Tamara Woodruff (Blue Bayou) – Linda Ronstadt Tribute Takes Off | Hogpod Chicago Music Podcast

In this powerful episode of the Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast, we’re joined by Tamara Woodruff, the powerhouse vocalist behind Blue Bayou, Chicagoland’s premier Linda Ronstadt tribute band! Hosted by Mike Orfanos, Chris "Rhodesy" Rhodes, and Pete Jansons, this conversation dives deep into Tamara’s inspiring journey—from recovering from open-heart surgery to launching a tribute project that’s breaking new ground in the scene.🎤 Tamara shares how her recovery conversations with bassist Michael Ostrenga sparked the idea for Blue Bayou, a show celebrating the full vocal and emotional range of Linda Ronstadt. The band’s debut is Friday, June 13 at Sundance in Mundelein, and they're already booking venues like The Roxy in Lockport (Aug 29) and the Ralph Theater.💃 Why Ronstadt? As Tamara explains, Linda never wrote her own songs but transformed every cover she touched—from “You’re No Good” to “Blue Bayou”—into timeless classics. With four-part harmonies, a top-notch lineup including players from Heartache Tonight, Icons of Country, and Codery, and a multi-genre setlist, Blue Bayou is more than a cover band—it’s a full-bodied performance experience.We also dig into Tamara’s alt-rock project Empress, her Codery collabs, and upcoming Yacht Rock Coterie show (Sept 28 @ The Vixen). Plus, the crew relives the golden days of 8-tracks, Columbia Record Club, and how the vinyl comeback has us all nostalgic.💥 Don’t miss this episode full of music talk, real stories, and passionate artistry—and don’t miss Tamara and Blue Bayou when they hit your town!⏱️ Key Moments:0:00 – Intro & Pre-Show Foolishness1:18 – Black Diamond Sessions (Thanks Carol Roman!)  / 1c6xgha2oe  7:43 – Tamara Woodruff Joins the Podcast10:11 – Why Tribute Linda Ronstadt?10:30 – Mike Ostrenga Show Clip   • 🎸 Bassist Mike Ostrenga from Empress Joins...  11:20 – First Blue Bayou Show @ Sundance, Mundelein12:35 – Linda Ronstadt Performed Mostly Covers13:33 – How Linda Got Her Break (The Stone Poneys)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_P...16:03 – Original Backing Band Was the Eagles (She Dated Don Henley!)20:28 – Upcoming Show: August 29, 2025 @ The Roxy Theatre, Lockport, IL21:15 – What Is the Empress Band About?26:40 – Columbia Record Club Memories33:40 – Yacht Rock Codery Show Coming Sept 28 @ The Vixen37:53 – Mosquitos Playing July 3rd @ Morton Grove Festival  / 720413273813872  🎧 Enjoying the show? Support Hogpod on Patreon and help us keep the Chicago music stories alive!.css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}