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 DO YOURSELF A FAVOR... click links in our CD & News section, etc.
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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 Stevie Van Zandt is a musician and actor, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve. Last week he was one of the participants at the IBC “Blues and Social Action” panel Thursday Jan 18th at the Blues Hall of Fame. Open to the community, the panel discussion looked at how blues music can be used to create a better world and Van Zandt talked about his work as founder and director of Little Steven’s Blues School in Norway.
Stevie Van Zandt is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandolin and he has also had his own solo band called Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul since the 1980s. He's also known for his roles on TV dramas such as The Sopranos and Lilyhammer. In 2014, Van Zandt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band.
Photo: Kaati
*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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Peter Parcek :: EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN
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 Acclaimed guitarist Peter Parcek’s Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven is his first album in seven years. The disc was produced by Marco Giovino (Robert Plant, Buddy Miller, Tom Jones), who also played drums and percussion on the sessions. Special guests on Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven include North Mississippi Allstars guitarist Luther Dickinson, legendary Muscle Shoals keyboardist Spooner Oldham and long-time Willie Nelson harmonica wiz Mickey Raphael.
“Marco Giovino had uniquely powerful musical concepts and presence, plus tremendous rhythmic and arranging ideas,” Parcek said about the recording sessions. “His innovative sound and feel profoundly imbue and impacted the album. “In addition to being an inspiring producer, player and arranger, Marco assembled a phenomenal band for the recording sessions in Nashville: Luther Dickinson, Mickey Raphael, Dennis Crouch (T-Bone Burnett, Diana Krall) Dominic John Davis (Jack White) and many more luminaries. We even made a trip to Fame Studios in Alabama to record with the great Spooner Oldham.”
...Find more about this artist and release
 "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean"
Artist Website
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Musical Camaraderie at 2018 IBC… and the Winners are
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 (MEMPHIS, TN) - Like the Blues Foundation says... "Musicians come to Memphis from around the world to win the International Blues Challenge (IBC). But backstage, they're one big band." The magical, musical camaraderie is thick during IBC! As an artist, as soon as you arrive you're already a winner and like family to nearly everyone you come in contact with. It’s definitely the place to be if you’re a blues music fan, too!
Over 200 acts who represented blues societies from around the world, converged on Memphis, TN last week along with thousands of blues fans, for the 34th annual IBC. Among the many, many cool entertaining and informative things going on all week was  also the highly-coveted Keeping The Blues Alive Awards.
Some of our Blues Festival Guide team were in Memphis to participate on panels and network as well as see many blues "family" members and also witness the amazing talent to be blown away by. The actual IBC "cutting" contest was narrowed to finalists that then performed in the historic Orpheum Theater for the final judging of the ultimate winners.
...Find all the IBC winners, photos and more details here
(photos by BFG's Tom Andrews)
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GRAMMY Nominees Guy Davis & Fabrizio Poggi Performing In NYC Jan 27
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 (NORTHPORT, NY) - This weekend, Guy Davis will be performing at a couple of events to celebrate his first GRAMMY nomination in his storied career. The nomination is for Sonny & Brownie's Last Train in the Traditional Blues Category. Ambassador of the Blues, Guy Davis and international harmonica sensation Fabrizio Poggi will be performing at the Folk Alliance's Nominee's Event Saturday Jan. 27 in the afternoon. Also on the bill will be Olivia Chaney (Offa Rex) and The Secret Sisters, Anaïs Mitchell, Dar Williams, and Michael Daves.
In the evening, on Saturday Jan. 27, Guy Davis and Fabrizio will be performing at City Vineyard. The show is a fundraiser for The Music Makers Relief foundation. Other artist on the bill will be Eric Bibb, Fabrizio Poggi, Dom Flemons & special surprise guests.
This marks the first Grammy nomination in the 30 + year career for Guy Davis and also for Fabrizio Poggi. ...Find more about Davis & Poggi and tours
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5th Annual Music Jam Celebrates Blues Pioneer Jan 27
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 (BROWNSVILLE TN) - The fifth annual Sleepy John’s Country Blues Jam will be held Saturday, January 27, 10 a.m., at the Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, Tenn. The free event recognizes the birthday and legacy of Blues pioneer "Sleepy" John Adam Estes and is presented in partnership with the West Tennessee Blues Society. Skills clinics, a symposium and an acoustic jam session are all part of the day's activities
Guitarist Elam McKnight will host a slide guitar clinic beginning at 10 am. This will be a basic introduction to two tunings (open G and open D) favored by legendary slide players of the past. It will also include technique and resource material helpful for beginners or experienced players. McKnight is well known in the blues, rock and country genres, and has released six studio albums.
J. D. Taylor, a Brownsville native and founding member of the band Little Boys Blue, has been playing harmonica since 1991. He now builds and sells them worldwide. Taylor will lead an introductory harmonica clinic at 11am.
