Robbin Kapsalis & Vintage #18

Since igniting the Washington D.C. blues and soul scene in 2013, Robbin Kapsalis and Vintage #18 have been racking up the accolades. In 2016, they represented the Central Virginia Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge, and immediately afterward began working on their debut release Grit. Their self-produced album reflected the band’s love of classic 1960s soul and blues, featuring a mix of originals as well as two interesting covers (ZZ Top and Bob Dylan). Grit debuted at No. 5 on the Roots Music Report’s Soul Blues Albums Chart and held the No. 1 spot for six consecutive weeks, and also Hit the Top 20 on RMR’s Blues Albums Chart. The band received their first industry nod in early 2017 - a Blues Blast Music Award Nomination for New Artist Album Debut. Their sophomore album, 2021’s Soul Shaker rode high on the Living Blues charts, and hit the Top 15 on Sirius XM radio’s B.B. King’s Bluesville Rack of Blues. Kapsalis’s mesmerizing performances in her trademark white boots with a matching fringe dress command attention – alongside her stellar band – offering audiences a repertoire that ranges from blues and soul standards to her scintillating originals. Her song “Poor Me” earned her a semi-finalist spot in the 2019 International Songwriting Competition, securing her status as a lyricist to watch. The combined experiences of her seasoned powerhouse trio of guitarist Bill Holter, drummer Alex Kuldell and bassist Mark Chandler include first-hand contributions to everyone from Chuck Berry to the U.S. Army’s Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. More at vintage18.net.