This album is essentially James Goode's "book" about cotton-mill workers in McKinney, Texas, in the1950s and '60s. And it's a masterpiece. Goode was raised near the mill and worked there one summer, alongside the rest of his family. He composed Mill Block Blues to remember that way of life. Helping rewind time is his all-star blues band. Goode wrote the lyrics and plays bass on the arrangements by "Gentleman" John Street, who adds luscious keyboards. Horns come thanks to Ron Jones, with vocals, harmonica, and a rhythm section made up of other friends. Producing the album and playing lead guitar throughout is Anson Funderburgh, whose fretwork is stunning. Goode chronicles the mill life with blues tunes like the title track, about workers trying to make ends meet. The opener, "Cut Like A Knife," is a classic juke-joint jump, while "The Fowler Street Stumble" is a rollicking instrumental named for the weaving walk workers do after too much bootleg whiskey on that big night out. Throughout, the band is inspired and tight, digging a deep groove and laying down a rhythm with Jones' horns punctuating the melody. Funderburgh's guitar adds the crowning touch with gorgeous tone and inspired riffs. - Michael Dregni.  Proceeds from the sale of the Mill Block Blues will go to The Blues Foundation’s Handy Artist Relief Fund to provide medical, dental and even funeral assistance to blues men and women that have spent their lives touring and playing the blues.  We just want to thank them for keeping the blues alive.  You can go on line and purchase the CD or download the music at http://www.ruffkuttblues.com/     

 

Harry Manx and Kevin Breit have a brand new collaboration for Stony Plain, entitled Strictly Whatever (SPCD-1352). Each of the two guitarists brought a number of different songs to the table, including two covers - Bobby Hebb's immortal "Sunny" and a John Lee Hooker tune, "Mr. Lucky."
The new CD is the follow-up to the 2007 album In Good We Trust.

A lot of folks will tell you that Robert Johnson was the King of the Delta Blues.  But for God's sake don't say it in front of Reverend Peyton.

 

 

Shemekia Copeland was declared Queen of the Blues while performing on the Petrillo Stage at the 28th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, Sunday, June 12, 2011. She was belting out the blues and the audience was responding with each new lash when the stage was gently hijacked by Cookie Taylor, daughter of Koko Taylor, Marie Dixon, widow of Willie Dixon and Rose Reed, daughter of Jimmy Reed. Taking the microphone confidently from Shemekia, Cookie Taylor proclaimed Shemekia to be Queen of the Blues, a title her mother Koko owned and embodied for decades. Cookie remarked to Shemekia, “You are not Koko Taylor and you are not Etta James. You are not Ruth Brown. You are Shemekia Copeland…you are the Queen of the Blues.” With that, she placed a sparkling crown on Shemekia’s head, a crown they say was presented to her mother some forty years ago.  Shemekia was clearly surprised by both the interruption and the crowning. Amidst cheers from the audience, the emcee heralded her departure off stage with,“Shemekia Copeland, Queen of the Blues!”

 

LOOK WHO'S READING THE BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE NOW!!!

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We are happy to announce that the third annual festival will take place the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of September, 2011 and will feature bigger stages, additional Morningstar Turf, and thirty-nine shows.

 

 

We have confirmed the king of funk, George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic for Sunday night, and they are bringing a 26 person entourage to fill the giant stage with an exciting and colorful party. Warming up the arena for P-funk will be New Orleans brass sensations, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave., and that's just the tail end of three days of music and fun.

 

 

We are featuring many styles of music for those of you who like variety, but for you roots music fanatics, we'll always have a blues band going on one of the three stages. We have the big band sound of Davina & the Vagabonds and the zany antics of Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband. We have humorist band leader and songwriter Paul Thorn, and this year we are featuring a dance set with the Colorado Blues Dancers backed by California guitarist, Bernie Pearl and his fine band.

 

 

The days will be filled with exciting world class performers you haven't heard before, such as Sherman Robertson out of Houston, Texas, David Maxwell the sensational keyboardist out of Boston, and Paul Oscher who played in Muddy Waters band. England's young, handsome, guitar sensation, Oli Brown, will make his American debut since signing a recording contract with Ruf Records and winning several big awards in Britain. Also Miss Blues, Moreland & Arbuckle, and the return of Wyoming's Taylor Scott & Another Kind of Magick after their trip to Memphis and the fame it brought them.

 

Check the web site in the coming days for early bird ticket specials, news, updates, lineup and other announcements about the festival.

 

Simi Valley, CA has it going on! The 22nd annual Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Music Festival was held Memorial Day weekend, May 28-29. I had a gig the 27th and the 29th but made a point to drag myself up early Saturday morning the 28th and drive over two hours to catch at least one day. What a treat it turned out to be! Relaxing, exciting and downhome all rolled into one gently sprawling event that felt like a community fair/music festival. An added surprise was seeing Blues Foundation pals Jay and Priscilla Sieleman representing here all the way from Memphis , TN.

