Chris Watson : PLEASURE AND PAIN

Striking a rare populist "note," young guitar firebrand Chris Watson from Denton, Texas declares, "I make music for the American working man because that's what I am, and that's who I care about." Wise beyond his years with a burgeoning talent to match, his second release, Pleasure and Pain, reveals a modern master in the making.

Watson started playing guitar around 13 and joined his father's blues band as lead guitarist in 2005. In 2006 he formed the Chris Watson Band and years of blazing through the clubs in the D/FW area resulted in Just for Show in 2010. An impressive, all-original set, it quickly whipped around the world on the radio waves as Watson won the Future of the Blues Award from the Blues Underground Network. 

With the skin-tight backing of Billy Acord and Chris Gipson (bass), Jon Zoog and Jason Thomas (drums), Scott Morris and Eric Scortia (keys), Justin Barbee (trumpet), Jeff Dazey (sax) and Kristin Major (backing vocals), the nine varied originals and three select covers on Pleasure and Pain, combine for an exceptionally rollicking and enlightening listening experience. "Heart of My Sleeve," is a tasty slice of funk that displays the natural vocal and instrumental flow that is Watson's hallmark. His mature tenor voice exudes masculine confidence on the minor-key funk title track with syncopated rhythm and a fret-busting solo.

With a firm foundation on solid, soulful expression rather than flash, the "future of the blues" bodes well as Chris Watson has captured the indomitable spirit and made it his own.'

Listen Now!

Click for more

 _____________________________________

Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival Comes Alive on 29 Stages!

                            ~ 400+ Musicians, 150 Performances                           

                         29 Stages, 6 Incredible Days, 6 City Blocks ~                   

One of Canada’s best-kept musical secrets, Fredericton, New Brunswick (Canada) comes alive for six days each September as hundreds of world class performers appear on dozens of stages, all conveniently located in the beautiful and historic downtown. Straight up the I-95, only one hour from the Maine border.

LT-RT: Charles Bradley & his Extraordinaires (Photo by Michael James Christian),

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Known internationally for presenting the best in established international talent, up-and-coming discoveries from the East Coast and abroad, great musical memories, friendly community, and a touch of the unexpected are what Harvest is famous for!

LT-RT: Keb' Mo', Matt Scofield, John Mayall

Harvest 2012 Features: Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Avett Brothers, Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Keb’ Mo’, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Maceo Parker, Charles Bradley & his Extraordinaires, Rusted Root, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, John Mayall, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Kathleen Edwards 

 …and Many, Many More!

Visit www.harvestjazzandblues.com or call 1-888-NB-BLUES for full festival line up, tickets, and information. 

_______________________________________

Harpway 61 is an all instrumental album by Italian blues harmonica player Fabrizio Poggi. The CD is released by The Blues Foundation and for sale in their online store. All proceeds from the sale of the album go to The Blues Foundation. The music was donated by Fabrizio and the charming and evocative cover artwork with the portraits of blues greats painted in perfect folk-art style, was donated by Portland artist, Dan Dalton.

Harpway 61 is a tribute to the blues harmonica greats. Each song has the name of a city whose history is inextricably linked with a great harmonica player: Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, Sonny Boy Williamson I and II, James Cotton, George Harmonica Smith, Junior Wells, Slim Harpo, Paul Butterfield, Charlie Musselwhite, Sonny Terry, DeFord Bailey, Peg Leg Sam and Johnny Woods. On this CD, the harmonica becomes Fabrizio’s voice, on the road marked by the great performers of the first two decades of last century. Great artists like the aforementioned Sonny Terry and DeFord Bailey, but also Jaybird Coleman, Palmer McAbee, Noah Lewis, Jed Davenport, Jazz Gillum, Hammie Nixon, JC Burris, Alfred Lewis, Freeman Stowers, Lee Brown, Robert Cooksey, Gwen Foster, Robert Hill, and Elder Roma Wilson.

Fabrizio Poggi is a singer, Hohner Award harmonica player, traveller, musicologist, writer, journalist and amazing performer. During his long career he has played on stage and/or on his own recordings with legendary artists. He has recorded fourteen albums and has written great books about blues and folk harmonica history. A tireless worker promoting blues on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, this CD is also a way for him to give something back to the musicians who have inspired and guided him during his long career.

_______________________________________

LT-RT: Taj Mahal, Robert Randolph, The Blues Broads, Eric Lindell

Come enjoy the 36th Annual Russian River Jazz & Blues Fest at the beautiful backdrop of Johnson's Beach, Guerneville, CA, on September 22-23 for some great music, loungin' on the river and dancing with family and friends. The Sunday, Sept 23 Bluesy lineup as of this writing is Taj Mahal, The Blues Broads, Robert Randolph, Eric Lindell, and George Thorogood & The Destroyers (pictured below left) with more artists TBA.

Camping is available throughout Johnson's Beach but cabins and sites do go fast. The Beach also offers canoes, kayaks and paddle boats for rent. You can taste many flavors in the international food court with vendors offering world-class cuisine. There's also a vendor village with art, apparel and unique gifts available for sale all weekend long.

