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Photo Moments with the 17th Annual BFG Magazine!!
Might as well grab yours NOW & take some fun shots!!
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 Last week I asked staff for some shots with the magazine as I'm running low on choices. I thought it might be fun to share some "Quarantine with the BFG" shots! This was Day 8 for our annual Blues Festival Guide magazine editor Irene Johnson and her adorable children. Today is now Day 15 and knowing Irene, I bet they are all still smiling and making the best of things!
If you have your BFG send me some pics with it!
Photos courtesy Irene Johnson
*NOTE! Each Spring our annual edition arrives at festivals, blues societies and a few distributors! Get yours and SNAP PHOTOS of you, your friends, and/or artists, etc. with our 17th annual and EMAIL your photo
plus caption & photo credit to us!
**Want more info or your own hard copy? Go to this page!
We're proud that the Blues Foundation is official sponsor of our 2019 Blues Festival Guide annual magazine. |
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Featured Video of the Week
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"Shine Bright" Marcia Ball
with Mighty Mike Schermer on guitar and Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Carolyn Wonderland and Shelley King on backup vocals
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Correction: Last week I wrote that Jim Woodard "wiped up" his song "Isolation" HA! I meant "whipped up" but he laughed and said it was cool!
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Frank Bey :: ALL MY DUES ARE PAID
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 All My Dues Are Paid on Nola Blue Records, is his eagerly-anticipated sophomore album of Frank Bey, the Southern Gentleman of the Blues.
In the follow up to his award-winning 2018 album, Back In Business, Frank Bey powerfully asserts his career status with All My Dues Are Paid. Co-written with Nola Blue Records label mate Kathy Murray, album producer Kid Andersen and co-producer Rick Estrin, the uptempo title track for his sixth album is a celebration of the unstoppable journey of soul bluesman, Frank Bey.
Recorded at Keeping the Blues Alive Award-recipient, Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California, Bey is accompanied by an elite group of musicians including multi-Grammy winners Jim Pugh (keyboards) and Jerry Jemmott (bass); multi-Blues Music Award nominee Nancy Wright (saxophone); drummer Derrick D'Mar Martin (Little Richard) and percussionist Vicki Randle ( Tonight Show band). Andersen's reverence and keen exploitation of Bey's vocal prowess is evident throughout the 13 selections on the album.
Northwest Music Scene reviewer Rick Bowen observes, "The full breadth of Bey's artistic and emotional power is brought to bear in the dynamic, showstopping arrangement of John Lennon's ‘Imagine' that builds to a glorious grand finale." ...More about this artist and release
 "Idle Hands"
Website
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Keep your name and face out there before the Blues community!
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 Dear Blues Businesses, Artists/Bands, Festivals, Clubs, Music Halls, Radio Stations...
Have you ordered your print AD in the annual Blues Festival Guide magazine?
You don't want to miss out on this once-a-year marketing opportunity!
We offer Ad sizes for every budget. Call us today to brainstorm and find out what Discounts & Package Deals we have available. Our print deadline is looming and NOW is the time to reserve your space!
Call or text: 775-846-8238
Five Good Reasons Why You Should Include a PRINT Ad in Your Budget:
1) People love the magazine! The physicality of getting their hands on it. It engages your senses: sight, touch, smell; the sound of the pages turning, sharing it with a friend. Interesting and entertaining editorial by blues' top aficionados
2) Your website, e-Guide and Facebook Ads with us are deeply discounted when your campaign is anchored with a print ad
3) Thousands of blues lovers read it online in digital format, also for free! We have an aggressive outreach program for our Digital Magazine (your ad in our print magazine, is automatically in the digital version at no up charge)
4) The Magazine is also available to millions through two electronic news stands: Magzter.com and Issuu.com
5) The magazine has a long shelf life and is read and re-read throughout the year
Oh and one more reason: We make it easy, affordable and fun!
We will even make your ad for you.
Here is our complete MEDIA KIT. Find Ad SIZES and PRICES HERE.
Order Your Ad Space Now!
Main office: 707-630-3304 / Kaati's cell: 775-846-8238
Thanks and we look forward to helping you,
Kaati, Cheryl, Tom, Heather and Irene
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In the midst of the uncertainty out in the world, the Blues Festival Guide team is still working to bring you the latest happenings on the festival circuit, as well as editorial features to uplift your spirit and connect you with the Blues community. Here’s a sneak peek! Don’t miss it! Order your copy today! And you can even be a part of our premier annual by advertising with us!
