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Photo Moments with the 18th Annual BFG Magazine!
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Here's Mike Johnson and Theresa Meuller of San Diego County at Old Town Blues Club in Temecula, CA on Feb 20, 2021 during a break at Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak's show. It was their first time seeing the band and it's always cool to make some new friends with music!
Photo: Michele Lundeen
*SEND US YOUR PIC WITH THE BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE MAGAZINE!
Don't have your 2020 magazine? Order one here! Once you receive, have fun, get creative and SNAP A PHOTO of you, your friends, and/or artists, etc. with the BFG magazine and EMAIL your photo, caption (120 words or less), a URL if applicable, and photo credit to your e-Guide editor!
*Are you are a BFG client? If so please reach out to your sales person so that thy can send you one!
The Blues Foundation is the official sponsor of our 2020 Blues Festival Guide!
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What's Happening Out There?
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Thoughts about venues opening or not... share yours!
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 Hey Blues Fans!! Some blues music venues are opening up around the country. Albeit, opening then closing. What are your thoughts and/or experiences?
Here's note from a musician:
 "I played a Sold Out show at the Sapphire Room(Riverside Hotel- Boise Idaho) Jan 29th with only 50% capacity allowed (80 Seats), which still felt good to perform at a venue and have appreciative attendees there to see LIVE music. We killed it that night... More to come I hope, later this year!"
Gary D Tackett
Boise, Idaho
We're interested in your thoughts:
- Have you attended or performed any live shows since the pandemic and where?
- If so, how was the vibe (i.e. joyous, awkward, attendance, etc.)
- If not, when will you feel comfortable attending?
Email me 100 words MAX and make sure to put "VENUES OPENING" in subject line (so it doesn't get lost in my email). Tell us where in the world you're located. Feel free to send me a pic of this blues music experience if you like, too.
Wishing you all good health and peace,
Michele
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Women of the Blues: A Coast To Coast Collection presents Chicago Blues Women
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 From the south side to the west side, from urban to suburban, Chicago Blues Women have been performing in clubs, in festivals and in studios for decades. From traditional to contemporary, classic to Chicago Blues they celebrate the social, moral, sexual consciousness raising landscape for America. The roots of the blues here in Chicago are portrayed through the lens of local and international photographers to capture their stunning, bold and immeasurable talent, pain and glory.
That is the essence of Women of the Blues: A Coast To Coast Collection.
Lynn Orman Weiss, founder and curator of Women of the Blues Foundation in partnership with Delmark Records President and CEO, Julia Miller, celebrate Women's History Month with an exhibit featuring 100 blues women. The collection pays tribute to the 100 years of historical recordings, the first million dollar selling blues song, “Crazy Blues” by Mamie Smith, a breakthrough into mainstream recording, and to pay homage to the women of the Suffrage Movement. The exhibit is in honor of Chicago's Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor, who was the original inspiration.
In a world and field where recordings and performances have been dominated by men, we want to articulate the importance of the blues woman in mainstream American culture. The exhibit premiered at the Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame during the IBC when the pandemic hit. Some of the collection is still in Memphis, but we have curated a show at the Delmark Records gallery to feature images of women from around the world performing the blues by extraordinary photographers from around the world. We have also included 25 historic album covers of Delmark releases including, Zora Young, Shirley Johnson, Big Time Sarah Bonnie Lee, Sharon Lewis, Grana Louise and Demetria Taylor.
We hope you will visit our virtual gallery (until further notice). We want to let the audience embark on a journey into their world... Find full story and credits here
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Pre-purchase the new studio record from Chris Antonik!
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 Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter Chris Antonik is running a crowdfunding campaign for his highly anticipated, fourth studio record, which is a progressive blues-rock record centered on the power of community.
Chris has been nominated for three of Canada’s national Maple Blues Awards (including Record of the Year and Songwriter of the Year in 2018), and has received some rave reviews from the blues world: American Blues Scene called him “one of the best artists we've heard from the Great White North,” while Concert Monkey Magazine referred to him as “the Canadian Gary Clark Jr."
By joining Chris’ team and participating in the campaign, not only can you pre-purchase the record, but you can also access a variety of other cool perks, such as song writing journals, guitar lessons, or even become an Executive Sponsor of the record!
Check it out here!
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M.C. Records Special Playlist for Women’s History Month
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 (NORTHPORT, NY) - M.C. Records has curated a special 16 song playlist/download for Women's History Month from its releases.
