| April 9, 2007 |
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Vol 2 Issue 11
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KOKO TAYLOR : : Old School
OLD SCHOOL, the first new CD in seven years from Grammy-winning Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor. Inspired by the sound and spirit of the Chicago blues of the 1950s, Taylor wrote five new originals and carefully chose songs from Willie Dixon, Lefty Dizz, Magic Sam and others to create an album of tough, "old school" Chicago blues.
With the aptly titled OLD SCHOOL, Taylor once again shows the world what she does so well. From foot-stomping barnburners to powerful slow blues, Koko proves in an instant that her blues are joyous and life-affirming, powerful and soul-stirring.
OLD SCHOOL brings it all back home, with Taylor supported by a band of veteran musicians and young revivalists. Singing like she did for Chess Records early in her career, Taylor belts out a set of material that could easily have topped the blues charts in the 1950s, and will certainly reach the top of the blues world today.
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IMPERIAL CROWNS : : Hymn Book
The Imperial Crowns are four hard working souls who have put their hearts and minds together to create blues that is traditional yet contemporary. Each with an extensive background in the rough and tumble L.A. music scene, but never sucked into the machine. Can ya dig it? Well, ya better get yourself together baby, 'cause they're comin' straight at you!
As writers and producers Jimmie Wood and J.J. Holiday are fresh as they come. The songs jump off the CD with ferocity. Live on stage you'll witness something like a tent revival. Jimmie raising the dead with his singing, harmonica playing and "preaching" semi X rated "sermons" spat out between songs. J.J. taking everybody to school with his envelope-pushing guitar style, while being driven by the in-the-pocket yet untamed rhythm section.
Hard to classify, and definitely not for everybody. Is there a place for this band in today's modern world? Damn right! There's a big open space in the heavens waiting for The Imperial Crowns to fill it!
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WES JEANS : : Forest of the Pines
Blasting like a flash of lightning out of East Texas, Wes Jeans presents his strongest studio outing to date. Jeans, delivers a mix of high voltage, rockin' Texas Blues. Forest Of The Pines opens with the spirited title track that will surely grab you with its grinding rhythms and stinging leads allowing you a look into Wes Jeans' Marshall Texas roots. Other high-powered Rock/Blues passages such as "Move On" and "Let Me Know" feature Memphis guitar slasher Eric Gales. The producer of the cd , Lance Lopez, also makes a special guest appearance on guitar and vocals. All throughout this disc Wes Jeans does what he does best, playing the Blues. And this CD only solidifies his place in history as one of Texas' legendary guitarist. "Jumping at Shadows" and "Back to Bed" displays Wes' admiration and homage to B.B.King and Albert King. "Here By Me" is a Beatle-esque ballad of sorts complete with its soft acoustic intro to it's soaring solo is definitely a deep and emotional song of love, loss and guidance. Forest Of The Pine will be considered a classic Blues/Rock disc for years to come.
Wes Jeans Website: http://www.wesjeans.com
Wes Jeans MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/wesjeans
Buy The CD: http://www.buymusicdirect.com/product_info.php?products_id=165
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Enter this contest and win!
Next contest will be introduced on April 27th. Keep checking back.
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What Love Is? ... well, it's the Blues to us!
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On March 20, The Blues Festival Guide was invited to attend the red-carpet gala L.A. premier of the movie What Love Is? (www.whatloveisthemovie.com).
The Executive Producer and Musical Supervisor of this “romantic comedy for men” (starring Sean Astin, Gina Gershon, Cuba Gooding, Jr and Ann Heche), is none other than Randy Chortkoff of The Mannish Boys, Delta Groove Records and partner company Big Sky Motion Pictures.
The film features music from Delta Groove recording artists Mitch Kashmar and The Mannish Boys.
We couldn't make the over-packed premier but BFG contributor Mary Ann Haskell and I were determined not to miss the after-party. Decked out in our finery, we drove the 2+ hours up from San Diego in a driving rainstorm to the Avalon Ballroom at Hollywood & Vine in Los Angeles. The art deco Avalon was bustling with beautiful people wearing everything from furs to jeans (in true California fashion) and were lined up at the various bars for Cosmopolitans and Heinekens. It seemed the majority were unaware that some of the finest Blues talent around was in the house.
The Phantom Blues Band, punctuated by the riveting vocals and keys of Mike Finnegan, succeeded to set the tone for an evening of fine Blues and Soul, as dancers trickled to the floor. Soul belter Jackie Payne, and his guitarist Steve Edmonson, joined in, adding another dynamic - musically as well as visually - and garnered even further attention to the stage. Meanwhile, backstage was teeming with who’s-who’s including Rich Del Grosso, Janiva Magness, Leon Blue and more, visiting plus enjoying the fried chicken, greens and potato salad. We met the effervescent Blues-Soul DJ Lynette “Fire Diva” Brown from Mobile, AL and ran into DJ, pal Brian Spencer from Las Vegas. Everyone was friendly, laughing… no attitudes here.
