The Soul of John Black is a celebration of the African American musical heritage. On "Black John," JB masterfully combines soul, gospel, funk and hip-hop, while tracing its roots all the way back to its humble origins - the blues. JB infuses his uniquely crafted music with contemporary urban rhythms and hauntingly earthy acoustic slide guitar which at once pays tribute to a bygone era of such legendary figures as Leadbelly, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters, while boldly crossing over into new innovative territories and sonic frontiers. Backed by notable musicians Adam McDougal on keys (Black Crowes, Macy Gray, Maroon 5, Nikka Costa), Oliver Charles on drums (Ben Harper, Rhythm Roots All-Stars), Scott Seiver on drums (Nikka Costa, Inara George), Jake Najor on drums (Carl Denson, Connie Price, Breakestra), Shawn Davis on bass (Beck, Nikka Costa), Davey Chegwidden on percussion (Rhythm Roots All-Stars, Bitter Sweet, Ghost Face Killer, Big Daddy Kane), and Bill Botrell on 2nd guitar (Grammy winning producer for Sheryl Crow, Shelby Lynne, and many others), The Soul of John Black has reached a new plateau; transcending the crossroads and arriving upon an unexplored intersection on the aural highway. It's soul music for a whole new generation

http://www.eclectogroove.com/

During the ‘60s and ‘70s Bobby Jones recorded sporadically for various labels in Chicago including Vee-Jay, U.S.A., Expo, Capri, and Lionel, and decades later enjoyed a brief resurgence on the Southern Soul market, changing the spelling of his last name from Jones to Jonz. But true success always seemed to elude him....that is until now. The material featured on "Comin' Back Hard" was recorded during the very same sessions that produced the critically acclaimed release "Lowdown Feelin'" by The Mannish Boys, only this time the spotlight is focused squarely on Jones.

 http://deltagrooveproductions.com/

Headlining the tour will be "The Prince of Beale Street" Mr. Billy Gibson, the incredible Memphis based Blues band Delta Highway and four time Blues Music Award nominee, Ms. Eden Brent.

"First we took the Blues to Iraq and now we are going to present the Blues just steps from the Pyramids.......how cool is that?", stated BLUZAPALOOZA's creator and producer Steve Simon.


This BLUZAPALOOZA tour is presented by Armed Forces Entertainment and has been made possible with the help of The Blues Foundation, Blind Raccoon, Blues Revue, Blues Wax, Alligator Records, NorthernBlues Music, Yellow Dog Records, Delta Groove Records, Blind Pig Records, Hohner Harmonicas, Telarc Records, Sony Corporation, Ruf Records and Bill Wax, the Proprietor of B.B. King's Bluesville on XM Satellite Radio.

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

 "You and Me with B.B. King" will launch February 20, 2009 on B.B. King's Bluesville channel

 NEW YORK - January 19, 2009 - SIRIUS XM Radio has announced the launch of You and Me with B.B. King, a new hour-long music show to be hosted each week by 2009 Grammy Award®-winning bluesman, B.B. King. You and Me with B.B. King will air each week exclusively on SIRIUS XM's B.B. King's Bluesville channel on SIRIUS and XM channels 74. The show will debut, with a new episode each week, on Friday, February 20 at 6 pm ET with encore broadcasts airing on Saturday, February 21 at 2 pm ET; Monday, February 23 at 12 am ET; and Wednesday, February 25 at 12 pm ET.  

"I'll be coming to B.B. King's Bluesville channel every week to tell you stories and answer your questions," said B.B. King. "I'm the mayor of Bluesville and my official proclamation: you're welcome anytime!" 

"We're thrilled to give our listeners one of the few places where iconic artists like B.B. King and the blues can still be heard on the radio," said Scott Greenstein, SIRIUS XM Radio's President and Chief Content Officer. "This highlights SIRIUS XM Radio's ongoing commitment to bring unique music experiences to our subscribers with their favorite artists." 

