SMBS presents BLUES CRUISE w/Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones

2026 SUNDAY BLUES CRUISES
KNOXVILLE RIVERBOAT COMPANY
WWW.TNRIVERBOAT.COM
(865) 525-7827
The Smoky Mountain Blues Society will once again present live music with its fourth River Cruise of 2026. This performance will feature Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones on the Tennessee Riverboat on Sunday, July 26th at 4 pm – 7 pm.
Tickets are available through the Tennessee Riverboat Company’s website, (tnriverboat.com) and by calling (865) 525-7827. Tickets are just $30 for members in advance and $35 for non-members. SMBS Members should call to claim their discount (865) 525-7827. Members will be receiving discount code by email.
Boarding begins at 3:15 pm.
DOUG DEMING BIO
Eastside Detroit native Doug Deming, now hailing from Florida’s Gulf Coast, has garnered widespread attention for his deft guitar work and memorable songwriting. With a nod to the likes of T-Bone Walker and Charlie Christian, as well as Luther Tucker and Robert Jr. Lockwood, Doug leaves his own mark whether swingin’ on the big jazz box, or playing straight up blues on the solid body Fender guitar. Since playing the local Detroit scene beginning in the early 90’s, Doug has spent much of the following years touring and recording with top blues artists, including Fabulous Thunderbirds frontman Kim Wilson, legendary Louisiana swamp bluesman Lazy Lester, Texas’ Gary Primich, Chicago greats Johnny “Yard Dog” Jones and A.C. Reed, as well as Detroit’s own Queen of the Blues, Alberta Adams. Leading his band The Jewel Tones, Doug continues to bring noteworthy traditional and original roots music to his audiences.
Doug’s third recording, What’s it Gonna Take, exhibits the outstanding guitar work and remarkable singing and songwriting that have become Doug’s calling card. This critically acclaimed Vizztone debut spent several months on the Living Blues Charts Top Ten, and earned Doug the 2013 Blues Blast Music Awards Sean Costello Rising Star Award.
COMPLICATED MESS, the 4th release from Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones, is their most courageous effort to date, combining traditional blues, jazz, swing, soul and R&B, delivered in 10 original Deming tunes along with three re-tooled covers. Captured at Bigtone Records in Hayward, CA, this analog recording achieves the tone and warm, authentic atmosphere ideal for Deming’s style. The critics took notice, and COMPLICATED MESS showed up on several ‘best of’ 2018 lists, as well as a nomination or the 2019 Blues Blast Music Awards ‘Blues Band of the Year’.
GROOVIN’ at GROOVE NOW, Live in Basel, Switzerland, captures the 2023 dynamic and energetic performance by Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones, recorded live at Atlantis Basel for the Groove Now! concert series. The 5th release by the band, this recording was nominated for LIVE RECORD of the year in the 2023 Blues Blast Music Awards.
“MOST PEOPLE, UPON HEARING MUSIC BY DOUG DEMING AND THE JEWEL TONES, RECOGNIZE THEM AS A BAND THAT RETURNS TO THE ROOTS OF BLUES AS OPPOSED TO A CONTINUATION OF MODERN ADAPTATIONS OF THE STYLE… COMPLETELY RESTORED MY FAITH IN THE GENRE” -MUZIK REVIEWS
“Doug is a ferocious guitarist, fiery but clean, with a crisp, clear tone reminiscent of Charlie Christian’s style.”
– Grant Britt, Blues Music Magazine

Each voyage will also have full bar and limited food menu available onboard to buy.
This year the Tennessee Riverboat Company has some changes in ticket pricing. Every cruise ticket (no matter what type) has a “port fee” of $1.50. In addition, if you buy your ticket online, there is an online fee of $2.10. The fee of $2.10 is not charged for buying tickets over the phone with a credit card or in person (credit card or cash). As usual, sales tax is applied. Be advised that weather or boat mechanical conditions could lead the Captain of the boat to order that the boat not go out on the river, and so the show will take place at the dock.
We want you to be informed of these incidental changes.
We are looking forward to seeing you on the water enjoying our Blues Cruises.
For press inquiries, please contact Alisa B. Cherry, [email protected]