Ana Popovic with opener Evan Thomas (Thursday) – Livermore, CA

21+ Bar opens at 6 pm. Doors at 6:30 pm. Evan Thomas plays at 7 pm. Ana Popovic plays at 8 pm.

Thursday night of a 2-night run!

The award-winning, hard-touring, guitar slinger Ana Popovic blends smoking electric funk and slide guitar, jazzy instrumentals and a tight blues groove with soulful, feminine vocals. Add to the mix her incredible stage presence, all of which makes her an irresistible force in the world of contemporary blues music. You’ll find Popovic in a select group of excellent modern rock-blues guitar players. She has shared headlining stages with B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr. and many others over the past 25 years.

Called ‘one helluva guitar-player’ by Bruce Springsteen and nominated for eight Blues Music Awards, Ana was added as the only female guitar-player to the 2014 -2018 all star Experience Hendrix lineup, a nationwide tour celebrating the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix w/ Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and many more world-renowned artists. She appeared on the cover of Vintage Guitar and Guitar Player magazine. Her latest album POWER (2023) made it to #1 on the Billboards Blues Charts. Her albums ‘Can You Stand The Heat’ and ‘Unconditional’ were Pick-Of-The-Week by USA Today and featured on NPR Music.

See her and her band live at Almost Famous Wine Lounge, an award-winning, new tasting room and venue located on Vasco Road in the heart of Livermore’s wine, spirits and brewery district. Almost Famous Wine makes fifteen wines in diverse styles, and earned over 50 top industry awards since our debut in 2021.

ABOUT ANA POPOVIC

The award-winning, hard-touring, guitar slinger blends smoking electric funk and slide guitar, jazzy instrumentals and a tight blues groove with soulful, feminine vocals. Add to the mix her incredible stage presence, all of which makes her an irresistible force in the world of contemporary blues music. Her sound simply never stands still, she’s pushing limits, bending genres, and reinventing her music and herself with each new record.

Not surprisingly, she can claim any number of notable accolades and achievements from the highest quarters of the music industry. She’s shown her commitment to celebrating her guitar-driven, eclectic music style through consistent touring, awards, and recognition for the past 25 years. In the process, she’s emerged as one of the most thoughtful, dynamic, and committed performers in modern songwriting and guitar.

Ana’s latest studio album, Power, released on May 5, 2023, on ArtisteXclusive Records, brings those dynamics to the fore and, in the process, turns this set of songs into both a powerful and personal tale of survival through faith, determination and tenacity. They were spawned from a decidedly tricky set of circumstances that tested Ana’s devotion to making music and her perseverance.

‘Power’ symbolizes unity. Album cover art: two holding hands, black and white, is what this world needs. It’s the power, and it’s the force that’s going to move this world forward. Without that power, there wouldn’t have been so much remarkable music today, ideas, and reforms. And indeed, not this record. This story is about friendship and embracing yourself with everything life throws at you.

If that all isn’t enough, in 2023 she decided to take on an even bigger task: fronting her brand new, genre-bending, BIG BAND project ‘FANTASTAFUNK’ that showcases an excellent 11 piece band. Funk, gospel & soul extravaganza!

Called ‘one helluva guitar-player’ by Bruce Springsteen and nominated for eight Blues Music Awards, Ana was added as the only female guitar-player to the 2014 -’18 all star Experience Hendrix lineup; a nationwide tour celebrating the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix w/ Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and many more world renown artists.

She appeared on the cover of Vintage Guitar and Guitar Player magazine. Her latest album POWER (2023) made it to #1 on the Billboards Blues Charts – THE list of best selling albums nationwide. Her albums ‘Can You Stand The Heat’ and ‘Unconditional’ were Pick-Of-The-Week by USA Today and featured on NPR Music.

You’ll find Popovic in a select group of excellent modern rock-blues guitar players. One reason could be the fact that she’s always willing to work a little harder and travel a little further to master her craft. Ana and her powerful band are tirelessly touring, playing major blues, jazz and rock festivals. She is endorsed by Fender, D’Angelico, Jim Dunlop and DR strings. She has shared headlining stages with B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr. and many others. When not on tour, she resides in Los Angeles, CA.

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ABOUT EVAN THOMAS

Evan Thomas has that thang. It’s in his inner soul, and that feeling which captures a down home essence, the foot stompin’ and head nodding style of the old Mississippi Delta and Chicago Blues.

It’s the grit in his soulful voice and his cryin’ guitar which sets him apart. Evan Thomas’s classic, electric blues guitar style is influenced by some of the great guitar players of our time: Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Freddy King, Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King, Albert Collins, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix. The Evan Thomas Blues Band also features Wally Schnalle on drums, George Franklin on bass and Noel Catura on sax.

The band is experienced and packs a potent performance, full of style and tone. Something fans of the blues will not soon forget. This energetic funky soulful blues band has opened for great acts such as Curtis Salgado, Tommy Castro, Tia Carroll, Selwyn Birchwood, Albert Cummings, Mike Zito, Albert Castiglia, and Ana Popovic in the past year.

They have performed at venues and festivals such as San Jose Jazz Fest, Martinez Blues Festival, Gilroy Garlic Festival, Hanford Blues and Roots Festival, Blues and Bones Festival, Folsom Chicken Festival , Poor House Bistro, The Powerhouse Pub, The Phoenix, The Torch Club, Bankhead Theater, Almost Famous Wine Co, Impulse Room, Little Lou’s BBQ, and Roxx on Main, just to name a few.

If you are looking for a great show with some fine musicians, and want to be entertained with a high energy funky soulful blues show, then The Evan Thomas Band will not disappoint!

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VENUE INFORMATION

There is a two drink minimum for each guest. With a menu of 15 wines in diverse styles and sophisticated non-alcoholic options, there’s something for everyone.

Set times and ticket prices are subject to change, and sales are final.

Dancing is encouraged at Almost Famous, and usually takes place in front of and to the side of the stage. If a dance party breaks out, we cannot guarantee a completely unobstructed view to those sitting in the bistro table seats.

Please visit www.almostfamous.wine for our other venue policies.