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Get Your Copy Of The10th Annual Blues Festival Guide Magazine! |
100 pages packed full of blues festivals, history,
lifestyle and more!
Our biggest issue EVER!
Pick one up for FREE from your local Blues Society or
CLICK HERE to have one mailed to you.
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Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers : Little Big Men |
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Geoff Achison is an independent Australian musician who has forged his own path to a successful career that has won him fans all over the world.
Having taught himself to play in the isolation of rural Australia, he has developed a blues/funk style all his own that can be delicate one moment and explosive the next. Unaware of how the sounds he was hearing on his limited record collection were produced, he invented some of his own techniques - without the aid of pedals or gadgets. Just watching him wrench a myriad of sounds from his simple set-up can be something of a spectacle.
He is also a very capable vocalist with a gritty, soulful quality to his voice. Inspired by the great Blues and R&B music of yesteryear, Geoff’s live set features an infectious mix of gutsy original tunes, improvised jams and dynamic new arrangements of blues & soul classics.
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The 44's are a Los Angeles-based band who play blues-roots-rock music.The 44's are one the brightest rising stars on the American blues roots scene. Make no mistake about it. The raw rough and tough sounds generated by these four expert musicians during live performances and in the making of their Sophomore album Americana, on the Rip Cat label, demands to be heard by Blues music fans World Wide. They evidence a genuine gift for creating blues in the moment while at the same time showing loyalty to a remarkable blues-and-r&b tradition that goes back decades through the James Harman Band and the Red Devils to storied greats like Howlin' Wolf, Albert Collins, and Muddy Waters. They've become a favorite band of club and festival crowds across North America.
This much anticipated second release from the 44s features blues guitar legend Kid Ramos both playing and producing. After the success of their first CD, the 44s are following up with mostly originals and even some horns on a few songs. With the release of this CD expect to see the 44s on the road full time.
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Mark May Band : Release My Soul |
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Release My Soul, the 5th cd from Mark May (former guitarist and vocalist for Dickey Betts and Great Southern), is jam-packed with traditional blues, blues-rock and soulful ballads.
Perfecting his craft playing rough and tumble biker bars and blues clubs in Houston, Texas for over 20 years, Mark recently returned to his hometown, Columbus, Ohio, where he performed in nightclubs before his 15th birthday. His astonishing live shows featuring dynamic twin leads and dual harmony guitar work are the perfect complement to Mark’s smooth vocals.
The Mark May Band has performed at Telluride Blues and Brews, Mississippi Valley Blues Fest, King Biscuit, Tremblant International Blues Festival, Dallas International Guitar Show, Chenango Blues Festival, Lone Star Rally, Dogs on Hawgs, Houston International Festival, and in addition, was opening act for Allman Brothers Amphitheater Tour.
Mark currently gets heavy rotation on Sirius/XM and Sonic Tap radio. He has been featured in Blues Review, Guitar Player, Guitar World, Vintage Guitar, Tone Quest and other major publications.
“Equal part blues man and southern rocker, Mark has just released his fifth disc entitled “Release My Soul”, his most ambitious and stylistically diverse project to date. Eleven original tracks that showcase his talent to pen strong melodic songs, featuring warm confident vocals and stinging guitar work and instrumentation. If you dig your blues with an attitude, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.”
The Blues Hound, 90.1 FM KPFT Houston
“Mark May is far and away one of the most talented and passionate bluesmen I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to. His songs work their way into your very soul…in a way that makes you feel naughty for liking them so much. His licks are like narcotic…you simply can’t wait for that next hit.”
Sue Leighton, Program Director QFM96…Host of “Blue Monday”
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From the Blue Foundation
1. Advance ticket sales are brisk this year. The time to get your ticket is NOW. We will mail tickets in the next few days to domestic fans, fans coming in from around the world can pick up their tickets at Will Call. Check the BMA schedule for hours and locations.
2. The 33rd Blues Music Award poster will NOT be a membership premium this year so if you want one, you can purchase in the Blues Store or while you are in Memphis for the Blues Music Awards
3. Events around the Blues Music Awards are starting to pop up on the calendar. Friday looks to be a full day starting with these official events:
- 11:00am unveiling of Mississippi Blues Trail marker for The Blues Foundation
- 12:00 noon Generation Blues fundraiser and Louisiana Red tribute show hosted by Bob Corritore and Bob Margolin.