With a quick set change The Mannish Boys were onstage with Kid Ramos and Kirk Fletcher on guitar, Larry Taylor on bass, Richard Innes (Hollywood Blue Flames) on drums, Rob Rio on keys, and Randy on harp along with Johnny Dyer and Finis Tasby laying down some soulful, funky and inspired vocals. The girls were hollering; the dance floor full; the audience on its feet and at the stage. It felt good, really good. We were proud of Randy and his crew and proud once again to be a part of that big, happy family we call the Blues.
…Your Blues Festival Guide magazine Editor, Michele Lundeen
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BluesSource Moves to Clarksdale, MS
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BluesSource.com, a weekly Blues publication on the World Wide Web, is moving its headquarters to Clarksdale, MS.
BluesSource.com, a weekly Blues publication on the World Wide Web, is moving its operations to Clarksdale, Ms, and is opening a retail store there also. This site on the World Wide Web features Blues News, CD reviews, DVD reviews, Photos, Slideshow, and a Podcast with the artists and movers and shakers in the world of Blues.
The Editor and Publisher is Gary W. Miller. He has been involved in Blues as a player, fan, photographer and writer for most of forty years. His photos and reviews have appeared in many Blues Society magazines and foreign newspapers. He also wrote for Blueswax ezine online.
Mr. Miller said "I am also opening a retail store at 115 E. Third Street, to be called 'BluesSource'.” That title is a little misleading because I will be selling some of the most fantastic and rare music on vinyl that I have personally collected over a forty year period, and it's not all Blues. There is a vast selection of LPs, 45s, 78s, posters, books, memorabilia, photos, magazines, comics, and other curios in the collection. All of the items are original. The collection itself is from 1949 to present. Music and Vinyl collectors will go crazy! It should be like a museum, but I need to sell it all off. I am over the hoarding aspect of the music, but I prefer it goes to real fans of music."
BluesSource will have a tent in front of the BluesSource store at 115 E. Third Street in Clarksdale, for the weekend of the Juke Joint Festival. "We want to meet as many fans and travelers as we can. Also, we plan to give away some cool items in a drawing for those that sign up as members. It's all free!"
"The store will take some time to set up, but we hope to have it going by May 1st of this year. We want to invite everyone to come by and introduce themselves and we look forward to becoming a special place for Music fans everywhere. We'll see you at the Crossroads."
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BuyMusicDirect.Com launches SellMusicDirect.Com to bring together CD & MP3 distribution, custom disc manufacturing and podcast licensing
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BuyMusicDirect.com is the first company of its kind to encompass traditional CD sales and fulfillment, MP3 distribution, disc manufacturing, and the licensing of independent music for podcasts, making it the only one-stop source for independent artists that record and market their own music. One of their unique services is the company's DISCS ON DEMAND™ capability, which allows an artist to place a CD for sale on BuyMusicDirect.Com without having to incur the initial expense from a traditional manufacturer. The quality of the DISCS ON DEMAND™ CD and insert printing is nearly indistinguishable from a major commercial release. It gives artists the capability of now ordering any quantity of CD’s to fit their needs.
Already notable artists such as Chris Duarte, Wes Jeans, Lance Lopez, Artimus Pyle, Jon Butcher Axis, The Barefoot Servants and Leon Hendrix have added their CD’s to the BuyMusicDirect.com online catalog. BuyMusicDirect features music of every music genre and offers downloads and shipping to anywhere in the world. For more detailed information about these services check out SellMusicDirect.Com and BuyMusicDirect.Com.
[paid advertisment]
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International Songwriting Competition Blues Winners
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International Songwriting Competition has announced its winners from among almost 15,000 entries from 88 countries throughout the world.
ISC is an international song contest for amateur and professional songwriters.
In the Blues category, First Place was awarded to a familiar name--Jeff Turmes and his song Eat The Lunch You Brought. Second place went to the late Paul DeLay with Fourteen Dollars In The Bank and Sam "Bluzman" Taylor, Jr. took third with A Woman's Side Of The Bed .
Those receiving Honorable Mention included
Put A Sock In It by Memphis' Laurie "Waddy" Mitchell, whose CD "Ol Soul" also made it to the Top Ten of The Blues Foundation's Best Self Produced CD contest.
