Koko Taylor took home 3 BMA awards last night.  Her winning categories were
"Traditional Blues Female Artist", "Traditional Blues Album" for OLD SCHOOL, and "Song of the Year" for Gonna Buy Me a Mule.

Taylor’s big break came in 1963. After a particularly fiery performance, songwriter/arranger Willie Dixon approached her. Much to Koko’s astonishment, he told her, “My God, I never heard a woman sing the blues like you sing the blues. There are lots of men singing the blues today, but not enough women. That’s what the world needs today, a woman with a voice like yours to sing the blues.” Dixon first recorded Koko for USA Records and then secured a Chess recording contract for her. He produced several singles and two albums for her—including her huge 1966 hit single Wang Dang Doodle—firmly establishing Koko as the world’s number one female blues talent.

In the early 1970s, Taylor was among the first of the South Side Chicago blues artists to find work—and an audience—on the city’s white North Side. In 1972, Koko played at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival in front of more people than ever before (including a young Bruce Iglauer). Atlantic Records recorded the festival (including her performance) and released a live album, which brought Koko to the attention of a large, national audience. In 1975, Koko found a home with the city’s newest blues label, Iglauer’s Alligator Records. Her first album for the fledgling label, "I Got What It Takes" (AL 4706), earned her a Grammy nomination. Since then, Koko’s recorded eight more albums for Alligator (and received five more Grammy nominations) and has made numerous guest appearances on various tribute albums and recordings of her famous friends. She’s been in movies and on television, on radio and in print all over the world.

Click the LISTEN button to hear Koko Taylor perform "Gonna Buy Me A Mule"

Watermelon Slim took home 2 Blues Music Awards last night for "Band of the Year" and "Album of the Year".

Returning home an fervent anti-war activist, Slim first appeared on the music scene with the release of the only known record by a veteran during the Vietnam War. The project was "Merry Airbrakes", a 1973 protest tinged LP with tracks Country Joe McDonald later covered.

In the following 30 plus years Slim has been a truck driver, forklift operator, sawmiller (where he lost part of his finger), firewood salesman, collection agent, and even officiated funerals. At times he got by as a small time criminal. At one point he was forced to flee Boston where he played peace rallies, sit-ins and rabbleroused musically with the likes of Bonnie Raitt.

He ended up farming watermelons in Oklahoma - hence his stage name and current home base. Somewhere in those decades Slim completed two undergrad degrees in history and journalism.

While roommates, buddies and musical partner with the heavy drinking Henry 'Sunflower' Vestine of Canned Heat, Slim was able to finish a masters degree and member of Mensa, the social networking group reserved for members with certified genius IQs.

Throughout his storied past, it has always been truck driving that Slim returned to. While trucking and hauling industrial waste for thankless bosses at hourly wages to support himself and his family, his id yearned for release of the musician inside. Many of Slim's current songs began a cappella in his rig keeping him awake and entertained.

In 2002 Slim suffered a near fatal heart attack. His brush with death gave him a new perspective on mortality, direction and life ambitions. He says, "Everything I do now has a sharper pleasure to it. I've lived a fuller life than most people could in two. If I go now, I've got a good education, I've lived on three continents, and I've played music with a bunch of immortal blues players. I've fought in a war and against a war. I've seen an awful lot and I've done an awful lot. If my plane went down tomorrow, I'd go out on top."

Click the LISTEN button to hear "The Wheel Man" from Watermelon Slim.

"It's Bobby Rush's world and we just live in it" -- Elwood Blues

It was Bobby Rush's night, as he took home 2 Blues Music Awards.  For "Soul-Blues Male Artist", and "Best Acoustic Album". 

The creator of a singular sound which he dubbed "folk-funk," multi-instrumentalist Bobby Rush was among the most colorful characters on the contemporary chitlin circuit, honing a unique style which brought together a cracked lyrical bent with elements of blues, soul, and funk.

Born Emmit Ellis, Jr. in Homer, LA, on November 10, 1940, he and his family relocated to Chicago in 1953, where he emerged on the West Side blues circuit of the 1960s, fronting bands which included such notable alumni as Luther Allison and Freddie King. However, as Rush began to develop his own individual sound, he opted to forgo the blues market in favor of targeting the chitlin circuit, which offered a more receptive audience for his increasingly bawdy material; he notched his first hit in 1971 with his Galaxy label single "Chicken Heads," and later scored with "Bow-Legged Woman" for Jewel.

