Amador County – Sacramento’s own Jackie Greene, dubbed by the New York Times as an Americana phenom, will return to Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel this summer.

Carol Cook of the Jackson Rancheria Marketing Department said Greene will play Saturday, July 23, in the event area next to the Hotel. Jackie Greene is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player, acoustic solo artist, and “electrifying band leader who just doesn’t fit in any particular genre of music. His music is steeped in country, blues, jazz, rock and folk traditions, defying easy categorization.”

Greene has toured with Buddy Guy, Elvis Costello, Susan Tedeschi, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. He sometimes performs with Phil Lesh & Friends, Cook said, and “when the surviving members of the Grateful Dead reunited to play for then presidential candidate Barack Obama, Greene was playing with the band.”

His latest album, “Till the Light Comes,” is further proof of a talented young performer looking to move outward, to explore new textures and surprising chord changes.

Cook said “Greene is above all a working musician, who gives himself permission to do things musically that he hasn’t dared before.” Greene said: “Ultimately, my hope is that these songs will someday ignore their creator and tell their tales all by themselves.”

Cook said opening for Jackie Greene will be Honyock (pronounced hon-yock), “an exciting young rock, folk rock, new wave group” also from Sacramento. Members are Mason Hoffman, Spencer Hoffman, Tyler Wolter and George Rios.

The name Honyock, although a derogatory term for Polish people, was a word the Hoffman brothers’ Grandpa used to call them meaning “mischievous young one.”

The band played their first show on June 19 of last year (what would have been Grandpa Joe’s 78th birthday). Cook said their “goal is to produce well crafted, soul baring, honest music that comes from a pure place,” with “no ulterior motives.”

Tickets are only available at the Jackson Rancheria Box Office, at 12222 New York Ranch Road in Jackson, or by phone at 800-822-WINN, ext. 8731.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.