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| DRINK SMALL : : HALLELUJAH BOOGALOO |
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“Drink Small has the biggest, deepest bass voice in the blues. His amazingly expressive sound falls right in between B.B. King and Bo Diddley. But Drink’s got a little something extra. I think it’s his gospel background.” Mapleshade Records
"They call me the blues Doctor ‘cause I can play all the styles, bottleneck, ragtime, Piedmont Blues I can tear them up, Chicago Blues; I am the blues Doctor. Rich people got the blues because they are trying to keep the money, the poor people are trying to get the money and I ain’t got no money. I recorded a song, “I Love You Alberta” and “Cold, Cold, Rain” on the Sharp label a subsidiary of Savoy. Tarhill Slim was on that label. Since that time I have been to Europe, played at Wolf Trap and toured around the country."
-Drink Small
Career Highlights •Drink Small Receives S.C. Folk Heritage Award
In 1990, Small became the recipient of the South Carolina Folk Heritage Award for Blues Guitar and Singing.
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| B STREET BLUES : : CAR WON'T GO |
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BOSTON, MA – If you could use your GPS to find a place where roots, blues, jazz and rock music collides – it would point you towards B Street in Boston ... B Street Blues that is. This power-packed band continues to accelerate in their latest release - Car Won't Go. With ten tracks firing on ten cylinders, their hard-driving blues provides a finely-tuned, fuel-injected, "Blues Muse Machine."
Car Won't Go might be the title, but don't be fooled – it not only goes - it gets great mileage with a high-octane blend of classical and modern blues. A finalist in the 2005 Boston Blues Challenge, B Street Blues is known for their vivacious live performances, and cutting-edge vocals. That tradition continues in the album which reflects the emotion, feeling and unique sound of the original compositions Tiedemann, Chesna and Schaefer offer. "We're a perfect meld of traditional roots blues and hints of jazz and classic rock flavors," says Chesna.
The key to this car's ignition is the team effort of professional musical masters. Turn on your GPS, and take Car Won't Go for a spin – you'll love the hard-driving blues of this "Blues Muse Machine."
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| JEFFERSON FOX : : THE CHRONICLES OF HARVEY |
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"Jefferson Fox holds a magnifying glass to life, peeling away the soft light gauze on our actions, allowing the scent of warm flesh and blood to waft in. That look at real life, letting in the good and the bad, and learning from both, is his way of doing business as a songwriter. The honest re-telling of tales, and the creation of new ones from old stories, trademarks the songs of Jefferson Fox. He bares his soul, letting promises pin him to his decision on “Smoke”, memories take form as time slips its hold and we glimpse back to the days of Grandpa and his cronies in “Ghost Story”.
Jefferson Fox’s vocals whisper, rising like smoke from the surface of the songs. The wisps of words circle the stories, matching the instruments flexible note patterns. For more on Jefferson Fox, look in his website - Danny McCloskey/Alternate Root
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HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY!! 2011 BLUES MUSIC AWARDS ON SIRIUS RADIO!!
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WORLDWIDE: The 2011 Blues Music Awards will be rebroadcast on July 4 from 12:00 noon EDT until approximately 6:00pm EDT. They will be broadcast on SiriusXM B.B. King's Bluesville, which is channel 70. They will begin with the Steve Miller Band and end with Best New Artist Matt Hill. What a great way to spend the 4th.
Joe, Sara, Cindi, and Geno will be listening as they work on getting the new office set up over the long weekend!
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QUEEN OF SOUL FRACTURES TOE ON DESIGNER SHOE HEEL
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DETROIT, MI: (AP) -- A misstep on the spiked heel of one of her favorite Jimmy Choo designer shoes left the Queen of Soul in a hospital boot with a fractured toe on her left foot.
Aretha Franklin performed Thursday at the home of a Dallas "oil baron" and was packing her clothing later in a hotel room when she stepped on the shoe, causing the heel to "wrap" around the toe, spokeswoman Tracey Jordan told The Associated Press Tuesday.
"She went to sleep and in the morning it was still hurting and throbbing," Jordan said.
But Franklin had to hit the road for a performance Saturday in Greenwich, Conn.
"They were driving up Friday and it started really hurting so they made a pit stop," Jordan said.
X-rays taken at an Indianapolis hospital revealed the fracture.
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PRODUCT UPDATE - FLASH HARP IN STOCK!!!!