He appeared on a wide variety of labels as the decade progressed, culminating in the 1979 LP Rush Hour, produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff for their Philadelphia International imprint. During the early '80s, Rush signed with the LaJam label, where he remained for a number of years; there his work became increasingly funky and deranged, with records like 1984's Gotta Have Money and 1985's What's Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gander often featuring material so suggestive he refused to re-create it live. During the mid-'90s, Rush moved to Waldoxy, heralding a return to a soul-blues sound on LPs including 1995's One Monkey Don't Stop No Show, 1997's Lovin' a Big Fat Woman, and 2000's Hoochie Man. In April 2001, his tour bus crashed, injuring several bandmembers and killing one, Latisha Brown. Rush was hospitalized for a short time, then returned home to recuperate. Rush returned to action in 2003 with the release of the Live From Ground Zero CD and DVD on his own label, Deep Rush, followed by Folkfunk, also on Deep Rush, in 2004. Rush released two albums in 2005, Hen Pecked and Night Fishin'.

Click the LISTEN button to hear "I've Got 3 Problems" by Bobby Rush

It was a good night for Blue's "man in black" Tommy Castro.  PAINKILLER was award the BMA for "Contemporary Blues Album", and Tommy received the BMA for "B.B. King - Entertainer of the Year".

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Tommy expressed interest in learning to play the guitar at age ten. Young Castro was initially inspired by the likes of Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop. Later, wanting to know who their influences were, Tommy became enthralled with the guitar playing of B.B., Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Elmore James and Freddie King, as well as the vocal stylings of Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and James Brown.

In 1991 he formed the Tommy Castro Band, and they quickly became one of the hardest-working and most popular groups in the Bay Area. In 1993 they were named "Club Band of the Year" at the Bay Area Music Awards, an especially prestigious honor since it is a write-in category that includes all musical genres. They won that distinguished award, regarded as an indicator of their success, again in 1994. Previous recipients of the award include Chris Isaak and Huey Lewis and the News.

Tommy Castro is one of the most popular and creative roots artists to emerge in recent years. On his newest CD, PAINKILLER, Castro teamed up with producer John Porter, renowned for his work with a Who's Who list of artists such as Los Lonely Boys, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Santana, B.B. King, Elvis Costello, and Buddy Guy.

Besides recording and touring with his own band. Tommy is also touring with the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue, born out of a nightly ritual on board the Legendary Rhythm & Blues cruises. This dynamic collaboration of talent features the Tommy Castro Band along with an all-star lineup that includes pianist, saxophonist, singer/songwriter Deanna Bogart, Ronnie Baker Brooks, son of legendary bluesman Lonnie Brooks, and Magic Dick, who is best known for his many years as harmonica man in the J. Geils Band. This live recording spotlights many of the highlights of their recent performances.

Click the LISTEN button to hear PAINKILLER by Tommy Castro

 He is a lion, gentle and fierce, kind and proud, uncomplicated!
 
Eddie Kirkland, one of the original Blues men is still bringing himself and the Blues direct to the people. Kirkland, who was born in Jamaica, raised in Alabama from the time he was two till he went off with the Sugar Girls Medicine show at twelve. His teens brought him to Indiana, eventually settling in Detroit. There he polished his Blues to recording status. He toured and recorded with John Lee Hooker for seven and a half years. They made a solid team before parting in the 60's. Kirkland moved to Georgia, where he was bandleader for Otis Redding. Continuous road tours had him working with Ruth Brown, Little Richard, Ben King, Little Johnnie Taylor and many more greats. The rest as they say 'is history'. His heart and soul are one. What he believes; he feels. What he feels he transforms to music.
He plays his passions on his notes and chords, and his life is in his lyrics. 
 