- 5:00pm the Memphis Redbirds are hosting Blues Foundation night at AutoZone Park with a Memphis Blues jersey giveaway and a blues show (by Nick Moss and Hadden Sayers) before the AAA baseball game
The Beale Street Note Committee will be unveiling a note for the Queen of the Blues, Memphis native, the late Koko Taylor on Thursday, May 10 at noon. Check the schedule http://blues.org/bluesmusicawards/schedule.php for all the musical events Friday night put on by artists and record labels in town for the Blues Music Awards.
4. It is never too early to get started on the next event. If you are a performer or a record label and you have or plan to release a blues CD or DVD between November 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012, please take note. The 34th Blues Music Award (2013) nomination process is now open. Complete information is at:
http://www.blues.org/bluesmusicawards/balloting.php.
The submission process is as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Send one copy of your release to:
The Blues Foundation, 421 South Main, Memphis, TN 38103-4464.
The earlier you do this the better.
2. Go to http://www.blues.org/labels/#ref=labels_index to submit your release for consideration by the nominators.
3. If you wish to guarantee that your release--CD or DVD--gets into the hands of the anonymous nominators, we can arrange that.
If your release is out now,
take these steps now!
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The Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival |
The Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival is unique! Outside of being one of the premier festivals in the country, it is the only festival, blues or otherwise, of its size that donates 100% of the net proceeds to charity. Not only are the proceeds donated, but there are no salaries paid to any of our staff.
This year’s festival features: Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jonny Lang, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, JJ Grey and Mofro, Ruthie Foster, Shemekia Copeland, Philipp Fankhauser, Delta Guitar Slingers with Michael Burks, Lurrie and Bernard Allison, Janiva Magness, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, Michael Williams Band, Honey Island Swamp Band, Albert Cummings and The Chesapeake Bay Blues Band with Patty Reese, Tom Principato, Gaye Adegbalola, Ron Holloway and Tommy Lepson. Most of the performers are either Grammy or Blues Award winning.
As if this lineup wasn’t enough, the festival also features delicious food from local vendors, beer and wine, a large crafter village and plenty for the kids to do including moon bounces, a playground, face painting and a large sandy beach all on the beautiful shores of the Chesapeake Bay.
Charities that will benefit from the festivals attendees are: Special Love, Inc., which puts on a camp for kids with cancer, Camp Face, which is a summer camp for kids with facial anomalies, We Care and Friends. which helps the less fortunate of Annapolis and End Hunger in Calvert County. which provides not only food to those in need but the opportunity to become self-sufficient.
The festival is held at the beautiful Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, Maryland on May 19th and 20th 2012. Tickets and information are available at www.bayblues.org
It’s a great event with great music, food, scenery and people all for a great cause.
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CELEBRATING 7 YEARS OF GREAT BLUES ON THE RIVER! |
Coloma Blues Live! June 9th
Join us on June 9th for our seventh year of presenting the finest in Blues on the river in the friendly community of Coloma, 1hr East of Sacramento in the Mother Lode of Gold Country.
Gracing this year’s stage is El Dorado County’s home-grown national sensation Jackie Greene, the amazing guitar slinger..Laurie Morvan, the San Francisco Bay Area Blues Band of the Year…the California Honeydrops, slide guitar prodigy…David Jacobs-Strain with guest Joe Craven, and the big band sound of the Sacramento Blues Revue.
Henningsen-Lotus Park is the venue, and the perfect place to get your blues groove on. Grab your low back chair, swim trunks, hat and dancing shoes! Music goes from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm. Gates open at 10:00am. Enjoy freshly prepared food, craft beers and local wine.
El Dorado Arts Council presents this annual party, and proceeds of the fest benefit EDAC’s mission of nurturing “More Arts in More Places”.
There are Early Bird, Late Bird and Later Bird ticket prices, and can be purchased on-line at www.colomablueslive.com or at the EDAC office on Main Street in Placerville. For more information: (530) 295-3496
www.colomablueslive.com
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Sugar Ray and the Bluetones |
Veteran vocalist and harmonica ace Sugar Ray Norcia and his band The Bluetones are pleased to announce that they will be performing at the upcoming Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee on May 10, 2012. The band has garnered nominations for five awards for “Evening”, their latest release on Severn Records. The catagories are “Album of the Year” , “Traditional Blues Album” , “Band of the Year”, Sugar Ray Norcia for “Instrumentalist - Harmonica and Mudcat Ward as “Instrumentalist - Bass”. Their previous album entitled “My Life, My Friends, My Music” was also nominated for four Blues Music Awards….. “Album of the Year”, “Song Of The Year” (The Last Words Of A Fool) by Sugar Ray Norcia , Sugar Ray Norcia for “Instrumentalist- Harmonica” and Mudcat Ward as “Instrumentalist - Bass”.