 

 

Musically, the Delta Groove All-Star Revue seemed to dominate the day and in a good way. On the Blues Stage we were treated to a solid plethora of fine talent that Delta Groove has come to be known for: Kirk Fletcher, Finis Tasby, Rusty Zinn and Bob Corritore just to name a few featured, plus my personal friend and fireball recently signed with the DG label, soulful powerhouse vocalist / entertainer Sugaray Rayford and also special surprise, Bay Area Blues stalwart, Tracy Nelson complete with her own backup singers. A super surprise to us all was guest Kenny Neal! The day’s music rotated like a giant sampler platter off your favorite menu complimented with hot CD giveaways's by Delta Groove 's Randy Chortkoff.. Intermingled with the tasty DG artists and their allstar backup band was a rockin’, funky set by Ana Popovic and a soulful and riveting finale by John Nemeth. The lowkey atmosphere mixed with high caliber talent was inviting and accessible and it appeared that there were many annual devotees… count me in!  simicajun.org

 

 

Michele Lundeen/BFG Editor  (recap & photos)

 

 

 

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How could a 21 year old blues event slip by us last weekend?  It didn't!  Three days of scenic riverside camping, hot showers, vendors, RV & trailer camping, two days of live music featuring: The Tommy Castro Band, The Fryed Brothers, Ronnie Montrose, The Charlie Brechtel Band with Pinkie Rideau, The Kaye Bohler Band, LA Guns, Savannah Blue and many, many more!  It was held on scenic Hwy 101 just North of the drive-thru redwood trees on June 10, 11 & 12 and put on by the Kiwanis of the Redwoods.  They did a fine job!  Did you see who's reading the Blues Festival Guide????  Everybody - are you?

 

 

“I see Tommy Castro maybe once a year,” says Michael Kinsman, “and he always says, when are we gonna do another blues fest in San Diego?” Castro, a Bay Area blues artist, performed at two of the original San Diego Blues Festivals back in 1999 and 2002. Kinsman’s answer this time around was Saturday, September 17, at the Embarcadero Marina Park North, an all-day blues concert with James Cotton, Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, Lightnin’ Malcolm, Café R&B, and more. Castro will headline what is being billed as a benefit show. “Any proceeds will go to the San Diego Food Bank,” says Kinsman, who hopes the event will draw at least 6000 people. Admission is $10 and two cans of food. “At that price, we have a good shot.”

Hound Dog Taylor was born and raised in the Mississippi Delta and had the unique distinction of having six fingers on each hand.

 

Taylor first learned piano and then guitar and spent his twenties traveling the Delta and performing music before a move to Chicago.

 

Hound Dog became known for his wild shows that would last up to seven hours and the raw, distorted sounds he would get from his guitar.  Taylor was so well received that Bruce Iglauer took a $2500-inheritance and used it to record him and Alligator Records was born.

 

We've all heard good interviews on the radio and I was wondering how that happens.  This week's question is posed to Chas Lewis, host: The South Side - Blues and Soul, Fridays 7 to 10pm Pacific | 0300 UTC
Streaming live at www.khum.com and www.thesouthside.org

 

Q: What makes a good interview?

A: *Keep your audience in mind and try to think like a listener.

       *At some point, you'll speak with someone who, for whatever reason, tends to answer only yes or no . . . good luck to you.

 

The 60-year-old guitarist sums up his craft and career with modesty: "a jack of all trades and a master of none."

 

But James Johnson, known to many blues fans as "Super Chikan," has plenty to crow about.

 

The former trucker, who at age 45 left his thankless road job to pursue music, has since struck gold - releasing seven studio albums, performing around the world, earning prime accolades and buddying up with actor Morgan Freeman.

 

"It's a gift," said Johnson, who on Saturday will share a headlining set with guitarist and harmonica player Watermelon Slim at the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival in Gahanna. "You've got to be a certain age to get jobs.

 

"They don't hire old people no more."

 

NORWICH — This summer, Norwich’s downtown park will be holding a series of blues concerts. The shows will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursdays throughout the summer, starting on July 14. The concerts will feature a variety of nationally known blues artists, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and JJ Grey and Mofro.

 

The shows will culminate with the Chenango Blues Festival Aug. 19.

 

For more information on these shows or the Blues Festival, visit http://www.chenangobluesfest.org/.

 

— Talia Emm

 

 

      

 

Elwood spends the hour with that catchy Louisiana music style called Zydeco.  We will hear music from the great Clifton Chenier, who pretty much brought the music to the wider world all by himself.  Also reminiscences of Mr. Chenier, and music by Elvin Bishop.  Elwood moves on to modern-day zydeco practitioners like Clifton’s son, CJ Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco, and an in-studio accordion and washboard demo from Grammy-winner Terrance Simien. Also some prime cuts from Terrance Simien, featuring Paul Simon, and Marcia Ball.  The blues breaker this week is from former folkie turned gutbucket soul rocker Patrick Sweany.  Here on the site this week, Tasha Taylor’s CD, Taylormade, will be won by five lucky listeners.  And do not forget to register to win a gorgeous, custom Jorma Kaukonen Model Martin Acoustic Guitar, signed and numbered by Jorma himself.

 

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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