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The Jimmys :: GOTTA HAVE IT feat. "Write A Hit"
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 “Write a Hit” is a song by The Jimmys from the album Gotta Have It produced by Tony Braunagel. The song features Marcia Ball and was co-written by Jimmy Voegeli, Marcia Ball and Tony Braunagel and recorded in Milwaukee at Makin' Sausage Music.
“Marcia stopped by while on tour to sing with me,“ says Jimmy. “Some of the video was shot while on our annual 'The Jimmys Winter Caribbean Getaway' in Jamaica in March where she was our special guest. The idea for the song ‘Write a Hit’ came from a long conversation with Fred Young of The Kentucky Headhunters on their tour bus after a festival. Fred said he lost everything in a divorce and needed to "write a hit to get that back." I made him sign a paper towel with that lyric on it and said I'd write a song someday for him. I did, and when I called him to thank him he said, "Sorry it was all a lie, I've had the same wife for decades!"
The Jimmys are a 7-piece Blues Party on wheels from Madison, Wi featuring a 3-piece horn section, gritty guitar drivin' B-3 and piano blues.
 "Write A Hit"
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Here's some thoughts about venues opening... share yours!
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 Hey Blues Fans!! We see some music venues are opening up around the country. I asked for your thoughts and here's what a few shared:
Kevin P. Inman from New Jersey says, “My favorite local small venue that books national level Blues acts seats 50-60 people and if it's a sold-out show, you are packed shoulder to shoulder with fellow fans. It's not unusual for my wife and I to hit a couple of shows a week. Their schedule shows performances starting again on August 1 but with both of us in our mid-60's with other health issues that put us at a greater risk of dying from COVID, we don't plan on going to any shows there in the foreseeable future. This has been the longest stretch for us to go without attending a live music performance in the 34 years we've been married!”
Mad Dog Friedman in Colorado reports, "We have been lucky enough to re-open the following venues or events on the Front Range of Colorado: The Mercury Café, Mishawaka Amphitheater, The Last Stand Tavern, Loveland’s Night on the Town. Every place had different rules and expectations. Everywhere we played the fans were flat out amazing, showing their extreme gratitude at hearing live blues again. The Mishawaka gave us full rock star treatment and was a beautiful spacious stage and fans spaced out across their beautiful amphitheater. All shows were outside except one which was definitely the most difficult as we had to wear masks on stage. All the shows have been totally epic for both the band and the audience. Many that could showed their appreciation by tipping in large bills. It just felt so amazing to be playing live again in front of real people. We feel very grateful to able to do this again."
Mary in California says, “We love Old Town Blues Club in Temecula, CA. They are open but we will not be going out to anywhere we can’t wear a mask continuously. We are mid 50’s with health conditions. Until there’s a working vaccine won’t be going out except necessities and outdoors, if no crowds.”
We're interested in your thoughts:
- 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 100 words max with VENUES OPENING in subject line. Tell us where in the world you're located. Feel free to send me a pic of your favorite blues music experience if you like, too.
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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 Recent San Diego, CA transplant Jimmy Marley finds something cool in his new 2020 Blues Festival Guide magazine.
Do you have yours yet? You can order one here!
*NOTE! Our 2020 annual hass 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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Print & Digital Versions Available
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18th Annual Blues Festival Guide Magazine (Print and Digital Editions) Released
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 (ARCATA, CA) — RBA Publishing has announced the launch of the 18th annual Blues Festival Guide magazine in both print and digital formats.
Blues music is America’s original roots music. It is still being picked on the front porches of tar-paper shacks, but just as frequently, it is fired up loud and proud in front of a barroom (or festival) crowd. Blues reflects hardship, trouble and strife, but also perseverance and strength of character – to know the blues is to be in touch with your true spirit and soul.
The Blues Festival Guide is committed to the process of presenting blues to a wider audience, and therefore offers a weekly, electronic newsletter: Blues Festival E-Guide (free subscription) and the popular annual national print (and digital) magazine which comes out each spring.
