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2020 Blues Festival Guide annual is shipping... order now!
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 Here's it is... our beautiful, soulful 2020 cover featuring Danielle Nicole by photographer Brita Brookes!
We know everyone is missing their live Blues! We feel your pain and we also understand there are fewer chances for you to pick up a 2020 Blues Festival Guide! Order and you can get your 2020 Blues Festival Guide magazine mailed to you!
We're shipping now and can mail your copy straight to your U.S. home or P.O. Box for $9 US & Canada and $14 Overseas.
Here's the link to order your personal copy or give us a call to place your order at 707-630-3304.
Along with blues festival, artist and label ads, blues society and blues radio listings, we feature interesting editorial like: What’s Cookin’ with Victor Wainwright, A King And A Duke by Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, Jammin’ On The High C’s: On Board the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise By Mitch Woods, Living Legend: Charlie Musselwhite by Eric Steiner, Reel Away The Blues by Roger Stolle and more.
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Some music venues are opening... what are your thoughts?
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 Hey Blues Fans!!
We see some music venues are opening up around the country.
Tell us your thoughts about that.
- Have you attended?
- If so, how was the vibe (i.e. joyous, awkward, crowding, etc.)
- If not, when will you feel comfortable attending?
- If you're a musician, have you performed live for an audience recently?
- If so, how was the vibe and attendance?
Email me here.
We'd love to hear and share your thoughts. Send me pics if you like as well.
Wishing you all good health and peace.
Michele
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Our 18th annual has landed...
Photo Moments with the BFG Magazine!
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 Morgan got his copy of Blues Festival Guide, did you get yours? If not, order one here!
*NOTE! Our 2020 annual is being sent to select festivals, blues societies and a few distributors plus we are also encouraging individual subscribers because of the unusual conditions of the Pandemic. Once you get yours, have fun and SNAP A PHOTO of you, your friends, and/or artists, etc. with the BFG magazine and EMAIL your photo, caption, and photo credit to your e-Guide editor!
**Want more info or your own hard copy? Go to this page!
The Blues Foundation is the official sponsor of our 2020 Blues Festival Guide!
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Featured Video of the Week
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Nick Moss & Michael Ledbetter "Shade Tree"
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CD, SINGLE & DVD Releases (no reviews)
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Joe Louis Walker :: BLUES COMIN’ ON (the single)
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 Hot on the heels of the first single release, “Old Time Used To Be,” from Joe Louis Walker’s forthcoming new album, Blues Comin’ On, comes the second single release, the superb title track.
And just like the debut single featured a collaboration with fellow modern blues icon Keb’ Mo’, “Blues Comin’ On” the single offers an even bigger and more brilliant partnership with not one but two featured guests, blues guitar hero Eric Gales and superstar singer, The Wanderer himself, Dion!
While Joe and Dion cover vocal and rhythm guitar duties, Gales take the lead, offering up some stellar riffs that add both flavor and vibrancy to the verses as well as a smokin’ hot solo.
Walker and Gales even participated in a special quarantine-style video shoot for the song, filming themselves separately while Dion joined in spirit.Walker had this to say about the track, “It’s great to have so many groundbreaking artists perform on this album. But it’s always special when Eric Gales contributes his guitar genius. It takes the song to another level!” ...Find more about this release and the artists.
 "Blues Comin' On"
Purchase the album
Label Website
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Oxford Film Festival Presents "Off to the Drive-In"
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 (OXFORD, MS) - Oxford Film Festival continues to embrace and expand upon its role as the region’s film culture lifeline, by introducing the debut of its brand new “OFF to the DRIVE-IN” with Ed Wood’s cult classic “Plan 9 From Outer Space” kicking off the drive-in on June 11 and Loki Mulholland’s timely documentary “The Evers” about the family of slain Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers, shown on June 12-13. Presenting Sponsor Cannon Motors will host the screenings at the Cannon Lot (100 Thacker Loop).
“The drive-in is personally exciting to me not just to provide a fun entertainment option that is safe but also because we are creating new jobs, we hired 8 people who had no paycheck and that is crucial to me to help Oxford recover,” said OFF Director Melanie Addington.
