| March 2, 2007 |
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Vol 2 Issue 6
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ADVERTISE IN THE BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE "THE MAGAZINE"
If Blues is your business, don't miss this is a once a year opportunity to promote yourself, your festival, your band, your record label, etc. in the 5th annual Blues Festival Guide magazine.
With circulation numbers more than 3 times that of the next largest blues publication, this is where your ads need to be.
THE BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE is retained and referred to for an entire year. Advertisers get multiple impressions from just one ad.
Rates and payment plans for every budget.
The Ad deadline for the 2007 BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE magazine is April 2nd.
Call 775/337-8626 TODAY to find out more and to reserve your space.
Or click to visit our website www.BluesFestivalGuide.com
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COREY STEVENS : : Albertville
Ruf Records welcomes veteran singer/songwriter/guitarist Corey Stevens to the label. Albertville is Stevens’ 6th release in 13 years, but his first for Ruf Records.
Albertville is a departure from Steven’s previous CDs where he had been the primary songwriter. Albertville is a musical tribute to Albert King. All the songs, with just one exception were either written or famously covered by Albert King.
While on tour a few years ago, Stevens was in Minnesota on a road which took him directly through a town named Albertville. The name caused him to reflect back on his idol and musical inspiration, Albert King. Then an idea hit him to record a CD in tribute to the blues giant. In real life, Stevens got to meet King at a show in Santa Monica, CA. Stevens remembers, "I shook Albert King’s hand. It was a big moment in my life. That night he played a four-song encore that has never been topped!" When recording Albertville, Stevens says “I not only perform songs from Albert King, I do it in the style of Albert King”.
Joining Stevens for the recording was drummer Steve Ferrone, who has logged years of touring with Eric Clapton, The Average White Band and Tom Petty.
(remember to allow pop-ups in order to listen)
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PHILLIP WALKER : : Going Back Home
On his Delta Groove debut, the legendary Gulf Coast guitarist Phillip Walker, goes back to his roots to explore the rich history of Louisiana, Texas and the West Coast on classic material by Lowell Fulson, Ray Charles, Lonesome Sundown, Lightnin' Hopkins, Frankie Lee Sims and more. Walker is joined by label mates Al Blake, Fred Kaplin and Richard Innes of the Hollywood Blues Flames, along with support by Bay area guitarist Rusty Zinn, boogie woogie pianist Rob Rio, the versatile Jeff Turmes on standup & electric bass and tenor & bari saxophones, David Woodford on tenor sax, and Walker's own bassist on the road, James W. Thomas.
(remember to allow pop-ups in order to listen)
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FRANK (Paris Slim) GOLDWASSER : : bluju
Frank (Paris Slim) Goldwasser's new CD "bluju", produced by Delta Groove founder Randy Chortkoff, has won praise in Europe as one of the most progressive blues releases in years. Goldwasser taps into a deep well spring of influences, from blues and soul, to world music, to rock and beyond, while at the same time remaining deeply rooted in the blues tradition. Included on this newly expanded edition available for the first time here in the U.S. are two bonus tracks featuring wild renditions of the Hound Dog Taylor songs "She's Gone" and "55th Street Boogie", bringing Goldwasser full circle back to his roots and the music that initially inspired him in his youth.
(remember to allow pop-ups in order to listen)
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Enter this contest and win!
We are hard at work making plans for the next contest. Keep checking back.
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THIS FROM A BAND WHO MADE MONEY COVERING WILLIE DIXON'S BLUES SONGS
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Several famous musicians are suing a local business owner for copyright infringement for allowing cover bands to play their songs without permission.
Van Halen Music Company, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Patricia Bonham are all named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging that Vail business owner Steven Kovacik allowed public performances of their songs at 8150, the lawsuit says.
Kovacik, owner of 8150, said he would not comment on the lawsuit. The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Colorado, names Kovacik and a company named Big Snow Ball LLC as defendants.
The plaintiffs alleged 10 counts of copyright infringement because the defendants allowed bands to play 10 copyrighted songs on Jan. 15 and 16 at 8150, the lawsuit says. The plaintiffs are suing for as little as $750 per song and as much as $30,000 per song, plus attorneys' fees, according to court documents.
Anthony Juarez, an event coordinator who represents the local band initfortim-who opened for female cover band Lez Zeppelin at 8150 on Jan. 15-said he was surprised by the lawsuit.
