|
|
|
|
|
 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
|
|
Share Photo Moments with the 15th Annual BFG Magazine
|
 We caught up with blues singer, harmonica player and songwriter Willie Cobbs while he was visiting friends and fans at the July 2017
Hayward Russell City Blues Festival. The festival is presented by the Bay Area Blues Society and City of Hayward, CA.
Photo: Tom Yearnshaw
*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 our now! The Big Blues Bender is official 2017 sponsor of our Blues Festival Guide annual magazine! ... |
|
|
James Harman :: fineprint
|
|
 Blues harp legend James Harman hit # 1 on the Living Blues Radio Charts with his Electro-Fi Records debut CD Bonetime back in 2015, not to mention 5 Blues Music Award nominations including “Album of the Year.” Now James is back with fineprint and it’s a true cause for celebration, with 13 original tracks, both newly recorded and specially selected by James from his incredible musical archives.
Produced by James Harman and guitarist extraordinaire Nathan James. Special guests include keyboard ace Gene Taylor, Kid Ramos and Jeff Turmes (Mavis Staples band). James Harman describes himself as a full-service bluesman since 1962, and he’s Z.Z. Top’s first call harpman when they are in the recording studio. A Grammy award nominee and a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, James Harman’s fineprint is sure to be welcomed into the company of the Top Blues recordings of 2018.
...Find more about this artist and release
 "Memory Foam Mattress"
Label Website
|
|
|
Backtrack Blues Band :: MAKE MY HOME IN FLORIDA
|
 One of Florida's longest-running and most accomplished bands, The Backtrack Blues Band, has performed high-energy, Chicago-style blues continuously since its founding in 1980. The group has established a strong reputation for creative songwriting through six CDs and one DVD of original music - all of which charted on the U.S. blues radio charts.
The quintet's latest masterpiece of an album, Make My Home in Florida, is an exciting in-concert collection that's the next best thing to experiencing them in the flesh, capturing the group as it lights up the stage of the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg. The set list ranges from stone classics of the blues genre (B.B. King's "Woke Up This Morning," Sonny Boy Williamson II's "Your Funeral and My Trial," T-Bone Walker's immortal "T-Bone Shuffle," to Sonny Charles originals such as "Heavy Built Woman," "Shoot My Rooster" and the title track.The members of Backtrack bring with them authenticity and immense talent. ...Find more about this artist and release
"Checkin' On My Baby"
Website
|
|
13th Ventura County Blues Festival Coming April 28
|
 CAMARILLO, CA) - The 13th Annual Ventura County Blues Festival, Southern California's longest-running yearly big blues event, returns on Saturday, April 28, to Studio Channel Islands, 2222 E. Ventura Blvd., in Camarillo. Gates open 10am and music begins at 11am.
This year's lineup features multiple, former GRAMMY nominee, vocalist Earl Thomas; harpist-vocalist extraordinaire, John Nemeth; SoCal native daughter and longtime festival favorite, Deb Ryder; past International Blues Challenge semi-finalists, Alan Wright Band; Sandy Scott & Blues to The Bone, featuring powerhouse vocalist, Sandy Scott. As per yearly tradition, the Ventura County Blues Society All-Star Jam will close the festival.
The 2018 festival is dedicated to our friend, the late musician and actor, Mickey Jones. The All-Star Jam will be a celebration in his honor and include special guest performers Johnny Rivers, Coco Montoya, Robby Robinson, Dallas Hodge, Mikey Mo, Guy Martin, Ray Jaurique, Michael John and other very special surprises... you wont want to miss this.
...Find more about the Ventura County Blues Festival
|
|
|
Gator by the Bay Presents Blues to Feel Happy About
|
 By Wendy Lemlin
Proving that there is nothing sad about the blues, the Gator by The Bay 2018 festival’s lineup has plenty to put a smile on any blues lover’s face. The 18-year-old music festival, happening May 10-13, 2018 at Spanish Landing Park, began primarily as a showcase for Louisiana-style zydeco and Cajun music, but these days has grown to feature 7 stages with over 100 musical acts of many genres. With over 25 Blues artists on the schedule, Gator By The Bay’s Blues game is sure to be super strong again this year.
