On her new CD, Roadside Attractions (her 15th solo recording), Marcia Ball's songwriting is at the forefront, ranging from tales of wild parties to stories of twisted motel affairs to declarations of the enduring power of love and family. It is inspired by her years on the road and from insights gained from everyday life, making it her most autobiographical album. Roadside Attractions is certainly more than capable of starting a no-holds-barred bash. But more than that, it's a tour-de-force of Marcia's seemingly endless talent, and among the most emotionally moving recordings she has ever made.
Produced by famed songwriter, musician and producer Gary Nicholson (Delbert McClinton, Wynonna Judd, T. Graham Brown), Roadside Attractions finds Marcia Ball at a creative peak. Ball wrote or co-wrote every song--something she had never done over the course of her forty-year career. Throughout the proceedings, her stellar musicians add power and nuance to the music, perfectly complementing Ball's expert piano playing, slice-of-life lyrics and melodic, storytelling vocals.

 

Many asked us how our LA recording experience went and we said, “We weren’t sure because all we saw was the airport, hotel and the studio and if we were lucky enough to get up early, we could grab some coffee across the street from the hotel.” We all worked very hard on this album.

 

Tony Braunagel is a great drummer and producer. To have a drummer as the producer pretty much means the drums will sound great. Many know that is one key to a great record. Each song had different snares and cymbals which really catered to each song’s mood. We always knew he was a great drummer, but his care for the song, and infinite wisdom led us to the great record we now have. His impeccable timing and feel for the blues and blues inspired music made him the perfect producer for this record.

 

Johnny Lee Schell is an excellent engineer and a great guitarist. He was Bonnie Raitt’s right-hand man on second guitar during the height of her popularity in the 80′s and 90′s. Every chance Nick got, he asked Johnny, “What did you think, that guitar take good enough?, Should I try it again?” Nick truly respects Johnny, a true Texan cowboy.

 

The legendary Mike Finnigan played piano and organ with us and was outstanding on this album. He brought so much talent and raw energy to the album. On the track “Have a good time”, man! he lays down that gospel/blues piano and organ so well that you cannot deny it. Everything he played helped the song as well as the track. We also appreciate all of his great ideas for our songs. His contributions make the songs stand out.

 

Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds came and played harmonica on “She’s Long, She’s Tall, She’s Gone”. We really love the blues he played and you will agree!

 

Tony has played with Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, and Etta James and currently drums for Robert Cray. Johnny played with Bonnie Raitt, John Fogerty, and Taj Mahal, and Mike played with Etta James for 15 years and was her musical directory for 2-3 years, as well as Taj Mahal. They all three also play in the Phantom Blues Band. We mention this because these great musicians who worked on this record have been a part of the careers of some of the biggest female blues artists in blues history and we feel their presence on this album was necessary. By no coincidence, Tony, Johnny and Mike all have worked extensively with Danielle’s main idol Etta James. John Porter mixed it, great job, and Reuben Cohen from Lurssen Mastering did the mastering, great sound! Recorded in November and December of 2010, this record was done in two-four day sessions in Studio City, Los Angeles, CA at Johnny Lee Schell’s Ultratone Studios. We really hope you enjoy listening to our hard work and efforts.

 

 

Steve Miller's 2011 BMA nominated  release "Bingo" echoes his days as an apprentice on the Chicago blues scene in 1964-6 with Muddy and The Wolf, where his Goldberg-Miller Blues Band worked the same territory as the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. This return to his roots didn't go unnoticed and the Foundation honored him with his first-ever Blues Music Award nomination this year. 

 

 

Adding to the impressive list of presenters at this year's Blues Music Awards is Actor Jason Lee who leads the cast of TNT's hit show "Memphis Beat" and closes many episodes performing blues songs and Elvis covers live on stage. BMA winner Keb' Mo' arranges and performs much of the music. Keb' keeps it as close to home as possible, for example using Steve Cropper on guitar for the theme song . The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission and The Memphis Music Foundation are sponsoring Lee's appearance.

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The 22^nd annual Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival in Simi Valley, CA has announced an impressive lineup of performers for the two day event which runs Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.