“Looking back, I have had the honor to work with so many amazing women,” President of the label Mark Carpentieri says. “They have inspired me and so many others with their strength and talent. It wasn't easy putting 16 tracks together, I could have easily done twice as many songs. The WHM playlist includes Marcia Ball, Joanna Connor, Debbie Davies, Kelley Hunt, Janis Ian, EG Kight, Marie Knight, Danya Kurtz (Spotify only), Maria Muldaur, Odetta, Madeleine Peyroux, Ann Rabson, Bonnie Raitt, Phoebe Snow, Angela Strehli, and Susan Tedeschi.
You can listen to the playlist on Spotify.
In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians, led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance), successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women’s History Week. Subsequent Presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month.”
Find more information on Women's History Month here.
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13th Annual Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off Mar 13
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 (FOLEY, AL) - The annual Foley BBQ & Blues Cook Off, one of the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation's biggest fundraisers, will be held Saturday, March 13, in Foley’s Heritage Park in downtown Foley, Alabama at the intersection of Hwy 98 and Hwy 59. Begin sampling some of the dadgum-finger-lickin' good BBQ when the gates open at 11am. Admission is $10 and children ages ten and under are no charge. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. All proceeds from the event benefit the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation, which supports thirteen local schools through programs and partnerships.
Enjoy award-winning barbeque, entertainment, craft and retail vendors, food trucks and children’s activities. Blues bands performing will be Southern soul-inspired The Defrosters, Spearman Brewers panhandle blues, and the upbeat, funky, soulful True Blue Band, Over 20 backyard division cook teams from across the Gulf Coast will compete for the Grand Championship title and awards. The Chamber is currently pre-selling Boston Butts precooked by L.A. Barbeque, to benefit their organization. They will be ready for pickup at the Cook-off March 13.
Congratulations to Jackeline Hurtado, an art student and senior at Foley High School, who won the 13th Annual Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off T-shirt Design Contest. Plus, all trophies awarded to the Cook-off winners have been painted by Foley High School art students.
Festival goers need to wear masks and use social distancing practices while standing in lines. Hand sanitizer will be provided throughout the festival grounds.
For more information, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
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For decades, The “Blues Bus” was a musical staple of Maxwell Street… time to bring it back to Chicago
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 Bob Chiarito/Block Club Chicago
NEAR WEST SIDE — Musician Toronzo Cannon had dreadlocks and was into reggae — until visiting the “Blues Bus” on Maxwell Street.
Back then in the mid-’90s, Maxwell Street was home to street vendors and blues men, who often played outside the market on the weekends while shoppers negotiated for everything from tube socks to hubcaps.
Cannon said he was invited on the bus by its owner, Rev. John Johnson, who sold blues tapes and CDs from it for four decades near Maxwell and Halsted Streets. The bus, which had its seats removed, was a rolling music store filled with the music of blues greats, many of whom started their careers on Maxwell Street. It operated in the area from the 1960s to the late 1990s.
“He was encouraging,” Cannon said. “He gave me a CD of Luther Allison’s album, ‘Where You Been?’ He said, ‘I want you to take this home. I want you to study.’ It was kind of like in the movies, the older dude giving the younger dude some jewels.”
Cannon went on to play the blues himself, joining Delmark Records and then Alligator Records, two labels Allison played on.
Although most people who bought blues music from Johnson’s bus didn’t go on to become world-renowned bluesmen like Cannon, it was the way many were introduced to blues music. The Maxwell Street market, old storefronts and market are long gone. But now there is an effort to restore the bus, which, over the years, fell into disrepair and was vandalized.
The move to revive the bus and create a permanent blues exhibit is being led by Steve Balkin, a professor emeritus at Roosevelt University who also is in charge of the Maxwell Street Foundation. ...Find full story about the sad state the current bus is in
[For now, people who want to support the effort can make a donation to the Maxwell Street Foundation online.]
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Can't Stop The Blues (CSTB)
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This Week on Can't Stop The Blues
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 Can’t Stop the Blues is a not-for-profit, volunteer run virtual platform for the blues, founded in mid-March of 2020 as a response to the Covid pandemic.
We are here to bring money to the bands and music to the fans. 100% of all tips go directly to the artists’ own accounts. Thus far we have helped over 200+ artists. Please enjoy and donate if you can.
