Lionel Young is a high-energy performer with a bent for the blues. His Lionel Young Band has won numerous top awards in and around the Colorado region, including first prize in the 2011 International Blues Challenge (IBC) band competition. Given that Young also received top honors at the 2008 IBC in the solo/duo category, he is therefore the first double champion in the history of the IBC.

Fans of the driven, classically trained Young love his distinctive brand of blues on the electric violin. His shows feature not only Young originals but also interpretations of blues classics by Willie Dixon, Leadbelly and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The strength and passion of Young’s playing, his smooth vocals, and his unique translations alternately stir up social concerns and soothe the weary soul. It’s prime. It’s fun. It’s Lionel Young.

Photography: Gretchen Troop