Yes MA'AM Family Band Diane Durrett, Caroline Aiken and Liz Melendez 6 pm Saturday, April 19, 2025
Yes MA'AM Family Band
The Yes MA'AM Family Band is composed of Caroline Aiken and Liz Melendez, plus a third from a group of Altanta women musicians. And just last Sunday, as part of Fester Hagood's Mojo Confessional Songwriters Showcase, Liz Melendez was here with Uncle Danny 'Thunderclap' McAdams and Special Guest Caroline Aiken. If you were here, you know to come back early.
Do Not miss this Event! You will regret not being here!
Diane Durrett, Caroline Aiken and Liz Melendez in media photo
According to yesmaamfamilyband.com, some combination of these musicians are playing at least fourteen events in the SouthEast in the first half of this year! And they each play in other bands as well! Listen and read on ...
Yes MA'AM Family Band opens for The Indigo Girls at Terminal West, Atlanta, January 14, 2025
From their website, yesmaamfamilyband.com, All in the family ...
An epic Georgia music collaboration - Yes MA'AM Family Band is a traveling feast of the very best in Georgia music! Spanning multiple decades of love and friendship across multiple genres, fans are dazzled by the appearance of these remarkable artists on one stage together!
Caroline Aiken was one of No. 3 Railroad Street's first performers, back in May 14 with Todd Lister and August 27 of 2016. Mark Wilmot brought her to one of his Mojo Sunday Songwriters Festivals, along with Carly Simon, on
February 17, 2019. Fester Hagood had her, along with Scott Low, in the present extension of that series, in June 9, 2023. And she played solo here on September 14, 2024 and, as mentioned above, a week ago with Liz Melendez on April 13. Check out those event pages for comments, pictures and more links.
Caroline Aiken is an internationally-recognized musician and songwriter. She is a Georgia music icon and mentor to well-known artists including the Indigo Girls and Shawn Mullins. Her remarkable command of multiple instruments parallels her masterful songwriting and inimitable vocal style. She is a mainstay of the international folk scene, headlining major festivals such as the Kerrville Folk Festival and Mendocino Music Festival. Caroline's fanbase spans the globe as she tours venues and festivals across the United States and Europe.
She tours solo, tours with her band The Caroline Aiken Band, gives private performance and music lessons, conducts the "Zen and the Art of Performance" Workshop, performs for local and national charities and is the Athens-Clarke County Chapter president of guitarsnotguns.org (guitars and lessons for kids at risk).
In 2012, she was the featured performer on NPR's "Mountain Stage" at the UGA Performing Arts Center along with Randall Bramblett and Patterson Hood of the Drive By Truckers
In 2015, Caroline released her 9th CD: Broken Wings Heal, with special guests Emily Saliers (of the Indigo Girls), John Keane (GRAMMY nominated producer and musician), Michelle Malone, Ike Stubblefield (Legendary Motown B3) and Randall Bramblett (who has played with Bonnie Raitt, Steve Winwood, and the Allman Brothers). It has become a classic.
Liz Melendez is considered by many to be one of the top lead guitarists in the country, her live performances demonstrate her versatility, often paying homage to her influences as a highlight to her own clearly defined lead guitar and vocal style. She plays widely with various muscians, including with her own band, the Liz Melendez Band.
Her guitar playing has been compared to everyone from Carlos Santana to Stevie Ray Vaughan and her voice has been compared to everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Janis Joplin.
Liz currently has three album releases to her credit showcasing her talents as a songwriter, arranger, and producer. She has performed on stage with such notables as Bob Margolin, Henry Butler, Francine Reed, Hubert Sumlin, E.G. Kight, Chris Duarte and Candye Kane. Born and raised in the South Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Liz currently resides and tours out of Atlanta - from lizmelendezband.com
Diane Durrett is an internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter and producer, with vocal prowess, Diane Durrett proves it again on her 10th American Roots upcoming release"Sweet Georgia Blues" available on August 2nd. She can belt gut-bucket blues with the best of them. And her velvet voice shines through on feel-good singles 'Chasing Sunsets' and 'The Sweet Spot'. Every song on the album has a story and an authentic meaning, recorded with her band Soul Suga', drummer Melissa Junebug, keyboardist Yoel Yehuda and bassist Fuji Fujimoto. Special guest appearances by Georgia artists, including Tinsley Ellis, Eddie 9 Volt and Joey 'Papa J Sez' Sommerville as well as New Orleans GRAMMY award winning Trombonist Craig Klein contribute to the soulful blend of the album. Setting the rhythm at the top is a tribute to their bandmate, the late Yonrico Scott, inspired by his life called 'Child of the Blues'. As the album closes with gospel overtones, Durrett reflects on how growing up singing at church on Peachtree Street began her musical journey.
"Having grown up here, in the heart of the south, I know Georgia's music beats with soulful rhythm and heartfelt emotion. As a producer and artist, I wanted to capture that feeling." The Georgia music community holds profound significance for Durrett, exemplified by her recent election as President of the Recording Academy Atlanta chapter, best known for the GRAMMYs. She has served on the board for eight years in leadership roles as well as hosting and producing a two-part series for the Producer & Engineer Wing called "In the Mix Studio PROS: Ladies Leading the Way." Nationally, Durrett joined music leaders as an advocate for creator's rights meeting with Senators for GRAMMYS On The Hill in Washington, DC. In time their efforts resulted in the passing of the Music Modernization Act.
Diane Durrett & Soul Suga's 2022 American Roots release 'Put A Lid On It' soared to #2 on the Soul Blues International Roots Music Report. Critics reported, "Flirts with perfection, while remaining full of feeling and spontaneity." In 2019 her album 'Diane Durrett & Soul Suga LIVE' was reviewed as "Killer, high octane soul throughout" and rose to #5. In 2017 Durrett and Melissa Junebug were recipients of two Global Peace Song Awards. Durrett was the winner of the 2015 'Peoples Choice Award' by Atlanta Blues Society, as well as awarded the 'Best Self-Produced Album' for "Soul Suga' & Diane Durrett' which charted in the Top 10 of the RMR Contemporary Blues chart. In 2023 she was awarded an honorary lifetime membership by Atlanta Blues Society for her music and work with the highly successful Women in the Blues event.
With a blend of raw soulful vocals, sultry tones, and strong original songs Durrett has sung with Sting, Gregg Allman, Indigo Girls, and Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones). Durrett has opened shows for Tina Turner, KoKo Taylor, Delbert McClinton, and Derek Trucks. As well as lending her vocals to recording sessions for GRAMMY award winning producer Brendan O'Brien and Kristian Bush (Sugarland). Her song catalog includes co-writes with William Bell, Jerry Ragovoy, Oliver Wood, Emily Sailers and Bonnie Bramlett.
In 2011 Diane began her artist development company Blooming Tunes Music, coaching vocalists, songwriters and producing records. In true writer's spirit, Diane also authored a book titled Driving Music City
, which was published by Amazon 2009. She sings from her soul and writes with heart & humor. - In part, from dianedurrett.com/bio
