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Please stay safe and optimistic!
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We are thinking of you and wishing you good health!
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Photo Moments with the 2019 BFG Magazine!!
Grab yours NOW & take fun photo & email it to me!
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 Here's a fun shot of Stephanie Brown and The Surrealistics, a psychedelic blues-rock band from San Diego area captured after their set at the 2019 Baja Blues Festival in Rosarito, Mexico.
Photo: Michele Lundeen
*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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2020 Blues Festival Guide Magazine Half-Price Offer
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 Here’s a Half Price Offer you can’t refuse! Get your 2020 Blues Festival Guide magazine mailed straight to your door for only $4.50. We know everyone is missing their live Blues! We feel your pain and with so many fests cancelling, we also understand there are fewer chances for you to pick up a 2020 Blues Festival Guide! The Blues Festival Guide team is here for you! We are moving forward with our 2020 mag and want everyone to have an opportunity to get a copy. We’ll print in May and will mail your copy straight to your U.S. home or P.O. Box for only $4.50 US & Canada (normally $9) and $7 Overseas (normally $14)
Here is the link to order your personal copy… Don’t miss out! Or give us a call and we can take your order over the phone. Call 707-630-3304.
Order your copy today!
Along with our blues festival, blues society and blues radio listings, we also feature some great editorial. We featured a “Sneak “peek” in last week’s e-Guide but here are some titles and authors as a reminder.
- What’s Cookin’ with Victor Wainwright
- The Healing Blues By Anita Schlank, Ph.D.
- The Jus’ Blues Music Foundation
- Blues; An African Sonic Response By Pascal Bokar Thiam, Ed.D.
- Jammin’ On The High C’s: On Board the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise By Mitch Woods
- Living Legend: Charlie Musselwhite By Eric Steiner
- 2020 Keeping the Blues Alive Award Recipients
...Find more details
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Featured Video of the Week
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Fantastic Negrito
"Chocolate Samurai" (Corona Quarantine Video)
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Professor Louie & The Crowmatix :: MILES OF BLUES
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 Grammy nominees Professor Louie & The Crowmatix have been the torchbearers of American roots and blues music for nearly 20 years. The energetic five-piece band from Woodstock, New York return with their second album of 2019 and their 15th release, Miles Of Blues. The collection of nine new tracks and a bonus live cut is appropriately subtitled “From L-50" to Steampunk & Miles of Blues in between...” giving us a clue to the variety in store for our listening pleasure.
The acclaimed keyboardist, producer and engineer Aaron L. Hurwitz, aka “Professor Louie,” unselfishly shares the spotlight with vocalist Miss Marie, stalwart guitarist John Platania, along with the versatile rhythm section of Gary Burke and Frank Campbell. The Woodstock Horns make an appearance on two tracks with arrangements by super special guest and member of the original Blues Brothers Band, Tom “Bones” Malone.
Platania delivers masterful slide guitar work on the opening track "L-50 Blues," a lively ode to one of the most popular Gibson acoustic arch top guitars ever made and its influence on the development of America’s beloved music. . ..More about this artist and release
 "L-50 Blues"
Website
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Blues Against Hunger Easter Telethon April 12
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(ROSARITO, MX) – Blues Against Hunger or BAHS, is an organization with a simple mission: To produce live blues music events that promote the collection and distribution of non-perishable food to the hungry while supporting, promoting and preserving the blues in the communities we serve. Food gets distributed in each community by local food banks and other service groups. To date we have collected and distributed over 27,000 pounds of food in Mexico and the US.
Unfortunately, in the current Pandemic conditions globally, all opportunities to gather together in person to celebrate with the blues have ceased. We cannot continue our mission without blues. For this reason, we invite you to join us Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020 from 10am-6pm as we gather together online with very special guests to celebrate the blues and continue the fight to end hunger. Get ready for live interviews, music, laughter, and love with hosts Sixx and “Sweet” Rachel Pack, the founders of BAHS who also perform as Sweet Sixx & the Wild Pack band.
Along with Sweet Sixx & Wild Pack, the more than a dozen special guests include:
- Multiple award-winning guitarist Kid Ramos from Los Angeles who is currently touring with supergroup, The Proven Ones. Ramos has played with James Harman, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mannish Boys and many more.
- New York’s Tom Chapin is a musician, entertainer, singer-songwriter, storyteller and 3-time Grammy Award winner.
...Find the full list of guests and links to the telethon and BAHS...
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Cool Live Blues Streams Online
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 Here is some upcoming 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.