General Admission is open seating. You can bring a blanket and low-back chairs and high-back chairs and umbrellas must remain on the outer perimeter in order to not block people behind you.

Gates open at 10 am and tickets will be $10 more at the gate (while supplies last). Find tickets here or call the Omega Events Box Office: (707) 869-1595.

More info 

_______________________________________

DELTA GROOVE MUSIC "BLUES STIMULAS" PROGRAM

Tough times have long been a part of the blues, and now Delta Groove is doing something about it! Introducing the Delta Groove “Blues Stimulus Program,” an opportunity for blues talent around the world to become members of the successful Delta Groove Family.

Over the last decade, Delta Groove Music has set the new standard for producing, promoting, and booking exciting blues and roots music talent. Now they want to share in their success by inviting emerging blues acts to submit their recordings for review. Each year Delta Groove will choose two U.S. and one foreign blues act to come onboard with one of the biggest success stories in blues in this millennium. The staff producers at Delta Groove will personally review every submission and contact the selected acts with the good news.

To submit your music to Delta Groove, send a CD along with your contact information to the following address:

Delta Groove Music, Inc.

Artist Submissions

16501 Sherman Way, Suite 100

Van Nuys, CA 91406

Note from Delta Groove: "Due to the large volume of artist submissions that we receive, Delta Groove regrettably cannot respond to each one individually. We are a small but dedicated staff that must tend to our daily tasks and duties required of us in order to keep our artists and label thriving. While we personally review each and every submission sent to us, we only have the time to reach out and contact those that we feel are worth further consideration.

Please DO NOT attempt to contact us regarding the status of your submissions through phone calls or emails. Also DO NOT attempt to email MP3s or other digital files to any Delta Groove staff members, as the large files tend to overload personal inboxes and disrupt the flow of our daily business." 

More info

________________________________________ 

CALL (816) 753-7979 to reserve your cabin!

The 19th Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise will set sail along the Southern Caribbean on the Celebrity Summit, Oct 27 from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Barbados, St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica and returns to San Juan Nov 3. Click to checkout the AMAZING Artist Lineup...

PLUS... The San Juan Pre-Party on Friday, Oct. 26 features Sista Monica All-Star Band w/ special guest Deanna Bogart PLUS Samantha Fish Band. The party goes from 8pm – Midnight. Doors @ 7:30. Purchase Tickets

Plus more Surprise Guests!... SEE YA THERE!

www.bluescruise.com

_____________________________________

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC)

is Now Taking Submissions.

Now is your chance to enter what the NY Times calls “the songwriting competition to take note of,” and for a chance to share in over $150,000 in cash and prizes, including a Grand Prize of $25,000 cash and over $25,000 in prizes. Renowned for having the most prestigious judges of any music competition in the world, ISC’s judging panel is comprised of high-profile recording artists and influential music industry professionals. Judges for this year include: Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, John Mayall, James Cotton, Bruce Iglauer (President, Alligator Records) and many more. For entry information and a complete list of judges, please visit: www.songwritingcompetition.com

____________________________________

RAISE THE ROOF: CAMPAIGN FOR THE BLUES HALL OF FAME

Attention Blues Fans:

The Hall of Fame pays tribute to the greatest of the genre and educates new people about the genre. The Blues Foundation has been inducting into the Blues Hall of Fame for years; it was just a simple evening with web presence. Nothing permanent. But now we need physical presence, and withyour help, we are going to get The Blues Hall of Fame building built in Memphis, Tennessee!

Here is a link with more details about the Blues Hall of Fame campaign:

(click line above or copy and paste URL into your browser)

http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1411379570

Doesn’t this project sound important and exciting?

If not us, who? If not now, when?

Our goal is to raise awareness and funds to reach the goal of 3.5 million.

How to donate:

1. Make a multi-year pledge online or by printing out and signing the form at: www.blues.org/capitalcampaign/index.php and mailing it to:

The Blues Foundation, 421 South Main, Memphis, TN 38104-4464; OR faxing it to 901.529.4030; OR e-mailing it to jay@blues.org.

2. Make a one-time donation by calling with a credit card or mailing a check.

or online at: http://www.blues.org/capitalcampaign/index.php .

3. Text the word " blues " to 80077 to donate $10. When you receive a message to confirm, confirm by answering “YES.”

No effort is too small or unappreciated!

If not us, who? If not now, when? Just think, YOU can make

the Blues Hall of Fame a reality. Your support matters! 

Note: Thanks to Tall City Blues Festival, Music Matters Entertainment, A Music Company Inc., and Garvin Gate Blues Festival for helping to raise awareness about the Blues Hall of Fame. 

You too can get involved. Email us: Info@BluesFestivalGuide.com to get logos and links for your website or Facebook.

_________________________________________

Video of The Week

Little Milton Campbell : WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT

(great live performance on a late 60's TV show called "The Beat")

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

___________________________________________