Looking for more Blues Festivals?  Looking for future Blues Festivals?

A complete list of this weekend's and every weekend's festivals are always available at our website:  www.BluesFestivalGuide.com

There are over 530 Blues Festivals to search. 

Since cutting three well-received CDs from 1988-1994 on the Ichiban label, Travis "Moonchild" Haddix has released ten cds on his own label - Wann Sonn Records, which have also  received fine reviews. He has performed in seventeen countries, and is especially popular in Scandinavia.

Travis is also a prolific songwriter, very adept at a hook and a groove. Living Blues Magazine had this to say about Travis: "Haddix delivers his fables of mischief, mayhem and mercy in a smooth but sinewy baritone, backed by arrangements that meld aggression with horn-leavened soul. His leads, influenced by the string-bending Kings yet back-alley raw, are both incendiary and insinuating - a blend of uptown elan and down-home raucousness, shot through with sensual fervor, calculated to please listeners and dancers from the 'burbs as well as the 'hood...."

For More Info: http://www.travishaddix.net/home.htm

Liz Mandeville spent the late 1980s running up and down the roads of the United States and Canada with her r&b band, the Supernaturals. She played thousands of gigs, from smoky biker bars to swanky theatres, from casinos to yacht clubs, honing her musical chops and crowd-pleasing skills. In 1994, a chance meeting with bassist Aron Burton led to Liz’ subsequent performance with him at the 1994 Chicago Blues Festival, recording two tracks on his 1996 Earwig release, Aron Burton Live, and a long-standing performing relationship. Her work on that album marked Liz’s label recording debut and the beginning of her professional association with Earwig Music Company.

Liz holds the distinction of being the only white vocalist to perform regularly at the internationally known Blue Chicago nightclubs, where she held court from 1994 to 1999. Backed by former Junior Wells bandleader George Baze, Liz contributed two tracks to the 1998 Blue Chicago release, The Red Hot Mamas. While at Blue Chicago, Liz had the opportunity to work with a veritable Who’s Who of contemporary blues men: Willie Kent, Michael Coleman and Maurice John Vaughn, among others.

Featuring 15 new songs, all written by Liz Mandeville, this CD is a swinging celebration of life, love & the pursuit of heartbreak. With a guest appearance by Chicago legend Eddy Shaw, who improves two tracks that showcase his versatility, tender ballad to barrom bruiser. If you liked LIz's previous CD's this one will definately satisfy. 

http://www.lizmandvillegreeson.com/home.html

The Randy Oxford Band consists of 6 veteran musicians, each bringing a unique background and talent to the band. Randy Oxford - trombonist,andd notorious wild man- has been honored more than 25 times since returning to his home state of Washington several years ago, following a European Tour of duty with the U.S. Army band. He has won multiple Best Horn awards, Entertainer of the Year, Keeping the Blues Alive, and induction into the Washington Blues Society's Hall of Fame.

Randy plays the trombone as a lead instrument, inventing a path through the chord progressions, sometimes mimicing the guitars around him, sometimes taking them with him on one of his wild rides. His tone has been admired by symphony conductors, but he also knows how to rip a sound or turn it into an animal call. Randy has become a Northwest favorite, hosting popular invitational jams at various venues in the area, as well as leading his own very successful band.

The Randy Oxford Band is blessed with five outstanding vocalists, each bringing his/her own special style to make this band's repertoire as varied and interesting as the members themselves.

Patti Allen is the featured vocalist, a blues veteran who's vocals are soulful, gritty, and full of energy in the classic, Chicago Blues style. Dominique Stone, whose bass style adds an element of funk to the rhythm section, has a smooth, satiny voice and a playful nature that often results in spontaneous dance moves and stage antics that infect the rest of the band. Riky Hudson, on drums, adds vocals that generally rest in the baritone range, although he provides the high end of the harmonies.
Rafael Tranquilino hails from Mexico City and sings "straight ahead" blues - in Spanish! He's rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the hottest young guitar slingers around. Brian Feist, the newest member of the band, is known for his thoughtful, intricate guitar style and smooth, soulful voice.

