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Do yourself a favor... click links in CD & News section
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 Make sure to click the links at the end of the CD/DVD and News Flash section teasers so you can discover them in entirety on our website news section and so you don't miss out on cool details, photos, schedules, artist or festival links, etc.
Thanks for diggin' the blues... we aim to please. ...Team BFG
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Share Photo Moments with the 15th Annual BFG Magazine
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 Here's drummer Ric Lee (Bayou Brothers' drummer and music event producer) and Fred Lawson (bassist) at a heartfelt all-star musical memorial for Ken Boozer, a well-respected and loved staunch music lover and dancer (and instructor in blues and zydeco dance) who sadly passed away recently from Myeloma.
Photo: Nadja Boyd
*NOTE! Each year our annual edition ships to festivals, blues societies and a few distributors, etc. Snap photos of you, your friends, and/or artists, etc. with the 2017 15th annual Guide! *Then EMAIL us your photo plus caption & credit.
*Want your own hard copy? Order via our website now! The Big Blues Bender is official 2017 sponsor of our Blues Festival Guide annual magazine! ... |
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The Halley DeVestern Band :: KEEP ON PLAYIN’
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 “Ready for a balls-to-the-wall blues-belting mama that has sung with Big Brother & the Holding Company and has the admiration of Bonnie Bramlett? This fearless, two fisted broad grabs the spotlight, owns it, growls one minute, purrs the next and carries on like there’s no tomorrow. A wild ride throughout, mama loves her job and isn’t afraid to let it show.
When she names her influences, it is no surprise to find singers Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Al Green or ’70’s soul acts The O’Jays, Ohio Players, and Earth Wind and Fire. Halley has slowly but surely been making her own mark in the greater New York City area and is now poised to break out internationally.
The band features a who's who of New York's finest musicians, seasoned ex-sidemen of artists as diverse as Roger Waters and Shawn Mullins, from a full range of musical styles...." ...Find more about this CD and artist
 "Keep On Playin'"
Website
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Dec 16th Fire victim’s Fundraiser + Ventura County Blues Society Toy Drive success
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 The Ventura County Blues Society (VCBS) announced that their Dec 9th toy drive was a huge success. It's amazing when we come together how we all can truly make a difference in the lives of others. VCBS delivered $8,134.55 In toys and cash to Casa Pacifica. Above and beyond VCBS is donating an additional $1,100 to local charities.
As we all know so many people have been affected by all horrific fires Southern California. So many have lost so much recently. Dec 16th will be a “Four Alarm Fundraiser for Creek Fire Residents” hosted by Jim Gustin and Truth Jones at The Hideaway Bar & Grill (12122 Kagel Canyon Rd, Sylmar, California) starting at 5pm sharp.
Keep on the lookout for more support and fundraisers for Ventura County. There are already some benefits planned and others in the works for fire victims.
...Find more about the VCBS and also how you can help fire victims
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Dec 17 is the Orange County Blues Society Christmas Jam and Toys for Tots Drive
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 (Yorba Linda, CA) - Tis the Season for Giving - and Diggin’ the Blues! The Orange County Blues Society in conjunction with the Main Street Restaurant (4902 Main St., Yorba Linda, CA) would like to invite all blues fans and folks with kindness in their hearts to come to our Christmas Jam, Sunday, December 17th from 5-9PM.
We are dedicating this Christmas Jam to all the kids who are without this Holiday Season. Crosscut Delux will be hosting the event, and a bevy of Orange's County's best unsigned Blues musicians will be providing the entertainment. Main Street owner, Michael Ruocco will be serving up some cold brews and great Mexican fare to assure that you do not want for food or beverage during this event. We ask that everyone who attends brings a new, unwrapped toy we will donate to Toys for Tots. ...Find more about OCBS and their event
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“Home for the Holidays”: A Rock, Blues & Soul Concert Dec 20
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 Trib Live/Rege Behe
(Pittsburgh, PA) - The 2017 Home for the Holidays concert will be Dec. 20 at the Benedum Center, (237 7th St., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). Showtimes is 7:30pm. The Home for the Holidays concerts started at Pittsburgh Winery in the Strip District with a few simple goals, according to musician and winery owner Tim Gaber: Gather some musicians to have fun and sing seasonal songs while raising funds for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
The show has become so much more since its inception in 2014.