Each week, B.B. King will personally select a broad range of blues music featuring his favorite songs by peers from the past and today's artists. The blues legend will also share personal anecdotes and stories about the artists who inspire him as well as offer commentary on music that has made him a musical inspiration for generations of musicians. SIRIUS XM listeners will also hear from special guests including Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Albert Cummings and Keb' Mo who have worked with and have been influenced by King. King will also answer email questions from fans in a weekly "B.B. King's Mailbag" feature.

B.B. King, along with legendary recording artists and musicians including Jimmy Buffett, Bob Dylan, Eminem, Grateful Dead, David Johansen, Wynton Marsalis, Willie Nelson, Mojo Nixon, Elvis Presley, Tom Petty, Marky Ramone, Lou Reed, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen and "Little Steven" Van Zandt represent the diverse and creative artist-driven music programming currently being broadcast by SIRIUS XM.

You and Me with B.B. King will air each week on Friday at 6 pm, with encore presentations broadcast on Saturday at 2 pm ET, Monday at 12 am ET and Wednesday at 12 pm ET.

B.B. King's Bluesville channel broadcasts more than 80 years of music for all lovers of the blues. Listeners will hear favorite artists from the roots of blues music to the best of today, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Etta James, Robert Cray, Keb' Mo', Taj Mahal, John Lee Hooker .
Please visit www.sirius.com or http://www.xmradio.com/for more information.

The original lineup also included Jason Ricci, who will no longer be able to perform due to a conflict in his performance schedule. Although Ricci will not be part of the lineup, he will be donating the proceeds of his alternate performance to The Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research. Ricci hopes to lend his time in the second annual benefit concert.

The benefit emerges as the first project of The Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research, an organization founded by his mother, Debbie Costello Smith, upon Sean's untimely passing. Sean was acclaimed for his musical prowess at a very early age. He was designated the Beale Street Blues Society Best Performer at age 15; was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for his album Cuttin' In in 2000; was voted Best Blues Band in Creative Loafing and Atlanta magazine; was featured on the cover of Blues Revue in February of 2002; and was named the Best New Act by the French Blues Feste in 2003. Most recently, Sean was nominated for two Blues Music Awards: Best Contemporary Blues Album and Best Contemporary Blues Male Artist of 2008.

Sean resided in Atlanta, but was known throughout Europe and the U.S. as a talented, but humble musician who readily shared his talent with young and old. He played with musical greats BB King, Buddy Guy, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Hubert Sumlin, Elvis Costello, Etta James, Pinetop Perkins, Bo Diddley, Little Jimmy King, Nappy Brown, Bob Margolin, and many others. He formed special and lasting relationships with Felix Reyes, Donnie McCormick and Levon Helm. Sean had the honor of playing for James Cotton's birthday, as he was Mr. Cotton's favorite band.

Sean passed away suddenly in April last year on the eve of his 29th birthday, after quietly battling depression and anxiety for more than 10 years. It was only a year before his passing that Sean was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. At the time of his passing, he was in treatment to overcome the debilitating symptoms of this mood disorder and the often associated self-medication.

The Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research is a non-profit organization that has attracted a dedicated Board of Directors and an Advisory Board of renowned clinical researchers as a direct result of Sean's reputation as an artist, an exceptional person and friend. In creating the fund, the board hopes to increase research for treatment, develop and support education for early diagnosis and intervention, and eventually create a program for musicians and artists seeking holistic support in their effort to lead functional, healthy lives.

For more information, please visit http://www.seancostellofund.org/

 Delta Groove Music and Eclecto Groove Records are extremely proud to be participating in the Benefit Concert in honor of fellow blues musician and Delta Groove family member, Sean Costello. There will be a number of Delta and Eclecto Groove packages available in the silent auction with all proceeds going to benefit bi-polar research

 GRAMMY AWARD WINNING MUSICIAN AND ACTOR CHRIS THOMAS KING EMBARKS ON NIGERIAN CONCERT TOUR DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH THANKS IN PART TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

New Orleans guitar virtuoso and actor Chris Thomas King will celebrate black history month on tour in Africa'. Chris Thomas King and his band will perform concerts in Lagos and Abuja Nigeria, including a special National Day celebration. King is an internationally known blues artist and actor who had major acting roles in the Oscar winning films "Ray" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?