In addition to these prestigious honors, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones have also been nominated for “Album Of The Year” in the blues category of the 11th Independent Music Awards. (www.independentmusicawards.com)
Sugar Ray Norcia was also recently inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall Of Fame for his contribution in the 1990’s as a front man for the world famous jump blues band… Roomful Of Blues.
Sugar Ray and the Bluetones will be touring in support of their album “Evening” throughout the United States, Canada, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom in the next few months.
Check out their web site sugarrayandthebluetones.com for tour dates and be sure to see their live show when they are in or near your town.
“This is a red—hot cracker—jack band and all the tunes have the main ingredients for a hit record: growling guitar, romping piano, a powerful rhythm section and the harp and voice of a legend.”
A.J.Wachel, Boston Blues Society
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Grammy Award Winning Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience Perform Original Song in "The Lucky One" Film Starring Zac Efron |
Zydeco crosses over with two tracks being used in popular Warner Bros. movie based on a Nicolas Sparks novel and directed by Scott Hicks in theatres April 20, 2012
Oscar nominated director Scott Hicks really loves music, but who doesn't right? True, but not every brilliant film director makes a conscious choice to integrate it into their profession the way Scott has in his filmmaking. One can see how deeply music has impacted Hicks professionally by his previous work with Philip Glass, INXS and the Oscar winning film "Shine" starring Jeffrey Rush. It might also stand to reason that someone like Scott would be open minded enough to embrace zydeco and place it in his film.
Well, he is and he did! We're also told that, along with his music supervisor, he took a primary and proactive role selecting much of the music for the film. The choice of an exuberant Afro- Creole-zydeco- roots- world music track like "Dance Everyday" was indeed a bold one and in sharp contrast to the other music used in the film. However he wasn't done yet, because he also selected Terrance & company to perform the song on screen in the film. They nailed the scene in two takes and voila, zydeco music crosses over again into popular culture.
Click for Video
Simien's version of the rollicking, rootsy zydeco standard "Uncle Bud" is also used in this intriguing film based on a Nicolas Sparks novel. It's set to be another blockbuster for Hicks and Sparks, and we cannot wait to see it in the theatre next week with all our friends and family.
Click for the movie preview
BTW, Scott, if you happen to read this Terrance would like for you to know how grateful he is for this rare and wonderful opportunity, and how honored he was to work with you. Simien says " All of Louisiana and especially my own multiculti zydeco music community benefits from having a spotlight shine on our unique American roots music using a mainstream media film like this as the vehicle."
On April 17, 2012 Watertower Records also releases the original movie soundtrack with Simien's "Dance Everyday" along with diverse music from the amazing Mayfield, Brandi Carlile Josh Radin and other great artists.
Simien's most recent previous film project was Disney's "The Princess & The Frog", set in New Orleans it featured their first black princess. The film was centered on the music and food of New Orleans and Louisiana. To cap it off the word "zydeco" was even spoken in the film by Ray the Firefly characte; a wonderful teaching tool for the next generation of zydeco music lovers!
After 30 years of touring and recording Simien and his band mates have definitely got credentials: 7000 concerts in more than 40 countries, multiple awards, grants, film and recording credits, support with Dave Matthews Band, Los Lobos, Robert Palmer, and an educational performing arts, Creole for Kidz & The History of Zydeco program reaching 500,000 k-12 students worldwide.
After returning from Ukraine and Georgia on a US Embassy sponsored tour, Terrance & The Zydeco Experience will perform on May 6, 2012 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for their 27th consecutive appearance at this legendary event.
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Artist Explore What 'The Blues' Look Like |
Clemson Arts Center opens exhibit in conjunction with area music fest
PHOTO BY ANNA MITCHELL
Del Kimbler's "Walkin' Bass," a photo illustration on display at the Clemson Arts Center.
(independentmail.com) South Carolina - A saxophonist, his eyes squeezed shut, blows gently into his horn in Nancy Oppenheimer's pastel "In Key."
On another wall, Pendleton artist Lou Koppel's "Picasso's Guitar" sculpture shows the guts of a guitar turned inside out and sideways — an homage to three-dimensional works that Pablo Picasso produced a century ago. On another wall hangs a photo illlustration of a figure taking a stroll along the neck of a bass guitar. Photographer Del Kimbler called the image "Walkin' Bass."
The creators of these and about 40 other works now on display at the Clemson Arts Center's Blues Arts Exhibit were trying to answer one question: What do "the blues" look like?
"I, like most artists, listen to music while I paint," Oppenheimer said this week. "We love to listen to music because it puts you in a different frame of mind."
The exhibit has opened in conjunction with the inaugural Clemson area Nothin' But The Blues Fest. The free fest continues through Sunday at venues in Clemson and Central.