Eddie Kirkland still tours to this day. He is a Living Blues Legend:


May, 2008

May 9 – Black Eyed Sally’s – Hartford, CT
May 10 – Delaware Jazz Blues & BBQ Fest  Kilens Pond State Park - Felton DE
MAY 12 - Time Out Pub - Rockland, ME
MAY 23 - Granary - Farmington, ME
May 24 – Mainely Brews – Waterville, ME
MAY 28 - Higher Grounds - Hallowell, ME (Solo Show)

July, 2008

July 2 – Finland - Imatra Big Band Festival Cruise
July 3 – Finland - Imatra Big Band Festival Tent
July 8 – Finland - Helsinki - On the Rocks
July 12 – Sweden – Amal, Blue festival
July 19 – Luxemburg – Luxemburg, Blues 'n' Rallye

For more information or to book Eddie Kirkland, please contact us at www.bluesboys.com

Click the LISTEN button to hear Eddie Kirkland




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The Eureka Springs Blues Weekend will be held in Eureka Springs, Arkansas on May 29, 30, 31 and June 1. Presented by the 1905 Basin Park Hotel, headliners include Koko Taylor & Her Blues Machine, Indigenous, Rory Block, Michael Burks, Deborah Coleman, Larry Garner, LZ Love, 2008 IBC Winners Trampled Under Foot, and a 100th Birthday Tribute to Louis Jordan featuring Phil Berkowitz & The Sean Carney Band. Also appearing in a special Kid’s Blues performance will be Michael “Hawkeye” Herman.

In addition to these headliners, there will be music in area clubs, a total of over 70 performances in 14 venues, including dozens of regional and national acts. Also, free music will be performed in Basin Park throughout the weekend.

Eureka Springs is a true Victorian wonderland—the entire city is a National Historic District featuring hundreds of beautifully restored Victorian homes, quaint shops, art galleries and awesome restaurants. Lodging opportunities include historic hotels, bed & breakfast inns, cabins & campgrounds. There’s even a tree-house at a wildlife refuge!

                 70 Shows at 15 Venues in 4 Days

So much Blues it takes a four-day weekend to get it all played…

For more information, visit www.EurekaSpringsBlues.com or call 888-855-7823.

For tickets CLICK HERE

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Dixon Landing Music has teamed up with legendary bluesman Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation to sponsor "Hot Blues Nights... Live At 2120! This 3-day event, being held June 5th - 7th at the historic former Chess Records Studios, will be an after hours party when the Chicago Blues Festival retires each evening.

The purpose of the event is to bring awareness to the foundation and to generate additional support for both existing and future programs. The line-up currently includes: Cash McCall (former Chess Records Recording Artist, guitarist/singer), Alex Dixon (pianist, producer, and Willie Dixon's grandson), Steve Bell (harpist and the late harp master Carey Bell's son), Honeyboy Edwards (Grammy Award Winner), Billy Branch and Sons of Blues, David Jacobs-Strain, Nellie "Tiger" Travis, Lurrie Bell, Mud Morganfield (Muddy Waters Jr.), and other special guests! Additionally, the museum will be open from June 5th - 8th for tours. Tickets are available at www.hotbluesnights.com.

Elk Creek Vineyards and Cliffhanger Productions are proud to announce the first annual Elk Creek Vineyards Blues Festival, which is headlined by five time Grammy award winning artist Buddy Guy.  This one-of-a-kind event takes place on May 31st and is also featuring Roomful of Blues and Sonny Moorman on the bill.

Started in 2003, Elk Creek winery is nestled among the rolling hills of Kentucky and is the largest winery in the state.  Home to numerous award-winning wines, the grape-experts at Elk Creek know what grows best on Kentucky soil, and they hand-select grapes at harvest and limit production.

From chardonnays to blushes and merlots, Elk Creek has established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the wine industry. Not only can guests come in and sample the wines and stay at the quaint Elk Creek Lodge, they can participate in numerous events and activities throughout the year.

From browsing art exhibits in the Elk Creek Gallery, to attending cooking classes, there are activities and attractions for all audiences. Perhaps the most unique aspect of this winery is that it is also a concert venue that hosts numerous big name musical acts through the season.

For more information visit: www.elkcreekvineyards.com.


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A Canadian lady who obtained John Lennon's hand written lyrics to "Give Peace A Chance" back in 1969 from Montreal's Queen Elizabeth Hotel is going to sell her treasure. Video of the day is Matthew Ryan 'Jane , I Still Feel The Same'

Gail Renard was 16 when she managed to sneak into the Lennon's room when they were doing the famous bed-in for peace.

John and Yoko invited the world's media to join them in their honeymoon suite in Toronto, and Gail managed to get in with the media.

