As the summer heat hits full stride, Powerhouse Pub in Historic Folsom offers the ultimate cool-down this Sunday with an afternoon performance by a blues legend. Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings take the stage at 3:30 p.m. on June 30, bringing a high-energy show packed with soul, slide guitar, and decades of musical mastery.
Rogers, widely considered one of the world’s preeminent Delta slide guitarists, has spent more than four decades defining and redefining the blues. His live performances with the Delta Rhythm Kings have lit up major festivals across the globe—from Montreux and North Sea Jazz to New Orleans Jazz & Heritage—and now, local fans have the rare chance to see them in an intimate, up-close setting.
With over 20 recordings and eight Grammy nominations to his credit, Rogers’ influence in the genre runs deep. He’s produced Grammy-nominated albums for blues and folk legends like John Lee Hooker and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, and shared stages and studios with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Bela Fleck, Ray Manzarek, and Allan Toussaint.
“I’m the guy that always likes to push the envelope,” Rogers has said of his musical approach. “We’ve always covered a lot of ground with other artists that have had synergy with our musical tastes, and my band has been with me for many years—we just sync so well.”
Rogers’ journey started early. Born in Redding in 1950 and named after Hollywood’s King of the Cowboys, he was raised in the Bay Area and picked up the guitar at the age of 12. By 13, he was already playing in a local rock band. When his older brother brought home a Robert Johnson record, everything changed—Rogers was hooked for life.
In the ‘60s, he immersed himself in San Francisco’s booming club scene, often catching blues greats live on stage. By the early ’80s, he formed the Delta Rhythm Kings, toured Europe, and in 1982 joined blues icon John Lee Hooker on the road. Their partnership became legendary. Rogers eventually produced Hooker’s most celebrated late-career albums—The Healer, Mr. Lucky, Boom Boom, and Chill Out—earning both commercial and critical acclaim.
Hooker himself once praised Rogers as “some of the best slide I’ve heard, best blues I’ve heard. He gets real deep and funky, and he masters whatever he plays.”
The ‘90s and 2000s saw Rogers continuing to explore new musical territory. He recorded with Miles Davis and Taj Mahal for the Grammy-nominated Hot Spot soundtrack, collaborated with harmonica virtuoso Norton Buffalo, and later joined forces with The Doors’ Ray Manzarek for a trio of recordings and a global tour that led to the acclaimed documentary Third Mind Blues.
In recent years, Rogers signed with Cumberland Music Collective in Nashville and rejoined Bonnie Raitt on the road in support of her Just Like That tour. He continues to tour both as a solo act and with the Delta Rhythm Kings, delivering dynamic sets that showcase his fiery guitar work and the unmatched chemistry of his longtime band.
This Sunday, fans can witness that energy firsthand at Powerhouse Pub in Historic Folsom. The show begins at 3:30 p.m. All shows at Powerhouse are 21 and over. For tickets and more details, visit www.powerhousepub.com.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering Rogers for the first time, this is a rare opportunity to experience a master at work—an artist who’s shaped the sound of modern blues and continues to deliver with passion, power, and groove.
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