CONTRIBUTED

The Sunday, Aug. 3, installment of Summer on the Porch brings a heaping portion of homegrown blues.

Mad Tea Party will open the show at 6 p.m., returning to the Porch with a new CD.

"Mad Tea Party's amusing and sharp approach to an evolved brand of music makes them one-of-a-kind," says organizer Janet Kenworthy. "Their sense of humor and irony appeals to savvy listeners who appreciate the band's cleverness and cheerful energy. Ami Worthen and Jason Krekel serve up an exciting live show to music lovers thirsty for upbeat, original refreshment."

Playing a mix of danceable blues, with a nod toward swinging jazz and an eclectic selection of rock and pop tunes, the Willie Painter Band consists of four veterans of the Triangle music scene. Willie Painter (guitar) and Craig Dittmar (bass) were members of the Boomers, who played for over 20 years in the Triangle and eastern North Carolina. They have performed in the past with Lightnin' Wells and the Real Gone Cats. Currently they also play with the Pigz Brothers, Mike Hamer and the Rhinoceroses, and the Tommy G Experience. Painter wrote a monthly music column for the Urban Hiker from 1999 to 2004.

John Hanks (drums) currently plays with the N.C. Jazz Repertory Orchestra and the Gregg Gelb Swing Band and has performed with Mose Allison, Mary Lou Williams and many others. He has been a musician with the American Dance Festival for years, and teaches at Duke University, where he is a guest lecturer. Bill Newton (saxophone, harmonica) is a founding member of two Triangle musical institutions: Becca and the Hi-Tones and Bill Newton's Big Blues Quartet. He has recorded with the Indigo Girls and Big Mama E and the Cool, among others.

The gates open at 5:15. Admission is $9 for adults. Children under 12 are admitted free. Picnics are welcome. Dog Nation will be on site as will be the Snow Cone Lady.

"Bring a chair or blanket and all your friends," says Kenworthy.

Tickets and memberships are sold at the concert and on line at www.theroosterswife.org. Memberships and sponsorship funds support the mission of the Rooster's Wife.

The Rooster's Wife is a private nonprofit association organized to celebrate the performing arts in Aberdeen.

"Created to serve the community by preserving our cultural heritage and presenting the talent of the next generation, the Rooster's Wife is committed to offering affordable programs for every age to enjoy," says Kenworthy. "Further, the Rooster's Wife intends to support all efforts to maintain the cultural heritage and sustainable growth of our town."