John gave her the hand written lyrics for the song 'Give Peace A Chance', which he had just written in the room. She has kept for almost 40 years.

Christies will auction the lyrics on July 10. It is estimated to be worth $500,000.

In case you are wondering (I was) here are the lyrics to "Give Peace a Chance"

Ev'rybody's talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism
Isn't it the most
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev'rybody's talking about
Ministers, Sinisters, Banisters and canisters,
Bishops and Fishops and Rabbis and Pop eyes,
And bye bye, bye byes.
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Let me tell you now
Ev'rybody's talking about
Revolution, Evolution, Mastication, Flagelolation, Regulations.
Integrations, Meditations, United Nations, Congratulations
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Oh Let's stick to it
Ev'rybody's talking about
John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary, Tommy Smothers, Bob Dylan,
Tommy Cooper, Derek Tayor, Norman Mailer, Alan Ginsberg, Hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Guests visiting http://www.visitthedelta.com, the marketing website for the Mississippi Delta Tourism Association (MDTA), currently have the opportunity to register and win a Mississippi Delta adventure to the mid-Delta cities of Indianola, Cleveland and Greenville.

    Win a Trip including MS Delta Blues and Heritage Festival

The promotion will be accepting entries until August 28th, and the package features giveaways such as admission to the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center which will open just before the trip is planned. Also, the contest winner can expect cultural and blues tours in Cleveland and festival fun in Greenville. Other gifts include overnight accommodations, some of the Delta's best cuisine and featured attraction visits. The trip wrps up in Greenville at the MS Delta Blues & Heritage Festival -- a celebration of the musical heritage created in the Mississippi Delta.

"MDTA is offering a series of sweepstakes throughout the year to showcase our 9 members," stated Bill Seratt, president of MDTA. "The appeal of the Mississippi Delta is as varied as the offerings of these three towns. From B.B. King to fantastic shopping -- you can find it all in the Mississippi Delta! For more information on the Mississippi Delta and for your chance to win the prize package, visit http://www.visitthedelta.com

Prize Package

    Thursday, September 18th -- Arrive in Indianola for BB King Museum,town tour and overnight

    -- Lunch for two from the Crown Restaurant
    -- Gift basket and gift certificates from Taste of Gourmet and the Indianola Pecan House.
    -- Copy of Steve Cheseborough's "Blues Traveling"
    -- Free admission to the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
    -- Accommodations in queen size bed cabin at Bed on the Bayou

    Friday, September 19th -- Travel to Cleveland for shopping, town tourand overnight

    -- Gift certificates for dinner at the Pickled Okra and lunch at the Warehouse
    -- Personally guided tour -- Blues and Culture Tour
    -- Overnight accommodations at one of Cleveland's finest properties
    -- Gift basket

    Saturday, September 20th -- Travel to Greenville for gaming, town tour,MS Delta Blues and Heritage Festival and overnight

    -- Overnight accommodations at one of Greenville's finest properties
    -- Tickets for two to the MS Delta Blues & Heritage Festival
    -- Welcome basket

Omega Events is proud to announce that nine-time Grammy Award Winner BONNIE RAITT will headline the 2008 Doheny Blues Festival.

The weekend’s festivities will include 26 performances, including Jonny Lang, the Robert Cray Band, Little Feat, Eric Burdon & The Animals, Pinetop Perkins, Bobby Rush, Joe Bonamassa, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and many others.

2 Days  •  3 Stages  •  26 Performances

Saturday, May 17, 2008
• Jonny Lang
• Robert Cray Band
• Eric Burdon & The Animals
• Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin & Willie Big Eyes Smith
• J.J. Grey & MOFRO
• B.B. & The Blues Shacks Direct from Germany
• Bobby Rush "Raw" - on The Backporch
• Paul Rishell & Annie Raines Band - on The Backporch
• Los Fabulocos featuring Kid Ramos
• Lazy Lester & Friends
• Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
• Elnora and Sumpthin’ Cooking, Leff Rogers, L.A. Jones

Sunday, May 18, 2008
• Bonnie Raitt
• Little Feat with special guest Coco Montoya
• The Bobby Rush Soul-Blues Revue
• Joe Bonamassa
• Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk
• Watermelon Slim & The Workers - on The Backporch
• Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets with special guest James Harman
• Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers with special guest The Reverend Billy C. Wirtz
• Eli “Paperboy” Reed & The True Loves
• Shawn Jones, Pat Hennessy & Terry Medieros


THE 2008 FESTIVAL WILL FEATURE:

·         A waterfront grass park with two main stages at opposite ends of the venue

·         The Backporch Stage, where fans can enjoy acoustic performances in an intimate lawn area

·         A large Vendor Village with tons of cool stuff

·         International Food Court with authentic restaurants and tasty beverages

·         A Microbrew Tasting, for those with discerning taste for the hops

·         On-site music store where fans can meet the performers and buy new music

Come for the music... enjoy it all!