Other Honorable Mention included:
Can't Wait Around Anymore Brian Mitchell – New York, NY, USA
Don't Let It Get You Down Boney Fields – Vitry/Seine, France
How'd You Know I Missed You Rick Fines, Suzie Vinnick – Peterborough, ON, Canada
Love Blues Jimmie Wood/JJ Holiday (Imperial Crowns) – St Paul, MN, USA Silver Dollar Colin Germano (Bourbon Street) – Drummoyne, NSW, Australia So Blue Without You Kevin Mark (Kevin Mark Blues Band) – Dorval, QC, Canada
This Is My Church Chris Fitz (Chris Fitz Band) – Lynn, MA, USA
Whole Lot To You Dragan Pecinar (Demode) – Belgrade, Yugoslavia
The ISC is not accepting entries for the 2007 songwriting competition. For more information click here
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Delta Blues Museum awarded $1.5M grant
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CLARKSDALE — The Delta Blues Museum will use a $1.5 million grant to fund a significant expansion.
The museum, housed in the former Clarksdale railroad depot since 1999, will add 2,700 square feet of permanent educational exhibit space with the money from the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Museum director Shelly Ritter said part of the new space likely will be used to house Muddy Waters’ cabin, which had been too tall to display in the current building.
The Delta Blues Museum is the state’s oldest music museum. It was founded in 1979 and has been housed at 1 Blues Alley, a train depot built in 1918.
Now that the grant has been secured, planning will get under way and construction must begin by September 2009.
Ritter said she hopes will have a significant affect on the museum.
“I think the museum is going to be empowered to realize its potential,” she said. “We’re finally going to have some resources to really honor the artists and give them what they deserve.”
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BUDDY GUYS TO REMAIN OPEN PAST MAY 31ST DEADLINE
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From Buddy Guy's Legends:
"As May 31st approaches, which is the date the current lease is up at Legends, questions are pouring in on the status of our move. Please be assured that the club will NOT be closing! While a new location is still in the works, Legends will continue to do business at 754 S. Wabash Avenue in Chicago, until the new site is ready to open. As always, thank you for your patience and concern, and come on down for some blues!"
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Shemekia Copeland will perform in a FREE concert at the Schomburg Center in Harlem
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On April 28th Shemekia Copeland will perform in a FREE concert at the Schomburg Center in Harlem as part of Carnegie Hall's Neighborhood Concert Series. Details follow:
Shemekia Copeland with the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Friday, April 28th at 7:30
Langston Hughes Auditorium
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Lenox Avenue (at 135th Street)
New York, NY
(212) 491-2200
FREE
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News from Delta Groove and Alligator Records
Delta Groove Productions proudly welcomes the newest members of our family, The Insomniacs. Based in Portland, Oregon, the band led by 25 year old Vyasa Dodson draws inspiration from many of the West Coast's most highly regarded and influential musicians including Hollywood Fats, Junior Watson and Little Charlie & the Nightcats, in addition to Portland's very own Phil Wagner and Marco Savo. Accompanied by Dean Mueller on bass, Alex Shakeri on keyboards and Dave Melyan on drums, The Insomniacs have quickly established themselves in the Northwest with a solid reputation for delivering highly energetic live performances along with strong, well-crafted originals, helping to earn them a Muddy Award last year for "Best New Act" of 2006. Look for their official worldwide debut release Left Coast Blues this summer on Delta Groove.
Check them out online at: http://www.myspace.com/insomniacsblues
Alligator recording artists Lonnie Brooks and Little Charlie & The Nightcats will each have a song played during an upcoming episode of the hit HBO series The Sopranos. Brooks' song It’s Your World from his Alligator CD, "Roadhouse Rules", will be heard during the April 8 episode. And on April 29, Little Charlie & The Nightcats’ Slap Happy, from their latest CD, "Nine Lives," will be heard on the show.
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BETH HAMMOND:Rockin' Blues with a hint of pop.
 Beth is a singer, songwriter and performer originally from New Hampshire. Her band is made up of some very accomplished musicians from the Massachusetts area. The music can be described as a twist on Susan Tedeschi. "My music is about my fears, hopes, dreams, and anguish. I am very devoted to my career, as are the members of my band. I now have a development deal with two producers and they back all of my projects. We released a new demo this past March. We are continually upgrading our sound and bringing it to new heights! We have added 2 backup singers. The band has an amazing sound! We are making a video for "Throw me the money". I wrote the script, and designed the costumes. I am working with a Choreographer and a few dancers. I recently began coaching singers at Bristol Studios in Boston. I am also a makeup artist for MAC. The last two years have been a real process for me. I finally have a real band backing me. My energy, drive and saucy heartache is what sets me apart. I wanna rock your soul out and make you feel all the things you try so hard to run from. Website http://www.bethhammond.net |
News from Pennsylvannia, England and Florida
The founder of the Easton (Pennsylvannia) Blues Jam says he'll resurrect the festival later this year, with the help of the Woodstock-era blues/rock band Canned Heat.