Memphis to Motown" is The Randy Oxford Band's newest release and features a variety of American music - Blues, Motown, Funk, Gospel, and a touch of Jazz.

http://users.owt.com/rpeto/randy/

The Blues Music Awards honor those professional artists and recordings that stand out within the eligibility period, which runs from November 1 through October 31. In addition to the awards for the past year’s top recordings, additional categories honor individual, actively touring artists for their overall excellence and accomplishment in that year.
The Blues Foundation solicits from the labels--even the single artist label--a list of their eligible recordings. If you are a record label or blues musician who released OR will release a CD during the period November 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, go to http://www.blues.org/labels/ to submit your release for consideration by the nominators. As per the more detailed explanation below, your CD is eligible by the fact of its release, but it sure doesn't hurt to add it to this list for the convenience of the nominators. Does that mean we want every act that released a CD during the period to submit? Probably not, but whether your release has a legitimate shot at a Blues Music Award nomination--that is your call. This part of the process will end in mid October.

Please visit the Blues Music Award page for more nomination and event information.

http://www.blues.org/

BLUZAPALOOZA, the star-studded celebrity Blues concert tour is heading back to Iraq and Kuwait for its second tour on October 26th.

Created by Blues producers Steve Simon and John Hahn and presented by Armed Forces Entertainment, this 12 day BLUZAPALOOZA tour stars Blues icons Shemekia Copeland, Michael Burks, Deanna Bogart, Zac Harmon, Moreland & Arbuckle and Tony Braunagel and The BLUZAPALOOZA All-Star Band.

"I am deeply honored to be going over there to entertain our troops, and Lord knows I love to hang out with men in uniforms", stated Shemekia Copeland.

"We are thrilled to be going back to Iraq and to have so many great Blues artists volunteering to go to a war zone. This is certainly an historic event for the Blues and for our men and woman who so proudly serve our country," stated BLUZAPALOOZA founder and producer Steve Simon.

"Our October tour's lineup would sell out any blues festival in the country. It's an honor to be able to bring it to our troops," stated BLUZAPALOOZA co-producer John Hahn.

The BLUZAPALOOZA tour has been made possible with the help of Armed Forces Entertainment, The Blues Foundation, Blues Revue, NorthernBlues Music, Alligator Records, Blind Raccoon, Delta Groove Records, Blind Pig Records, Hohner Harmonicas, Telarc Records, Sony Corporation, Ruf Records and Entertainment Support Systems, LLC.

Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas. Founded in 1951, AFE brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops each year. BLUZAPALOOZA is proud to be working with AFE.

For further information contact Steve Simon at 340-643-6475 or at stevesimonlive@yahoo.comwww.myspace.com/bluzapalooza

The nation's largest consumer electronics retailer will announce Tuesday that it plans to open as many as 85 of the music centers inside its stores by the end of the year and could add even more locations in the future, executives told The Associated Press.

Each site will use about 2,500 square feet of retail space and include roughly 1,000 different products with well-known brand names such as Fender, Gibson, Drum Workshop and Roland.

So far, ten sites are already open, including five in California, two in Illinois and two in Minnesota.

Best Buy's selection will include everything from accessories -- picks, sheet music and cases -- to high-end basses, guitars, keyboards and DJ equipment. Instruments will be housed in separate rooms and the company also plans to offer group music lessons.

Acoustic guitars will sell between $89.99 and $3,200 and drum kits will retail for as much as $5,000

Attention Southern California Buddy Guy fans
Want to be a part of an exclusive major internet event with Buddy Guy?

Yahoo! Music and Silvertone Records want you to join us when Buddy Guy takes the stage for Nissan Live Sets in West Los Angeles, CA.August 5, 2008
7 pm (subject to change, you will need to arrive two hours before)
Location: West Los Angeles

The first 100 fans to email us at Invites@YahooLiveSets.com will get in the doors for this exclusive taping. Plus you get to bring a friend. Email us your name and your location, and we will contact you if you are chosen to attend.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND MULTIPLE EMAILS

You must be at least 13 years old to attend. Fans under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. You must provide your own transportation and accommodations (if necessary).