"Bands cover famous songs all the time," Juarez said. "We cover songs sometimes."
The lawsuit contends that the defendants allowed public performances of songs such as "Heartbreaker," "Whole Lotta Love," "Rock and Roll" and "Black Dog," written by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and other members of Led Zeppelin; "Hot for Teacher," written by Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth of Van Halen; and "You Shook Me all Night" written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young members of AC/DC.
The defendants failed to obtain a license agreement from the plaintiffs or the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, according to the lawsuit.
Conor Farley, a Denver attorney for the plaintiffs, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Editor Note: Led Zepplin II included songs which were strikingly similar to Willie Dixon's work, although Dixon was not credited. The prelude to "Bring It on Home" is a cover of Sonny Blake's "Bring it on Home" and drew comparisons with Dixon's "Bring It on Back". "Whole Lotta Love" was exceedingly similar to Dixon's "You Need Love/Woman You Need Love" (The lyrics and melody were almost identical to Muddy Water's version of the song, and the same riff, though less pronounced and played in compound time, runs through most of the song). In the 1970s, Arc Music, the publishing arm of Chess Records, brought a lawsuit against Led Zeppelin for copyright infringement over "Bring It on Home" and won an out-of-court settlement.
Dixon himself did not benefit until he sued Arc Music to recover his royalties and copyrights. Years later, Dixon filed suit against Led Zeppelin over "Whole Lotta Love" and a generous out-of-court settlement was reached. Later pressings of Led Zeppelin II credit Dixon.
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'Ma Rainey' educates audiences on 1920s music, culture
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The dangers of lynching, racial prejudice, concerns of getting paid and threats from the police are all just a few struggles of the black man living his life in the 1920s.
On Friday, Feb. 23 the Illinois State University's School of Theatre's Crossroads Theatre presented August Wilson's "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" introduces audiences into the world of blues music in the 1920s by telling the story of a group of black musicians, led by their two white producers, all waiting to record an album with the famous black female singer, Ma Rainey.
As the play progresses, the band shares stories about art, religion and the tragic struggles of their pasts and presents.
Because the School of Theatre presented the play with its Crossroads Theatre, several actors from the community were cast alongside ISU students, including Reverend David W. Brown and Elaine Hill.
Along with creating the dialect of their characters, cast members of the production said they learned a great deal about the struggles for African Americans at that time in history.
"We can all relate to this. Not just for me as an African American, but as an American. Everybody can relate," Carthy Dixon, a sophomore acting major, said.
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" will be showing through March 3. Tickets can be purchased at the Center for Performing Arts box office, which can be reached by phone at (309) 438-2535.
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DAN AYKROYD TOURS NEW "HOUSE OF BLUES" IN DALLAS
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A future home of a House of Blues concert venue in Dallas had a visit from one of the original Blues Brothers — hard hat and all.
Actor, comedian and singer Dan Aykroyd toured the under-construction site Tuesday. At one point during the tour, everyone went outside for the "Mississippi River Mud Ceremony," in which mud from the Mississippi Delta is shipped from New Orleans and shoveled into the foundation where the main stage will be located. According to HOB:
"The rich river mud represents and captures the heart and soul of blues music and the tremendous spirit of Southern hospitality, infusing these qualities into each and every House of Blues venues are tied together by a rich legacy of the blues music that forms the foundation of popular music today".
The new Dallas HOB is scheduled to open May 8, 2007.
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INVITATION TO HELP TRANSFORM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
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CLARKSDALE, MS — A unique invitation to help transform the Mississippi Delta is extended “We Want You To Come!”
The Dreyfus Health Foundation, the Rock River Foundation, Getty Images and the Delta Blues Museum have joined together to offer a unique fund raising opportunity on behalf of DHF’s Problem Solving for Better Health initiatives in the Mississippi Delta.
Your are invited to a very special evening at the legendary Crossroads - Clarksdale, Mississippi - on Saturday, March 3. The evening begins at 5 p.m. at the Delta Blues Museum with the world premiere photographic art exhibit, Under the Roof of a Tin Top Shack””, by Pulitzer-Prize winner David Turnley, staff photographer for Getty Images.
A cocktail reception will follow at the museum. The night continues with dinner at Madidi, the award-winning fine dining restaurant co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman and businessman Bill Luckett. A five course meal and wine pairings will be prepared by Madidi Chef de Cuisine Lee Craven, named in 2005 by the James Beard Foundation as a “Rising Star of American Cuisine”.
