Addicted to the smokin' blues...

"World No Tobacco Day" is May 31 and aims to bring awareness of the health issues and dependency issues related to tobacco use. Smoking something has probably been around since the beginning of time but ultimately my favorite times "smokin" have turned out to be with the blues. Not only have countless songs been written about smoking and "smokin'" but there are many artists with the term in their name like Smokin' Joe Kubek, Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin' Altar Boys, and festivals like Smokin' in Steel BBQ & Blues (MN), Smokin' Blues Fest (Nova Scotia), Smokin' Blues, Bikes & BBQ (FL) and more. If you have one, best to kick the tobacco habit, but please continue to enjoy the smokin' blues. 

 

Maya Angelou, the renowned poet, novelist and actress best known for her book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," has died on May 28 at the age of 86. She embodied the definition of a phenomenal woman. Ruthie Foster adapted and added music to Angelou's poem, "Phenomenal Woman," and recorded it for her stunning 2006 release, The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster. Our Video of The Week features Ruthie and her band performing this amazing song live.

 

Birthdays of note coming up: June 3 Memphis Minnie (1897), Jimmy Rogers (1924), Curtis Mayfield (1942); June 4 Tinsley Ellis (1957); June 8 Derek Trucks (1979), James Harman (1946).

 

Your ever-grateful editor,

 

Get your copy of the 2014 Blues Festival Guide magazine

100,000 copies of the 12th annual Blues Festival Guide magazine are currently being shipped and being distributed for free throughout U.S. and Canada to mainly Blues Societies and Blues festivals. You can also order here.

 

We are proud to have the Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival as our 2014 Blues Festival Guide magazine sponsor and again, congratulations to our cover photographer, Marilyn Stringer.

 

Send us fave photos with the 2014 BFG Magazine

Richard Ramsey shows off his 2014 BFG with the mighty Wolf in West Point, MS. Richard is the Executive Program Director of the Howlin' Wolf Blues Society's project including curator of the Howlin' Wolf Blues Museum, Blues Trail Marker, Howlin' Wolf Statue, and Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival.

 

 

 

*Enjoy the 12th annual magazine in digital format soon! Want a hard copy? Check with your local blues society, look for one at a blues festival or you can find our magazine order info here.

 

Then start snapping those pics with the 12th annual Blues Festival Guide magazine!!

... 

After spending much of the past year touring with the band Southern Hospitality, Damon Fowler is back with his third solo project for Blind Pig Records, Sounds of Home. Damon chose swamp blues master Tab Benoit to produce and record him at Tab's rural Louisiana home studio, and their collaboration has resulted in Damon's strongest effort to date. The tension between his measured, laid-back vocal delivery and the hallmark intensity of his guitar virtuosity has never been keener, and the stories told in his songwriting here - sometimes in collaboration with long-time writing partner Ed Wright and Benoit - exhibit a combination of depth, grace and humor very few of his contemporaries can match.

 

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada – 13th Annual Tbaytel Thunder Bay Blues Festival July 4-5-6

The Thunder Bay Blues Festival is a world-class music festival that takes place on a beautiful location in Marina Park on the shores of Lake Superior - looking out at the famous Sleeping Giant. It features some of the best names in blues, roots, and blues/rock entertainment, while also showcasing the incredible base of talent that thrives in Northwestern Ontario. Over the past 13 years, the Festival has grown to the point that it is now respected as one of the best Blues Festivals in North America.

Pender Harbour Blues Society presents 11th annual festival

Coast Reporter - A stellar line-up promises something for everyone when the Pender Harbour Blues Society presents the 11th annual Pender Harbour Blues Festival June 6 to 8 in British Columbia, Canada.

 

Performers include: James Har­man, Steve Kozak, Shaun Ver­reault, David Vest, Sibel Thrasher, Tim Hearsey, Doc Fingers, Michael Van Eyes, Joe Stanton, Simon Paradis, Jason Buie, Steve Hinton and Dave Paterson.

Harman and Kozak will kick off the festival on Friday, June 6, at the Garden Bay Pub. And Verreault of Wide Mouth Mason performs at the Garden Bay Pub on Saturday night.

Board Seeks Nominations for the Board of Directors

The Blues Foundation is currently seeking qualified candidates for nomination to the Board of Directors. The nominating process opens on May 29, 2014 and ends at midnight on June 13, 2014.

 

Upon joining The Blues Foundation, all members are asked to identify themselves with a constituency group, who then elect their board representatives in one of eight blues music related constituencies. We welcome nominees in three blues related constituency categories to begin 3-year terms of board service in the fall of 2014. The following constituent candidates will be voted on by Blues Foundation members in their respective categories:

•Blues Recording Labels, Studios, Publishers, & Retailers
•Blues Education

•Fans       Find all the nomination details here

May 31-Jun 1 Radio Show: Valarie June

Tennessee musician Valerie June is a roots musician making waves with her album, Pushin' Against The Stone. Critics, fans and radio hosts alike are in blues heaven. Come give Valerie June a listen. She is something else.

 

Valerie June... Next time in the Bluesmobile.

 

 

For a list of stations where you can find BluesMobile Radio Click Here

Ruthie Foster :: PHENOMENAL WOMAN

Did you know that I do Custom Comic Strips & Comic Pages as gifts?

To view our entire calendar of more than 500 festivals, click here!

RBA Publishing Inc is based in Reno, Nevada USA. We are woman owned and operated.

 

We produce the annual Blues Festival Guide magazine (publishing our 12th annual in 2014), affiliated with the top-ranking website: www.BluesFestivalGuide.com, and this weekly blues newsletter: The Blues Festival E-Guide with approximately 28,500 weekly subscribers.

 

We look forward to your suggestions, critiques and questions. You can reach the E-Guide editor, Michele Lundeen at editor@bluesfestivaleguide.com or michele@bluesfestivalguide.com.

 

Contact our home office to find out how to advertise in this e-weekly newsletter. Call 775-337-8344.

 

Information both editorial and advertising in the Blues Festival E-Guide is believed to be correct but not guaranteed. Double check info carefully before you attend any event or send money for anything. We do not write the news... we just report it.