Although the temperature is hot, there’s an ocean breeze blowing this Wednesday, July 15, 2026 evening at Kennedy Plaza on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City where music lovers are ready to let the good times roll at a free Mardi Gras AC blues concert by singer Shemekia Copeland.
Copeland, 47, was born in New York City, the daughter of blues singer and guitarist Johnny Copeland. As a child, Shemekia made her first public performance at The Cotton Club and, at age 16, started touring with her father as his opening act.
Copeland released her first album, Turn the Heat Up, in 1998. Since then, she’s recorded a number of critically acclaimed albums including Talking to Strangers, produced by Dr. John, and The Soul Truth, produced by Steve Cropper.
In 2011, at the Chicago Blues Festival, Copeland was awarded the honor, “Queen of the Blues,” and was voted “Blues Artist of the Year” in the 2022 Downbeat Critics Poll. Her latest release, 2024’s Blame it on Eve, was nominated for three Grammy awards.
Recently appearing in New Jersey on July 4th at the celebration concert for the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, Copeland opened the show with “Wade in the Water” and “Summertime.”
Backstage, Copeland talks about that experience, stating, “For me it was an honor to be there! I got a chance to experience the Center, and Bruce Springsteen is a real treasure because he didn’t just want the Springsteen Center to be all about himself, he wanted it to represent all American music.”
“It was amazing getting to appear onstage with such incredible artists,” admits Copland, explaining, “It was wonderful getting to work with people I know like Mavis Staples, Keb’ ‘Mo, and Trombone Shorty and, also, getting to meet people I didn’t know like Sheryl Crow and, of course, Bruce Springsteen.”
Acknowledging, “In celebrating 250 years of America, when Bruce performed Woody Guthrie’s ‘This Land is Your Land,’ everybody was crying, because that’s really what it’s all about — it’s all about the music,” Copeland — currently a resident of San Diego, CA — says she looks forward to tonight’s show, declaring, “I was happy to perform in New Jersey that night, and it’s fun to be able to come back and perform here in Atlantic City this evening!”
On the Boardwalk, Mardi Gras AC concert producer Carmen Marotta greets tonight’s audience, announcing, “Welcome to good times at the shore!” before introducing the crowd to “one of the greatest blues singers in the world.” Here, Shemekia Copland takes the stage along with guitarists Arthur Neilson, Willie Scandlyn, and Cary Samsel, bassist Kevin Jennings, and drummer Dan Hickey, and opens tonight’s show with “Barefoot in Heaven.”
Singing, “Now they tell me that the streets of heaven/Are paved with diamonds and gold/I may not get there, but if I do/I believe I’ll take off my shoes,” Copeland is deftly backed by Kevin Jennings on bass and Willie Scandlyn on slide guitar on this appealing blues number.
The crowd cheers and Copeland responds, “Thank you so much!” before stepping into a cut from Blame It On Eve, “Tough Mother,” where she sings with power and feeling on this swampy blues tune before dancing on stage with guitarist Cary Semsel.
Acknowledging she wrote her next song “to bring people closer together,” Copeland sails into “Ain’t Got Time For Hate.” Heads bop to Kevin Jenkins’ funky bass line and Scandlyn, Samsel, and Arthur Neilson are featured on guitars on this bluesy rocker which has Copeland preaching her timely message with her soulful voice.
After announcing, “I just found out that one of my most-played songs on Spotify is a number from almost 30 years ago,” Copeland cries out, “Why would you bring a new love around, around so soon?” on her blues tune, “Salt in My Wounds.”
Joking, “I’m the Susan Lucci of the Grammys” — because she’s been nominated eight times without a win — Copeland launches into the thrice-nominated title track from her latest recording, the Latin-influenced “Blame It On Eve,” where Samsel solos to avid applause.
Copeland explains that her father wrote her next song about her mother before she gets concertgoers swaying back and forth, clapping, and echo-singing with her on the steamy blues number, “Nobody But You.”
She follows up with the inspirational country swing tune, “Walk Until I Ride,” where, after asking, “Should we go to church?” Copeland shakes her tambourine and the arrangement shifts into an upbeat gospel number which has Copeland singing with abandon to audience cheers and applause.
Performing a song she recorded with one of her favorite artists, John Prine, Copeland sizzles on “Great Rain,” a rockin’ blues number which features Samsel and Neilson rocking out on guitars as Dan Hickey keeps time on the drums.
Copeland cries, “Welcome to my life, it′s been draggin’/Husband′s snoring, kids are naggin’/Time to let ’em all take care of themselves/Mama needs some extra help,” on the humorous blues rocker, “It’s Wine O’Clock.”
Jenkins sings harmony on “Tell the Devil” before concertgoers join the pair in singing the song’s “Tell the devil to go to hell” refrain on this fast-paced country-rocker.
Copeland talks about growing up in New York and, as a teen, seeing soul singer Solomon Burke perform her next number and deciding, “When I grow up, I wanna sing that song!” Here, three-part harmonies envelop Copeland who rocks back and forth as she vocally ad libs on Burke’s slow blues tune, “I Feel a Sin Comin’ On.”
The crowd hoots and hollers and Copeland asks, “Are you ready to rock and roll?” as she and the band conclude tonight’s set with the upbeat rocker, “It’s 2 A.M,” where she asks, “What time is it everybody?” and the crowd happily responds, “2 A.M.!”
Concertgoers stand and applaud and Shemekia and Co. leave the stage but soon return for a dynamic encore of “Let the Good Times Roll.” On this loud and lively blues tune, Samsel, Neilson, Jenkins, and Scandlyn are each featured before Copeland and the band take a bow in front of the standing and cheering crowd.
To learn more about Shemekia Copeland, please go to shemekiacopeland.com. For information on future free concerts on the Atlantic City Boardwalk at Kennedy Plaza — including Mitch Ryder on July 29, Gary U.S. Bonds on August 3, Ivan Neville on August 12, Dana Fuchs on August 17, Booker T. Jones on August 19, A Celebration of The Allman Brothers’ Live at Fillmore East on August 24, Dead Zep on August 26, and Flow Tribe on August 31 — please click on tonymart.com.
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