Afterwards, dance the night away at Ground Zero Blues Club, also co-owned by Freeman, Luckett and entertainment executive Howard Stovall. Named two years running as one of the “Top 100 Bars and Nightclubs in America” Ground Zero Blues Club offers an eclectic mix of Delta Blues in an authentic Delta juke joint experience at the birthplace of such greats as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Ike Turner. Music will be provided by Jacqueline Nassar, Homemade Jamz, Big T & The Family - plus some very special guests.
An optional Sunday brunch will be held the following morning at the club with acoustic music provided by Bill Abel. Event attendance is limited to 100 patrons, and donations requested are $1000 per person, tax deductible.
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Martin Scorsese Reteams With Oscar Partner And Mick Jagger
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Just days after picking up his first Best Director Oscar for The Departed, Martin Scorsese is reteaming with the film's writer William Monahan for his next project.
The pair will be developing The Long Play, a rock 'n' roll epic that also reunites Scorsese with Sir Mick Jagger and his company Jagged Films, who will produce the project.
Scorsese directed Jagger and his Rolling Stones bandmates in a feature documentary last year and is planning to release the documentary later this year.
The film, which is based on an idea from Jagger, follows two friends through 40 years in the music business, from the early days of R&B to contemporary hip-hop
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BLUES SOCIETY REFERRAL PROGRAM
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The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise folks have just annouced a Blues Society Referral Program.
Raise money easily for your blues society! Every time a member of your blues society registers and sails on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, you receive a $50 referral free.
It's quick, it's easy and there's no limit to what you can earn! Just send your members to our site at http://bluesruise.com/signup/. It's that simple!
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STAX RECORDS REVUE HOSTED BY ISAAC HAYES AT FAMED ANTONE’S, THE HIGHLIGHT OF SXSW 2007 MARCH 15 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
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The 50th anniversary of Stax Records along with the label’s re-activation-in-full will be celebrated at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference with a live reunion of some of Stax’s biggest stars. Booker T & the MGs (featuring Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn), William Bell, Eddie Floyd and surprise guests will unite for a 90-minute set scheduled to take place Thursday, March 15, 7:30 - 9 p.m., at Austin’s legendary Anton’es nightclub, 213 W. 5th St. in Austin. Admission will be open to all SXSW badge and wristband holders.
Today at the original site of Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee is the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and Stax Music Academy. The only soul music museum in the world, the Stax Museum is a 17,000-square-foot facility with more than 2,000 exhibits, videos, films, photographs, musical instruments, stage costumes, automobiles, and other artifacts that tell the fascinating story of Stax Records as well as other soul music labels.
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DELTA GROOVE PRODUCING MOVIES AND BLUES MUSIC
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Rand "Randy" Chortkoff, founder of Delta Groove Productions, known for it's "west coast blues" releases, also produces movies. Block buster kind of movies, with big name stars like Cuba Gooding Jr. (pictured with blues artist Ana Popovic).
Randy's latest movie project is "WHAT LOVE IS" in theaters nationwide on March 23rd.
WHAT LOVE IS is a date movie for real people. It peels back its characters’ gender and sexual facades to provide explosive insights on men’s feelings, women’s feelings, and most importantly—how they warp and adjust them to cope with one another once they get together. The crackling dialogue and raw emotion of the film climb towards a conclusion that will both surprise and satisfy filmgoers nationwide.
Premiering at the Sundance Film festival, WHAT LOVE IS afterparty featured Delta Groove's newest artist, Ana Popovic headlined the after party.
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TOM AND CHERYL RETURN TO MISSISSIPPI
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Blues Festival Guide Representative, Cheryl O'Grady-Yearnshaw recently had the honor of being invited to speak at two Festivals and Events Workshops in Mississippi in mid-January, and hubby Tom had the pleasure of accompanying her and assisting.
The workshops were hosted by the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Arts Commission and took place in Natchez and Clarksdale.
Cheryl’s spoke about “getting the word out”: Marketing Your Festival – A Bit of the New Plus Some “Tried and True.” Icy weather for the Dallas flight connection stacked up delays, causing her to miss the Natchez workshop and to barely make the one in Clarksdale.
The quality and enthusiasm of the participants in Clarksdale -- attendees and fellow presenters alike – provided a hint of what had been missed two days before in Natchez. The approximately seventy-five participants at the Clarksdale Workshop were involved in a wide variety of festival types and included many who were associated with blues festivals.