What’s Cookin’ with Victor Wainwright
Check out what award-winning piano man Victor Wainwright is cookin’. The now Memphis-based Georgia native says, “What takes us from Savannah to Memphis on the music and food train? What’s relatively cheap, can feed an army and bring together a house full of musicians to the dinner table amid the loud music playing, chatter, laughter and normal everyday noise? Memphis Loud BBQ Stew with Mamma’s Cornbread!” Don’t miss out on Wainwright’s own recipes for smoked pork butt, BBQ stew and cornbread. You know what’s good about smoked pulled pork? Everything.
The Healing Blues By Anita Schlank, Ph.D.
The frightening new realities caused by today’s worldwide pandemic have got us all on edge. Fortunately for us, the blues can help. Listening to and playing music can enhance well-being and reduce pain and suffering. Whether it’s the beauty found in sad tones, the simplicity of chord structure allowing for increased emotional expression, or the catharsis of hearing blues singers speak about struggles that are similar to one’s own, blues music is uniquely situated to see us through tough times. Licensed Clinical Psychologist Anita Schlank, Ph.D. and bluesman Tab Benoit teamed up to coauthor Blues Therapy to raise awareness about mental illness and share the wonderful healing aspects of this music.
The Jus’ Blues Music Foundation
Best known for the Jus’ Blues Music Awards and Conference held each summer in Tunica, MS, the Jus’ Blues Music Foundation also presents workshops on how to use technology to reach new audiences, brings blues into schools, offers songwriting workshops and sponsors tours of blues heritage locations. If it’s something to do with advocating the blues, you can bet Jus’ Blues is working to support it. Find out more about their projects in this feature!
Blues; An African Sonic Response By Pascal Bokar Thiam, Ed.D.
Is there an African blues? Dr. Pascal Bokar Thiam – a.k.a. musician Pascal Bokar, Father of the Afro Blue Grazz sound – schools us on the African roots of the blues, as well as African artists who continue the tradition of incorporating African musical aesthetics to animate the genre. Read more to learn how the blues speaks to our collective humanity beyond race and nationality.
Jammin’ On The High C’s
On Board the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise By Mitch Woods
Accompany jump-swing piano torchbearer Mitch Woods on board the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, as he invites us into the piano bar scene, which is known to jam on ‘til dawn. You never know what will happen or who will show up. And while “What happens on the Blues Cruise, stays on the Blues Cruise,” Woods shares a few hilarious stories that will get you fired up to jump on board the next ship.
Living Legend: Charlie Musselwhite By Eric Steiner
Charlie Musselwhite is known as an electric blues harp player, essential to the genre to the blues. Having cut his musical teeth alongside Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and everyone on the South Side of Chicago in the early 1960s, more than 20 albums later, Musselwhite is at the top of his game. This feature pays homage to this legendary bluesman.
2020 Keeping the Blues Alive Award Recipients
Keeping the blues alive is essential, especially in these times when we need it most. This year, the Blues Foundation granted the Keeping the Blues Alive Award to two festivals: the Cali Blues & Folk Festival of Cali, Colombia, and the Jimiway Blues Festival in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland. Find out how these festivals are perpetuating the blues for their international audiences.
AND MORE!
If you're interested in being a part of our premier annual now's the time to advertise! Call our main office: 707-630-3304 or Kaati's cell: 775-846-8238
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Editor’s note: Paying The Blues Forward is a grass roots mission to raise money for touring artists that are now out of work. The fundraiser has pledged to raise $1000 each to 50 artists in serious hardship that reached out. In 5 days the GoFundme project has been able to pay 8 of those artists.
A Note from Mike Zito & Nick Moss
Many of my musician friends are out of work during this pandemic. Not just a little out of work, completely out of work. Not everyone is comfortable asking for assistance or maybe tech savvy to do online shows or streaming. This is all very new to everyone.
I started a "Quarantine Blues" recording project to help feed my family and truly help my band members who were coming home with nothing after a large cancelled tour. The band and I have committed 10 original songs available for free to the world and in return we were given much needed support from our fans and the Blues community.