Headlining the kickoff concert on Thursday evening, May 10, Southwest Louisiana-based slide guitarist, songwriter, and singer Sonny Landreth is known as “The King of Slydeco” for the zydeco influences in his unique guitar stylings. The noted slideman started out in The Red Hot Louisiana Band of zydeco legend Clifton Chenier, and his unorthodox guitar style comes from the manner in which he simultaneously plays slide and makes fingering movements on the fretboard.
...Find more about Gator By The Bay artists and more
|
|
Jus` Blues Music Awards Conference Week
|
 (TUNICA, MS) - The Jus’ Blues Music Foundation, Inc. will be hosting their 18th annual summer event, the 2018 Jus` Blues Music Awards Conference (JBMAC), July 31st through August 4th at the Horseshoe Hotel & Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.
Tuesday July 31st will kick-off day one of the JBMAC with a Delta Blues Educational Tour where we will visit the birthplace of B.B. King and the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, Mississippi. The tour will also include a Lunch & Blues Jam at the legendary Club Ebony.
Wednesday, August 1st will be the President's VIP Reception to welcome the JBMA 2018 Class of Living Legend Honorees and early registration attendees.
The evening of Thursday, August 2nd is the exciting “Jus’ Blues Music Awards Night of the Living Legends.” This spectacular formal banquet style event features great performances and entertainment tributes celebrating the achievements of national and internationally accomplished musicians, artists and industry professionals who have made an indelible mark in the history of Blues and Soul music. ...Find more about the Jus' Blues events
|
|
ISC Announces the 2017 Winners
|
 Congratulations to all the winners in the 2017 International Songwriting Competition (ISC). Winner in the Blues category are: 1st Place Thornetta Davis, Brett Lucas, Phillip Hale (Thornetta Davis) for "Everything's Gonna Be Alright;" 2nd Place Jeff Schroedl, Jeff Taylor (Altered Five Blues Band) for "Cookin' In Your Kitchen;" 3rd Place Jimmy Zee (The Jimmy Zee Band) for "Backroads."
Now in its 17th year, ISC is the world’s largest international songwriting competition, receiving more than 16,000 entries from almost 140 countries. More than $175,000 in cash and merchandise is awarded to 71 winners in 23 categories covering all genres of music. Adult Alternative song “Crawl Outta Love Ft. Annika Wells." won the Grand Prize. ISC is now accepting entries for the 2018 competition which includes many formats.
2017 judges included: Tom Waits; Booker T. Jones; The Mavericks; John Mayall; Joe Louis Walker; Walter Trout.
Find the complete list and to hear the winning songs and see how to register.
|
|
50 years of Blues Adventures in Blues With A Twist
|
 The book, Blues With A Twist, lets us in on 50 years of behind the scenes blues adventures as told by internationally known blues drummer Twist Turner.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like for a still wet-behind-the-ears young blues drummer from Seattle to move to Chicago, where he headed straight for the ghetto and become immersed and accepted in the blues local blues scene. Having worked with a literal who’s who of the blues over the last four decades there are plenty of great stories to tell.
During the course of his 54-year musical career songwriter, producer and drummer Twist Turner has worked with over 40 Grammy Award winners and or nominees and countless W.C. Handy/BMA winners. Twist was raised in Seattle and began his musical career playing and recording with the late West coast bluesman and guitar god Isaac Scott. In 1975 Twist packed his bags and moved to Chicago. ...Find more about Blues With A Twist
|
|
Which Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Hits Your Groove?
|
|
|
- The West Coast Returns! #31 West Coast Oct. 2018 is Sold Out! Join Waitlist!
- #32 Eastern Caribbean Feb. 2019 is Sold Out!
Join Wait List!
|
 LRBC #31 Sea of Cortez Oct. 2018 will sail 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 website reservations or call (816) 753-7979. For artist lineup & info, visit here.
LRBC #32 Feb. 2019 Eastern Caribbean will sail on Holland America's ms Nieuw Statendam from Ft. Lauderdale to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Bahamas Private Island. The cruise is sold out… Join the Wait List via the website or call (816) 753-7979. For artist lineup & info, visit here.
