Listen to the interview on Bounced From The Roadhouse
RAPID CITY, SD — Blues guitarist and singer Hamilton Loomis is returning to Rapid City on January 30 for a performance at 707 Nightlife, continuing a relationship with the community that now spans more than two decades.
Loomis said Rapid City has become a second home over the years. “I kind of do feel like an honorary native,” he said. “We’ve been coming for probably over twenty years now, and it’s just great people, really supportive fans and everything.”
The January 30 show will mark Loomis’ first time performing at the 707 Nightlife venue. He said he looks forward to the layout and the energy Rapid City crowds consistently bring. “Every year we come back, people dance from the very first song,” Loomis said. “That’s a rarity nowadays, and it makes us feel really good.”
Loomis’ music blends blues, funk, soul, R and B and pop influences, shaped by decades of touring and early mentorship from legendary musicians. He began performing professionally as a teenager and credits blues icons like Bo Diddley, Johnny Copeland and Albert Collins with helping shape his approach to music and live performance. “Those old timers gave me a shot when I was a kid,” he said. “It’s my duty now to pass that down to the next generation of musicians.”
That commitment to mentorship has continued in Rapid City, where Loomis previously invited local young guitarist Bodhi Linde on stage. Loomis said Linde plans to attend the January 30 show and has been invited to play again. “He’s super talented and he deserves it,” Loomis said.
Loomis also spoke about his appreciation for Rapid City’s sense of community, pointing to small but meaningful gestures that left a lasting impression. “The first time I came in winter and saw people putting scarves and coats on statues for anyone who might need them, I thought, wow, how refreshing,” he said. “People care about each other here. That vibe is probably the best thing about Rapid City.”
Fans attending the January 30 show can expect a familiar but energized performance, with a few new songs and at least one surprise. Loomis teased a special moment tied to his tribute to Johnny Guitar Watson. “That’s usually the song where people ask if I’m going to come out and play on the tables,” he said. “There’s a surprise at the end of that one, and I can’t give it away.”
Hamilton Loomis performs Friday night at 707 Nightlife in Rapid City.