Now, we are extending this campaign to our large Blues community. We are asking artists that are in need of assistance to contribute a song for this project and in return we are going to try and raise $1000 each for the artist and their band members. We feel this is a time of need, but we want to give back with what we do best - music... More details about this fundraiser
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Great Samples of Live Blues Streams Online
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 Here is just an upcoming sample of some live streaming opportunities we found that you can enjoy online.
The “Can’t Stop The Blues” Facebook page is hosting live streams of various blues artists left and right. This group is a free platform for touring musicians to perform live during this crisis, in any way they are able. While their shows will be available to you free of charge, they will have a tip jar and/or PayPal or other funding options for them. These will go directly to the bands' own accounts. If you miss any of the live presentations, you can watch previous shows in the video section of their Facebook page.
This Thursday Mar 26 at 9 pm eastern you can catch Nick and Kate Moss on “Can’t Stop The Blues.”
Samantha Fish Fridays is coming to Facebook Live every Friday for the next 4 weeks at 12pm CST. Tune in this Friday Mar 27.
Join Devon Allman for the "We Are All Still Together Tour" on Facebook streaming live Friday Mar 27 at 7pm and Sunday Mar 29 at 4pm CT.
Friday Mar 27 at 8pm CDT Mike Zito’s Blues Podcast guest will be Walter Trout.
...Find links to streams and the rest of the sample listings that are coming at you this weekend
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Fender Offering Free Guitar Lessons
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 During the coronavirus crisis, Fender is offering free online guitar lessons for 3 months to first 100,000 people!
For a limited time, Fender, the American manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, is offering the first 100,000 people who sign up free guitar, bass and ukulele lessons while you hunker down for the coronavirus.
Fender says, “With everything happening in the world, music has the power to connect us. We want to do our part to see you through – the way we know how. We’re offering 3 months of free online guitar, bass and ukulele lessons to the first 100,000 who sign up for Fender Play. We’re all going to be spending more time inside – so we might as well make some noise.”
...Find the link to Fender and this offer
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Which Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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Our Artists and Headliners Stay and Play, They Don’t Hit and Run!!
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 LRBC #35 Southern Caribbean: Oct 25-Nov 1, 2020 from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba & Half Moon Cay (Bahamas Private Island) on Holland America’s ms Eurodam. Over 95% Sold! Book your cabin now before they’re gone!! Visit Reservations or call (816) 753-7979. Over 100 scheduled shows on 6 stages. Artist Lineup: Taj Mahal & Phantom Blues Band, Keb’ Mo’, Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio, Charlie Musselwhite, Ruthie Foster, Tab Benoit, Walter Trout, Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, Kenny Neal Band w/ Tyree Neal, G. Love & Special Sauce, Shemekia Copeland, Danielle Nicole, Johnny Rawls, Rev. Peytons’ Big Damn Band, Vanessa Collier, Marquise Knox, Shakura S’Aida, RUF Records Blues Caravan, Jonathon Long, Doug MacLeod, Mitch Woods Club 88, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, Kelley Hunt, Daryl Davis, Eden Brent, Chuk Barber’s Soul Lounge, Mr. Sipp (Special Guest) & many more!
LRBC #36 Eastern Caribbean: Jan 31-Feb 7, 2021 from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Tortola, St. Thomas & Turks and Caicos on Holland America’s ms Nieuw Statendam! Join the LRBC email list at https://bluescruise.com/mail-list/ to receive the announcement!
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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! -
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 - March is Women's History Month
Birthdays upcoming of note:
Mar 26-Rufus Thomas (1917-2001), Curley Weaver (1906-1962); Mar 27-Leroy Carr (1905–1935), Robert "Junior" Lockwood (1915–2006), Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990), Herman "Little Junior" Parker (1932-1971), Johnny Clyde Copeland (1937–1997); Mar 29-Willie Clayton (1955), Sue Foley (1968), Camille Howard (1914-1993); Mar 30-John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson (1914–1948), Eric Clapton (1945); Mar 31-Big Maceo Merriweather (1905–1953), Lowell Fulson (1921–1999), Lizzie Miles (1895-1963); April 1-Lucille Bogan (1897–1948), Alberta Hunter (1895–1984), Joseph Amos Milburn, Jr. (1927–1980); April 2 Marvin Gaye (1939-1984); April 3-Mitch Woods (1951); April 4-Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield (1913–1983); April 5 Larry McCray (1960)
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Missed your copy of the Weekly e-Guide?
