I like the Blues.
I like gumbo and all things spicy.
On Friday, December 12th, 2008 @ 8:00 p.m., The Beachland Ballroom presents an evening with Bill “Sauce Boss” Wharton and his band “The Ingredients” to their stage. Bill Wharton has appeared at many locations throughout northeast Ohio, including many visits to Lorain’s own “Mutt & Jeff’s”, where I first saw him. Never heard of him ? Well, you’ve missed some fine blues music to begin with, but what you also missed was a very unique show that not only involves some good blues, but, my favorite……. hot, spicy gumbo.
You see, while Bill and his band are getting you fired up with their music, he is also firing up his 30-gallon pot on stage with him, mixing in his ingredients of roux, chicken stock, his own private label hot sauce, chicken, shrimp and “Mississippi mud bugs”. At the end of his show, Bill invites all of his audience members on to the stage for a bowl of his gumbo.
And on another note, I also found out after doing a little research for this post, was that several years ago, Bill started a non-profit organization called “Planet Gumbo”
“The whole thing about music is it’s about gathering people together,” he said. “It’s about service, about sharing. We’ve been so blessed to be able to do what we do, we want to give back.”
“Though the 100 or so who were at the kitchen, were nothing like the 1,200 he recently served in Washington, D.C.’s largest homeless shelter, all were appreciative—even when he said, if they didn’t like okra—“too bad.”
“It’s so wonderful; the community, the ministry, the music, that they would take the time to give of themselves—we’re excited. (Wharton) asked to help the food bank and the EECM,” she said. “We just provided the ingredients and he did the rest, now I hate to go back to the office.”
Makes me like this guy so much more than I already do. So if you don’t have plans for Dec. 12th, won’t you plan a trip to the Collinwood neighborhood in Cleveland and catch Bill and his band, and get a bowl of that great gumbo. You’ll have a great time.
I guarantee it.
You can get tickets here.
And directions here
And if you care to donate to “Planet Gumbo” go here
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