Coming up this week only on Can’t Stop the Blues:
• THURSDAY, 3/4:
9pm EST: Joe Flip
10pm EST: John Nemeth & The Blue Dreamers Encore
• FRIDAY, 3/5:
9pm EST: The Jimmy Carpenter Band Recorded Live In Las Vegas
10pm EST: Nick Moss Live From The Ranch
• SATURDAY, 3/6:
9pm EST: Howell Devine- A Golden Gate Blues Society Presentation
10pm EST: Deanna Bogart- A Day On The Mountain
• SUNDAY, 3/7:
9pm EST: Lady A and The Baby Blues Funk Band- A Winthrop R&B Fest Production
10pm EST: The Lucky Losers- A Club Fox Presentation
• TUESDAY, 3/9:
8pm EST: Mindi Abair’s Wine+Music Sessions
Follow this link for the shows at Can’t Stop the Blues and YouTube
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Washington Blues Society’s BB Awards
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 Current Washington Blues Society members can vote for their favorites online through March 9th in the society's 2020 BB Awards. There are nearly 3 dozen categories from performers to recordings, writers to photographers, clubs to lifetime achievements and more.
 Among the nominees are the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival who have been nominated for three of those BB awards including Best Blues Graphic, the Keeping the Blues Alive award, and Best Virtual Performance. Mt. Baker Blues Festival is also up for the Best Blues Graphic award.
Congratulations to all the nominees!
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CD, Single & DVD Releases
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Tom Gilberts :: OLD SCHOOL
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 Old School is Tom Gilberts' second release for Polymerase Records. The 12-track album of melodic original song hit a wide variety of moods, textures and genres of American blues, roots and rock. Seven of the 12 tracks are solid and inviting instrumentals.
Tom is joined by a superlative rhythm section with Brian Foxworth on drums and Dave Captein on bass who offer master-level musicianship and musicality. Producer Terry Robb, one of the finest blues guitarists alive, leaves an indelible mark on the production. Recorded by Dennis Carter at Falcon Recording Studio, Old School has stunning clarity, openness and dimension.
“... simply a masterpiece album of blues... Blues at its absolute best - gripping real and catastrophically emotional, with his tempting sound that grabs you by your memories and gives you a hard shake to keep you in reality. ...an impressive amount of talent that bubbles over in each and every song that is featured." Michael P. Jones- Positively Entertainment
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Mary Stokes :: COMIN’ HOME
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 “Irish vocalist extraordinaire Mary Stokes continues progress in musical collaboration with the sensational Irish guitarist Sarah Michelle and partner Brian Palm. For several recording projects and in preparation for live shows, Mary Stokes has fine-tuned her authentic blues sound for which she is widely known, while at the same time reinterpreting original material,” writes The Sound Café.
“With recent successes including a critically acclaimed show in Liverpool’s world renowned Cavern Club - by invitation from Julia Baird, John Lennon’s sister and Director of the Cavern, and the release of a new album Comin’ Home, including a new interpretation of Bessie Smith’s “At The Christmas Ball,” the album which garnered critical acclaim and airplay in the run up to Christmas!
In addition to Sarah Michelle on guitar, The Mary Stokes Band features sidemen Brian Palm on harmonica, with Chris Byrne on bass and Robbie Barrett on drums, and Dermot Stokes on Piano. Recorded in Dublin, the album was expertly mixed by renowned rock legend Pete Holidai (the Radiators from Space, Trouble Pilgrims) and mastered by Joe Chester.
In a musical history spanning two decades The Mary Stokes Band has performed with B.B. King, Fats Domino, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, Lowell Fulson, Johnny Copeland, Jeff Healey, Rory Gallagher, Carey Bell, Lurrie Bell, Pinetop Perkins, Georgie Fame, Louisiana Red, Lefty Dizz, John Campbell, U.P. Wilson, Eddie Kirkland and many other blues greats.
Mary Stokes and her band have toured throughout Ireland, Europe, and the U.S.A, performing at numerous festivals and in many of the most iconic Blues Clubs in the World.”
Comin’ Home has had widespread accolade and acknowledgement as an authentically “live” Blues album, displaying the power, passion and blues feel that Mary Stokes and her band are renowned for.
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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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 LRBC#35 Southern Caribbean: Oct. 24~31, 2021 From Ft. Lauderdale, Fl To Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba & Half Moon Cay (Bahamas Private Island) On Holland America’s Ms Eurodam. Cabins & Info HERE
 LRBC #36 Eastern Caribbean: Jan. 29~Feb. 5, 2022 From Ft. Lauderdale, Fl To Tortola, St. Thomas & Turks And Caicos On Holland America’s New Flagship Ms Rotterdam. Cabins & Info HERE
Visit Reservations Or Call (816) 753-7979 To Reserve Your Cabin!
