Atilla looks to fill void in LV blues scene

Friday, March 11, 2005 | 8:34 a.m.

Turk Atilla was saddened when he heard that the Sand Dollar, Las Vegas' premier blues venue, closed in January.

"I love blues," said Atilla, owner of Euro Place, 1243 E. Sahara Ave. "I like all kinds of music -- except a couple of them -- but I especially like blues. Blues and jazz."

Sunday, Atilla will host the first of what he plans to turn into an annual "Red, White and Blues Festival" at his bar/restaurant at Maryland Parkway and Sahara Avenue.

The music begins at 6 p.m.

"It will go on for as long as it goes on," he said.

The mini-festival will feature five or six local bands and a host of jammers and special guests.

Atilla said the purpose if the event is to acknowledge the passing of the Sand Dollar, to celebrate his first year in business and "to introduce people to the music."

Vocalist Nathan Wolf and his Nathan Wolf Project, who perform at Euro Place Thursdays and Sundays, will be among the featured attractions.

Scott Rhiner and the Moanin' Blacksnakes, who had a regular Saturday night gig at the Sand Dollar, are scheduled to perform.

Others on the list include Blues Storm, the Psyclotrons, Junior Brantley & The Shuffle-aires and De Ja Blue.

"I'm not trying to make any money out of it," Atilla said. "I just hope to create something like the Sand Dollar here.

The Sand Dollar was a popular hangout for blues fans for almost 15 years, beginning in 1990 when blues artist John Earl Williams and his wife, Shirley, managed the venue.

A real-estate developer has bought the 30 acres where the Sand Dollar has been leasing space for more than 20 years, intending to raze the existing structures at Spring Mountain Road and Polaris Avenue and erect 10 high-rise buildings.