“It is truly a dream come true, and an honor to host a show at the Benedum Center,” says Gaber of the Dec. 20 event. “This show moves people, and we are so looking forward to sharing it with everyone.
This year's concert — which is at the Benedum for the first time — again features a stellar roster of talent. ...Find entire article here
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CVBS Santa Hats & Sunglasses Annual Xmas Party Dec 20
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 (Clovis, CA) - The Central Valley Blues Society will be having the 2017 Santa Hats & Sunglasses Toy Drive Event at Dicicco's Lounge (408 Clovis Ave., Clovis, California). We will get collecting Toy donations for the Toys For Tots drive as we have done in the past. The Annual Xmas Photo will take place around 8:30pm. Please wear your Santa Hats or other Xmas head gear and garb! Ugly Xmas Sweaters are cool as well.
This event will be part of the Hump Day Blues Jam featuring the Richie Blue Band. Guitarist, singer, songwriter Richie Blue's blistering guitar playing and heart and soul vocals have taken him to his current status as one of the top drawing acts on the club and festival circuit all over California, the northwestern states, Canada, and Mexico. His brand of music although rooted in the blues, is a blend of rock-a-billy, country swing, New Orleans swamp, and soul.
Please help spread the word as we don't want anyone to miss this annual event. This is a ‘no cover’ event. ...Find more about this event
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Blue Lunch Holiday Latke Party offers Dec 25 options
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 Cleveland Jewish News/Jacob Cramer
(Cleveland, OH) - It’s December 25th and neighbors and friends seem engrossed in the many holiday happenings: entertaining their in-laws, and feasting on turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy. Meanwhile, Jewish Clevelanders may find themselves stuck at home with nothing to do – maybe visit a kosher or Chinese restaurant.
But there is another option. The Blue Lunch Band will host its 10th annual Blue Lunch Holiday Latke Party and concert at 7:30 p.m. the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern (15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland).
Potato pancake latkes and other holiday foods will be available for purchase while the band entertains. “What’s better than food and music combined? Nothing,” band member Bob Frank said.
What makes the night special is that “the band celebrates being Jewish during Christmas, but doesn’t take themselves too seriously, so it’s a really fun night,” he said.
…Read entire article here
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Rockin' in the Blue Year featuring Mississippi Heat
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 (Fairfield, IA) - The Southeast Iowa Blues Society welcomes Mississippi Heat and Kevin "Bf" Hurt to the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center (200 North Main St, Fairfield, Iowa) for a night of award-winning blues music Dec 30th. Doors 6:30pm, show 7:30pm. Mississippi Heat's 2017 album Cab Driving Man was named Best Traditional Blues Album by Blues Blast Magazine. Led by harmonica master and songwriter Pierre Lacocque, Mississippi Heat is a world-class Chicago Blues Band. Their motto is "Traditional Blues with a Unique Sound" as they present fresh yet vintage-based musical ideas.
Mississippi Heat's name is a reflection of Pierre's reverence for Mississippi's blues culture and music. The band's conviction is that there is no deeper music than Delta-inspired blues to express what lies in everyone's soul. They have received world-wide critical acclaim, including from Living Blues Magazine: "Mississippi Heat delivers its traditional urban blues with a freshness, energy and competence that makes them a treasure on today's Chicago scene." ...Find more about this event
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White Rock Blues Society 7th New Year’s Eve Party
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 (South Surrey, BC) - The White Rock Blues Society’s popular New Year’s Eve celebration will feature the Jason Buie Blues Band this year. The seventh annual event is very close to selling out at its usual venue, the Rhumba Room at the Pacific Inn Hotel (1160 King George Blvd., South Surrey, British Columbia). There’s a large dance floor and free parking.
Doors open at 7:30pm on Dec. 31. A mouth-watering Southern BBQ buffet from hotel Chef Darin begins at 8:30pm. The show follows featuring Jason Buie, the esteemed guitarist/vocalist and artistic director for the White Rock Blues Society, and his band with selections from his newest CD, Driftin’ Heart.
Also included are party favors and champagne at midnight. Tickets ($79) are available from www.brownpapertickets.com or 604-542-6515.
...Find out more about this event
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Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
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- Prebook #31 West Coast Oct. 2018 & #32 East Coast 2019
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The Left Coast Blues Cruise returns in 2018! The LRBC #31 Sea of Cortez Oct. 28~Nov. 4, 2018 will be sailing on Holland America's ms Eurodam from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, La Paz & Loreto. Now Pre-booking - $500 per cabin deposit (fully refundable) holds your spot to book once bands are announced!
