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CD, Single & DVD Releases
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 Grainne Duffy is a Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter hailing from county Monaghan, Ireland. Her specific genres include Blues, Soul and Americana enriched with some delicate country and pop elements.
Her professional career started in 2007. The same year she released her remarkable debut album Out Of The Dark, proof talent that was raising at an impressive rate. Described by The Sunday Times as “a blues singer of real integrity,” Grainne Duffy is a pioneer of her own style while also paying sincere homage to her roots, soul, blues and rock traditions.
During 2011 she released her second album, Test Of Time, as a result of her collaboration with the producer Niko Bolas (Melissa Etheridge, Los Lobos). The release and the accompanying video to the title song further marked the development of Duffy’s reputation in the U.K followed by the rest of Europe, Canada and Australia
Important highlight are her 3 concerts at Glastonbury festival, 4 concerts at Woodford Folk festival (Australia), Tremblant International Festival (Canada) and her appearances at Mahindra Blues Festival (India) where she shares the stage with likes as Billy Gibbons, Eric Gales, Shemekia Copeland and Supersonic Blues Machine. 2014 and 2015 sees Grainne as winner in Blues Matters Writers Poll in the categories “Best Vocalist” and “Best Solo Artist.”
...Find more about this artist and release
 "Mercy'"
Website
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Lonne G :: "Standing in the Crossroads"
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From the Chicago area, it's Lonne G (AKA) Mr Blues with his strong baritone voice. Living in the Chicago area, Lonne had a chance to see some of the best blues artists in the world and also work with many of those artists. Writing music has always been one of his hobbies along with playing and singing the blues. "Standing in The Crossroads" is one of those songs about living in the South, doing the hard time for people of small wealth. It is time for these songs. Now everyone can see what we've always known about. Music will always tell the truth. Just listen.
Booking:
D Lockdown Production via Email
or Lonne G at via email
 "Standing in the Crossroads"
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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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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 another share:
"Sadly, we will not attend any indoor events this year. Perhaps a large park with social distancing. Often see live music 3 to 5 nights a week all summer. Hubby is 71 living with cancer."
- Suzann from Rochester NY
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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Photo Moments with the 18th Annual BFG Magazine!
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 Here's singer, bassist and proprietor Selby Minner checking out her 2020 BFG magazine on the Porch of her Down Home Blues Club in Rentiesville, OK. Minner also is co-founder and heads up the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Dusk To Dawn Blues Festival, and the DC Minner Rentiesville Museum among other endeavors.
Take a picture with your magazine and send it to us!
Do you have yours yet? You can order one here!
*NOTE! Our 2020 annual has 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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Junior Kimbrough - "Jr. Blues" (aka "All Night Long")
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18th Annual Grassroots Blues Festival for Viewing
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 (DUCK HILL, MS) - The 18th Annual Grassroots Blues Festival in Duck Hill, MS will take place July 10-11, 2020. It will be recorded and posted for viewing due to COVID-19.
Friday's performance will be shown on the ACER's YouTube channel on Saturday.
Saturday's performance will be shown on the ACER's YouTube channel on Sunday.
The line-up includes Kingfish, Little Willie Farmer and more.
You can find the virtual ACER (Action Communication and Education Reform, Inc.) YouTube link at the Grassroots Blues Festival Facebook page this weekend.
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Samantha Fish Cigar Box Guitar Festival and Video Contest
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 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) - Rounder recording artist Samantha Fish, reigning Queen of the Cigar Box Guitar, will hold court in New Orleans January 13-16, 2021 at the spectacular boutique festival that bears her name.
The Samantha Fish Cigar Box Guitar Festival – New Orleans will take place over 4 days in some of the city’s best live music rooms. Special showcase performances will highlight the Kickoff event on Wednesday evening, and a combination of live performances and the final voting in a worldwide video competition will comprise the Thursday evening show. The latest edition of the Instrument Builders’ Forum and Contest will precede afternoon and evening lineups on Friday, and additional sets throughout Saturday afternoon and evening will conclude the festivities.