- LEGENDARY RHYTHM & BLUES CRUISE - 313 Lawrence St., Kansas City, MO (816) 753-7979 | BluesCruise.com
More Than A Cruise… More Than A Festival... More Than You Can Imagine!
|
|
|
Wiregrass Blues Society Blues Festival April 21
|
 (DOTHAN, AL) - The Wiregrass Blues Society presents Blues Fest 2018 this Saturday, April 21, in the courtyard of the Wiregrass Museum of Art (126 Museum Avenue Dothan, AL). Cost is only $10. Featured performers are Vanessa Collier; JP Soars and the Red Hots; and Hurricane Ruth. Gates open at 2:00 PM CST - show is from 3pm-10pm.
_____________________________________________________________
EMAIL your Blues Society news to us!
|
|
|
Clarence Brown "I Hate These Doggone Blues"
|
|
|
Special BFG Announcements
|
|
|
Join Blues Freaks at our Tweeter feed & on Instagram
|
Hey, come on over and Join over 12,500+ Blues Freaks at our TWITTER feed @BluesFestGuide
___________________________________________
  Also Follow us on INSTAGRAM See awesome, bluesy festival photos
from our team and fellow blues lovers!
|
|
|
Get your Face in our Book
|
|
Then please drop on by and"LIKE" us to get a daily dose of blues related stuff! ...
|
|
Thoughts & upcoming Birthdays
|
|
Birthdays upcoming of note:
April 21-Clara Ward (1924); April 22-Charles Mingus (1922), George "Harmonica" Smith (1924), Bullmoose Jackson (1919); April 23-Charles "Cow Cow" Davenport (1894); April 25 Albert King (1923) April 26 Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (1886), Johnny" Shines (1915), J. B. Hutto (1926), Mike Finnegan (1945); April 27 Ann Peebles (1947), April 29-Big Jay McNeely (1927), Otis Rush (1935), Frankie Lee (1941), April 30 Rev, Gary Davis (1896), Mabel Scott (1915), Frankie Lee Sims (1917), Jimmie Lee Robinson (1931)
_____________________________________________________________
|
|
|
Roots Blues Airplay Charts (click chart for samples & updates)
|
|
|
|
To view our entire calendar of more than 500 festivals, click here!
|
|
ATTENTION:
FESTIVAL PROMOTERS
|
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.
|
| | |
|
|
|
NOTE: Highlighted/Linked Fests here
are paid "Featured" ads
______________________
|
Red, White and Blues
Apr-21-2018
Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
Temecula Blues Festival
Apr-21-2018
Temecula, California, USA
Key City Rhythm & Blues Festival
Apr-27-2018 - Apr-28-2018
Abilene, Texas, USA
Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival
Apr-28-2018
Bessemer, Alabama, USA
13th Annual
Ventura County Blues Festival
Apr-28-2018
Camarillo, California, USA
KNON Fort Worth Blues Fest, 9th Annual
Apr-29-2018
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Big Llou's Juke Joynt Hall of Fame
May-09-2018
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Gator By The Bay
May-10-2018 - May-13-2018
San Diego, California, USA
|
| | For all festival links
please go to our website
_______________________
|
Kwadendamme Bluesfestival
May-11-2018 - May-13-2018
Kwadendamme, Netherlands
Pinetop Boogie
and Crawfish Boil
May-12-2018
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Hill Country Harmonica Festival
May-17-2018 - May-20-2018
Waterford , Mississippi, USA
Doheny Blues Festival
May-19-2018 - May-20-2018
Dana Point, California, USA
NCFBS Women in Blues Showcase
May-20-2018
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Simi Valley Cajun &
Blues Music Festival
May-26-2018 - May-27-2018
Simi Valley, California, USA
|
|
|
|
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. ...
For Gmail users: By default, emails may get into the Promotions tab in Gmail. Please check your Promotions tab for the download links and follow these instructions to make sure other important
RBA Publishing info is delivered to your main inbox: In your Promotions tab, drag any
RBA Publishing/Reggae Festival Guide/Blues Festival Guide email and drop it over to the Primary tab
2. Choose "Yes" to confirm that you never want to miss our news.
For Yahoo!, Hotmail and AOL users:
to ensure continuous delivery of our important content.
That’s it! Now you can stay up-to-date.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hey blues lovers! Got 