Prebook now for #32 Feb. 2019 Eastern Caribbean! By placing your $500 per cabin, fully-refundable prebook deposit, you will be guaranteed a spot in line to book a cabin once the artist announcement has been made! (likely in March or April ’18). Visit reservations or call (816) 753-7979.
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LEGENDARY RHYTHM & BLUES CRUISE313 Lawrence St., Kansas City, MO (816) 753-7979 | BluesCruise.com
More Than A Cruise… More Than A Festival... More Than You Can Imagine!
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Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Hal Singer, Jay McShann
Montreaux 1974
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Special BFG Announcements
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Join Blues Freaks at our Tweeter feed & on Instagram
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Hey, come on over and Join over 12,000+ Blues Freaks at our TWITTER feed @BluesFestGuide
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Then please drop on by and"LIKE" us to get a daily dose of blues related stuff! ...
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Thoughts & upcoming Birthdays
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 Birthdays upcoming of note:
Dec 15 Andrew “Big Voice” Odom (1936), Mark Hummel (1955), Nick Moss (1969); Dec 17 James Booker (1939), Paul Butterfield (1942); Dec 18 Pee Wee Crayton (1914), Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (1917), Lonnie Brooks (1933), Rod Piazza (1947); Dec 19 Professor Longhair (aka Henry Roeland Byrd) (1918); Dec 21 Peetie Wheatstraw (1902), Carla Thomas (1942); Dec 22 Lil Green (1919); Dec 23 Little Esther Phillips (1935); Dec 24 Lee Dorsey (1924); Dec 25 Joe Louis Walker (1949); Dec 27 Tracy Nelson (1944); Dec 28 Roebuck "Pops" Staples (1914), Johnny Otis (1921); Dec 29 Matt "Guitar" Murphy (1929); Dec 30 Bo Diddley (1928); Dec 31 Odetta (1930)
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Roots Blues Airplay Charts (click chart for samples & updates)
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To view our entire calendar of more than 500 festivals, click here!
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ATTENTION:
FESTIVAL PROMOTERS
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LIST YOUR FESTIVAL ON OUR
WEBSITE FOR FREE HERE
To ensure that your festival also appears here in the e-Guide Festival Calender EMAIL |
Not all upcoming blues festivals are listed here at certain times of the year due to space constraints. Unless highlighted, festivals are no longer inked due to increasing spam
For a complete list and links see our comprehensive website.
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NOTE: Highlighted/Linked Fests here
are paid "Featured" ads
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MLK Jr Blues Festival
Jan-11-2018 - Jan-13-2018
Chester, South Carolina, USA
Sunshine Music Festival
Jan-13-2018
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Sunshine Music Festival
Jan-14-2018
Boca Raton, Florida, USA
Clarksdale Film & Music Festival
Jan-26-2018 - Jan-27-2018
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
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| | For all festival links
please go to our website
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Destination Blues Music Festival
Feb-16-2018 - Feb-18-2018
Berwick, Bloomsburg, and Danville, Pennsylvania, USA
Bruthen Blues and Arts Festival
Feb-16-2018 - Feb-18-2018
Bruthen Victoria, Australia
Northeast Blues Harmonica Showcase featuring Adam Gussow, Kosher Kid and more!
Mar-10-2018, Hartford
Connecticut, USA
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RBA Publishing/Blues Festival Guide
P.O. Box 920, Arcata, CA 95518
Call 707-630-3304
RBA Publishing is the parent company of the Blues Festival Guide and Reggae Festival Guide.
We are woman owned and operated.
We produce the annual Blues Festival Guide magazine, affiliated with the top-ranking website, and this weekly blues newsletter: The Blues Festival E-Guide, with approximately 30,000 weekly subscribers.
We look forward to your suggestions, critiques and questions. Reach our E-Guide editor, Michele Lundeen via EMAIL.
Contact our home office to find out how to advertise in this e-weekly newsletter. Call 707-630-3304.
Information both editorial and advertising in the Blues Festival E-Guide is believed to be correct but not guaranteed. Double check info carefully before you attend any event or send money for anything. We do not write the news... we just report it.
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Hey blues lovers! Got 