This week’s Virtual Art House offerings are highlighted by Josephine Decker’s Sundance hit SHIRLEY, starring Elizabeth Moss as a renowned horror writer who, with her husband, toys with a young couple staying at her estate, Abel Ferrara’s drama TOMMASO, which marks another pairing of the bad boy director with the Oscar-nominated Willem Dafoe, and two-time Emmy winner Cheryl Horner McDonough’s documentary PARKLAND RISING, which traces the international movement spawned by the tragic high school shooting massacre to fight for better gun control laws. ...Find more details about the film festival
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West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center & Tina Turner Museum reopen June 8
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(BROWNSVILLE, TN) - The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center and Tina Turner Museum in Brownsville, Tenn., will reopen Monday, June 8, 2020. The music heritage destination and rural cultural center has been closed since March 19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Center joins a host of other attractions from across the state who have committed to the "Tennessee Pledge." The plan, developed by Governor Lee, the Unified Command Group and Tennessee's Economic Recovery Group with input from health experts, state and local partners and business and industry leaders, provides guidelines to responsibly reopen while protecting both employees and guests.
"We're so happy to begin welcoming guests again" says Sonia Outlaw-Clark, director of the Center. "Our staff will be wearing masks and we encourage you to do so, too, as well as practice social distancing of 6 ft apart while visiting." Along with wearing masks and social distancing, employee temperatures are being taken daily and are being asked to stay home if they are not feeling well. Enhanced and frequent cleaning of high traffic areas are done a minimum of every hour and the Center will be closed on Mondays, starting June 15, to allow for deep cleaning of the facility. Regular operating hours will be Tuesday - Saturday, 9am-5pm and Sunday 1-5pm.
Visitors are encouraged to wear masks and use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting the building. ...More details about the Heritage Center and Tina Turner Museum opening
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How Jack White and the White Stripes breathed New Life into the Blues
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 By Nick Hasted/Louder Sound
There’s always another supposed savior coming along to resuscitate the blues. Jack White is one of those who actually did.
“I would much rather have lived in the twenties or thirties,” Jack White sighed to the NME [UK's New Musical Express magazine] in 2001, the morning after The White Stripes’ second gig in the UK, “but that will never be. My dream of being a black man in the thirties is not going to happen.”
It’s as bold and manic a statement as any white rocker has ever blurted about the questions of race that dig like spurs into rock ’n’ roll’s use of the blues. It’s what Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page likely felt in Surrey’s leafy ghetto, and Elvis Presley before them.
Jack was a twenty-first-century blues acolyte willing to go way too far in his unhinged pursuit of authenticity. He grinned as he finished making that statement to the NME, faintly recognizing the absurdity of his words. But still he continued. “As far as hardships go,” he said of a generation of black Americans who could still be lynched legally in Mississippi, “at least their lives made sense to them. They were playing for money and they were playing to get by. Music was a form of communication.”
Born John Gillis (he later took his wife Meg’s surname) in Detroit’s Mexicantown and having attended a largely black and Latino school, he was hardly ignorant of race’s musical trip wires. Distaste for hip-hop’s dominance among his 90s classmates had left him a freakishly inverted, archaic figure as a teenager. This tall, deathly pale white boy could be found after school strumming blues guitar on his parents’ porch like a cotton-picker after chores, to the violent derision of his peers. …Continue reading this story about Jack White and the blues
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Delta Blues Museum Grateful for Additional Funding During Pandemic Closure
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 (CLARKSDALE, MS) - Delta Blues Museum Director Shelley Ritter has announced additional funding received from Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC) to support the Museum's operating expenses during its temporary closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. With funding from Congress through the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the Federal CARES Act, the MHC offered emergency grants of up to $20,000 to qualifying cultural organizations. We are very pleased to be able to direct federal emergency funds to help the institutions that preserve and document Mississippi's unique cultural heritage while enriching the quality of life in our communities," said Dr. Stuart Rockoff, executive director of the MHC.
The MHC's priority was to support staff and other operational costs for these organizations that have been forced to close to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our goal was to use these Federal relief funds to bolster employment in our state's cultural economy while helping these organizations 'keep the lights on' during this time of unprecedented challenges," said Sharman Bridges Smith, MHC chair. Delta Blues Museum was approved to receive $12,125 in emergency funds.