...Find more about this event and links to connect
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B.B. King Museum Wins USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Award for Best Mississippi Attraction
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 USA Today asked a panel of Mississippi travel writers and photographers to nominate their favorite state attractions. 10Best readers then voted daily for their favorites.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Mississippi Attraction are as follows:
1. B.B. King Museum And Delta Interpretive Center, Indianola, MS: The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola celebrates the blues – America's music – and the man who helped spread its popularity around the world. Interactive exhibits and artifacts trace the history of the blues through its Mississippi Delta roots through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
2. Elvis Presley Birthplace, Tupelo, MS: While The King's most famous home sits in Memphis, Elvis Presley spent his formative years in the town of Tupelo.
...Find the entire list and cool photos
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The Big Gig! Monroe County’s 31st Annual Black History Month Blues Concert Feb 24
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 (MONROE, MI) - The Big Gig! Monroe County’s 31st Annual Black History Month Blues Concert is an extremely popular event—no tickets are required, but seating is general admission, first-come, first-served, and limited to theater capacity. Doors will open at 6pm and showtime is 7pm. The Big Gig! Is Saturday, February 24 at Meyer Theater - Monroe County Community College (1555 S. Raisinville Rd. Monroe, Michigan). The concert will star three-time Grammy-nominee Ruthie Foster, blues-rocker Anthony Gomes, and the return of Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr.
Rolling Stone called Ruthie Foster, the Texas-based, three-time Grammy-nominated blues-soul-folk-gospel singer/songwriter “pure magic to watch and hear”. Influenced by the likes of Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples, Foster’s commanding, compelling vocals bring to life both original compositions and cover songs she makes her own. High-octane Canadian guitar virtuoso Anthony Gomes, delivers “blues soul and rock and roll heart” that reinvents the blues in relevant and fresh ways and propels his electrifying live performances, blues scholarship and philanthropy. Returning for his 31st year as host and featured artist is Detroit-based multi-instrumentalist, storyteller and educator. ...Find more details and photos
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New Releases by Alligator Artists Top Billboard Blues Chart & Roots Blues Chart
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 Recordings by Alligator Records artists currently still sit atop the influential Billboard Blues Chart and also the Blues & Roots Chart for this week. The label's two January 12 releases - Tinsley Ellis' Winning Hand and Curtis Salgado & Alan Hager's Rough Cut - debuted at the #1 and #2 spots respectively and still there this week. Tommy Castro & The Painkillers' Stompin' Ground, released on September 29, 2017, currently still holds the #7 spot, re-emerging after spending seven previous weeks on the chart. On the Roots Blues Chart Curtis holds the #1 spot for this week with Tinsley at #2 and Tommy Castro at #3.
Recorded in Nashville and produced by Tinsley Ellis and keyboardist Kevin McKendree, the ten brilliantly performed, fervently sung tracks on Winning Hand include nine originals, ranging from blistering blues to heart-pounding rock to soulful ballads. ...Find more details about these artists
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Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
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- #31 West Coast Oct. 2018 is Soldout! Join Waitlist now!
- Prebook now for #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. The cruise is sold out… Join the Wait List via BluesCruise.com or call 816.753.7979.
 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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The OC Blues Society Presents Their NAMM Blues Party!
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 On Saturday, January 27th, the Orange County Blues Society presents James Harman plus Big Jon Atkinson, Troy Sandow, Marty Dodson, Whiteboy James, Crosscut Delux, Chase Walker, Griff Hamlin & Special Guests TBA will be bringing the Blues to the Main Street Restaurant in Yorba Linda for a NAMM Show Blues Party you won't want to miss!
Showtime at 5 PM until? A $15 Donation is requested to help pay the bands and it's cheap at twice the price!
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EMAIL your Blues Society news to us!
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Big Ron Hunter
"How To Play The Blues In Your Favorite Underwear"
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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:
Jan 25-Sleepy John Estes (1899), Etta James (1938); an 26-Huey "Piano" Smith (1934); Jan 27-Andrew "Smokey" Hogg (1914), Elmore James (1918), Bobby "Blue" Bland (1930); Jan 28-Drink Small (1933); 29-Eddie Taylor (1923), Jonny Lang (1981); Jan 30-Janiva Magness (1957); 31-Roosevelt Sykes (1906), Chuck Willis (1928), Paul deLay (1952), Charlie Musselwhite (1944), Big Time Sarah (1953), Jan 31 Alan Lomax (1915 musicologist, writer, producer); Feb 1-“Baby Face” Leroy Foster (1923), Sonny Landreth (1951); Feb 2-Walter Jacobs Vinson (1901); Feb 3-Johnny "Guitar" Watson (1935), Jody Williams (1935); Feb 3-Jason Ricci (1974)
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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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Clarksdale Film & Music Festival
Jan-26-2018 - Jan-27-2018
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Florida Jazz and Blues Jam
Jan-27-2018
Boca Raton, Florida, USA
Lehigh River Blues Jam
Jan-27-2018
Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
Mahindra Blues Festival
Feb-10-2018 - Feb-11-2018
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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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
Suncoast Blues Festival
Mar-03-2018
Sarasota, Florida, USA
Bonita Blues Festival
Mar-09-2018 - Mar-10-2018
Bonita Springs, Florida, USA
Northeast Blues Harmonica Showcase featuring Adam Gussow, Kosher Kid and more!
Mar-10-2018, Hartford
Connecticut, USA
Blues at the Library
Mar-23-2018 - Mar-25-2018
Charleston, South Carolina, 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 
