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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:
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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Keb' Mo' "America the Beautiful"
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Our 18th annual has landed...
Photo Moments with the BFG Magazine!
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 Will Serrato takes a scenic break to checkout 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.
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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CD, SINGLE & DVD Releases (no reviews)
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The Mary Jo Curry Band :: FRONT PORCH
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 Mary Jo Curry, a powerhouse vocalist from Illinois, started her musical career as a classically trained singer, pianist, and actor. Nine years ago, she was struck by the blues. While out with a friend for the evening, Curry heard music coming from a little club down the street and was “pulled” in. This is where she met guitarist, now husband Michael Rapier, and her relationship with the blues began. Five years after they started performing together, they enlisted Chris Rogers on bass and Rick Snow on drums giving them the solid foundation needed to propel the band’s sound. The four core members have grown beyond being a tight live band, into a quality recording and song writing unit. Rapier, Snow, and Rogers also produced all the tracks on the album. In addition to the four core members, The Mary Jo Curry Band is joined by Brett Donovan or Ezra Casey on keyboard, and Brian Moore on saxophone, rounding out the touring band. Their latest release has a strong “live” feel to it, capturing the excitement the band generates on stage. So exciting in fact, it seems limiting to use the term “listening” regarding their music.
You feel it. You sense it. It’s an experience.
Front Porch, the newest album from Mary Jo (the first release from this band line-up), is made up of ten original songs and one cover. Nine of the originals were penned by the members of the band, and the tenth original was specifically written for Mary Jo by legendary Chicago drummer and composer, Andrew Blaze Thomas, that showcases the talents of a woman born to sing the blues. ...Find more about this artist and release
 "Lookin'"
Website
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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"
Website
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The 2020 Big Blues Bender Rescheduled to 2021
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 A letter from Team Bender...
Dear Bender Friends and Family,
It is with a very heavy heart that we must announce the rescheduling of the 7th Annual Big Blues Bender. Despite our best efforts, there is no path forward that adequately ensures the health and safety of our guests while also providing a world-class “Bender Experience” that meets our standards. We are saddened to wait another year to once again experience the joy of the Bender with you all, but we’re hopeful that the time in between will produce solutions that will make us safer when we meet again.
The Bender will return, September 9-12, 2021, at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. We are very happy to announce that 98% of artists from the 2020 lineup have agreed to join us in 2021!
Reservation holders: All existing 2020 Big Blues Bender reservations will be converted to 2021 reservations. If you intend to join us in 2021, no further action is necessary. All of your reservation details (package, add-ons, upgrades, extra nights, HART Tickets, etc.) remain exactly the same, with all dates moved forward one year. We understand that not everyone will be able to commit to the 2021 dates, so as a result, we will make a temporary exception to our no refunds policy. Anyone with an undeferred 2020 Big Blues Bender Reservation in good standing who wishes to cancel their reservation may do so between now and July 21, 2020.
All remaining 2021 Inventory will go back on sale at some point in the future. Please note, there will be a price increase on all 2021 Bender packages and add-ons. This DOES NOT apply to 2020 Reservation holders that are deferred to 2021. ...More details and contact info here
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It'll be Fourth of July, COVID-style
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(PORTLAND, OR) - It's Fourth of July weekend with the nation marking its birthday Saturday, and it'll certainly go down as one of the more unusual holidays in recent memory.With government restrictions on crowd size because of the coronavirus, there won't be parades and festivals and awe-inspiring fireworks in the sky.
But people will still eat hot dogs and watermelon and drink beer and celebrate at home, and maybe fire off (legal) fireworks and enjoy the company (in small gatherings) of friends and relatives (perhaps wearing masks when appropriate). If it's nice weather, one can envision people in parks and boats on water, and people having fun under the circumstances (and practicing social distancing).
So, yes, we can still celebrate Independence Day.
Fireworks displays have been canceled, including the famous 57th Fort Vancouver Fireworks Spectacular on the Washington side of the Columbia River.
And fireworks usually accompany the multi-day Waterfront Blues Festival — when the festival actually takes place at Waterfront Park on the Willamette River. It, too, has been canceled.
The Waterfront Blues Festival has shifted to its "Listening Together" series, featuring the programs "Bandwagon" in neighborhoods on July 3-4, "Broadcast" on July 4 (airing on KOIN TV) and "On Air" on July 4-5 (airing on KBOO 90.7 FM).
"Bandwagon" will bring socially distanced live music to selected driveways, cul-de-sacs and front porches in the Portland area on Friday and Saturday. "Broadcast" will be a two-hour TV special celebrating memorable Blues Fest performances, 9 p.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, capped by a replay of a fireworks show."On Air" will air music on KBOO and online, noon-7 p.m. Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sunday.
For more details check out the Waterfront Blues Fest website.