“With so many festivals postponing or canceling, it was uncertain if we would publish it this year, but the readers kept asking,” says publisher, Kaati Gaffney. “We received countless personal calls and emails from advertisers and readers alike and have been bombarded with magazine orders. It seems the more we all sat at home during this pandemic, the more we thought about music and its ability to generate well-being and connection. Even though festival offerings are slimmer this year, there are still quite a few events planned for the summer and fall.”
Blues legend Bobby Rush calls the magazine: The Roadmap to Everything Blues. Indeed, the articles offer something for everyone, all blues related, of course. This year’s engaging editorial from aficionados in the blues community includes articles from Grammy winner, Victor Wainwright, Mitch Woods, Reverend Billy C. Wirtz and Roger Stolle among others.
Here’s a sneak peek:
- Living Legend: Charlie Musselwhite By Eric Steiner
- Blues Movies Reel Away the Blues By Roger Stolle
- The Healing Blues By Anita Schlank, Ph.D.
- What’s Cookin’ with Victor Wainwright
- The Jus’ Blues Music Foundation
- Jammin’ On the High C’s On Board the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise By Mitch Woods
- A King and A Duke By Reverend Billy C. Wirtz
- Festivals Receive KBA
- Blues: An African Sonic Response By Pascal Bokar Thiam, Ed.D.
To read the 64-page magazine online for free, visit the website, or to order a hard copy mailed to your home, send $9 to RBA Publishing Inc. P.O. Box 920, Arcata, CA 95518.
Blues Festival Guide is a division of RBA Publishing, Inc, which specializes in blues publishing, publicity and marketing.
...Click here to read cool mini descriptions of these fine articles
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Shemekia Copeland "Uncivil War"
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CD, SINGLE & DVD Releases (no reviews)
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Mercedes Nicole :: CONSTELLATION
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 Mercedes Nicole is an American-born blues and jazz vocalist, and songwriter. Her roots are from Little Rock, Arkansas, however she grew up in Long Beach, California and currently resides in Seattle, Washington. Her CD, Constellation was released April 2020.
“Mercedes Nicole’s mantra might be “doing more with less to produce the infinite” - C. Michael Bailey 2013 All about Jazz
"Just when you thought the classic sounds of the late great Gospel singers and jazz vocalists was a thing of the past... Mercedes reminds us of what we love the most!"
"A voice that captures memories of the heart, in a way that breathes life into music almost forgotten!" - Ed Tyll -The Ed Tyll Show New York! Mercedes has headlined on major stages of Demetrio’s Jazz Alle
y, The Triple Door, Westport Blues Festival, Panache Music Festival and numerous festivals and events throughout the country. Critics say she is an exquisite blend of contralto, soprano and alto. Think Carmen McCray, Ruthie Foster, Irma Thomas, with the conviction of Mahaila Jackson.One of her favorite Blues Artists that inspired her work is: Eric Bibb. “His love for mankind is amazing and he truly cares about people!” I want my music to heal hearts, like his does, and at the very least, make people smile.
 "Your Love"
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Long Beach Blues Society 'Give A Gig' Campaign Help Musicians in Need
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(LONG BEACH, CA) - It’s no secret that musicians in Long Beach have been one of the most severely affected groups in the Southern California community since the outbreak of Covid-19.
For years musicians watched record sales dwindle as the internet changed our lives and the onset of legal digital distribution did little to help alleviate that pain. Still, professional musicians moved with the times, and luckily ‘mega’ festivals transformed the live music landscape and new eras of entertainment and income streams were born. But in a time where live music is a musician’s main source of income, what happens when live venues are closed, and social distancing means musicians can’t even make practice?
Musicians Lee King of “The King Brothers” describes it as a “crushing blow” and Willy Aguilar says he’s “never seen anything like it!” Luckily, these local musicians, their families and many more alike are recipients of Long Beach Blues Society’s “Give A Gig” program.
“Give A Gig” was conceived in early April when LBBS saw early warning signs and immediately set out on building a fundraiser to help alleviate pain caused. Now in its seventh week, the response to ‘Give A Gig’ has been amazing! Five thousand dollars has been raised so far via social media alone and in the process around 80 musicians and families have benefited from either money, gift cards or food deliveries, prompting Mayor Robert Garcia to personally write a letter of thanks to the board and staff at LBBS.