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WORLDWIDE: Last week we ran a story on the Flash Harp - a harmonica with a flash drive, or (depending on your own personal opinion) a flash drive built into a harmonica. In the linked article it was stated falsely that certain Flash Harps were currently out of stock. Jim always keeps the online store stocked. The FlashHarp® can be purchased via either of the following two URLs: http://www.FlashHarp.com or http://www.BackyardBrand.com
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SACRAMENTO SAYS 'GOODBYE' TO THE SACRAMENTO HERITAGE FESTIVAL
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Arbess Williams One of the WD Gospel Singers holding
the Blues Festival Guide
Cheryl O'Grady-Yearnshaw Blues Festival Guide
SACRAMENTO, CA: The BFG Staff (Kaati and Cheryl) and a crew of family and friends made it to the last show put on by the Sacramento Heritage & Blues Festival at the Horsemen’s Club, Sacramento, CA. The show featured Bobby Rush, Magic Slim & the Teardrops, Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, W.D. Gospel Singers, Joe Louis Walker & the Bosstalkers, Arbess Williams and Johnny “Guitar” Knox. Mike Balma, Sacramento Heritage Festival Promoter, announced a few months ago that it was going to be the last show after another round of funding cuts. Arbess Williams, who had given up singing the blues in favor of gospel music some years back, took a sweet step back in time and treated us to some smoking hot blues as a tribute to Big Mike Balma, who produced her first CD. The whole show was a great mix of music that opened with gospel, included a strong mix of blues from Sacramento and Bay Area performers, some great Chicago Blues from “blues legend” Magic Slim & the Teardrops, and closed with “Blues Hall of Famer” Bobby Rush. Bobby Rush is the consumate "entertainer," mixing a light-hearted stage show with some serious downhome blues . This final and self proclaimed "Best Ever" show was packed with blues fans and was indeed an incredible show. Mike Balma and his devoted volunteers have been bringing affordable, quality shows to the area since the nineties and will be sorely missed. Thanks to everyone connected with the Sacramento Heritage Festival for many wonderful memories.
  Bobby Rush greets his good friend Blues Festival Guide staffer, Cheryl
Blues Festival Guide sales and Tom enjoy the show
Cheryl O'Grady
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LONG BEACH BAYOU & BLUES FESTIVAL WAS C'EST BON!!
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Recap & Photos: Michele Lundeen (BFG Magazine editor)
LONG BEACH, CA: Rainbow Lagoon was the picturesque location for the 25th annual Long Beach Bayou & Blues Festival held on June 25-26 in Long Beach , CA . Once inside the venue gates, Southern California seemed to meld into a colorful, inviting slice of Louisiana. All day, several suited gentlemen dressed like they came straight from a Bourbon Street parade, tossed out beads to the receptive crowd. We arrived on Sunday and Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie had Bon Temp dancers floating across the grass in front of the Bayou Stage. We soaked in that groove, plus caught some of Keith Frank’s "nouveau zydeco" set. At one point Frank had us testifying, “I’m Still Standing,” while “raising the roof” with our arms outstretched! We then followed the festively decorated, swampy street signs that led us to the Blues Stage. Set to perform was Alligator Recording artist, Guitar Shorty, a 2011 Living Blues Nominee for “Best Live Performer.” He soon made his way into the audience, taking his time, squeezing out notes and had blues lovers in the palm of his hand. He was infectious and effective. Afterwards, we headed back to the Bayou Stage where Dr. John and Lower 911 headlined the event and kept the enthusiastic crowd under their spell. It was exciting when colorful, costumed Second Line dancers appeared near us.They and a few of the spirited dancing crowd punctuated part of Dr. John’s set with a mini-parade before getting way down… literally, on the ground. Folks were whoopin’ and hollerin and swingin’ napkins or fliers, or whatever they had. It was a “wang, dang doodle” way to wrap our day of hanging out in the Bayou & Blues groves!
 
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CANDYE KANE: GETTING BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HER FRIENDS
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SAN DIEGO, CA: The Toughest Girl Alive has been accepted at the NYC Fringe Festival Aug 14-28th! It’s a big honor as they only choose 200 acts from around the world. Candye Kane's troupe is so excited and the venue they are appearing at is sooo cool! www.lepoissonrouge.com
Candye is seeking assistance to make this dream come true--
"WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP TO GET TO NYC! The Fringe Fest really doesn’t pay anything. The whole idea is to get the play seen by big New York City investors and hopefully they will put my play on Broadway or even in a cool off -Broadway venue. It would be a dream come true for me to get to star in my own stage play on BROADWAY!!! We need to raise about $10,000 to get us there with all of our crew, band, actors and stage sets. Can you help us? We have started a kickstarter page to help us raise money for the trip! The video on the page is super cool and shows all kinds of footage from the stage play. Even if each of you only donated $10 it would make a huge difference!
Please go here to donate.
