For the last fifteen years singer/songwriter/guitarist, Todd Tijerina (Tee-her-ee-na), has steadily made a living playing his unique blend of blues, funk, roots-rock and jazz. In addtion to frequent tours of the central and southwestern United States with his band, Todd has worked as guitarist for Chicago-based artists such as internationally revered bluesman, Byther Smith, the legendary Harmonica Hinds, and BB's daughter, Shirley King. Currently based in Albuquerque, NM, though originally from Chicago, the band is a former winner of Chicagoland's Rory's Blues Talent Competition (1999). This victory funded recording expenses for the group's 2000 release, The Lowdown. Since then The Todd Tijerina Band has released five more albums: Welcome Home (2004), Now(2006), Walk This Road (2009), Meant To Be (2010) and Shine On (2014) which have enjoyed radio play in the US, Australia and Europe. His song "Nothin' LIke the Blues" won the Blues Song of the Year category in the 2011 New Mexico Music Awards.
Todd has always striven to be musically unique. Rootstime (Belgium) declares that he "creates his own style and sound… His manner of guitar playing, singing and songwriting is refreshing and inspiring." The Promised Land Entertainment Magazine states "[Tijerina's] newest release is a perfect example of how to take the old and mix in the new to get a feeling of something very special." Todd's unique sound is a result of his own take on songwriting with an emphasis on maintaining potent hooks, personal identity and grooves that cross genre lines. This approach helps explain his musical contribution's relevancy to blues as an evolving art form.
The Todd Tijerina Band's unique sound and mastery over its music has enabled bookings at some of the most prestigious venues in the southwest and Chicago.
Southwest notables include:
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival (Telluride, CO) Silver City Blues Festival (Silver City, NM)
Blues Under the Bridge Fest (Colo Springs, CO) Animas River Blues Fest (Aztec, NM)
Beaver Creek June Jam (Beaver Creek, CO) Madrid Blues Festival (Madrid, NM)
Rally in the Rockies (Ignacio, CO) Morro Theater (Gallup, NM)
River Fest (Farmington, NM) Mesa Theater (Grand Junction, CO)
Trinidadio Blues Fest (Trinidad, CO) Tugboat (Steamboat Springs, CO)
The Foundry (Boulder, CO) The Birdcage (Prescott, AZ)
Scoot 'n Blues (Durango, CO) Mountain of Blues Fest (Ruidoso, NM)
Keystone Blues Fest & Art Show (Keystone, CO) Blues & Brews Festival (SLC, UT)
Silverton Jamboree Music Fest (Silverton, CO) South Park Music Tour (Alma, CO)
Fire & Ice Bike Rally (Grants, NM) NM Blues & Brews Fest (Santa Fe, NM)
Albuquerque Blues Festival (Alb., NM) Sherbino Theater (Ridgeway, CO)
Mission Theatre (Grants, NM) The Dead Goat (Salt Lake City, UT)
Charly's (Flagstaff, AZ) Brendan's Pub (Denver)
Railroad Blues (Alpine, TX) Boomers (Grand Junction, CO) and many others…
Chicago notables include:
House of Blues Hotel, Chord on Blues, Slice of Chicago, Rosa's, Harlem Ave Lounge, Beale Street Blues Café, and many others