APRIL 2: Mike Zito’s Blues Podcast guest is Danielle Nicole 6-7:30pm CDT
APRIL 3: Samantha Fish Fridays presents Facebook Live via her page every Friday for the next 3 weeks at 12pm CST. Tune in April 3 with special guest artist Nicholas David
- Anders Osborne on his Facebook Live "Fans Pick the Album" 6:30pm CST- Albert Castiglia's CD release party hosted by “Can’t Stop The Blues” 9pm EDT
- Gracie Curran Live on “Can’t Stop The Blues” Fri at 8 PM – 9 PM EDT
APRIL 4: Diana Rein on “Can’t Stop The Blues” 8pm EDT- Gary Hoey on “Can't Stop The Blues” 9pm EDT
APRIL 5: John Clifton Band Live Streaming Living Room Concert on his Facebook page Sunday 2:30pm PST
- Terry Hanck on “Can't Stop The Blues” Sun April 5th 8-9pm EDT
APRIL 12: Blues Against Hunger Easter Telethon w-Kid Ramos, Sauce Boss & a dozen more 10am-6pm PST
APRIL 13: Corey Harris acoustic blues and roots session via his Facebook page Monday, April 13 12 Noon EST
APRIL 15: Selwyn Birchwood says, “What better time to share some acoustic music, stories, and positivity while you’re locked down?! Selwyn Birchwood’s alter-ego “The Blues Shadow!” will be having Hump-Day FB LIVE shows Every Wednesday, 8pm EST on his Facebook page!
...Find links to streams and the rest of the sample listings that are coming at you this weekend and beyond
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Out of the Blues: Reflections on the 1960s Revival
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 In the late 1950s and early ’60s, prewar acoustic blues guitarists such as Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James, and Reverend Gary Davis earned late-in-life fame as new audiences eagerly devoured their music through performances at events like the Newport Folk Festival and LP reissues and compilations on labels like Folkways and Yazoo Records. Acoustic guitarists, many of them young and white, became enthralled by this earthy music, recorded in the 1920s and ’30s and previously accessible mainly through old and rare 78 rpm discs. In an era before excellent roots and blues instruction was just a click away, and before the language was common knowledge among guitarists, the music was often inscrutable—the use of, say, a bottleneck slide or open tuning not always apparent to even the most attentive listener.
Among the young musicians who fell under the spell of the blues in the 1960s were Happy Traum, Stefan Grossman, Rory Block, and Steve James, names no doubt familiar to readers of this magazine. All four spent their formative years in New York during the folk and blues revival, which saw a lot of action in the clubs of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, and in that neighborhood’s Washington Square Park. As such, these guitarists were able to seek out the old masters, befriending them and learning their secrets firsthand.
From the May/June 2020 issue of Acoustic Guitar By Adam Perlmutter
...Find link to entire article here
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Part 2: Current Status of Festivals & Events
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As reported in our Mar 19 Blues Festival e-Guide, in solidarity and for the safety of all, a large majority of upcoming events have been cancelled, postponed, or rescheduled. Many that have postponed are still debating the monumental logistics of rescheduling. We will keep you informed on updates as we can. I didn’t list the cancelled ones that have already passed. Many of those that have cancelled are looking forward to coming back like gangbusters in 2021!
In the meantime, we hope that you are staying as safe as possible. We hold out hope and believe that human kindness will excel in spite of the hardships so many of us may be facing in general now. Music is a Healer!
CANCELLED (C) POSTPONED (P) RESCHEDULED (R)
to the best of our knowledge as of April 2, 2020 (in alpha order)
(R) Avila Beach Blues Festival-Avila Beach, CA-May 24 moved to May 30
(P) Barnesville BBQ & Blues Festival-Barnesville, GA-April 17-18
(P) Baton Rouge Blues Festival-Baton Rouge, LA-April 18-19
(R) Billtown Blues Festival-Williamsport, PA-March 14 now June 11-13, 2021
(P) Birding & Blues Festival-Pacific City, OR-April 17-19
(C) Blind Willie McTell Music Festival-Augusta, GA-May 2
(C) Blues By the Sea-Kiawah Island, SC-April 19
(C) Blues Festival Baden-Baden, CH-May 23-30
(C) Blues from the Top-Winter Park. CO-June 27-28
*Blues Hall of Fame Museum-Closed until further notice
*Blues Music Awards & Blues Hall of Fame Inductions *to be Virtual
...Find entire list here
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Blues Foundation’s Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund
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(MEMPHIS,TN) - The Blues Foundation established the COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund to assist professional blues musicians whose primary source of income is paid performance and whose household, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has lost all means of income for the foreseeable future. This fund has been established for the sole purpose of providing EMERGENCY relief and will only cover those basic necessities required to live
Musicians in need of financial assistance due to circumstances or event cancellations that occurred prior to the Coronavirus pandemic are not eligible to apply. Neither are individuals whose primary musical form is not blues and/or who do not depend upon performance revenue as their major source of income.
To request funding please contact Elizabeth Montgomery Brown at elizabeth@blues.org. Or, if you have the ability, please consider donating to help us help blues musicians with emergency needs.
Donate to the COVID-19 Relief Fund! ...More details and links
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A Message from the Billtown Blues Association
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(HUGHESVILLE, PA) - After much intense deliberation the Billtown Blues Association’s Board of Directors has come to the extremely difficult decision to cancel the 31st Annual Billtown Blues Festival slated for June 12th, 13th, & 14th, 2020 at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville, Pennsylvania.