Of the MHC grant, Ritter says, "We are grateful for the immediate actions of Congress and the MHC to make funds available as we and other cultural institutions and tourism entities face the effects of COVID-19 closures. These funds will help the Delta Blues Museum survive the coming months by maintaining jobs, preserving our cultural heritage and rebuilding the tourism industry." ...Find more about the MHC and the Delta Museum
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Lost Voices Helps Kids Find Hope & Healing Through Music
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 (MICHIGAN) - Lost Voices are a group of professional folk and blues musicians who, since 2007, have been helping kids who have experienced major emotional trauma find hope and healing through music. Many of these young men and women are victims of human trafficking, and struggle to find a healthy place for themselves in the world. In every Lost Voices program, they create a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere where troubled kids can reach into their deepest feelings and ideas, then express them in original songs. Over the years these programs have touched the lives of more than 2,500 young people and produced dramatic therapeutic breakthroughs.
Lost Voices helps kids who are victims of trauma find hope and healing through the power of music. Their Vision is for a world where all kids feel valued, recognize their self-worth, and grow up confident, caring and connected. They believe all kids deserve the opportunity to change their behaviors and lives. They value musicians as professionals who can transform young lives. They promote hope, diversity, creativity, nurturing, and healing.
Lost Voices says, “Our songwriting and performing workshops are specifically designed for residential treatment facilities where adolescent victims of severe emotional trauma are receiving therapy. In our program we create a safe expressive environment where therapeutic breakthroughs happen, planting seeds of hope and healing that can forever transform young lives that have been damaged by years of abuse and neglect. ...Find about about Lost Voices and also how you can help
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Chasing The Blues Podcast
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Tom "The Suit" Forst Presents
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SEASON 2 / EPISODE 8:
In Chasing the Blues Podcast Season 2-Episode 8, Tom goes behind the scenes of the blues, with Kaati Gaffney, Publisher of the Blues Festival Guide (BFG), Cheryl O'Grady-Yearnshaw, BFG Sales Director and Michele Lundeen, BFG e-Guide Editor, who have been serving the blues community for the past 18 years. We are happy to highlight their work, and thankful to them for being an official sponsor of the podcast.
Did you know that Bobby Rush calls BFG: The roadmap to the blues?
 Why? Because The Guide is jam-packed (approx.100 pages) with feature stories, art and photography by Blues’ top aficionados. The first third of the magazine is festival section (in date order) with hundreds of festivals including line-ups so you can get your blues groove on and plan your festival itinerary.
LISTEN HERE:
Spreaker
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Chasing the Blues Podcast has weekly episodes sharing interesting stories of the original bluesmen, the pioneers of the art form, as told through personal interviews with players from around the world: some famous in their own right, recording and touring artists, veteran sidemen, and rising new talent.
Chasing the Blues is proudly sponsored by Blues Festival Guide, which Bobby Rush calls the "road map to the blues." Chasing the Blues is also sponsored and produced by Factory Underground Studio in Norwalk, CT.
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Which Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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Our Artists & Headliners Stay & Play, They Don’t Hit & Run!!
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100+ scheduled shows on 6 stages. Multiple shows by each artist, pro jams, land events, autograph sessions, artist workshops and much more…
NOW BOOKING: 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. Limited Cabins Remain - Book your cabin before they’re gone! Visit Reservations or call (816) 753-7979.
Artist Lineup: Taj Mahal & Phantom Blues Band, Keb’ Mo’, Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio, Charlie Musselwhite, Ruthie Foster Six, 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. Peyton’s 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) & more! Full info @ https://bluescruise.com/35-oct-2020/
PUBLIC ON SALE LAUNCHES JUNE 8! 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! Visit Reservations or call (816) 753-7979 at 11am Central on June 8th to secure your stateroom. Visit Reservations or call (816) 753-7979.
