Third Coast Blues Collective with Stephen Hull & Andrew Gelles

Third Coast Blues Collective is a loosely affiliated family of musicians bound by long friendships, shared history, and deep mutual respect. Drawing from the well of blues and roots traditions, the Collective brings together seasoned players who listen as hard as they play, trading stories, grooves, and grit on stage. Every performance is a living conversation. Grounded in the blues and branching into soul, Americana, and roots rock, Third Coast Blues Collective delivers music that feels worn in, well loved, and joyfully alive. Artist bios: Stephen Hull Born in 1999 in Racine, Wisconsin, Stephen Hull discovered the blues at age 14 — drawn in by late-night radio blues during car rides with his father. What began as self-taught guitar lessons quickly turned into a lifelong passion. By 15, he was already gigging at local clubs and open jams. In 2018 he formed The Stephen Hull Experience and began making waves across southeastern Wisconsin and the Chicago blues scene. With a guitar sound rooted in the traditions of Albert King, B.B. King, and Elmore James, Hull blends Texas- and Chicago-style blues with soul and funk — backed by his strong vocals and magnetic stage presence. Over the past few years, Stephen’s rise has been meteoric. The Stephen Hull Experience has played in major national and international blues festivals and earned recognition in respected publications. In 2024 he was honored with a 2nd-place finish at the prestigious International Blues Challenge — taking home “Best Guitarist” honors. Whether channeling classic blues standards or performing his original compositions, Hull delivers performances that are raw, soulful, and deeply rooted — yet fresh and forward-looking. For anyone who cares about where the blues go next, The Stephen Hull Experience is one to watch. Andrew Gelles Andrew Gelles, aka Sleepy Andy, is a guitarist/singer/songwriter hailing from Milwaukee WI. Music took root early as his father played Rock n Roll in their family home. Andy picked up the guitar around age 11, and by his mid-teens, the sounds of the Blues had taken hold. Muddy, Jimi, and the 3 Kings among others had laid down the path Andy would follow. Andy calls his music “funky, blue sounds”: a mix of rock, r&b, blues and music with a groove. His guitar playing can reimagine the six string legends of the past, while still having a sound, feel and voice all his own. Matt Liban Matt Liban began playing drums at just eight years old and hit the professional stage by eighteen. Thousands of gigs and countless miles later, he has become one of the most respected and versatile drummers in the Milwaukee music scene. With hundreds of musical collaborations both live and in the studio, Matt brings decades of groove, experience, and musical intuition to every performance. Now at 55, he jokes that he’s finally starting to figure out how to play—but his track record says otherwise. Over the years, Matt has performed, recorded, or toured with an impressive rost...