In addition to Cheryl talk about festival marketing, Aimee Schmidt spoke on Artist’s Relations and Festival Site Designs and Paul Clarke discussed ways to Cultivate Corporate Sponsorships. All three presentations were well received, and we picked up many tips from the other presenters.
Before the presentations began, folks from all over northern Mississippi were informally chatting, becoming acquainted with others with similar interests and sharing ideas about their festivals. We had a chance to meet many of the participants at this time and also got a chance to answer questions and discuss a variety of topics with participants during the afternoon breakout session.
Festival organizers and hosts -- Alex Thomas, Larry Morrisey, Kappi Allen and Roger Stolle -- and the Mississippi tourism and arts agencies are to be commended for initiating and sponsoring an event that is so helpful to so many people. As Paul Clarke mentioned “Festivals are about communities” and there were many communities represented at the Workshop.
A real highlight and marvelous finishing touch to the day in Clarksdale came with the unveiling of the Blues Heritage Trail marker at the historical Riverside Hotel. This was a special treat for Tom and Cheryl, since both are long-time Blues lovers and knew of the historical significance the Riverside Hotel. Getting a tour of the hotel and a chance to chat with current owner, Frank “Rat” Ratliff, son of long-time hotel owner Mrs. Z. L. Hill, was a real treat, too.
Tom and Cheryl stayed in Mississippi and extra 5 days. visiting many places of interest and had the good fortune to listen to live blues four nights in a row. At a remarkably good Blues Jam at the Mardi Gras Jazz Bar in Jackson on Monday evening, they had the good fortune to meet two of the participants from the Natchez Workshop. Peggy Brown, who is associated with the Central Mississippi Blues Society and who has worked with the Wang Dang Doodle Festival in the past, and Vera Johnson-Collins, who is associated with the Tommy Johnson Blues Festival, were both very enthusiastic about their attendance and both commented about how beneficial they found the Workshop.
After a week well spent in visiting those they already knew (“Big Jim”, Roger Stolle, and Bobby Rush) and in meeting people and making new friends (Willette Romious, Theo and Cindy Dasbach, Red “Red’s Lounge”, Tommy Polk, Po’ Monkey, Mary Shepard, Uncle John and Eddie Cotton, and too many others to mention), it was time for the hard part… Leaving Mississippi!!! -- for truly the hardest thing about visiting Mississippi is leaving. There are so many great people, so much wonderful music, and so many things to see. ButTom and Cheryl tore themselves away, and were already making plans for our next dose of Mississippi hospitality on the plane ride home.
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NEWS FROM DELTA GROOVE AND BLIND PIG RECORDS
The Mannish Boys have just finished recording for the Delta Groove label, their new CD entitled "Big Plans". Release date is May 22, and includes 5 original songs.
Our friends at Delta Groove have told the Blues Festival Guide that there is a surprise guest recording with The Mannish Boys on the CD, and he will soon be revealed as the label's newest signing.
Gifted songwriter and American troubadour Peter Karp has signed a recording contract with Blind Pig Records.
Raised in the rural trailer parks of Southern Alabama and the swamps of North Jersey, Karp is a master songsmith with an art for spinning true-to-life emotions, humor, and candor into tunes that help the listener navigate the speed bumps, traffic lights, and side streets of the road of life.
Karp came to the attention of Blind Pig through a recommendation from labelmate Popa Chubby, who described Karp as "Dylan, J.J. Cale, and a bit of bayou mojo...an American Master."
Karp's Blind Pig album will be entitled Shadows and Cracks and is scheduled to be released in June.
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CLEARWATER FLORIDA 1ST BLUES FESTIVAL A HUGE SUCCESS
Last weekend the city of Clearwater Florida held their first ever blues festival.
Over 10,000 people attended each day, and the city was so pleased with the results that they have already committed to another festival next year.
Congratulations to the city of Clearwater, and thanks for supporting Blues.
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West Coast Blues Hall of Fame & Awards Show
Bay Area Blues Society and the City of Oakland present The West Coast Blues Hall of Fame & Awards Show
Kimball's Carnival Jack London Square, 522 2nd Street, Oakland
Saturday - March 10, 2007 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. - Awards Show
11:30 p.m. to 1;30 a.m. - After Party to support the Bay Area Blues
Society's ongoing programs and notably, the "Blues in the Schools" Program
which uses local blues musicians to teach the history of the Blues to young
students and provide instruction on the playing of musical instruments.