...Read more about the Give A Gig program and outreach
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Mike Zito's “Social Distancing Tour 2020” Kicks off July 2
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 (TULSA, OK) - Mike Zito's “Social Distancing Tour 2020” kicks off Thursday, July 2 at The Shrine in Tulsa, Oklahoma (112 E. 18th St.). Showtime is 7pm, masks are required, and admission is free. This concert is sponsored by the Tulsa Blues Project. Info: (918) 726-7476 or visit the Tulsa Shrine events Facebook page.
The 13-city tour will also include Kansas City, MO, Nashville, TN, St. Louis, MO, Lincoln, NE, Sarasota, Fl, Boca Raton, LA and more. See his website for full schedule.
Mike Zito is one of the hardest-working, most recognizable names in the world of blues. When he's not producing albums for the artists on his fledgling Gulf Coast Records label, the St. Louis native is touring throughout the U.S. and Europe. He was on a 30-city European Tour this past March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing the cancellation of his entire tour. Not to be outdone, Zito set up a Go Fund Me campaign that was hugely successful, resulting in an album entitled Quarantine Blues, recorded with Zito's touring band of Matt Johnson, Doug Byrkit and Lewis Stephens.
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Shemekia Copeland brings headlines to life with new song
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 Award-winning blues and Americana vocalist Shemekia Copeland released her timely new song, “Uncivil War,” on Friday, June 19. SiriusXM's B.B. King's Bluesville exclusively premiered the song to its worldwide audience on Monday June 15.
The song is a courageous statement pleading for unity in a time of disunion, and is unlike anything Copeland has previously recorded. “Uncivil War” takes no sides and speaks to every person's desire to be safe and free. Featuring iconic mandolin wizard Sam Bush, dobro master Jerry Douglas and background vocals from popular alternative band The Orphan Brigade, the song is simultaneously comforting and challenging, as Copeland sings, “Same old wounds we've opened before / Nobody wins an uncivil war." Shemekia delivers the song with passion and insight about the chaos and uncertainty in the world while still finding light in the darkness and hope for the future.
According to Copeland, "It's not just a song. I’m trying to put the 'united' back in the United States. Like many people, I miss the days when we treated each other better. For me, this country’s all about people with differences coming together to be part of something we all love. That’s what really makes America beautiful.”
Copeland is a three-time Grammy nominee with a wide-open vision of contemporary Americana roots, blues and soul music. “Uncivil War” showcases the next step.
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News From Cathead & Clarksdale
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 (CLARKSDALE, MS) - In Clarksdale, we've kept our daily "live" blues music going during the pandemic via Live From Clarksdale website by live-streaming shows. In the past two weeks, we have started supplementing that with actual, live, in-person public shows at venues like Hambone Gallery, Hopson Commissary, Hooker Grocer & Eatery and the brand-new Bad Apple Blues Club (so far). Full calendar at the Cat Head website.
Venues have spread out the tables and chairs. They're supplying hand sanitizer and suggesting masks but not requiring. The audiences are reduced (both naturally and by governmental decree). In most cases, attendees have been respectful of "rules" and common sense — e.g. social distancing, no handshakes, etc. (Visiting "tourists," in particular, seem very conscientious.) I've gone out to multiple shows over the past two Fridays and Saturdays, and overall, I felt perfectly safe.
Two weeks ago, blues musician Sean "Bad" Apple opened his new Bad Apple Blues Club in the former Club 2000 juke joint location near the historic New Roxy in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi. He had planned to open during April's Juke Joint Festival, but well... you know! Currently, he is open Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm-midnight with blues at 5pm. He performs early, followed by area acts like Peggy "Lady Trucker" Hemphill, Otis "TCB" Taylor, Joe "Iceman" Williams and others. Also, since the owner is a musician and lives in town, he can open and play any weekday afternoon with two-hour's notice ($25 to open and play for up to 2 customers; $5 each additional person).
Additional local "reopening" business hours and information can be found at VisitClarksdale.com.
