ThunderGypsy Returns to Ida Cox

Press Release

Release: Immediate

Contact: Sharon Crosby

Date: June 6, 2022

Concert Honoring the Music of Ida Cox and Women of the Blues

Toccoa, GA – June 6, 2022 – On Saturday, June 11, Main Street Toccoa will be featuring local musician, Matthew Westmoreland, and the Atlanta based group, ThunderGypsy, at the Ida Cox Music Series. The concert begins at 7:00 pm with Westmoreland followed by ThunderGypsy at 8:00 pm.

THUNDERGYPSY'S "Ladies of the Blues" show was inspired by their participation in the Ida Cox Music Series.  Ida Cox, a native of Toccoa and the "uncrowned Queen of the Blues" was virtually unknown to THUNDERGYPSY, but the setlist they created for the show revolved around "women of the blues" to pay homage to Ida Cox.

Upon being asked to return to the Ida Cox festival, the band knew they had to add several of Ida Cox's tunes to their setlist.  After much research, they realized there was a trove of female blues artists whose songs and stories were being forgotten, and thus, "Ladies of the Blues" was born.

The 120 minute show goes through the songs and stories of many of the great female trailblazers - Bessie Smith, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and of course Ida Cox and moves through to the contemporary artists that carry on their legacies such as Susan Tedeschi, Janis Joplin, Shemekia Copeland, and Bonnie Raitt.  

It's a great evening of music, history, and storytelling!

The Ida Cox Music Series, named after the 2019 Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, Ida Cox, features free music in Downtown Toccoa every Saturday in June, July, and August. The music starts at 7:00 pm and the series lasts until approximately 10:00 pm each Saturday night. Bring a lawn chair to Downtown Toccoa and enjoy live music, food, and drink in a relaxing atmosphere