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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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Joanna Connor "Destination"
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Holidays, Birthdays and... Just In Case
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 March is Women's History Month
Mar 17 St. Patrick's Day
Mar 20 International Earth Day and 1st Day of Spring 2021
"Hard times ain't nothing that music won't help heal..."
Birthdays upcoming of note:
Mar 4-Bobby Womack (1944-2014); Mar 5 J.B. Lenoir (1929-1967), Peg Leg Howell (1888-1966), Tommy Tucker (1933-1982); Mar 6 Walter "Furry" Lewis (1893-1981), Walter Trout (1951); Mar 9 Georgia White (1903), Lloyd Price (1933); Mar 10 Dave Alexander aka Omar Shariff (1938), Ronnie Earl (1953); Mar 12 Leonard Chess (1917), Bill Payne (1949 Little Feat co-founder); Mar 13 Otis "Lightnin' Slim" Hicks (1913); Mar 14 Robert Pete Williams (1914); Mar 15 Bertha "Chippie" Hill (1905), Lightnin' Hopkins (1912); Sly Stone (1944), Ry Cooder (1947); Mar 16 James "Yank" Rachell (1910); Mar 17 Nat "King" Cole (1917)
 Just in Case: Okay, March 10th is International Day of Awesomeness! Throw on some blues music and then strut your stuff! Let the music and heal move ya.
March is "Women's History Month." Women's History Month actually started as Women's History Week, an event which was organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, and was first observed in 1978.
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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 13,800+ Blues Freaks at our TWITTER feed @BluesFestGuide
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  Also Follow us on INSTAGRAM with 8,000+ BluesersSee 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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Print & Digital Versions Available
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Blues Festival Guide Magazine Print & Digital Editions
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 (ARCATA, CA) — As well as our weekly Blues Festival e-Guide weekly newsletter, RBA Publishing offers the annual Blues Festival Guide magazine in both print and digital formats.
Blues legend Bobby Rush calls our magazine: The Roadmap to Everything Blues. Indeed, our annual offers something for everyone, all blues related, of course, and our engaging editorial comes from aficionados in the blues community.
To order a hard copy mailed to your home, send $9 to RBA Publishing Inc. P.O. Box 920, Arcata, CA 95518. To read the 64-page magazine online, visit our website and find our digital version in the upper left-hand corner. You can also order back issues if we have in stock.
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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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 Mar 6, 2021
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  #1
ROYAL TEA
Joe Bonamassa
#2
YOU AIN'T UNLUCKY
Veronica Lewis
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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 8,000 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:
Please click through the festival links on our site for current updates
Can't Stop The Blues
Thurs-Sun 9PM EST
Facebook, Universal
Blues on Reid
Apr-10-2021
Port St. Joe, Florida, USA
Juke Joint Festival
& Related Events
Apr-15-2021 - Apr-18-2021
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Manor House of Blues
Apr-16-2021
Mason, Ohio, USA
Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival
Apr-24-2021
Bessemer, Alabama, USA
15th Clarksdale Caravan
Music Fest
May-8-2021
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Lincoln Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
May-08-2021
Lincoln, United Kingdom
Leeds Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
May-09-2021
Leeds, United Kingdom
Kimbrough Cotton Patch
Soul Blues Festival
May-14-2021 - May-16-2021
Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA
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please go to our website
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Whitby Rhythm & Blues Festival
May-22-2021,
Whitby, North Yorkshire, UK
Southport Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
May-23-2021
Southport, United Kingdom
Black Hills Blues Stomp and Swamp Romp
Jun-04-2021 - Jun-06-2021,
Sturgis, South Dakota, USA
Flagstaff Blues and Brews
Jun-11-2021 - Jun-12-2021
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Sierre Blues Festival
Jun-12-2021
Sierre, Switzerland
Alpine Country Blues Festival
Jun-18-2021 - Jun-19-2021
Alpine, Arizona, USA
Northwoods Blues Festival
Jun-18-2021 - Jun-19-2021
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, USA
Blues On The Fox
Jun-18-2021 - Jun-19-2021
Aurora, Illinois, USA
Cleethorpes Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
Jun-19-2021
Cleethorpes, United Kingdom
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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 