 

The Blues stage features the 6^th Annual Delta Groove All-Star Blues Revue.  Saturday’s performers include Los Fabulocos featuring Kid Ramos, Mikey Jr. & Stone Cold Blues, Arthur Adams, Ana Popovic, the Mannish Boys Review with Tracy Nelson, John Nemeth and the 44s.  Sunday’s lineup features Elvin Bishop, Maria Muldaur, Cadillac Zack with special guests, the Mitch Kashmar Band, the Kirk Fletcher Band, Big Pete with a tribute to Lester Butler and Shawn Pittman.

 

The second stage features Cajun & Zydeco music with Buckwheat Zydeco, Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic, Lil Pookie & The Zydeco Sensations, Bayou Brothers and Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters.  All Cajun-Zydeco performers will be appearing both days.

 

In addition to two stages, each with dance floors, there is a huge kids area with their own stage featuring a variety of talented kid friendly acts.  And there are jumpers and crafts just for the kids.

 

 

Included at the festival are a variety of food choices from authentic Cajun and Creole dishes like crawfish and alligator to traditional barbecue and hot dogs. And each day there is a New Orleans style parade with bands, stilt walkers and audience participation.

 

Tickets are $ 18 for adults ages 13 and up, $ 15 for kids ages 5 through 12.  Kids under 5 are free.  Tickets may be purchased at the event or on-line.  For more information and ticket purchases, visit the website at www.cajun-blues.com.

 

The Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival is produced by the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise and all proceeds go to charity.

 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the 2011 Jus` Blues Music Awards, August 3rd - 5th on Beale Street in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.   The Jus` Blues Music Awards is a unique entertainment event that attracts Blues & Soul music artists, industry professionals and fans from across the globe.  It is credited with being one of the most important Award Shows in Blues & Southern Soul music for African-American performers.  Proceeds from the events benefit the "Blues Got A Soul" program.

 

Wednesday, August 3rd is The Night of the Living Legends Tribute and Celebration.  This special event is a formal dinner with entertainment at The Historical Daisy Theater in celebration of the 2011 Jus` Blues Music Awards Honorees.  Some of this year's honorees include: Bobby "Blue" Bland, Candi Staton, Ruby Wilson, Milton Hopkins, Jessie James and others.  Previous tributes have included the late great Lowell Fulson, Willie Mitchell, The BarKays, Maxine Brown, Joe Simon, Al Bell, William Bell, Millie Jackson, Bobby Rush and a host of Blues & Soul music legends. 

 

The morning of Thursday August 4th JBMF presents the 2011 Blues Camp Technology Conference.  This is a must-attend event for music technology professionals and artists interested in promoting, marketing and driving sales via new technologies. Held at the Westin Hotel on Beale Street, attendees will get hands on with the movers and shakers of the music business and technology worlds, as well as interact with like others in an interactive environment.

 

I love bacon!  In celebration of Baconalia (brought to you by that ever-popular local restaurant everywhere) I give you your blues breakfast.

 

Bacon Fat - the blues band.
http://www.baconfat.be/the_band.php

 

Hash Brown - the blues band
http://www.myspace.com/hashbrownblues

 

Over Easy - the blues band
http://www.bandmix.com/over-easy/

 

INDEPENDENCE, MO. (April 20, 2011) –The Independence Events Center, Eastern Jackson County’s state-of-the-art, sports and entertainment venue, has announced that the Blues & Brewsfest featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Pat Travers and Trampled Under Foot will take place on Saturday, June 4. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, April 22.

The Blues & Brewsfest will kick off at 4 p.m. with a party in the East parking lot featuring a sample of brews from Becks, Shock Top, Shock Top Raspberry and Landshark. “Brew U Academy” premium ticket packages hosted by Stella Artois, Leffe’ and Hoeggarden are available for $110.00* per ticket and include VIP premium seats in the loge, reserve parking, complimentary gift item and exclusive brew and cheese sampling selections from 6 to 8 p.m. Blues & Brewfest general admission four packs including parking pass are available for under $100.00*. Reserve tickets in the main arena range in price from $25.50* to $39.50* and will go on sale through the Independence Events Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster phone centers at 10 a.m., Friday, April 22.