The West Coast Blues Hall of Fame & Awards Show, an annual event, honors blues, jazz and gospel artists for their contributions to the art form called Blues and to celebrate Black History Month. Fifteen extraordinary artists will be inducted into the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame and the Bob Geddins Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the artist who has most influenced a generation of musicians. General Category Awards will be given to the best: blues singer of the year, blues guitar of the year, blues drummer of the year, etc.
This years show will induct notables as Little Stanley and the 5 Brooks, The Fuller Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner, The Whispers, Big John Evans, The Green Brothers, Omar Shariff aka David Alexander, The Stovall Sisters, The Young Hearts, Jasper Evans, The Mekesmo Club, Lenny Williams, Teddy "Blues Master" Watson and Terrible Tom Bowden.
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KENNY WAYNE SHEPERD:Previews his documentary "TEN DAYS OUT"
Blues-Rock sensation Kenny Wayne Shepherd recently walked away from the arenas and down to the back roads and front porches of the deep south, film crew in tow, to talk and make music with blues players both famous and obscure. "Ten Days Out" is his document of the experience, and Elwood Blues will join Kenny Wayne Shepherd for a look at this exciting new project this weekend on the House of Blues Radio Hour.
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Riverwalk Blues & Music Festival
Friday-Saturday, March 2-3, 2007
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
www.riverwalkbluesfestival.com
Hotline: 954-523-1776
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Pickle's Blues Extravaganza
Friday-Saturday, March 2-3, 2007
Lima, Ohio, U.S.
www.picklesbluesextravaganza.com
Hotline: 419-221-3897
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Winter Blues Fest 2007
Friday-Saturday, March 2-3, 2007
Lima, Ohio, U.S.
www.picklesbluesextravaganza.com
Hotline: 419-221-3897
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Texas Independence Day Music Festival
Saturday-Sunday, March 3-4, 2007
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
www.acteva.com/go/texasmusic
Hotline: 214-823-3966
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Blues 'n March Festival
Friday-Saturday, March 9-10, 2007
Cheektowaga, New York, U.S.
www.wnyblues.org
www.bluesnmarch.com
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Savannah Music Festival
March 15-April 1, 2007
Various Venues in Downtown Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
www.savannahmusicfestival.org
Hotline: 912-525-5050
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River City Blues Festival
Friday, March 16-17, 2007
Marietta, Ohio, U.S.
www.bjfm.org
Hotline: 304-295-4323
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Berks Jazz Fest
Friday-Sunday, March 16-25, 2007
Reading, March, U.S.
www.berksjazzfest.com
Hotline: 610-898-1930
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Bangkok Blues Festival
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand
www.bangkokbluesfestival.com
Hotline: 01 823 5608
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St. John Blues Festival
Wednesday-Sunday, March 21-25, 2007
Coral Bay Ball Field
St. John - U.S. Virgin Islands
www.stjohnbluesfestival.com
Hotline: 340-693-8120
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Bluebonnet Blues & Fine Arts Festival
Friday, March 30 - Sunday, April 1, 2007
Marble Falls, Texas, U.S.
www.bluebonnetblues.com
Hotline: 830-798-1041
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Reykjavik Blues Festival
Tuesday-Friday, April 3-6, 2007
Reykjavik, Iceland
www.blues.is
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George's Music Springing the Blues Festival
Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2007
Jacksonville Beach, Florida, U.S.
www.springingtheblues.com
Hotline: 904-249-3972
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Spring Harmonica Festival
Saturday, April 7, 2007
La Mesa/San Diego, California, U.S.
www.springharpfest.org
Hotline: (619) 401-8846
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For years, the Blues Festival Guide Magazine received numerous requests for updates on festivals via email, and on January 10, 2006, the Marketing Director of the Blues Festival Guide magazine, Nancy Edwards partnered with the magazine (RBA Publishing) and published the first emailed issue of the E-Guide E-Newsletter.
The E-Guide is a wonderful resource for everyone interested in Blues! You can expect to see the E-Guide in your inbox weekly. Please email the editor with any questions at
nancy@bluesfestivalEguide.com
To reach thousands of blues enthusiasts, click here to learn how to advertise in this Blues Festival E-Guide E-Newsletter.
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