RACHELLE COBA & NICO WAYNE TOUSSAINT
RACHELLE
Blues at Bridgetown Tours of Europe 2019, 20, 23, and 2024. American Blues Award winner, Grammy considered powerhouse, song writer, singer, guitar player, Rachelle Coba “She plays the hell out of the guitar”-Matt “Guitar” Murphy “Now I know many of you may not have had the pleasure of hearing this smoking guitar powerhouse and singer…” “But I have to tell you this, you WILL be hearing more of this amazing artist. Her performance at the Blues Blast Awards was stunning! Once she started her set, a hushed silence fell over the entire crowd. It was one of the highlights of all of the performances at the awards show.” – Bob Kieser, publisher Blues Blast Magazine Rachelle has consistently brought the house down to cheering audiences around the world by bringing her own high-powered brand of Blues; from soul, to country, to uptown, onto the stage. Rachelle’s take on the blues is unexpectedly honest and mesmerizing. With her debut CD, critically acclaimed solo release now available, she has recently relocated back to South Florida from Wichita, Kansas. Rachelle has a burning new trio and she is playing to steadily growing audiences in the US and abroad. Her style eventually brought her to the attention of many blues artists. She has worked with and toured as a guitarist with artists like Super Chikan, Albert Castiglia, Grady Champion and Ray Drew. In this role, she played countless clubs and festivals, including: Buddy Guy’s Legends, B.B. Kings in NYC, and the Chicago Blues Festival. She was also a part of extended tours with artists Johnny Winter and Coco Montoya. More recently, she has toured extensively in Queensland and Western Australia, the United States Midwest and the Mississippi Delta and she has been a surprise special guest on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. Rachelle has played many festivals including Juke Joint, King Biscuit, Riverwalk, and Chautauqua Hills Blues Festivals. She was a featured performer in the Blessissippi Blues film in Clarksdale, Mississippi. She has opened for and jammed with notable blues artists including: Dr. John, A.C. Reed, The Cate Brothers, Karen Lovely, Candye Kane, Earl and Them, Hadden Sayers, Hamilton Loomis, Maria Muldaur, Marcia Ball, TUF, Bobby Keys, Eddie Turner, Iko-Iko, Joe Pitts, Albert Castiglia and Stacy Mitchheart. Links: http://www.rootstime.be/CD%20REVIEUW/2014/JULY1/CD144.html https://donandsherylsbluesblog.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/rachelle-coba-review-march29-2014/ http://www.bluesmagazine.nl/recensie-rachelle-coba-mother-blues/ http://www.bmansbluesreport.com/2014/04/momo-records-artist-rachelle-coba.html http://boomerocity.com/index.php/reviews-interviews/cd/523-mother-blues “Rachelle wrings all kinds of emotion out of her Strat with those talented fingers, and has a sweet-and-sassy voice that we immediately fell in love with! She sings in the opener that she’s “Never Been To Memphis,” but you’d never know it from listening to the next cut, “Ain’t Got Time.” Her guitar leads recall the soulful strut of the legendary Stax Studio, and the backing vocal chorus adds to the authenticity.”- Sheryl and Don Crow, Don and Sheryl’s Blues Blog (Mar 29, 2014)
NICO
Nico Wayne Toussaint: one of the top harp players and singers of his generation, applauded both in Europe and in North America Nico’s shows are renowned for their energy and infectious joy. Trained in the school of American blues clubs, which he has been attending since the age of 19, he has developed a unique approach to the stage where energy, charisma, harmonica and feeling are backed up by a tight and efficient band. Professional since 1998, he has recorded 14 albums under his own name, 12 of which were released on the Dixie frog label. His tours have brought him new fans in France, Belgium, Holland, the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, Germany, Macedonia, Ecuador, Nigeria, Syria, Tunisia and Morocco. Nico is keen to take his blues wherever he is asked. He is as capable of performing as a duo for an intimate concert as he is of electrifying his music in a quartet or quintet in the spirit of the Chicago Blues of the great masters of the genre. He is also able to offer a Big Band version of his music, where the repertoire defended is that of the blues tinged with funk and soul of James Cotton to whom he paid tribute in a record released on Dixiefrog in 2017. Working with American musicians has long been a school of the blues for Nico and his band. Together, they have toured with such guests as Rachelle Coba Cash Mc Call, David Maxwell, Monster Mike Welch, and Killer Ray Allison. Nico has recorded or worked with Rod Piazza, Guy Davis and Andrew Strong. During his American sojourns, he shared the stage with James Cotton, Billy Branch, RJ Mischo, Luther Allison, Eddie C. Campbell, Vance Kelly, Jimmy Burns, Jimmy Johnson and many other names in the Chicago scene. Nico’s shows are renowned for their energy and infectious joy. Trained in the school of American blues clubs, which he has been attending since the age of 19, he has developed a unique approach to the stage where energy, charisma, harmonica and feeling are backed up by a tight and efficient band. Professional since 1998, he has recorded 14 albums under his own name, 12 of which were released on the Dixiefrog label. His tours have brought him new fans in France, Belgium, Holland, the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, Germany, Macedonia, Ecuador, Nigeria, Syria, Tunisia and Morocco. Rachelle & Nico are planning to come to Western Australia in April 2026 joined by some of Perth’s best musicians as their backing band. When Rachelle last visited our Shores in 2016, she was well received and played to full houses across Perth, the Perth Hills and Blues at Bridgetown. This time she is being joined by Frenchman Nico Wayne Troussaint, who joined Rachelle in America and has just finished a run of shows throughout Florida USA Rachelle has a show booked at the, Perth Blues Club 7th April 2026 Gatsby Skyline 18th April 2026 Swan Hills Blues Club on 23rd April 2026