And give as much or as little as you can afford. It would be tremendous to get to inspire audiences in New York with my triumphs over adversity!"
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THE MODESTO BLUES & ART MUSIC FESTIVAL WAS A GRAND SLAM!!!
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BIG BILL MORGANFIELD THE MOFO PARTY BAND
MODESTO, CA.: When asked how he was doing last Saturday, John Black of "JB Presents" simply stated, "This is the best festival yet - at the best venue with the best supportive staff I've ever had!" His face was beaming. Rightly so with 8 bands and 3 stages that provided non-stop blues from noon until well into the night. An outdoor stage proved profitable for those who wanted to enjoy the sunny day with cool breezes through the trees of downtown Modesto. Two indoor stages provided those with cooler tastes with a place to chill as well as listen to the hot blues played by show openers: Second Tradition, Boogie Boy Bartek from Poland, Rhythm Deluxe, Pinkie & Blind Resistance, Electric Grease, Gloria Scott Band, and The Mofo Party Band.
All of that came to a screeching halt though - when Big Bill Morganfield took the outdoor stage as the show stopping headliner! If a man is measured by how well he can follow in his father's footsteps - Big Bill is a huge example of how to do it! He charmed the audience with his guitar-playing and wooed them with his lyrics. After his performance he was asked what the driving force is behind his music - to which he replied, "I want to say its all wrapped up in my heritage. It's genetic and more spiritual than anything." Halleluyah, those genes are shining!!!
Pinkie & Blind Resistance in Second Tradition on the indoor stage
the Grand Ballroom
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OK BLUES HALL OF FAMERS TO ROCK OK JAZZ HALL OF FAME SATURDAY - BLUES BREWS AND BBQ!
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RENTIESVILLE, OK.: The Jazz Depot welcomes the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame, joining us from Rentiesville for a celebration of the blues! This Fourth of July weekend, the D.C. Minner Blues Festival will open at the Jazz Depot with great music and delicious barbecue. More than 10 members of the Blues Hall of Fame will perform to honor the life and music of blues legend D.C. Minner, including Leon Rollerson, Rudy Scott, Harry Williams, Walter Watson and Pure Silk, Chuck Blackwell, Little Miss Peggy, James Walker, ET Tanter, Lem Sheppard, Wes Reynolds, Jim Davis, JR. Markghm, Frank Swain, and Selby Minner. Other performers will include Daniel McBride, Harley 'Cowboy' Hamm, Lee Norfleet, David Teegarden Torrence Cuhinberry, and more!The celebration begins at 5pm.
SPONSORS include: Republic Guitars, Budweiser, The Friends of Rentiesville Blues Inc., The Oklahoma Humanities Council, The Okahoma Arts Council, The Oklahoma Jazz, Blues and Music Halls of Fame (each of which inducted D.C.). The Dusk til Dawn Blues Fest is Sept. 2, 3, 4 in Rentiesville www.dcminnerblues.com info: Selby (918)855-0978 http://www.okjazz.org/index.cfm?id=59&ai=96
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CLASSIC BLUES VIDEO OF THE WEEK
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JULY 1, 2011
Bill Broonzy was born in the Delta in the early 1900s and was one of seventeen children.
Bill played violin growing up and his music could be heard in local churches and parties. After serving in the army, Broonzy moved north to Chicago and learned guitar from Papa Charlie Jackson.
After struggling all his life, Bill finally caught a break as he replaced Robert Johnson in the "From Spirituals to Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938.
This led to his music being spread around Europe where he was welcomed as a star.
Here he is in 1957.
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INDUSTRY VETERAN MICHAEL CLOEREN JOINS STEVE & JEFF SIMON PRESENTS, LLC
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Steve & Jeff Simon Presents, the international Blues concert production company, proudly announces that veteran award winning concert promoter Michael Cloeren has joined the company as VP of Artist Relations.
“We are thrilled that Michael Cloeren has become part of our rapidly growing company. With over 20 years experience producing the Pocono Blues Festival and now the inaugural Pennsylvania Blues Festival, Michael’s reputation, experience and style is a perfect fit for us”, stated Steve Simon the founder of Steve & Jeff Simon Presents and the co-creator of BLUESTOCK.
“Michael is one of the most passionate and experienced Blues promoters in the business today and we look forward to his being an integral part of our operation for years to come”, stated Jeff Simon.
Steve and Jeff Simon Presents is one of the largest Blues concert producers in the world with productions such as BLUESTOCK, BLUZAPALOOZA, Blues Without Borders and the St. John Blues Festival.