The Center, at 212 Butler St. in Clemson, is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, and weekends by appointment.
Works include oils on canvas, bits of copper jewelry and ceramics. Some show musicians; others embrace the blues as an emotion — quiet and sad. About half were produced over the past three months.
Blues Fest committee member Vince Jackson, a local historian on the genre and lifelong fan of the music, asked arts center director Tommye Hurst last year if she might be interested in an art exhibit that could show visually what the music does for people's souls.
For artists who needed help getting in the mood, Jackson provided a CD of tunes with selections such as "The Thrill is Gone" by B.B. King, "Got My Mojo Working" by Muddy Waters and "What the Blues is All About" by Chick Willis, who is one of the festival's featured performers on Friday.
Koppel said he embraced the exhibit as a chance to explore Picasso's rare cubist sculptures. Picasso visually disassembled people and objects, in a way helping viewers to appreciate their component parts.
"He was unfolding an object so you could see all around it at once," Koppel said. "To enhance the effect, he made the planes different colors."
Koppel, a retired physicist, made his guitar out of an aluminum frame, gold-painted plexiglass and fiberglass rods to support the structure. The instrument's linen strings shrink when the air is humid, which spins a circle set in the middle of the guitar body.
Oppenheimer said she had created "In Key" and another pastel, "Sweet Song," years earlier and jumped at a chance to enter the music-themed show. Oppenheimer worked for 10 years as a newspaper illustrator and is a prolific artist, now working mainly in oils, with pieces in western North Carolina galleries.
Painting, like music, she said, is driven by an internal beat.
"I have a brush in my hand, and I just keep steady rhythm," Oppenheimer said. "I can't go fast-slow-fast because it will look like two different people working."
For more information, visit www.explorearts.org
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Blues for the Cure Booster Party set for April 28 |
(masslive.com) The blues may not be the most popular musical style in the world, but it's consistently regarded highly by a large chunk of the population. So it's no surprise that when you want to draw a decent-sized crowd to an event, blues artists are a pretty safe bet.
With that in mind, let me tell you about a charity shindig at The Elevens in Northampton that will bring great music and a great cause together under one roof: The third annual Blues for the Cure Booster Party. The party will take place on April 28.
This event serves as a pre-party to assist the Blues for the Cure Annual Event. Blues for the Cure is an annual benefit established in 2010 by local musician David La Valley to help raise awareness and funding to support The National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias with their various member services, including research, educational seminars, providing permanent dental implants, wigs and in some cases cooling suits at no cost to its member families. Ectodermal Dysplasias is a genetic birth defect that affects the growth of the hair, skin, teeth and sweat glands of the children born with it. Symptoms include sparse hair growth, multiple missing teeth and an absence or non-functioning sweat glands.
The Blues for the Cure Benefit is an all day benefit consisting of live blues music from the area's best blues bands who donate their time and talent to help with raising funds for this great cause. As of this writing, the night will include Scissormen, Ten Foot Polecats, Molly Gene, and Dynamite Johnny. The evening starts at 6 p.m. with an open mic hosted by The Whip City Bootleggers and featuring the Boston-based Handsome Wife. The party starts in earnest at 9 p.m.
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Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise |
Bands Announced!
LRBC #20 Caribbean, January 20 ~ 27, 2013
Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Tortola, St. Kitts & Half Moon Cay • Holland America ms Nieuw Amsterdam
Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band
Elvin Bishop with Mickey Thomas
Mavis Staples
Big Head Todd & The Monster
w/ The Mile Hi Horns
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue w/ Tommy Castro, Kenny Neal, Rod Piazza & Samantha Fish
Tab Benoit
Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers plus Reunion w/ Alex Schultz, Bill Stuve & Jimi Bott (2 Bands)
Phantom Blues Band
Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
Mark Hummel's Harmonica Blowout w/ Lazy Lester, Sugar Ray Norcia, Little Charlie Baty
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
John Primer
Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King (acoustic)
Kelley Hunt
Otis Taylor
The Lee Boys
Tasha Taylor
Southern Hospitality w/ JP Soars, Damon Fowler & Victor Wainwright
Rick Holmstrom Band
Marquise Knox
Monkey Junk
Ray Bonneville (IBC Solo/Duo Winner)
Eden Brent (Piano Bar)
Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne (Piano Bar)
Barrelhouse Chuck (Piano Bar)
Steve Willis (Piano Bar)
Randy Oxford (Jam Host)
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Craig Chaquico Signs With Blind Pig |
Craig Chaquico , a chart-topping guitarist in both the rock and jazz fields, has signed with noted roots label Blind Pig Records to record a blues-based album.