Artist Lineup: Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Booker T. Jones presents a Stax Revue, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue w/ Tommy Castro Band, Magic Dick, Deanna Bogart & Ronnie Baker Brooks, Tab Benoit's Swampland Jam w/Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone & Waylon Thibodeaux, Victor Wainwright & the Train w/Dave Gross, Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets w/ Darrell Nulisch & the Texas Horns, Mud Morganfield & His Allstar Chicago Band, Roomful of Blues, Tinsley Ellis, Coco Montoya, Southern Avenue, Toronzo Cannon, Joanne Shaw Taylor, John Németh & the Blue Dreamers, Mr. Sipp, Albert Castiglia, Keeshea Pratt Band, Kevin Burt, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, HOROJO Trio, Leon Blue, Professor Louie w/Miss Marie & many more! Full info @ https://bluescruise.com/36-jan-2021-eastern-caribbean/
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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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 - June 5 World Environment Day
"Time For Nature"
- June 19 Juneteenth
- June 20 Summer Solstice
- June 21 Father's Day
Birthdays upcoming of note:
Jun 4-Tinsley Ellis (1957); Jun 8-James Harman (1946), Derek Trucks (1979); Jun 9-Jackie Wilson (1934–1984); Jun 10-Howlin' Wolf aka Chester Arthur Burnett (1910-1976); Jun 12-Kenny Wayne Shepherd (1977); Jun 13-James Carr (1942-2001); Jun 17- Matt Hill (1985); Jun 18-Sara Martin (1884-1955); Jun 19-Jerry McCain (1930-2012), Big Bill Morganfield (1956); Jun 20-Lazy Lester (1933-2019); Jun 21-Skip James (1902-1969); Jun 23-Helen Humes (1913-1981); Jun 24- Jeff Beck (1944), Tad Robinson (1956); Jun 25-Clifton Chenier (1925-1987), Eddie Floyd (1935), Roger Naber (LRBC CEO); June 26-Big Bill Broonzy (1903-1958); Jun 28-David "Honeyboy" Edwards (1915-2011) Armenter "Bo Carter" Chatmon (1892–1964)
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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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  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 June 6, 2020
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 #MEMPHIS LOUD
Victor Wainwright & The Train
#2
LIVE AT THE FORUM
The Teskey Brothers
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We've Got You Covered with Live Streams & Online Concerts
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Blues Festival Guide Magazine Media Platforms Feature Live Streams, Online Concerts & more
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The Blues Festival Guide platforms are fast becoming the main portal for blues live stream and blues online concert events.
As fast as an online event is announced, the Blues Festival Guide team makes the announcement and link go live in a special section on the top-ranking Blues Festival Guide Website, as well as on their social media platforms ( Facebook with 195,000 Followers, and Instagram @bluesfestguide with 6,000 Followers). This service is provided for free to the artist as well as the viewer.
Even though music festivals and clubs are on lockdown across the globe, there are loads of brand-new music and live concerts via live stream, both small and large, local and international, that can be watched from the safety of your couch on your own TV, computer or phone.
With almost 20 years of experience delivering blues music and blues music news around the world, Publisher Kaati Gaffney says, “We are experienced digital marketers specializing in live music events. During this time of pandemic, while festivals and events are virtual, it is our pleasure to provide this service.” ...Find more about BFG or to contact us to share your events
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To view entire calendar of festivals & Live Streams, 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 are paid "Featured" ads. For complete list & links go to our website Festival page!
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*CORONAVIRUS UPSETS:
Postponed means rescheduled or 2020 is still pending. Cancelled means some have picked dates for 2021. Please check the festival links on our site for most current updates
POSTPONED TO OCT 31
Chelsea Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
Jun-13-2020
London, United Kingdom
Juneteenth Festival of Akron
Jun-19-2020 - Jun-21-2020
Akron, Ohio, USA
POSTPONED TO AUG 14-16
Crosby Zydeco Festival
Jun-26-2020 - Jun-28-2020
Crosby, Texas, USA
DATE PENDING
Prairie Dog Blues Festival
Jul-24-2020 - Jul-25-2020
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, USA
POSTPONED
Shrewsbury Ribs & Blues
Jul-25-2020
Blenheim, Ontario, Canada
RESCHEDULED TO AUG 6-7, 2021
Magic City Blues
Jul-30-2020 - Aug-01-2020
Billings, Montana, USA
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please go to our website
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CANCELLED
Free Thursday’s
Summer Concert Series
Jul-02-2020 - Aug-27-2020
Norwich, New York, USA
POSTPONED to SEPT 24-27 20th Annual Greenwood Blues Cruise
Jul-09-2020 - Jul-12-2020, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
Torrita Blues Festival 2020
Jul-10-2020 - Jul-11-2020
Torrita di Siena, Italy
CANCELLED
TD Kitchener Blues Festival
Aug-06-2020 - Aug-09-2020
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Sunflower River Blues Festival
Aug-07-2020 - Aug-09-2020
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
20th Heritage Music BluesFest
Aug-07-2020 - Aug-09-2020
Wheeling, West Virginia, USA
CANCELLED
Bloomington Boogies: The Bloomington Blues & Boogie Woogie Piano Festival
Aug-07-2020 - Aug-10-2020
Bloomington, Indiana, USA
New Blues Festival
Aug-08-2020 - Aug-09-2020
Long Beach, California, USA
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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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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 18 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 do CD/DVD reviews nor 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.
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Hey blues lovers! Got 