The Nigerian Ambassador invited King with the help of the United States government to act as an American musical ambassador performing for Nigeria's National Day. King said, "This will be my first visit to Africa and I'm really excited to take my blues home to its roots. This year they wanted to celebrate with American music in part because of the election of our new president, Barack Obama. It seems the rest of the world is excited about American culture again. My phone been ringing every since his election," King said backstage at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles recently.

King will duet with Nigerian artist Onyeka Onwenu to perform "America The Beautiful" during the celebration in Abuja. The Nigerian Ambassador has also requested King and Onyeka perform a duet of Etta James' classic "At Last," which President Obama used for his first inaugural dance.

In between concerts King will hold workshops with local musicians and school children. King said, "touring Nigeria is challenging and I'm looking forward to it. I know I'll be inspired and I hope to leave a lasting impression on them as well."

In March the Chris Thomas King band will tour clubs and theaters up and down the west coast of North America. Featured stops along the way will include Yoshi's in Oakland, The Mint in Los Angeles California and the sold out Seasons Theater in Yakima, Washington.

May 2nd King will perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. "I try to perform in my home state at least once or twice a year." King said. King's Jazz Festival performance will be his first since Katrina. Chris Thomas King will tour Japan in May. The Chris Thomas King Band includes New Orleans drummer Darryl White and Bassist CuJo. 



www.ChrisThomasKing.com 

* Please make checks payable to Alabama Blues Project

or CLICK HERE for more info and to donate online.

During camp, students from the ages of 8-17 learn to play blues music on their choice of voice, guitar, drums or harmonica. By practicing and performing together, Blues Camp students learn teamwork, social skills, discipline, and improve their self-confidence. The camp culminates with an Open House performance, in which the students are able to showcase their skills for the public. Our 2009 Spring After-School Blues Camp Open House "Blues Extravaganza" at the Bama Theatre will be on May 1st. Individuals and organizations donating to help subsidize the cost of Blues Camp will recieve two free tickets to the show so they can see firsthand how much their support means to the ABP and our students! The ABP makes a special effort to attract at-risk children who might not otherwise have access to arts programming. We partner with the Boys & Girls Club of West Alabama, YMCA, Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, United Methodist Children's Home, DHR, and Brewer Porch Children's Center to provide our services to the children in our community who will benefit from them the most. This amazing program is open to other area children of all backgrounds and experience levels. It is our desire to provide children with the opportunity to learn about this important American art form in a diverse, safe, nurturing, and fun environment. We would greatly appreciate any financial assistance you can provide to help us continue to touch children's lives with the lessons and inspiration of the blues.

The inaugural CAIRNS BLUES FESTIVAL will be held on Sunday May 3, 2009 at  The North Cairns Australian Rules Football Club grounds, MacNamara Street,  Manunda, Australia. Our website is http://www.cairnsbluesfestival.com.au/blog/ and a contact  telephone number is (07) 4055 9665. Tickets will be available from   TicketLink on March 1.

It's easy to see why Live Nation Inc. and Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. want to blend their operations into a new entity called Live Nation Entertainment. They are competitors who would create a $6 billion company that would operate the majority of major concert venues in America, sell the tickets to events at those venues, and manage many of the artists who play there. Their union would instantly create a full-service music company that would reduce the economic clout of other concert promoters (including Chicago's Jam Productions), ticket sellers and even record companies.

Far more difficult to fathom is how this partnership would in any way benefit consumers, and how it could pass muster in a federal antitrust proceeding.

News of the merger has already set off alarm bells in some prominent corners. Connecticut Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D., N.J.) are among officials calling for investigations and hearings into the merger. Last week, Pascrell denounced Ticketmaster for funneling fans seeking to buy Bruce Springsteen concert tickets to ticketsnow.com, a Ticketmaster-owned company that sells concert tickets significantly above face value. Springsteen himself called the Ticketmaster redirection of his tickets "a pure conflict of interest."

In an open letter to his fans, Springsteen went even further: "The one thing that would make the current ticket situation even worse for the fan ... would be Ticketmaster and Live Nation coming up with a single system, thereby returning us to a near monopoly situation in music ticketing."