Microbrew Tasting at The Backporch!
Sample some fine beers while enjoying acoustic blues music - 3 small glasses for only $10. Microbrew tasting is open from 11 am - 6 pm.

International Food Court & Vendor Village
Blues music and tasty food... it's an American tradition. The Doheny food court will have 15 vendors serving their eclectic menus, everything from BBQ to Greek to vegetarian. After lunch, browse through the 50+ vendor booths throughout the festival grounds. 

Ellie's Incredible Merchandise Booth
Last year, the Doheny Merchandise team created 100+ items for the festival, and they’ve outdone themselves this year... t-shirts, ladies tops, posters, poker sets, golf apparel, beach bags, you name it - they printed it. Arrive early to get your proper size! 

Festival Layout
Doheny State Beach, a 62-acre state park in scenic Dana Point Harbor, features one mile of whitewashed sandy beach. Two main stages are placed at opposite ends of a large grass field, and both stages are within 100 yards of the Pacific Ocean. A third stage has been added, the Backporch, and there is also an International Food Court and large Vendor Village. The landscaped grass field at the north end of the park (where the festival is held) includes 170 picnic tables, volleyball courts and plenty of parking.

For tickets and more information visit: www.omegaevents.com



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Adam Gussow has annouced he's releasing a new Satan and Adam album, WORD ON THE STREET," on May 14th as a digital download at www.modernbluesharmonica.com.  It's a double-length album of material that Adam recorded on the streets of Harlem back in 1989 when they were buskers there, just downwind from the Apollo Theater.

Delta Groove Reocrds asks you to "please join us in welcoming the latest addition to the Delta Groove family – Los Fabulocos! Powered by the muscular tone of Kid Ramos’ slashing guitar, Los Fabulocos simmers up a spicy and tantalizing blend of Tex Mex, Blues, R&B and Rock-A-Billy delivered with honesty, sincerity and passion. The band consists of Jesse Cuevas on accordion and vocals, Kid Ramos on guitar, bajo sexto and vocals, James Barrios on bass and vocals, and Mike Molina on drums. The new album produced by David Z features Los Fabulocos’ special brand of roots oriented music which shares much in common with the south of the border stylings of such pioneering acts as Los Lobos, the Hacienda Brothers, and the Texas Tornados. Look for their sizzling Delta Groove debut available this Fall".

Also annouced by Robert Fitzpatrick, President of Delta Groove and Eclecto Groove Records "On September 23rd, we are proud to announce the release of Elvin Bishop’s much anticipated THE BLUES ROLLS ON featuring B.B. King, George Thorogood, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, John Nemeth, Kim Wilson, James Cotton and Tommy Castro.  We know that Elvin’s established fan base and those of these legendary guests will be overwhelmed with this project.  It has the musical potency, potential radio friendliness with its concise charm, punch and focus, and the buzz points to touch new listeners and support the publicity it richly deserves.

We will also be releasing many more albums in the coming months, including The Soul of John Black’s BLACK JOHN on the Eclecto Groove label.  The Soul of John Black is John Bigham, an incredibly adventurous artist unafraid to take risks while pursuing his musical legend.  Rolling Stone Magazine has called JB’s music as “amazing (the harbinger of)…whole new brand of soul.”  The former member of rock – funk – ska band Fishbone has played with such diverse artists as Eminem, Dr. Dre, Rosey, Joi, Nikki Costa, Bruce Hornsby and Everlast.  The rough cuts sound incredible and we’re confident his new album will further prove the eclectic nature of all roots music. 

Still on our release schedule in the coming months is Ana Popovic’s new “Still Making History - Remix" album, a new solo project from Bobby Jones and the Delta Groove/CBC Broadcasting Mitch Kashmar “Live” recording.