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COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund Provides Emergency Relief
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(MEMPHIS, TN) - The Blues Foundation established the COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund to assist full-time professional blues musicians living in North America 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 covering only 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.
"Music has a way of magnifying what’s important in this life, and dissipating things that are not. Right now, togetherness is important and I’m thankful for The Blues Foundation. The support they have given me and musicians alike during a time like today is unmeasurable. Thank you!"
~ Tikyra Jackson (Southern Avenue)
If you have the ability, please consider donating to help help blues musicians with emergency needs click here.
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San Angelo Blues Society Cancels Simply Texas Blues Fest
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 (SAN ANGELO, TX) — The San Angelo 12th Annual Simply Texas Blues Festival has been cancelled due to recent mandates by Gov. Greg Abbott and city officials meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The San Angelo Blues Society announced that its funds and energy would be better spent on next year's festival. "We sincerely appreciate the support we’ve received for this event and its proposed changes," according to a Facebook post. "To the vendors and the sponsors, we ask you to hang with us."The society will be refunding any payments made by vendors and music contestants.
"The safety and well-being of our entire community is very important, and we strive to hold events that are good for our community," the post stated. "We’re keepin’ the Blues alive!"
Any updates about upcoming events will be post on the society's Facebook page.
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Blues-rock icon Kenny Wayne Shepherd joins Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars
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 (SHREVEPORT, LA) - Kenny Wayne Shepherd was inducted into the Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars on Saturday night [June 27] in Shreveport's Red River District. He is the 32nd inductee.
Shepherd was born and raised in Shreveport and began playing the guitar at age 7. His career as a singer-songwriter began at age 13 when he was invited on-stage by New Orleans bluesman Bryan Lee. This life-altering experience was the start of Shepherd’s musical journey as he swooned the crowd for hours with his amateur talents.
Shepherd’s music career exploded in  the mid-’90s as he created genre-defining blues and rock n’ roll hits, such as “Blue on Black,” “Midnight Rider,” and “Shame, Shame, Shame” and more. Shepherd continued to climb the music charts and billboards with platinum and gold-selling albums. His debut album was Ledbetter Heights, which sold more than 500,000 copies and generated massive radio play and media attention.
“Growing up in Shreveport-Bossier, there’s a piece of our culture that resonates with you indefinitely,” said Stacy Brown, president of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. “Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s Walk of Stars induction is more than a ceremony to recognize his undeniable artistry. It’s a warm welcome home.”
The Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars was created in 1997 as a committee of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce but is now a completely independent 501(c)3 organization.
Shreveport Times
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Chasing The Blues Podcast
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Tom "The Suit" Forst Presents
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SEASON 2 / EPISODE 12:
On Season 2-Episode 12 of Chasing the Blues, Tom The Suit Forst welcomes guitarist James Pace. James Pace Band is a guitar-driven rock n' roll act with shots of blues, funk, and soul, with a hint of Jimi Hendrix, that was born in the burgeoning Asbury Park music scene in the early 1990s. They were the Sunday-House-Band at the famed Stone Pony, having performed with blues legends such as Jeff Healey and many others on the circuit.
With this week's insightful episode, Chasing the Blues is set to cross the 10,000  download mark for the podcast.
LISTEN
DOWNLOAD
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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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 - Fourth of July
Birthdays upcoming of note:
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), Casey Bill Weldon (1909-1970), Barrelhouse Chuck (1958-2016), Blind Boy Fuller (1907-1941), Charlie Baty (1953-2020); July 11-Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929); July 14-Claude & Clifford Trenier (1919); July 15-Willie Cobbs (1932); Washboard Sam aka Robert Brown (1910–1966); July 16-Denise LaSalle (1939-2018); July 17-Peppermint Harris (1925–1999); July 18 Jalacy "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins (1929–2000), Martha Reeves (1941), Lonnie Mack (1941-2016); July 19 Buster Benton (1932-1996), Little Freddie King (1940); July 20 Carlos Santana (1947), Steve Freund (1952), Sleepy LaBeef (1935-2019); July 21 Floyd McDaniel (1915-1995); July 22- George Clinton (1940); July 23 Tony Joe White (July 23, 1943); July 26 Popsy Dixon (1942), Mick Jagger (1943); July 28 Roy Rogers (1950), Mike Bloomfield (1943-1981), Junior Kimbrough (1930-1998); July 30 Buddy Guy (1936), Big Jack Johnson (1940-2011), Otis Taylor (1948), Michael Burks (1957-2012); July 31 Roy Milton (1907-1983), Ahmet Ertegun (Atlantic Records founder) (1923-2006)
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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 July 4, 2020
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  #1
BLUES WITH FRIENDS
Dion
#2
SELF MADE MAN
Larkin Poe
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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
RESCHEDULED SEPT 9-12, 2021
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 