Roger Stolle / Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art
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Chasing The Blues Podcast
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Tom "The Suit" Forst Presents
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SEASON 2 / EPISODE 11:
On Season 2, Episode 11, Tom chats with Samantha Muffett of Can't Stop the Blues, " one of the largest virtual blues venues in the world. Broadcasting exclusive shows from multiple artists 5 nights/week... a great place to get together with friends and interact directly with the musicians."
She's pictured here with friend and client, drummer T.C. Coleman.
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…
Cabins On Sale – BOOK NOW!
LRBC #35 Eastern Caribbean: Jan. 31~Feb. 7, 2021. Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Tortola, St. Thomas & Turks and Caicos on Holland America’s ms Nieuw Statendam. Reservations here or call (816) 753-7979
ARTIST LINEUP: Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Booker T. Jones Stax Revue, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue w/ Tommy Castro Band, Magic Dick, Ronnie Baker Brooks & Deanna Bogart, Tab Benoit's Swampland Jam w/ Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone & Waylon Thibodeaux, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Victor Wainwright & the Train w/ Dave Gross, Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets, Mud Morganfield & many more.
Complete Info & Cabin Availability here.
 Open Cabin Sales launch July 15 @ 11am CDT!LRBC #36 Southern Caribbean: Oct. 24~31, 2021 (rescheduled from Oct. 2020). Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba & Half Moon Cay (Bahamas Private Island) on Holland America’s ms Eurodam. Starting July 15 make Reservations here or call (816) 753-7979 at that time.
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, Phantom Blues Band, Johnny Rawls, Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band, Vanessa Collier, Marquise Knox & many more!
Complete Info & Cabin Availability here
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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 29 International Mud Day
- Fourth of July
Birthdays upcoming of note:
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); July 1-Willie Dixon (1915), James Cotton (1935-2017), Syl Johnson (1939); July 3-"Mississippi" John Hurt (1893-1966); July 4-Champion Jack Dupree (1910-1992); July 5-Smiley Lewis (1913-1966); July 7-Pinetop Perkins (1913-2011); July 8-Louis Jordan (1908-1975), Johnnie Johnson (1924-2005), Larry Garner (1952), July 9-Jack White (1975); July 10-Mavis Staples (1939), Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records guru (1947)
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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 June 27, 2020
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  #SELF MADE MAN
Larkin Poe
#2
BLUES WITH FRIENDS
Dion
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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
Torrita Blues Festival 2020
Jul-10-2020 - Jul-11-2020
Torrita di Siena, Italy
DATE PENDING
Prairie Dog Blues Festival
Jul-24-2020 - Jul-25-2020
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, USA
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
New Blues Festival
Aug-08-2020 - Aug-09-2020
Long Beach, California, USA
Joliet Blues Festival
Aug-15-2020
Joliet, Illinois, USA
Crosby Zydeco Festival
Aug-15-2020 - Aug-16-2020
Crosby, Texas, USA
Tawas Blues by the Bay
Aug-28-2020 - Aug-30-2020
East Tawas, Michigan, USA
Interstate Blues Fest
Aug-28-2020 - Aug-29-2020
Hagerstown, Maryland, USA
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please go to our website
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Virtual-Rentiesville Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival at Your House
Sep-04-2020 - Sep-06-2020
Rentiesville, Oklahoma, USA
Big Blues Bender
Sep-10-2020 - Sep-13-2020
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Leeds Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
Sep-12-2020
Leeds, United Kingdom
Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival
Sep-12-2020
Bessemer, Alabama, USA
GCBA Lone Star Blues and Heritage Festival
Sep-18-2020 - Sep-20-2020
Tomball, Texas, USA
Laconia Blues Festival
Sep-19-2020, Laconia
New Hampshire, USA
Annual Greenwood Blues Cruise
Sept-24-2020 - Sept-27-2020, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
Kimbrough Cotton Patch
Soul Blues Festival
Sep-25-2020 - Sep-27-2020
Holly Springs, New York, USA
Paoli Blues Fest
Sep-26-2020
Devon, Pennsylvania, USA
Copenhagen Blues Festival
Sep-30-2020 - Oct-04-2020
Copenhagen, Denmark
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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 
