Wanda Johnson: News

Some months ago, we recorded a show in Clemson, SC with the Wisconsin NPR gang for the nationally-broadcast show. Seems they re-ran it today (folks in Arkansas and Detroit and elsewhere wrote saying they heard it). NICE! www.notmuch.com is the site for the radio show.

8 pm showtime at the Greenwood Community Theatre, $10 tickets at the gate. See you there.

It's been a busy year...thanks to everyone for the support. Overseas work in 2009 included a stint at the Hotel Meridien in Paris, France; eleven shows at MacauSoul in Macau, SAR (China), and eighteen concerts in Poland & the Czech Republic. Taking a breather now and planning next year. Hope to see you all soon!

Krakow tonight, Chorzow tomorrow and then into the Czech Republic for four gigs and home on August 2. The tour has been great...super well-organized & thanks again to our friends Delta Agency. See y'all in Greenville and Anderson next week!

Second tour (18 shows) begins July 14 in Pulawy and we end up the run with four dates in Czech Republic. Please check "Calendar" for dates and venues.

Hit TV show "Army Wives" episode #EP302 will air Sunday June 14 on the LIfetime channel. Our song "Finally Home" from "Call Me Miss Wanda" (2003; Wanda's first album) will be heard as (so we are told) "Roxy dances at the bar Viola took her to". Check it out at
www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/army-wives/music

Thanks again to Didier Tricard and the entire staff of the Jazz Club Lionel Hampton for welcoming us this past week April 21-25. And to our audience...a special BIG merci beaucoup! We hope to see you in France sometime again soon.

Please check out the 18 shows on the calendar.

Just confirmed: ""Finally Home"" from Wanda's first CD "Call Me Miss Wanda" is going to be used in an upcoming episode (June, 2009) of the hit TV show "'Army Wives'on the Lifetime channel. We will post the episode and date when known.

We're back at MacauSoul (Macau SAR, China) this Thurs 19 through Sun 29 - Shrimp City Slim trio (Silent Eddie on guitar; LaMont on drums; SCS on piano) with special attraction Juke Joint Johnny (harmonica).
Check him out at:
www.myspace.com/jukeharp
Should be fun. Thanks again to David Hartung for the amazing photos!

A tragic but historic happening: Mimi's Cafe (now, after three weeks, under ownership as The Boathouse) burned this morning...still being investigated though no foul play suspected. First venue for Wanda trying out her original songs in (was it?) 2002. We will never forget you, Mimi & Mo!

Devin Grant was there and dug it. Check out his review:
www.charleston.net/news/2009/Feb/19/erwin_wanda_johnson_shine_during_blues_b72158/

Twoj Blues magazine (Chorzow, Poland; the Living Blues magazine of Poland) has released the results of their 9th annual Readers' Poll.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(International Category):
#2 Wanda Johnson: Hold What You Got
(#1 was Buddy Guy: Skin Deep)

FEMALE VOCALIST
(International Category)
#1 Wanda Johnson
(#2 Koko Taylor, #3 Sharrie Williams)

PIANIST (Int'l Category)
#2 Shrimp City Slim (Gary Erwin)
(#1 Honey Piazza)

NEW ARTIST DEBUT
(International Category)
#2 Wanda Johnson
(#1 Homemade Jamz)

NEW ARTIST DEBUT (Poland)
#1 Blues Doctors (our backing band in Poland)

Thank you, POLAND!

Due to a BLIZZARD of spam, we've had to disable our Guestbook. If you want to reach us, please go through the normal channels. Thanks!

The tour in Poland was great from every angle.

Check out Wanda on the cover of "Twoj Blues", the nine-year old glossy blues magazine of Poland. www.delta.art.pl and click on 'Twoj Blues'. Great article with interview by Tim Holek.

We are 10 shows into the 17-show tour now and working our way up into the Northeast of Poland. Crowds have been great; played the legendary Jazz & Blues Festival of Bialystok last night; an audience of perhaps 1000 in the Cultural Center. Our tour concludes November 30 in Warsaw. Hope to see you at a show soon, here or Stateside! Love, Wanda & Shrimp

November 10-December 1 for 17 shows. See you back in the Carolinas in December.

Wanda will be the subject of a feature article (interview by Scott Bock with vintage photos) in the next edition of Living Blues, America's venerable blues magazine. Needless to say, we're very excited! If you don't already subscribe, this would be a great time to do so! www.livingblues.com

For full details on the 12th annual Carolina Downhome Blues Festival, Oct 2-4, Camden, SC, please visit www.bluesbash.com/camden
We will see you there!

For the third year, "SoCo" will be name sponsor of the Lowcountry Blues Bash (19th annual), February 6-15, 2009, in Charleston, SC. Wanda Johnson & Shrimp City Slim will perform their traditional shows at the Mills House hotel on Fri-Sat Feb 13-14. More info to come!