The early June time frame for the Festival presents a large “unknown” risk to all involved both in terms of health, safety, and economic recovery. “So many people are in limbo,” says Bonnie Tallman, Executive Director of the BBA. “Especially the hired artists who when coming to our festival often “route-in” connecting performances with other venues on the way to and from Hughesville. Ultimately, we felt we needed to take the most conservative approach for our artists, volunteers, and most importantly our attendees, considering no one knows how this situation will shape up in the weeks or months ahead.”
The Festival has already been rescheduled for June 11th, 12th, & 13th, 2021 at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville, PA. Plans are currently underway to reschedule the complete 2020 lineup.
“Last year was a major turning point for us with the 3-day music expansion and the camping option, says Jared Mondell, Vice President of the BBA’s Board of Directors. “We turned the corner financially after being flat for the past few years...” ...Read full story here
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Catching Up with 50 years of Living Blues
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 On April 1, for their #266. (April/May 2020), Living Blues published their special 50th Anniversary issue. For their 50th anniversary they revisit 21 of their past cover artists and seeing where life and the blues have led them. The artists featured include Bobby Rush, Irma Thomas, Jimmy Johnson, Bettye LaVette, Robert Cray, Lil’ Ed Williams, Shemekia Copeland, Michael Hill and many more.
Issue #266 also includes “In The Beginning,” the story of the early years of Living Blues as told by co-founding editor Jim O’Neal. Other special features include "Thirty of the Very Best Blues Albums of the 2010s and Thirty You May Have Missed" and "People, Places, and Things," a list of 50 blues songs dealing with particular people, places, and things, both real and mythical, both from Jim DeKoster; and "Fifty Fabulous Sessions – The Pre-war Era," from Jas Obrecht. The "Let It Roll" column highlights Barbecue Bob’s recording session for Columbia Records in Atlanta on April 13, 1928, a session that helped define the sound of Atlanta Blues.
Other highlights are "Artist to Artist" with Joseph “Mojo” Morganfield, the "Breaking Out" column spotlighting King Solomon Hicks, the latest Living Blues Radio Charts, and festival listings. Record reviews include new releases from Dom Flemons, John Primer and Bob Corritore, and Frank Bey, and reissues by Mel Brown, Fats Domino, and Gus Jenkins.
...Find links here
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Blues Businesses, Artists/Bands, Festivals, Clubs, Music Halls, Radio Stations...
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 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.
Call or text: 775-846-8238
Reasons Why You Should Include a BFG PRINT Ad in Your Budget:
1) People love the magazine! The physicality of getting their hands on it. It engages the senses: sight, touch, smell; the sound of the pages turning, sharing 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) 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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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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 - Passover is Wednesday April 8
- Easter is Sunday April 12
- Orthodox Easter April 19
- Earth Day April 22
Birthdays upcoming of note:
April 2 Marvin Gaye (1939-1984); April 3-Mitch Woods (1951); April 4-Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield (1913–1983); April 5 Larry McCray (1960); April 6-Big Walter Horton (1918–1981) Warren Haynes (1960); April 7-Billie Holiday (1915-1959); April 9-Mance Lipscomb (1895-1976); April 10-John Brim (1922–2003) Rosco Gordon (1928–2002) ), Shemekia Copeland (1979); April 11-Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson (1939), Ana Popovic (1976); April 12-"Hound Dog" Taylor (1915-1975); April 15-Tommy Castro (1955), Bessie Smith (1894-1937); April 16-Sean Costello (1979-2008)
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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
___________________________________________
  Also Follow us on INSTAGRAM See awesome, bluesy festival photos
from our team and fellow blues lovers!
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Get your Face in our Book
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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 April 4, 2020
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  #1 CHECK SHIRT WIZARD: LIVE IN '77
Rory Gallagher
#2
EL DORADO
Marcus King
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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
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
Blues Against Hunger
Live Telethon
Apr-12-2020
Rosarito, Baja, MX
POSTPONED to Nov 5-7
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 TO 2021
European Blues Challenge
Apr-17-2020 - Apr-18-2020
Amsterdam, Netherlands
POSTPONED
SRV Tribute Show!
Apr-18-2020, Minneapolis
Minnesota, USA
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please go to our website
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CANCELLED
16th Annual Blues By the Sea
Apr-19-2020
Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA
*VIRTUAL LIVE STREAM
Blues Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony
May-6-2020
Memphis, Tennessee USA
*VIRTUAL LIVE STREAM
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
POSTPONED
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
CANCELLED
North Central Florida Women in Blues Showcase
May-17-2020
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Chicago Blues Festival
Jun-05-2020 - Jun-07-2020, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Canton Blues Fest
Jun-05-2020 - Jun-06-2020
North Canton, Ohio, USA
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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
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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 