As a fun preliminary to the Festival, the producers are holding the International Cigar Box Guitar Video Playoffs, a worldwide open call for amateur or professional musicians to participate in a contest based on a 3-5 minute fresh, current video performance utilizing handmade stringed instruments: cigar box guitars, canjoes, pocket fiddles, washtub basses, diddley bows, etc. Entries will be judged on overall appeal and cash prizes will total $1,000.
Videos are to be created in accordance with contest guidelines, and must be posted on YouTube for consideration. Submissions are open now through November 30. Complete entry details are available here.
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ISC 2020 is Accepting Entries Now
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 The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) was formed over 18 years ago to recognize great songwriters and to provide a platform to be heard. It's all about the song, and the competition is open to both professional and amateur songwriters (signed or unsigned).
ISC accepts entries from anywhere in the world and ISC 2020 is taking entries now. Enter your songs for a chance to be heard and to get more recognition for your music. All entries will be eligible to share in over $150,000 in cash, prizes, and more. ISC accepts all styles of original music and there are 23 categories to choose from. All recognition goes to the song author(s).
Over the years, ISC has helped to propel many artists to achieve greater success, including getting record and publishing deals, licensing agreements, gigs, and much more.
ISC remains committed to promoting international songwriting talent. ISC offers the opportunity for your music to be heard by an elite panel of recording artists and music industry executives. The panel includes a lot of new judges this year and is comprised of high-profile recording artists and Presidents, CEOs, and A&R executives from many top record labels and publishing companies.
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3rd Annual Prairie Crossroads Blues Festival Canceled
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(URBANA, IL) - The 3rd Annual Prairie Crossroads Blues Festival scheduled for August 8, 2020 has been cancelled due to concerns about COVID-19. The health and safety of their Fest’s fans, performers, and volunteers was the highest priority in their decision to cancel the event!
The festival, hosted by the Prairie Crossroads Blues Society, was to be held at the Champaign County Fairgrounds in Urbana, Illinois.
The Prairie Crossroads Blues Society was formed May 23, 2010 with the mission “To educate, preserve, and promote the blues tradition in East Central Illinois.”
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Celebrating 18th Anniversary of Cat Head July 24
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 A Note from Roger Stolle of Cat Head…
(CLARKSDALE, MS) - Because of your support, we will celebrate the 18th anniversary of CAT HEAD blues store on July 24th, y'all! How nuts is that?! I am so thrilled to have played a part in resurrecting and promoting Clarksdale, Mississippi's world-famous blues scene. Likewise, I'm proud to be a part of our historic downtown's ongoing revitalization and reinvention. We've built an amazing ad hoc team of locals and transplants through years as well as a truly unique infrastructure of clubs, jukes, stores, galleries, restaurants, lodging, nonprofits, history markers and more. These highly dedicated (uh, crazy like me?) people, places and things are helping getting us through these challenging days. But so are you.
Our tourists and fans are our bread (biscuits?) and butter, and we love y'all. We look forward to seeing you "soon." In the meantime, please seek out the websites of your fav Clarksdale people and places, and buy something if you can — or donate to our nonprofits if you like.
When you do visit, or if you live here, please support our restaurants early and often. They have gone above and beyond to keep us all fed even as health/safety efforts have become so challenging and profit margins have just about disappeared. Eat something, and tip 'em well.
Thanks and please stay well. Oh, and remember to smile and take care of your neighbors. That's "Clarksdale style," y'all!
All the best,
Roger (and Ayler Pug)
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Long Beach Blues Society gets Grant to help youth & more
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 (LONG BEACH, CA) - Long Beach Blues Society is one of two dozen local organizations supported by the RuMBa Foundation's emergency fund, supporting arts organizations during Covid-19. These funds will allow extensive development of a comprehensive online music curriculum for LBUSD and Long Beach youth. We will also provide a limited number of one-on-one online tutoring spots for our local youth musicians.