 

A STAR-studded line-up has been unveiled for the 22nd annual Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne.

 

More than 600 acts will perform at eight official venues over four days at the event, which is believed to be the biggest of its kind in the country.

 

World-renowned performers such as Jack Bruce, Steve Cropper and Robin Trower will grace the International Stage at The Muni, in Albert Road.

 

Grammy Award-winner Mavis Staples will jet in from America along with Mud Morganfield, the son of the legendary Muddy Waters.

 

James Hunter, Sherman Robertson and gospel singer Sharrie Williams will also cross the pond to perform at the festival.

KALAMAZOO — Janiva Magness knows about devils and angels.

 

Of the title track to her latest album, “The Devil Is an Angel Too” (Alligator, 2010), Magness said, “That’s all about the human condition right there. We both have the capacity for great acts of human kindness, and we both have the capacity for some pretty nasty (expletive).”

 

Magness spoke from her car while navigating the Los Angeles freeways. She felt stressed out by a move from one home to another, business with the label that took up her time, and preparing for the tour that would take her to the Kalamazoo State Theatre.

 

She’ll close this year’s WRKR Budweiser Blues Series Friday.

 

She took a calming breath, and said, “My life is filled with quality problems. I’ve got too much to do, and not enough time. And thank God I have these problems! I’d much rather have this than ‘I can’t figure out how I’m gonna get a gig.’”

 This video is a pure and harmless demonstration that there are some people who can't get enough harmonica.  Thank you Bob Corritore!

I have to admit  - I love festival season.  In the same token, though - the nightclub scene is pretty exciting, too.  You get to see your favorite artist in the sunshine and partake of the local embibments, refreshments and food when you're festival going. Then again, a quick jaunt to the local pub to see someone perform for hours in an intimate setting is nice, too.  Let's ask "Old Blues Eye".

 

This week - Bob Hakins

Q:   Festival or club setting?

A:   That really is apples & oranges. But I would take festivals just because of all the various acts to shoot...both on and off stage.
Something you should know about my photos. For the most part I put them up on Flickr. Some are good, some not so.  They are there for the artists to look at and they can do with them as they please. If they want something deleted I'm happy to do so. If they find something they like they are free to use for promo. My feeling is that I don't make money off of people who entertain me (and some that don't entertain).  Having said that, I've been lucky enough to have 2 Elvin Bishop covers as well as 5 or 6 others by lesser known artists.  My first pro used shot was on the back of Huey Lewis' Live at 25 (Rhino misspelled my name in the credits) and I've had a few more used on the inside of CD covers.  A few of my shots of Roy Rogers have been used around the world, and it's always a thrill to see them in a newspaper or magazine.  

 

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Long acclaimed as one of the truly great singers of the modern era, at 66 Tracy Nelson still has the fire for performing great songs. Her latest project, Victim of the Blues, is a loving caress to her original passion: Old-school blues, particularly the Chicago variety.

 

Nelson's first album, Deep Are the Roots, was on the vintage Prestige label, home to people like Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Otis Spann. For a 19-year-old white girl of Norwegian descent, recording with Charlie Musselwhite in Chicago for Prestige and cutting blues standards must have been a dream come true and a huge nod to her talent.

 

So it’s on to “Blues & Brews XIV” when the music flows from the Center Circle Event Area in front of the main entrance to the Colorado Belle, Friday-Sunday, April 22-24 (Fri-Sat, 2 p.m.-midnight; Sun, noon-8 p.m.). In addition to live blues music, there will be food and beverage booths set up in the Center Circle Event Area. The food and beverages are for sale separately; the blues music doesn’t cost a dime.

 

On Saturday, at 3p.m., Southern Soul Blues Singer Gwen White will join other popular Blues acts while performing live in Little Rock at the 2011 Blues on The River event.