Chaquico was a central figure in the legendary multi-platinum selling rock band Jefferson Starship, one the most successful arena rock bands of the 1970s and early '80s. In the 1990s, Craig left the fast-paced pop world and reinvented himself as a major force on the contemporary jazz landscape, becoming an award-winning solo artist in that field.
Chaquico said of the signing, "I am really excited about beginning a project that has been in the back of my mind and at the front of my heart and soul for years. Now it's going to become a reality...my very first blues album for the premier blues label on the planet - Blind Pig."
"I felt that my guitar playing was always blues-based through all those style changes, though not necessarily inspired by going all the way back to the Robert Johnson or Delta blues days. My "roots blues" is probably more rooted in my current Blind Pig record collection, as well as people I listened to in my early teens - Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, B.B. and all the Kings, Jeff Beck, Santana, Led Zep, ZZ Top, Pink Floyd, Allman Brothers, Free, Bad Company, and of course, Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna."
"Finding myself in a major rock band while still in my teens, the multi-platinum stadium rock period in my musical life was as rewarding as it was fun, and part of my higher musical education. After that I was fortunate to be able to create a twenty year, million-selling, Grammy-nominated, #1
on the charts musical life in the world of acoustic instrumental Smooth Jazz."
"As much as I still love instrumental smooth jazz, which for me was always blues-based anyway, I sometimes missed the edge that I could experience with blues-based rock and roll. For some time now I have been thinking about doing my own heartfelt modern blues project that could be the best of all those musical worlds and planets I've visited since my teens."
"And now, thanks to Blind Pig and all those who have inspired, encouraged, and helped me get to the top of different musical charts and styles for five consecutive decades now, the time has come for my very first ever official version of the blues from my own musical world. Blues that often actually makes ya happy!"
"See you on that world - and don't ya be late. Thank you, Blind Pig, for truly making a dream come blue."
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Orange County Blues Society |
That's right there is now an Official Orange County Blues Society. There is blues outside of LA.
Please help us get going by joining now.
Blues Fan - $15.00
Senior (60+) - $10.00
Family - $35.00
Musician - $20.00
Band - $50.00
Business - $125.00
Corporate - $200.00
Lifetime Membership - $150.00
Contact Papa J at 714 328-9375 |
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Roots Blues Airplay Charts
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To view our entire calendar of more than 500 festivals, click here! |
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ATTENTION:
FESTIVAL PROMOTERS |
List your festival with us for
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Website
E-Guide
Magazine |
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Thursday-Sunday,
April 19th-22nd 2012
Clemson, So. Carolina USA |
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Friday-Friday,
April 20th-27th 2012
Ville Platte, Louisiana, USA |
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Friday-Saturday,
April 20th-21st 2012
Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA |
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Saturday,
April 21st 2012
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA |
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Saturday-Sunday,
April 21st-22nd 2012
San Diego, California, USA |
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Saturday,
April 21st 2012
Media, Pennsylvania, USA |
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Wednesday-Saturday,
April 25th-28th 2012
Florence, So. Carolina, USA |
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Wednesday-Sunday,
April 25th-29th 2012
Lafayette, Louisiana, USA |
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Friday-Saturday,
April 27th-28th 2012
Barnesville, Georgia, USA |
| | Friday, April 27th -
Sunday, May 6th 2012
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
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Friday-Sunday,
April 27th-29th 2012
Trumansburg, New York, USA |
| | Friday-Sunday,
April 27th-29th 2012
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA |
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Friday-Saturday,
April 27th-28th 2012
Oxford, Mississippi, USA |
| | Friday-Saturday,
April 27th-28th 2012
W. Jackson, Mississippi, USA |
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Saturday,
April 28th 2012
Simi Valley, California, USA |
| | Friday-Saturday,
May 4th-19th 2012
Bucharest, Romania |
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Friday-Saturday,
May 4th-19th 2012
Juneau, Alaska, USA |
| | Friday-Sunday,
May 4th-6th 2012
Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
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RBA Publishing Inc is based in Reno, NV with a satellite office in Beverly Hills, Florida. We are woman owned and operated.
We produce the annual Blues Festival Guide magazine (now approaching our 10th year), the top-ranking website:
www.BluesFestivalGuide.com,
and this weekly blues newsletter: The Blues Festival E-Guide with approximately 28,000 weekly subscribers.
We look forward to your suggestions, critiques and questions!
Reach the E-Guide editor, Gordon Bulcock, editor@bluesfestivaleguide.com
Contact our home office to find out how to advertise on this newsletter 775-337-8626.
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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