Kat & the Blues Hound is set to perform its final gig of the year at Sonny McLean’s Irish Bar tonight, Nov. 28. For the past year, they have performed every fourth Friday each month from 9:15 pm to 12:30 am.
The band is fronted by blues dynamo Kathy Leonardo, a native New Yorker, who got her start singing and dancing in Broadway musicals.
The band consists of pro-players, keyboard player Bob Crickmore, who has worked with icon Pat Benatar among others, while saxophonist Lucky Wright played with greats Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydells and more.
Bass player John Weimken caught the music bug from his father, who was Wayne Newton’s musical director and pianist. Drummer Rich Bryan has worked as part of Ray Charles blues lab with Gashouse Dave other artists.
Leonardo encouraged any locals staying in town this weekend to check out their live performance
“It’s a great way to keep celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday,” Leonardo said. “There’s always a fun vibe at Sonny’s, I know Friday is going to be just a bit more colorful.”
The hoppin’ Irish bar offers live music every Friday, free of charge, with music happening on several other nights as well as karaoke.
Sonnys McLean’s Irish Bar is located at 2615 Wilshire Blvd., in Santa Monica. For more information, visit sonnymcleans.com and kathyleonardo.com.
If you miss Leonardo at Friday night’s show, there’s one more chance to see her sing this Saturday as her other band Kat & the Jazz Birds will perform at Montana Avenue small Business Saturday.
Enjoy some cool hot jazz with Kat & the Jazz Birds who will perform from noon to 4 pm.
This diverse band is fronted by Leonardo and will feature jazz and blues standards by popular artists such as Etta James, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday, etc.,
Montana Ave. will be buzzing from 10 am to 6 pm with many of the shops participating in the event as well as other performers.
Kat & the Jazz Birds will be performing on the northeast corner of Euclid and Montana, next to L’Occitane at 1301 Montana Ave.
For more information about the event and a full list of shops participating, visit montanaave.com.