 

Sponsored by local radio station KOKY, listeners will get to enjoy the sweet sounds of White along with the other blues artists. Performing alongside her band the On Call Band, White will perform her well-known singles “Repo Woman”, “New Love”, along with many other phenomenal tracks. As a young child, White gained extensive musical experience while performing live for her local church.

The Florida Department of State has issued an album of blues recorded in Florida (not all Florida artists) called

"Where the Palm Trees Shake At Night" -

- free download at
http://www.floridamemory.com/Collections/folklife/audio.cfm

 

Saturday, April 30th in Historic Downtown Oxford Ohio Jimmy D Rogers & Butler County Foster Care and Adoption through The Foster Child Enrichment Council will put on a Benevolent FREE Music Concert - Suitcase Full of Blues.

 

Blues music groups are coming together Saturday April 30th, 2011 from 1pm ~ 7pm , MLK Park in Oxford for an event to provide foster children the comfort and dignity of a suitcase.

 

In July of last year, National Blues talent Jimmy D Rogers and American Artist Kris Allen Courtney began working on a concept to promote dignity and honor to the lives of Foster Children who so often end up lost and away from a solid foundation of life.

 

Many foster children can be forced to move from their homes without much notice – packing their belongings in a garbage bag or other unsuitable cases. Suitcase Full of Blues aims to provide suitcases for those children by asking those who attend the event to donate a new or lightly-used suitcase.

 

INDIANAPOLIS - This week’s mixtape really hits home with me.

 

Mostly because my sister and I spent most of our young lives wide-eyed and in awe, watching my father practice, listening to him 4-track songs and waving good-bye as he drove off on another tour or headed back to the recording studio.

 

We were young, my sister and I, and we didn’t really get what a recording studio was at 5 or 6 years old. We knew, however, that our dad was on a record label. We listened to him practice, watched him write songs and pretty much idolized him in everyway.

 

That record label was Malaco Records.

 

Last Friday, April 15, 2011, it was destroyed by a tornado.

 

Malaco was a lot more than what we could comprehend at those young ages in the latter part of the 70s. It was a starting point for some of the better-known R & B singers of all time and has been a steady force in the blues industry for most of the label's life.

Sacramento, California May 13, 2011 : Join the Sacramento Blues Society on Friday, May 13, 2011 for an ALL AGES "Blues In The Schools" benefit show. We will be presenting the award winning Laurie Morvan Band and showcasing the student participants of the Blues in the Schools Program!   7:00 PM to 11:00 PM   The Station Restaurant & Bar  1100 Orlando Avenue (adjacent I-80 @ Riverside-Auburn Blvd. exit)  Roseville, CA 95661  (916) 722-2405  $15 - General Admission  $10 SBS Members & Students  Children 6 & Under are FREE  Food & Beverages Available

    

The Blues Music Awards are the Oscars of the blues. And the 32nd annual BMA ceremony takes place in Memphis two weeks from now on May 5th, celebrating the best in blues from 2010. This week, Elwood presents ALL the nominees for best album and best performer. He will spin Buddy Guy. Janiva Magness, Charlie Musselwhite, Eden Brent, Mannish Boys, Derek Trucks, Magic Slim, the Holmes Brothers, Nick Moss, Rick Estrin, and more. Plus new music from a very dynamic new performer - and two-time Inernational Blues Challenge winner - Lionel Young. Alligator Records celebrates its 40th Anniversary with a fabulous double-disc set of hits: 38 tracks in all. We have five copies to give away. And you can still take a chance on the Baton Rouge Blues Festival getaway. It is all happening here.

 

 

 

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RBA Publishing Inc is based in Reno, NV with a satellite office in Beverly Hills, Florida. We produce the annual Blues Festival Guide magazine (now in its 7th year), the top-ranking website: www.BluesFestivalGuide.com, and this weekly blues newsletter: The Blues Festival E-Guide with approximately 20,000 weekly subscribers. We look forward to your suggestions, critiques, questions, etc.

Reach the E-Guide editor, Yvonne Varner, editor@bluesfestivaleguide.com

or contact our home office at 775-337-8626, eguide@bluesfestivalguide.com
 

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