Although he hasn't found a venue yet, Lance Miccio hopes to hold the festival in August, bringing in Canned Heat and some other national blues bands, as well as local acts.
"He wants to make it happen. We want to back him as much as possible," said Fito de la Parra, Canned Heat's drummer, in a telephone interview.
Beginning in 2000, the Blues Jam served as a weeklong showcase for local musicians, who would play in bars, restaurants and clubs in the Easton area. The festival would typically culminate with a large concert. Last month, organizers Oli Landwijt and Bob Thena announced that the festival wouldn't happen this year after fundraising efforts fell short.
Miccio -- who had run the Blues Jam until 2003 -- decided to step in.
''The venue is the next mission,'' Miccio said. He hopes that by announcing the return of the Blues Jam now more pieces will fall into place.
''I thought that if people were aware that it wasn't going to end, that would help,'' he said.
The future of the Burnley (England) Blues Festival is secure after a new sponsor came forward to fund the event.
Aerospace design and manufacturer Aircelle Ltd, based in Bancroft Road, Burnley, has signed up a deal which secures the festivals until 2011.
The event's future was thrown into doubt after Burnley Council withdrew its £50,000 funding as part of a bid to save £1million from its budget.
This year's show over the coming weekend will be funded by the council and Aircelle's sponsorship will start in 2008.
The National Blues Festival attracts thousands of music fans to the town to watch national and international acts performing at the Mechanics Theatre and various other venues around the town over the Easter weekend.
Among the highlights of this year's festival are return visits by Sharrie Williams and Earl Thomas. Rounding off the festival in style will be Tommy Castro and his band.
JACKSONVILLE BEACH - The George's Music Springing the Blues Festival should be around for its 20th anniversary since the City Council approved a three-year contract extension for the event Monday.
The council voted unanimously to approve the extension of the contract through 2011 with festival organizer Sam Veal. The contract was supposed to expire in 2008. The event has been held in Jacksonville Beach since 1991 and this year's festival begins Friday.
Veal has said the popularity of the festival is a testament to its quality. "It's a wonderful thing to put this event on in this fine city. We feel its reputation has gone far and wide."
The extension of the contract by the city also continues a nominal commitment in tax dollars to help the event. The city puts $12,698 each year into the Springing the Blues festival.
In addition to securing 20 years of blues festivals, Veal will also use the extension to secure multi-year sponsorships to help keep the event running and reduce the need for any additional public funds.
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News from New York, Arkansas and Florida
The Downstate New York Blues Society has annouced their Third Annual Blues Cruise. It sails from Freeport, Long Island on June 16th and goes on a four hour cruise including food and drink. Our music this year will be provided by
The Bennett Harris Duo
Tommy Keys and Co. (IBC Finalist in 2006)
Nicole Hart and the NRG Band
Tickets are available from our website at www.downstatenyblues.org
Plans are continuing for the 2007 Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival sponsored by the Sonny Boy Blues Society, despite an IRS freeze on the society's assets. That's according to blues society president Rayne Gordon.
Gordon said the festival, formerly the King Biscuit Blues Festival, lost money last year, between $25,000 and $30,000. He said the group suffered the losses because it lost funding sources right before the festival.
According to Gordon, the society's assets were frozen for taxes that were not filed properly, and the group is working to pay the money it owes even as it plans for this year's festival.
The festival has seen almost 22 years of continued packed crowds despite the name change from The King Biscuit Blues Festival.
Once again this year, The South Florida Blues Society is happy to present a teriffic opportunity to win a cabin for two on The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, leaving Ft. Lauderdale, January 13 - 20, 2008!
Raffle tickets are only $20 each, and a maximum of only 500 will be sold. The drawing will take place at our 5 Year Anniversary Picnic in September (exact date to be announced) These tickets are worth $5,000! Please don't delay, purchase your chances now!!! All the proceeds go to the SFBS. This cruise is always terrific, and always a sell out!!! So if you can't afford to spend the full purchase price to go Bluesin', here's the perfect opportunity to try your luck in winning this awesome prize for only $20!
You can purchase tickets, online with a credit card or E-Check securely through PayPal on our web site www.soflablues.org, or send a check for $20 for each ticket to:*
South Florida Blues Society
P.O. Box 772548
Coral Springs, FL 33077-2548
*Be sure to legibly include your name, address, phone number and email address
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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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