Cowboy Mouth

Saturday, July 17th
8:00 p.m.

The Sheffield Garden Walk is proud to have Cowboy Mouth back as a headliner for the fifth time in six years, including an electrifying, jam-packed performance on Saturday night last year. Led by drummer Fred LeBlanc’s larger-than-life presence as he sits front and center on the drum riser, Cowboy Mouth dishes up an extraordinarily intense live experience. With their roots in the Big Easy, Cowboy Mouth blends multiple rock genres with their New Orleans-style revelry to create live performances that quickly become legendary. They have shared a slice of Mardi Gras heaven with fans around the world on 11 recordings and at their renowned live shows, which to date have been witnessed by more than 8 million people. “Cake” magazine said it best when it noted: "On a bad night they’ll tear the roof off the joint and on a good night they’ll save your soul." Their recent CD, “Voodoo Shoppe,” has won high marks from critics and fans alike. Their new CD, “Fearless,” was released in 2010.

See their performance of "This Much Fun" on YouTube.

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

Saturday, July 17th
6:00 p.m.

We are excited to bring the high energy retro R&B sound of Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears to the Sheffield Garden Walk for the first time. Anatomy texts might not show it, but the greatest soul and blues music leaves no doubt that the hip bone is directly connected to the heart –– a fact that’s driven home in every note laid down by Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. As they prove on their debut album, “Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is,” the Austin–based combo has the kind of gritty attitude and deliciously greasy groove–consciousness that’d pass muster in the toughest juke joint. The band calls the music it plays “Garage Soul,” and their sound is rooted in a blues-funk foundation familiar to fans of soul releases of the late 60s/early 70s. However, the songs are peppered with elements — blaring horns, righteous rock guitar solos, and Joe’s screeching howls — that give the music a whiff of the modern. Black Joe Lewis is made up of Joe Lewis (vocals, guitar), Zach Ernst (guitar), David McKnight (tenor sax), Eduardo Ramirez (baritone sax), Darren Sluyter (trumpet), Bill Stevenson (bass), Matt Strmiska (drums), and Ian Varley (keyboard).

See their performance of "Sugarfoot" on YouTube.

Ezra Furman & The Harpoons

Saturday, July 17th
3:30 p.m.

Evanston native Ezra Furman is a young talent on the rise. His voice has a wobbly quality reminiscent of the Violent Femmes, and he writes songs that have been described as heartfelt and intelligent while also being urgent, desperate, and explosive. Spin Magazine referred to Ezra Furman & the Harpoons as one of “the 9 hottest Bands Playing SXSW 2008,” and Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot ranked their most recent CD, “Inside the Human Body,” as one of the best local indie releases at the time. Ezra and the Harpoons recently released an ambitious limited edition album that featured a distinct original composition for each person that purchased it. The band was formed in 2006 at Tufts University but now, along with the recent addition of former Redwalls guitarist Andrew Langer, makes Chicago their home.

See their performance of "Take off your sunglasses" on YouTube.

Chris Buehrle

Saturday, July 17th
2:00 p.m.

Chris Buerhle returns to the Sheffield Garden Walk after a first appearance in 2008. As a current Chicago resident, Chris has a strong local following and primarily plays in venues all over Chicago and Illinois. With influences ranging from Stevie Ray Vaughn to Bruce Springsteen to Trey Anastasio, Chris's style has become tough to label. However if asked, he'd probably say mostly blues with a little bit of pop/soul. Chris’s self-titled debut EP was released in 2007.

Train Company

Saturday, July 17th
12:30 p.m.

Train Company is a Chicago based rock 'n roll band conducted by the eclectic songwriting of guitar/vocalist John Zozzaro, the arrangements of saxophonist Mark Alletag, and the groove marriage of Mike Dewitte (bass/vocals) and Rob Lejman (drums). Train Company rolls blues and jazzy rock 'n roll into classy, clean pop songs. Their debut release Train Company in April '09 was well received. Within months, the group was headlining sold-out shows at Chicago clubs like The Double Door and the Cubby Bear. After a crowded set at the 2010 SXSW Music and Film Festival in Austin, Texas, the group was asked to open for Blues Traveler at the House of Blues in Chicago. Their shining moment to date came when John Popper of Blues Traveler approached the band backstage to deliver a personal message: "You guys are killin!"