In addition to creating its own ticketing company, livenation.com, Live Nation has completed deals with major artists such as Jay-Z, Madonna and Shakira to represent them in a variety of multimedia platforms and share in revenue streams, from merchandise to recorded music. Ticketmaster has been expanding its business, as well, recently partnering with Irving Azoff's Front Line management company and a stable of talent (Christina Aguilera, Eagles, Guns N' Roses, Jimmy Buffett, Van Halen) that would play many of the same arenas and stadiums booked by Live Nation. In merging the two entities, Live Nation-Ticketmaster would hold a significant position in every aspect of the music business.

The merger brings together the two companies most responsible for rising concert-ticket prices in the last decade. Ticket prices for the top 100 tours in 2008 averaged $67, more than double the 1998 average. Industry insiders predict that prices will continue to increase, with a greater premium put on the best seats. Now that Ticketmaster has a stake in the secondary ticket business, where tickets are resold at market value, it can create a more fluid price structure for concerts. In effect, each seat could be put up for bidding, putting an end to the era of fixed-price tickets, especially for high-demand acts.

Such a system could mean that consumers will no longer have to scramble to sign on and gain access to overloaded Web sites for high-demand shows. And it could mean that long-reviled service fees would no longer exist, or simply be folded into the price of a ticket.

But those positive results may not compensate for the increase in ticket prices brought on by an auction-based ticketing system. In this world, the concertgoers with the most cash would prevail every time. That's not always the case in the current system, which in theory gives all consumers equal access to all tickets for a fixed price.

Ticket prices have risen steadily since the concert industry began consolidating, first when SFX Entertainment began acquiring most of the nation's major concert venues in the late ‘90s. Clear Channel Communications bought out SFX in 2000, and expanded its reach further into radio and billboard advertising. Live Nation was spun off from Clear Channel in 2005, and currently owns, operates or exclusively books 135 major concert venues nationwide. It collects concert revenue three times greater than its nearest competitor, Anschutz Entertainment Group. Ticketmaster controls 70 percent of the concert ticketing industry, and in 2008 acquired TicketsNow.com, a secondary ticket seller.

Eddie Shaw

At 6:30 pm on Saturday the 28th of February, Comfort Inn and Suites in conjunction with "Simply The Blues" blues festival organizers, Thurman Music and Golden Eagle Distributing, will host a music scholarship fundraiser and press release party with LIVE music provided by the Jefferson County Green Band and The Legendary Eddie Shaw and The Wolfgang(currently on tour with George Thorogood).

"Simply The Blues" organizers will be announcing the official lineup for their 6th annual 2009 event held in Ft. Madison, Ia on the 8th and 9th of May and organizers are also using this press release party as a fundraiser for a new "Simply The Blues" music scholarship.

The scholarship is being established for area high school students who are planning to attend college and are currently involved in band/choir high school music programs. Other criteria will include grades, extra curricular music involvement and letters of recommendation. The hope is to award the first scholarship this spring at the 6th annual "Simply The Blues" blues festival on the 8th and 9th of May.

The Jefferson County Green Band, a Midwest favorite and past "Simply The Blues" performers will start the show at approximately 6:30 pm. Following the JCGB will be the legendary Eddie Shaw and the Wolfgang, then the JCGB will close out the evening.

Comfort Inn and Suites will have a special Blues rate for out of town guests or local people attending this event that wish to stay. A minimum $5 donation at the door is requested and all profits will be put it in the scholarship fund. For more information or if you are not able to attend and wish to contribute to the scholarship fund or be a sponsor for "Simply The Blues" 2009, please contact Matt Eimer at 319-470 2082. To contact Comfort Inn and Suites call 319-372-6800.

http://www.simplemanenterprises.com/

Further, the research revealed that a majority of respondents who currently consume music and entertainment-related content on a regular basis claim that the current economy will not materially reduce their future entertainment consumption.