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BFG EDITOR MICHELLE LUNDEEN NOMINATED AT 2011 SAN DIEGO MUSIC AWARDS ON AUGUST 8TH
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SAN DIEGO, CA.: Congratulations to all the the 2011 San Diego Music Awards Nominees. You can view a complete list of the nominees by clicking here. To vote for your favorite artists click here.
The 21st Annual San Diego Music Awards will be back at Humphrey's by the Bay on Monday, August 8th. This year's performers include: Wavves, The Silent Comedy, Cuckoo Chaos, Dynamite Walls, Candye Kane and Sue Palmer, Little Hurricane, Gilbert Castellanos and Lifetime Achievement Award Winners The Penetrators.
General Admission tickets are available for $30 or you can purchase VIP table seats for $50.
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BUDDY AND HOPKINS TO PROMOTE 2012 INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE
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MEMPHIS, TN: Jason Nocera's comic characters, Buddy and Hopkins, will be used in a series of advertisements to promote the 2012 International Blues Challenge. The advertisements will begin appearing in blues and music publications as early as May 2011. The first use will be in the 2011 Blues Music Award program. In addition to the advertisements, the Buddy and Hopkins characters will also be used in promotional posters and t-shirts.
"I started Buddy and Hopkins back in 2003 and have met a ton of great people through the Blues Societies' websites and publications around the world. It's great to give back a bit to the blues community after the generous support and enthusiasm they have shown me towards my characters and comic strips," says creator Jason Nocera.
"The Blues Foundation is thrilled to be partnering with Jason Nocera and his world-famous 'Buddy and Hopkins' characters to promote the 2012 International Blues Challenge," says Jay Sieleman, Executive Director of The Blues Foundation. "Buddy and Hopkins seemed like such a natural to team up with the thousands of blues acts worldwide that take part in their local and regional competitions. Indeed, as the year unfolds, the blues community will see that Buddy and Hopkins and Jason were the right guys for the job!"
The 2012 International Blues Challenge will be the 28th year of Blues musicians from around the world competing for cash, prizes, and industry recognition. The Blues Foundation will present the 28th International Blues Challenge January 31-February 4, 2012 in Memphis, TN. The world's largest gathering of Blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to take their act to the international stage. The Blues Foundation is Memphis-based, but world-renown as THE organization dedicated to preserving our blues music history, celebrating recording and performance excellence, supporting blues education and ensuring the future of this uniquely American art form.
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"NIGHT OF LIVING LEGENDS" TO BE HELD IN MEMPHIS
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LATIMOR
MEMPHIS, TN: On August 3rd, the Jus` Blues Music Foundation will host the "Night Of The Living Legends" at the Historical Daisy Theater located on Beale Street in downtown Memphis.
Blues music fans and the general public is invited as we honor some of Blues & Soul music's finest during the Jus' Blues Music Conference August 3rd - 5th.
A fantastic Bobby "Blue" Bland tribute is planned and a Jus' Blues Music Award will be named after him for his outstanding contributions to Blues music.
Other Living Legends Honorees include: Candi Staton, Carol Fran, Ruby Wilson, Marvell Thomas, Vernon Garrett, Trudy Lynn and Milton Hopkins.
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BLUES LEGEND BESSIE SMITH IN 'THE DEVIL'S MUSIC'
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BY JENNIFER FARRAR
NEW YORK, NY: "There's some that calls the blues the devil's music. Well, honey, I done danced to the devil's music. So, I gotta give the devil his due."
So says blues icon Bessie Smith, to whom the devil is a frequent companion in "The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith." This spirited, biographical music revue opened Wednesday night off-Broadway at St. Luke's Theatre.
Miche Braden delivers a powerhouse performance, doing a brassy, melodic turn as a lusty, hard-drinking, irrepressible Bessie Smith, who was known as the "Empress of the Blues."
Smith, a still-popular pioneer for black performers in segregated America, achieved hard-won success from the 1920s though the Great Depression, until her death at age 43 in a car crash.
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BLIND RACCOON
Steve Howell To Be Honored At Texas Music Awards
Since I Saw You Last To Receive Historical Significance Award
The Academy of Texas Music has awarded Steve Howell the Historical Significance Award for his January 2010 release, Since I Saw You Last. Howell will receive the award at The Texas Music Awards (TMAs) taking place Saturday, July 9 in Linden, Texas. In honoring Steve Howell and his recording, the Academy recognized "the efforts of the album to preserve for all time the fidelity of the tunes recorded and the significance of the emotion embedded in each performance.”
“The Nominating Crew, back in January, took a real liking to the theme of the album,” says Tommy Hooper, vice president of The Academy of Texas Music. “As the founders got involved, they decided to create an award to recognize a very important part of Texas music. Remembering and perpetuating the heritage of music is an integral part of what the Academy and the TMAs are trying to accomplish. Hence, Howell’s album Since I Saw You Last, is honored with this first-time founders’ award.”