This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Good Luck!

ELVIN BISHOP SIGNS TO DELTA GROOVE MUSIC 

Elvin Bishop's brand new release “The Blues Rolls On” on Delta Groove Music, harks back to Bishop's roots, paying tribute to the musicians who helped give him his start. A who's who of blues musicians support Bishop on the album, including B.B. King, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, George Thorogood, James Cotton, Kim Wilson, Tommy Castro, John Nemeth, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and Angela Strehli. Bishop handles the majority of the vocals, with Nemeth and others pitching in as well.

Bishop revisits his own '70s solo hit "Struttin' My Stuff" with Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, Junior Wells' "Come On In This House," and the Butterfield Band's "Yonders Wall" and Hound Dog Taylor's "Send You Back To Georgia." He also contributes the autobiographical boogie "Oklahoma," played solo electric. Sessions for the rollicking album ranged from Jacksonville, FL to Clarksdale, MS, and to a cruise ship off the Mexican coast.

Bishop is a slide guitar great with 45-years of blues under his belt. Rolling Stone has tagged Bishop's music as “raucous," praising his "careening slide and razor-edged bursts, all delivered with unflagging enthusiasm and wit. “The Blues Rolls On” is another defining moment in Bishop’s long career and a welcome reminder that the blues is still alive and well.

Tommy Castro signs to Delta Grove Music.

Tommy Castro, winner of the 2008 Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year! With the ink barely dry on his contract, Bay area guitarist Tommy Castro will be hitting the studio to record his Delta Groove album debut to be released early next year. Castro is sure to continue exploring the boundaries of American roots music on his next release with a mesmerizing blend of rock, blues and soul! 

Blind Pig Records has announced a September 9, 2008 release date for new CDs from Chicago blues torchbearer Magic Slim and hotshot guitarist Albert Cummings.

"Midnight Blues" is the latest studio album from Magic Slim and the Teardrops, consistently recognized as foremost practitioners of old-school electric Chicago blues. Slim, seventy years young, is as vibrant as ever, playing and singing with passion and strength. Unlike previous CDs, Midnight Blues features solid contributions from some of Slim's old friends and Chicago running mates. Guest Teardrops include James Cotton, Elvin Bishop, Lonnie Brooks, Lil' Ed Williams, Otis Clay, Gene Barge, and the Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings horn section.

"Feel So Good" is a live album that captures Albert Cummings' searing Stratocaster licks and crowd-pleasing, high-energy roots-rock in front of an enthusiastic hometown crowd. In fact, the audience was so enthralled and supportive they became part of the performance in a way that's rarely heard. Albert and his band responded with a blistering set of great originals and killer covers of Led Zeppelin, Little Feat, and Muddy Waters tunes. Albert, proud of the show and the recording, said, "The crowd was really wound up and loved the show. It was a lot of fun" It's as real as it gets." With producer Jim Gaines at the controls and Albert's incredible display of guitar virtuosity and deep emotion, this is one live performance that is bound to become a blues-rock classic.

429 RECORDS ANNOUNCES "LITTLE FEAT" RELEASE

 Forty years into an iconic career that has produced dozens of wonderful songs and a host of admiring musical peers, Little Feat has united the two with a new release, Join the Band, that features some of their classic tunes – “Fat Man in the Bathtub,” “Dixie Chicken,” “Sailing Shoes,” “Oh, Atlanta” - re-recorded with creative friends like Dave Matthews and Jimmy Buffett among many others, as well as new material like Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.”

A distinctive and eclectic blend of rock, funk, folk, jazz, country, rockabilly, and New Orleans swamp boogie, Little Feat’s musical style was forged when Lowell George was fired from Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and told to form his own band. Bill Payne, Richie Hayward and Roy Estrada joined with him to create Little Feat, a band that would continue recording, touring and transcending musical boundaries long after the tragic and premature death of its founder. “LITTLE FEAT: JOIN THE BAND” is in stores August 26th on 429 Records (Savoy Label Group).