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BFG Twitter-Instagram-Facebook
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Join Blues Freaks at our Tweeter feed & on Instagram
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Hey, come on over and Join over 13,000+ Blues Freaks at our TWITTER feed @BluesFestGuide
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from our team and fellow blues lovers!
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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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Radio Submit Roots Blues Airplay Chart (click chart for more)
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Billboard Blues Album This week
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Billboard's Top 2 Blues Albums - Week of Mar 21, 2020
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  #1 CHECK SHIRT WIZARD: LIVE IN '77
Rory Gallagher
#2
THAT'S WHAT I HEARD
Robert Cray
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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/events 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 events here
are paid "Featured" ads
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*CORONAVIRUS UPSETS:
Postponed here means they've rescheduled or 2020 is still pending.
Cancelled means some have picked a date for 2021 or are hopeful
POSTPONED
Southern Arizona Blues
and Brews Festival
Mar-28-2020
Tucson, Arizona, USA
CANCELLED
Tampa Bay Blues Festival
Apr-03-2020 - Apr-05-2020
St Petersburg, Florida, USA
CANCELLED
30th Springing the Blues
Apr-03-2020 - Apr-05-2020
Jacksonville Beach, Florida, USA
CANCELLED
Byron Bay BluesFest
Apr-09-2020 - Apr-13-2020
Byron Bay, Australia
POSTPONED
Delta Blues Dulcimer Revival
Apr-16-2020 - Apr-18-2020
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
CANCELLED
Juke Joint Festival
& Related Events
Apr-16-2020 - Apr-19-2020
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
POSTPONED
Birding & Blues Festival
Apr-17-2020 - Apr-19-2020
Pacific City, Oregon, USA
POSTPONED
European Blues Challenge
Apr-17-2020 - Apr-18-2020
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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please go to our website
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SRV Tribute Show!
Apr-18-2020, Minneapolis
Minnesota, USA
CANCELLED
16th Annual Blues By the Sea
Apr-19-2020
Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA
CANCELLED
Blues Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony
May-6-2020
Memphis, Tennessee USA
CANCELLED
Blues Music Awards
May-7-2020
Memphis, Tennessee USA
CANCELLED
Gator By The Bay
May-07-2020-May-10-2020
San Diego, California USA
CANCELLED
Kwadendamme Bluesfestival
May-08-2020 - May-09-2020
Kwadendamme, Netherlands
Kimbrough Cotton Patch Soul Blues Festival
May-15-2020 - May-17-2020
Holly Springs, New York, USA
CANCELLED
Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival
May-16-2020 - May-17-2020
Annapolis, Maryland, USA
North Central Florida Women in Blues Showcase
May-17-2020
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Lincoln Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
NOW June-13-2020
Lincoln, United Kingdom
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RBA Publishing/Blues Festival Guide
P.O. Box 920, Arcata, CA 95518
Call 707-630-3304
RBA Publishing, Inc. in business since 1993, is a boutique blues-specific PR and marketing firm based on the West Coast. We help musicians, festivals, labels and music-related brands. Our digital campaigns target fans, industry and influencers. We are masterful at email marketing, social media, fan acquisition and long-term marketing plans. Our media services are supported by people who understand and love the blues genre. Publishers of annual the Blues Festival Guide magazine, our top-ranking website, and e-Guide newsletter with approx 30,000 weekly subscribers, we have been blues industry leaders for over 17 years. Please contact us at 707-630 3304 or EMAIL to findout how we can help you!
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 share and report it.
We also welcome your e-Guide suggestions, critiques and questions. You can reach our E-Guide editor, Michele Lundeen via EMAIL.
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: Yahoo!, Hotmail and AOL are using overly strong spam-blocking filters that are very likely to stop you from receiving our emails. Please set up your spam filters to allow mail from the info@BluesFestivalGuide.com and Info@ReggaeFestivalGuide.com
to ensure continuous delivery of our important content.
That’s it! Now you can stay up-to-date.
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Hey blues lovers! Got 