In addition, LBBS will boost and bolster existing programming, adapting our educational concert model to align with the state's pandemic phasing system to allow for possible outdoor family blues concerts along with other small group-based jam sessions.
LBBS will also take our Bedside Beats program online to continue to connect with children and youth with lengthy stays at Miller Children's and Women's Hospital Long Beach at Memorial Care.
As we roll out these programs, we will be sure to keep you updated on how you can participate or volunteer. You can also follow our progress of these and our “Give A Gig” Fundraiser at our website and on Facebook.
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An update from Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise CEO
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Dear Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Family,
In our current environment, we at the LRBC continue to keep everyone's safety and well-being, at the forefront of our thoughts and plans as we sail ahead. We realize that times are getting more uncertain on a daily basis and we want you to know that the LRBC Team appreciates you, your loyalty and your trust in our ability to provide you with another Legendary Blues Cruise experience. Holland America Line, CLIA and the CDC have yet to announce their official updated safety procedures and protocols moving into the 4th quarter of 2020 and first two quarters of 2021.
We are aware that social distancing measures and capacity limitations for entertainment and dining venues may be too restrictive this fall and winter for our Legendary program. As the cruise industry resumes, further potential health risks are the last thing we want our passengers to be concerned with while on their Blues Cruise vacation. We feel that restrictions put into place, for passenger's safety, will be too limiting for the full enjoyment and quality of our event. As with the previous 34 LRBCs, we have always been committed to exceeding everyone's expectations. We are proud to provide the best blues experience on the planet for our cruiser family and we don't intend to stop now!
This has been a challenging decision for us, but given the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, it is the correct decision as we move forward. As a small company, we want to thank each one of you for your continued patience and loyalty with us, especially during these uncertain times as we reschedule our October 2020 and January 2021 sailings. All of the wonderful artists scheduled to perform have been contacted and 100% of them are expected to return.
Roger Naber and The Legendary Team
Where Real Blues Matters
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Chasing The Blues Podcast
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Tom "The Suit" Forst Presents
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SEASON 2 / EPISODE 13:
On Episode 13 of Chasing the Blues Podcast Season 2, Tom The Suit Forst goes deep into the history of the Ann Arbor Blues Festival, which became one of the most historically significant festivals when it began in 1969.
The historic festival, the first of its kind, put artists like B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Earl Hooker, Albert King, Benny King, Son House and other legendary, original African-American blues artists on a major stage performing for a predominantly white, middle class audience exposed to such music for the first time.
 This festival not only set the stage for many blues festivals that followed throughout the country, and the world, but had a direct influence on notable attendees who would later become musical superstars in their own right - such as Bonnie Raitt, and producer Don Was, who was at the time a student at the University of Michigan.
On the podcast, Toms peaks with James Partridge, who revived the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 2017. James shares not only the spectacular history and cultural significance of the festival, but also shares interesting insights into the challenges of running such a large scale music festival. He and Tom also discuss how Covid-19 impacted their plans to run the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 2020, and they look ahead to how the virus may affect music festivals in the future.
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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NEW! 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 & more…
*RESCHEDULED TO 2022
Jan. 29~Feb. 5, 2022 LRBC #36 Eastern Caribbean
Same Itinerary & aboard Holland America's NEW SHIP, the ms Ryndam! Sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale to Tortola, St. Thomas and Turks & Caicos!
Find bands, cabin availability & more here
Open Cabin Sales start AUGUST 18 @ 11am CDT. Visit Online Reservations or call (816) 753-7979 at that time.
 *NOW OCTOBER 2021
Open Cabin Sales launch July 15 @ 11am CDT! LRBC #35 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.
Find bands, cabin availability & more here.
Open Cabin Sales start JULY 15 @ 11am CDT. Visit Online Reservations or call (816) 753-7979 at that time.
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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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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.
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 LRBC 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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 Birthdays upcoming of note:
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 11, 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
POSTPONED
Prairie Dog Blues Festival
Jul-24-2020 - Jul-25-2020
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, USA
POSTPONED TO 2021
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 