Oklahoma Blues Festival promoter D.C. Minner has died at the age of 73.

Minner, a blues guitarist, and his wife Selby have hosted the Dusk ‘til Dawn Blues Festival in his hometown of Rentiesville each Labor Day weekend for 17 years.

He was born in January 1935 in Rentiesville and went on to play bass guitar behind such blues legends and rock‘n’roll pioneers as Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Freddy King. He met Selby, a bass guitarist, while living in California in the late 1960s.

Minner was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and received a Governor’s Arts Award from Gov. Brad Henry in 2005.

He had been sick the last couple of years, and passed Tuesday night while at home with his wife, Selby.  Contingency plans allowing the Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival to continue are in place, so once again the festival will take place over Labor Day weekend.

Producers of the Solar Music Festival are doing more than talking the talk.They're walking the walk and living green. The festival's Solar Stage will be powered by photovoltaic panels while the main stage uses the wind energy from Kit Carson Electric, a small but progressive energy coop in this northern New Mexico town.

Exhibitors in the Solar Village will display a fuel cell that works all day long from clean hydrogen fuel made on site from the sun!  Music fans will have the opportunity to feel how hot that water can get from the sun with a full scale solar hot water setup. Learn about other hot water uses such as heating your radiant floor and more, and see how energy efficiency programs, buying green power from local utilities, national forest, wilderness and waterway protection and creating land trusts to preserve open space via many different exhibits.

The Solar Village is free and festival attendees are encouraged and inspired to reduce, reuse and recycle while on the festival grounds.

"Waukesha BluesFest is subtitled 'An American Music Festival' because the central focus is the blues, however the musical influences go well beyond that," said Bob Mittnacht, who manages the entertainment for Waukesha BluesFest. "You will also find a taste of different American-based music styles that are directly connected to the blues such as country, gospel, rhythm and blues and early rock and roll in many of the acts that appear at Waukesha BluesFest," explained Mittnacht.

Waukesha BluesFest will be held at Naga-Waukee Park, Delafield, WI, on Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9, 2008. Gates will open at 12:30 pm both days, and live music acts will perform from 1 pm to 10:30 pm.

In addition to the musical acts, Waukesha BluesFest will feature an exceptional selection of food from popular local restaurants, a full selection of beverages and an Art Show featuring regional and locally known artists.

The new reduced admission prices for 2008 are $15 for a single-day pass and $27 for a two-day pass through July 31, 2008. Beginning August 1, 2008, admission will be $19 for a single-day pass and $34 for a two-day pass. Special rates are also available for groups of 10 or more. Parking is free with admission. Tickets will go on sale on-line on May 1st at www.waukeshabluesfest.com. Tickets will also be available by mail and at a number of local businesses. Proceeds from the event will be distributed by the Waukesha Rotary Club Charitable Fund to local charities and civic projects.
 
For additional information on the event visit www.waukeshabluesfest.com, email info@waukeshabluesfest.com, or call 1-800-366-1961.

The annual Capital Area Blues Society (Lansing, Michigan) Blues Brawl will happen on May 18th. Eight bands will perform their best short set in front of the Green Door crowd and a panel of judges.  The Winner receives an enhanced prize package that includes more than $500 in cash, a prime gig at September’s Old Town Blues Festival, a slot at the July Mill Street Blues Festival in St. Louis (MI), gigs at The Barn Tavern in Grand Ledge, the Green Door, and radio appearances on WLNZ 89.7’s Coffee Break and Scott Allman’s Sunday night Blues Cruise on 94.9FM.  Most importantly, the winning band will make the trip to Memphis where they will compete against more than 150 acts at the 2009 International Blues Challenge as Lansing’s representative. 

You can vote for your favorite band of the day in our People’s Choice Award.  Democracy disappears for the day, just like real life lately, so you can vote as many times as you want for $1 a vote.  The band with the most cash votes keeps half the cash, and we put the rest toward the Brawl and prizes we give the big winner of the day.

Receive a free t-shirt or CD with every new or renewal membership that day. For more information, log onto the CABS website at www.cabsblues.com or www.myspace.com/CapitalAreaBluesSociety; or contact CABS President Toni Alexander at cabsprez@comcast.net.   The Green Door is located at 2006 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing, Michigan www.greendoorlive.com