About us ...
Meet the Blueliners!
Michael "Mudcat" Ward
Bassist Michael “Mudcat” Ward, the founding and present bass player with Sugar Ray & the Bluetones is a 12-time nominee and two-time winner of the prestigious Blues Music Award and his recorded work includes sessions with harmonica great Big Walter Horton, Howlin' Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin along with Levon Helm, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards; Jimmy Rogers; Maine’s own country legend Dick Curless, and Ronnie Earl.
Peter "Hi Fi" Ward
Guitarist Peter “Hi -Fi” Ward, who also serves as current second guitarist with Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters has toured with the Legendary Blues Band (with Muddy Waters’ sidemen Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith) as well as blues greats Otis Rush, Lowell Fulson, Johnny Copeland, Sunnyland Slim, and Buddy Guy and Junior Wells.
.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:66.31%25/rs=w:360,h:360,cg:true)
Per Hanson
Drummer and harp player Per Hanson is a founding member of Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, and has recorded and performed with a who’s who of national blues players including Pinetop Perkins, David Maxwell, Tab Benoit, Debbie Davies, Little Milton, and Justin Quinn.
Nelson Checkoway
Keyboard, guitar and steel player Nelson Checkoway has performance credits with the Commander Cody Band and with members of Dickie Betts’ Great Southern. His former Boston-based blues combo, Nelson and the New Breed Thing, won the 2014 Massachusetts Blues Challenge, representing the state in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
Paula J
The Blueliners' newest face and voice is featured vocalist and percussionist Paula J, a veteran of roots rock bands in Hartford, CT and New York City where her combo The Isotopes was part of the indie and folk revival scene at Greenwich Village clubs like Nightingales and The Speakeasy.