Venerable blues legend, Grammy winner, and Muddy Waters band alum Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins will be celebrating his 96th birthday at Antone's on Tuesday, July 7, and DJ Smokehouse Brown has tickets! On this week's Blues At Sunrise (Wednesday, 7-9 AM) Smokehouse will be giving away pairs of tickets to see Mr. Perkins, performing alongside special guests like Marcia Ball, Derek O'Brien, and the Blue Tuesday house band.

Blues legend Mel Brown passed away this past Friday, on the evening he was scheduled to open for Mavis Staples. Born October 7, 1939 in Jackson, Mississippi, Brown was a talented guitarist, pianist, and singer who was equally adept at playing soul and funk. He performed in the house band at Clifford Antone's club for several years, and spent a decade performing with Bobby "Blue" Bland. His last recordings appeared on Electro-Fi Records. Tune in to Blues At Sunrise this Wednesday 7-9 AM as DJ Smokehouse Brown pays tribute to the great Mel Brown.

This Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 7-9 AM on Blues At Sunrise, DJ Smokehouse Brown will be giving away a whole mess of tickets to see the Austin Blues Society's Heart O' Texas Blues Challenge Finals, happening that same evening at Antone's.

Six local blues bands will compete at this event, with the winner going on to represent Austin at the 25th International Blues Challenge in Memphis. There will be a panel of celebrity judges, and it promises to be an evening of good, down-home Texas blues. Here's the lineup:

Hollie Holloway Band
The Ellison's Texas Adventure
Preacher Keen

This Wednesday, 10/29 from 7-9 AM on Blues At Sunrise, DJ Smokehouse Brown will be giving away tickets to see the great Maceo Parker. Parker will be blowing the roof, once again, off Antone's on the 29th. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8pm!

For more info. tune in to Blues At Sunrise or check out www.antones.net.

This Wednesday from 7-9 AM on Blues At Sunrise, tune in for a chance to win tickets to see Gary Clark, Jr. and Maceo Parker at Antone's. Clark performs on 10/25, and Parker takes the stage on 10/29.