Long considered to be one of eastern N.C.'s most prolific blues bands, Tommy B. & The Stingers is fronted by a fiery-haired, harp-wailin’ blueswoman (Nel Nichols), a vintage-minded guitar maniac (Tommy Blake), and firmly built on the foundation of a top-notch, butt-shakin' rhythm section (Lan Nichols & David Toma) that'll leave you beggin' for more.  They're a first-class act with a professional attitude that's earned them 3 consecutive Beat Magazine Music Media Poll Awards for #1 Blues Band and made them Best Blues Band  in the Wilmington Area Music Awards 3 years in-a-row!

 

Experience is what they're all about!  While the focus of the band is primarily blues, other exciting genres of music have found their way into The Stingers repertoire and made them a crowd-pleasing favorite at clubs, parties, receptions, corporate events, festivals, and juke joints throughout the region.  A Stinger gig can include danceable blues, r&b, retro-rock, fatback, boogie, and even a sampling of roots, jazz and Americana.  This potent style has allowed the band to cultivate 12+ years of hard work into nearly 600 shows – not to mention over a century of combined playing experience among the members of this dynamic ensemble!

 

As a popular opening act, they’ve shared both stage and billing with a bevy of touring artists such as Duke Robillard, Skeeter Brandon, Deborah Coleman, Jimmy Thackery, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, Bobby Parker, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, The Nighthawks, Bill 'Sauce Boss' Wharton, Shirley King, Bob Margolin, Big Bill Morganfield and many others! 

 

They’ve played some of the area’s most exciting events including the N.C. Azalea Festival, Riverfest, Cape Fear Blues Festival, WECT’s Sounds Of Summer, Mayfaire on the Town, Silver Coast Winery’s Purple Feet Festival, Wilmington's 4th of July Celebration, the Beaufort Music Festival, Camp Lejeune's 4th of July Spectacular, Paw Jam, the Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival, and many more.