Nick Sonye and Mike Roberts of the Inner City Blues Band at the Memphis Hard Rock Cafe, 2009 International Blues Challenge.

The Inner City Blues Band is not merely an Ohio band, it's an All-Ohio Band. The band members' personal and musical roots are all in the buckeye state.

Front Lady Nikki Scott has performed in the Columbus area since high school. Her pipes "deliver the mail" and her stage presence connects with audiences wherever ICBB plays, in a style reminiscent of her personal influences Etta James and Koko Taylor.

Drummer Leon Robinson grew up in Dayton during the Ohio '70s funk scene of the Ohio Players and Zapp. Touring with Buckwheat Zydeco led Robinson to come back to his Ohio roots and form the Inner City Blues Band.

Columbus sax man Mike Roberts shared a record label with The Ohio Players and Funkadelic before backing Rick James in The Stony City Band. His flamboyant stage persona and exaggerated dance moves while playing the sax make Roberts as much fun to watch as he is to listen to.

Lima native Nick Sonye met Robinson when he moved to Columbus to attend Ohio State. He joined The Inner City Blues Band after a "one note" audition. Robinson introduced Sonye to Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, and Sonye performs nationally with Buckwheat Zydeco when not booked with ICBB.

Bassist Tony Pulliam, from Youngstown, was also influenced by the '70s Dayton music scene, and it can be heard in his playing: strong elements of R&B and funk punctuate his standout bass lines.

Members of the St. Marys Blues Guild were on hand at Whiskey Dick's in Columbus to see the Inner City Blues Band win the 2008 Columbus Blues Alliance Blues Challenge, qualifying ICBB to compete in the 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

Their energy-packed IBC performances at the Memphis Hard Rock Cafe brought audiences to their feet, and they are bringing that same energy and excitement to the 2009 Riverside Bluesfest, 8:00 pm Sunday, Sept. 6 at K.C. Geiger Park.

"Inner City Blues Band" is a registered trademark.
 

Discography:
Year	Title	Label
2001	City Limits	Blue Gill Records