Mama & The Ruckus is a Blues & Soul band from Asheville, NC fronted by powerhouse vocalist Melissa McKinney. They recently won the honor through the Piedmont Blues Society to compete at the International Blues Competition in Memphis, TN on January 24th-28th. They will be joined by blues bands from all over the world, competing for the title previously won by acts such as Southern Avenue & Susan Tedeschi. With Patrick French and Owen Myers on guitar, Matt Guard on Keys, Michael Dunham on bass, and Hinton Edgerton on drums, this band is filled with a firelike intensity. With influences from Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thorton, Allman Brothers, and Charles Bradley, you can anticipate music that will take you on a ride through all your emotions. melissamckinneymusic.com/mama-and-the-ruckus