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I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy:Author Bob Riesman
Big Bill Broonzy was there at pretty much every crossroads of 20th Century blues – from the Delta to Chicago to the fifties blues revival. A new biography, I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy, is out. Author Bob Riesman joins Elwood. Eric Clapton will be heard, along with Little Walter, Muddy Waters, and Broonzy himself, with his blues standard, “Key to the Highway,” and choice naughty blues from his heyday in 1930’s Chicago. Plus: a great new jumping band out of Toronto, the 24th Street Wailers out of Toronto. On the giveaway side, the Doors’ Ray Manzarek and slide guitar genius Roy Rogers have a new CD called Translucent Blues. Five copies will be won. And, to celebrate the release of the new CD from Hot Tuna, somebody out there will win a gorgeous, custom Jorma Kaukonen Model Martin Acoustic Guitar, signed and numbered by Jorma himself.
For a list of stations where you can find House of Blues Radio
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| Click on festival name to click through to festival website. |
VISIT THE BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE WEBSITE FOR ALL THE FESTIVALS
Over 500 festivals are listed on the website www.BluesFestivalGuide.com |
Montreal Jazz Fest
Saturday-Monday, June 25 - July 4
Montreal, Montreal, Canada
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Puisto Blues Festival
Wednesday-Sunday, June 29 - July 3
Jarvenpaa, Finland
LINK |
Barrier Beach "Memphis" Blues and Arts Festival
Thursday-Sunday, June 30 - July 3
Long Beach, New York, U.S.
LINK |
21st Annual High Sierra Music Festival
Thursday-Sunday, June 30 - July 3
Quincy, California, U.S.
LINK |
Skanevik Bluesfestival
Thursday-Saturday, June 30 - July 2
Skanevik, Norway
LINK |
29th Great Blue Heron Music Festival
Friday-Sunday, July 1-3
Sherman, NY, U.S.
LINK |
Mississippi Valley Blues Festival
Friday-Sunday, July 1-3
Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
LINK |
45th Montreux Jazz Festival
Friday-Sunday, July 1-16
Montreux, Switzerland
LINK |
Home Grown Blues Series
Friday-Sunday, July 1-31
Oakland, California, U.S.
LINK |
1st. Annual Blues Cruise In
Friday-Sunday, July 1-3
Falmouth, Michigan, U.S.
LINK |
Boston's on the Beach Red, White, and Blues Festival
Friday-Monday, July 1-4
Delray Beach, Florida, U.S.
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Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival
Friday-Monday, July 1-4
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
LINK |
Blues Evolution Festival
Saturday, July 2
Black Forest, Colorado, U.S.
LINK |
Red, White & Blues Festival
Monday, July 4
Pleasanton, California, U.S.
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Spirit of Kansas Blues Festival
Monday, July 4
Topeka, Kansas, U.S.
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Tarragona Blues
Monday-Sunday, July 4-17
Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain
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Cognac Blues Passions
Tuesday-Saturday, July 5-9
Cognac, Poitou-Charentes, France
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Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest
Tuesday-Sunday, July 5-17
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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11th Annual Greenwood Blues Cruise
Thursday-Saturday, July 7-9
Greenwood, SC, U.S.
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Kalamazoo Blues Festival
Thursday-Saturday, July 7-9
Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.
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HONDARRIBIA BLUES FESTIVAL
Thursday-Sunday, July 7-10
HONDARRIBIA, BASQUE COUNTRY, Spain
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Anglesea Blues Festival
Friday-Monday, July 8-11
North Wildwood, New Jersey, U.S.
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14th Annual Briggs Farm Blues Festival
Friday-Saturday, July 8-9
Nescopeck, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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Lighthouse Blues Festival
Friday-Saturday, July 8-9
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada
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Louisville Blues-N-Barbecue Festival
Friday-Sunday, July 8-10
Louisville, KY, U.S.
LINK |
New York State Blues Festival
Friday-Sunday, July 8-10
Syracuse, N, U.S.
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10th Annual Thunder Bay Blues Festival
Friday-Sunday, July 8-10
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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6th Annual Animas River Blues Festival
Saturday, July 9
Aztec, New Mexico, U.S.
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Grassroots Blues Festival
Saturday, July 9
Duck Hill, Mississippi, U.S.
LINK |
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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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| Information - both editorial and advertising - in the Blues Festival E-Guide - is believed to be correct but not guaranteed - so check it carefully before you attend any event or send money for anything. We do not write the news... just report it. |
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