rhythm section and sultry horns. The band formed in 2010 and were awarded 1st place in the 2011 Iowa Blues Challenge. After reaching the semi-finals in both The International Blues Challenge and The Kings of Beale Street Competition, they returned home to release their debut album in February of 2012.

The Low Down is an instrumental ensemble placing its roots in funk/groove/jazz of the past and present. They are a new group exploring their love for funky music that makes people dance. With influences ranging from Jimmy Smith and Grant Green, to Soulive and Robert Walter, they are continuously developing original material as well as inventive renditions of funk, jazz and rock songs.