For example:

88% of people who listen to music on a regular basis, plan to listen to as much or more music next year
72% of people who download music, plan to download as much, if not more music next year
64% of people who go to the movies, plan to go as much, if not more next year
63% of concert goers plan to go to as many concerts, if not more next year

 The Octagon research validates other recent polls including an NDP Group study of 2,000 adults, over half of which reported they were least likely to change their spending habits on affordable purchases, including movies. Historically, movie box office grosses rose during five of the last seven economic downturns including the 1970s oil crisis and the dot-com bubble burst.

EDMONTON, AB - Holger Petersen, president of Stony Plain Records, has announced the label has signed a new U.S. distribution agreement with Ryko Distribution, which will kick-off with the March 24 release of new CDs by legendary singer/songwriter Ian Tyson, Yellowhead to Yellowstone and other Love Stories; and the debut album from Sunny Crownover, Introducing...Sunny and Her Joy Boys, which features the singer backed by a band led by acclaimed guitarist/producer Duke Robillard.

"Ryko Distribution president Jim Cuomo and everyone at Ryko have set the standard for distributors that deal in blues, roots music and deep catalog for music lovers," said Holger Petersen in making the announcement. "Their enthusiasm for music and market awareness makes this an exciting opportunity as we enter into our 33rd year. We are honored to be working with everyone at Ryko."

"There was an indescribable and truly satisfying feeling, tinged with a subtle exhilaration that came over me when I realized that we, Ryko, would be representing Stony Plain here in the States," said Jim Cuomo. "It is a union of like minded, kindred spirits that was long overdue. The passion, creativity and perpetuation of the highest levels of professional and artistic integrity that Holger and Stony Plain vice president Alvin Jahns bring to the community are the kind of stuff that will help you to keep the faith. We are both honored and privileged to welcome Stony Plain to our Ryko family."

Established in 1976, Edmonton, Alberta-based Stony Plain Records has released over 300 albums of blues, classic R&B, folk, country, bluegrass, rock and roll and music that is impossible to categorize. In addition to Ian Tyson and Sunny and Her Joy Boys, its current artist roster includes Duke Robillard, Maria Muldaur, Ronnie Earl, Rory Block, Joe Louis Walker, Amos Garrett and New Guitar Summit, which includes Duke Robillard, Jay Geils and Gerry Beaudoin.

Stony Plain has also received four Grammy Award nominations: two for Maria Muldaur and one each for Duke Robillard and Jay McShann. The label and its artists have also garnered numerous Blues Music Award nominations and won several of them. On a personal level, Holger Petersen was honored for his contributions to Canadian arts and culture with an honorary Doctorate from Athabasca University in 2002 and was awarded the highest honor a Canadian can receive, the Order of Canada, in 2003. In 2008, he was named a recipient of the Keeping the Blues Alive Award from the Blues Foundation. 

For more information on the label, visit http://www.stonyplainrecords.com/Web/home.asp.

Matt Wigler is a blues and jazz piano sensation. At age 14, Matt has already appeared on radio and TV and has played with Tommy Castro, Buckwheat Zydeco, Lil' Ed, Tab Benoit, Marcia Ball and many others. Matt's debut CD, Thirteen, produced by blues great Deanna Bogart, has received rave reviews from blues magazines and music critics across the country. Matt was recently featured in the filming of a PBS documentary about blues pianists. His band includes professional touring musicians who have played with artists including Ray Charles, James Brown, Little Feat and many others. For more information please visit www.mattwigler.com

Instrumentation
Matt Wigler, piano & vocals

DUO: piano, drums OR piano, horn

http://mattwigler.com/

Click to see Matt Wigler & Mike Aubin perform at the 2008 IBC

John Nemeth is an up and coming singer and harmonica player who moseyed down to San Francisco from Boise, almost immediately landed a deal with Blind Pig Records, and has been knocking people off their feet ever since. His new record is LOVE ME TONIGHT. He joins Elwood to talk about how to get the blues in Idaho, and to share some of his influences with us - including Koko Taylor, ZZ Top, and Junior Wells. John gives a performance, live, right there in the bunkhouse. All that, and a taste of the very tasty Red Hot Blues Sisters - hot vocals, hot guitar, hot horns. And Alligator records has ten CDs to give away. 

 visit www.TheBluesMobile.com
for times and stations in your area