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Photo Moments with the 18th Annual BFG Magazine!
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 Here's a health on to ye! Happy St. Patrick's Day next Wednesday. I figured since it will come before we publish next week, I'd deck out a bit with the magazine a bit to celebrate since it would seem that "the whole world is Irish on the seventeenth of March!"
“May your troubles be less. And your blessings be more. And nothing but happiness come through your door.”
Your e-Guide editor...
Michele O'Lundeen
Want your picture here with the Guide.... bring it on!
*SEND US YOUR PIC WITH THE BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE MAGAZINE! Are you are a BFG client? Reach out to your sales person so they can send you one!
Anyone can also 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 photo, caption (120 words or less), URL if applicable, and photo credit to e-Guide editor!
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?
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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Blues Women Rock Grammys & Billboard
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 By Lynn Orman Weiss
For the first time ever, all of the nominees for the 63rd GRAMMY Awards Best Rock Performance category are women and woman-fronted bands including Brittany Howard who is nominated for four Grammys and will perform live on the major broadcast. Nominations for Best Contemporary Blues Album include Ruthie Foster Big Band (Live at the Paramount) and Bettye LaVette (Blackbirds).
Brittany, who made a name for herself as Alabama Shakes frontwoman, has been nominated for 16 Grammy nominations and won four. This year she’s also nominated Best Rock Song ("Stay High"), Best Alternative Music Album, (Jaime) and Best R&B Performance ("Goat Head"). Brittany shreds a Gibson SG.
Chicago's renowned Queen of Blues Rock Guitar, Joanna (Jo) Connor is #1 on Billboard Blues Chart this week. Joanna's 4801 South Indiana Avenue also made #15 Top New Artist Albums, #34 Current Rock Albums and #35 on the Indie Albums Chart. The album title holds a lot of weight in Chicago and for blues lovers around the world who loved this sacred space, Theresa's Lounge, which was located at that address. It's where the greatest blues masters like Muddy Waters, Son Seals, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, and Big Walter Horton performed and jammed. Joanna's freshly minted album, produced by Joe Bonamassa and co-produced by Josh Smith, is an homage. “We want the listener to open that door, walk in and feel to their core some of the magic that a place like that brought night after night,” says Joanna.
Joanna started out in the trenches at 19 years old playing with the masters where her immeasurable talent, grit, fierce and fiery slide guitar seared and continued to dominate. Joanna fit right in and was ready for residencies at Buddy Guy's Checkerboard Lounge, The Cuddle Inn on the south side and Theresa's. Her residency for the past 28 years has been the historic Kingston Mines. In the year of Covid19 Joanna has performed livestream broadcasts from Rosa's Lounge. Her new album features 13 eyebrow-arching tracks with an official video track, "Destination." [featured in last week’s e-Guide]
Brittany Howard and Joanna Connor are featured images in the Women of the Blues: A Coast To Coast Collection exhibit at Delmark Records Gallery.
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BFG has Taj Mahal Livestream March Series Tickets Now!
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 Legendary blues and roots musician Taj Mahal has announced a series of livestream performances this March 2021 at The UC Theatre in Berkeley, CA. We are excited to partner with the legendary Taj Mahal for this series featuring Fantastic Negrito, Phantom Blues Band, Jon Cleary and some of Taj’s favorite emerging artists including Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Amythyst Kiah, Annie Mack, Leyla McCalla, Piedmont Bluz Acoustic Duo, Ranky Tanky, Allison Russell and Jontavious Willis. Mark your calendars now because Taj will be live the next 3 weekends including March 13th, March 20th, and March 27th at 6pm PT/8pm CT/9pm ET nightly!
Individual, Group and Series tickets are available NOW right here!
All performances are powered by the Mandolin streaming platform. Tickets grant you 48-hour access to the stream in case you can’t join the performance live. Livestream tickets are USD $25 and includes 1 entry into livestream concert. Group Ticket USD $32 (intended for group viewing within one household). Series Ticket are USD $65 and includes 1 entry into all 3 livestream performances. Group Series Ticket USD $80 and is intended for group viewing within one household.
Schedule:
- March 13 - Taj Mahal and Phantom Blues Band with special guest Jon Cleary
- March 20 - Roots Rising Showcase hosted by Taj Mahal and featuring Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Amythyst Kiah, Annie Mack, Leyla McCalla, Piedmont Bluz Acoustic Duo, Ranky Tanky, Allison Russell and Jontavious Willis
- March 27 - Taj Mahal & Fantastic Negrito
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Louisiana GRAMMY Celebration Honors State's Music Legacy
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 The Louisiana GRAMMY® Celebration features performances by Louisiana GRAMMY nominees in partnership with the Louisiana Office of Tourism. The virtual event highlighted Louisiana's long list of 2021 GRAMMY nominees and featured appearances from blues great Bobby Rush, brass band New Orleans Nightcrawlers Kenny Wayne Shepard with Buddy Flett and Sweet Cecilia.
You can watch as they perform from different iconic attractions throughout the state.
In addition to enjoying performances by these talented artists, you will learn a little history about the culture and music of Louisiana, and the role some of these venues have played in both.
Watch the 30 minute celebration on the GRAMMY Museum's official streaming service. The video will be free and all-access for anyone who clicks into COLLECTION.live for 30 days after each event.
Stay tuned for more special content from the 2021 GRAMMY Week events, including the 63rd GRAMMY Awards airing live on CBS this Sunday, March 14.
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Mississippi Hills Alliance Helps Support Hill Country Blues
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 (TUPELO, MS) - The Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance approved $116,615 in community matching grants during its quarterly board meeting this week. Thirteen grants were distributed to nine counties in the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area.
Among them are:
- Marshall County – The Holly Springs Community Development Corporation/Sons and Friends of Junior Kimbrough who were awarded $4,965 for the Annual Kimbrough Cotton Patch Soul Blues Festival, an event celebrating the musical legacy of David “Junior” Kimbrough.
- North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic Inc. was awarded $5,000 to support the production of the 2021 picnic, which showcases Hill Country Blues.
- Foxfire Ranch/Holly Springs Community Development Corporation was awarded $20,000 for the Foxfire Blues Assembly, a vehicle for nurturing, connecting and supporting the next generation of Hill Country Blues musicians.
- Panola County – The R.L. Boyce Picnic was awarded $2,500 for a two-day Hill Country music workshop, “Walk Like a Big Blues Mane.”
- Tippah County – The Ripley Main Street Association was awarded $9,600 to fund Phase II of the Mississippi Hill Country Blues Alley.
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"Boston Boogie" slide man Charlie Keating Band with the Rhythm Regulators
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 Charlie Keating Band with the Rhythm Regulators are celebrating 14 years together featuring New England's premier slide guitar player Charlie Keating playing that “Boston Boogie.” The band delivers a unique combination of blues and boogie.
“Charlie could be compared to Clapton and Buddy Guy… yes he's that good" - Craig Venske/Concert Photos Magazine
Members are Charlie Keating on guitar and vocals with the Rhythm Regulators Lenny Turnquist on bass and Tim Sweeney on drums. Charlie has a brilliant slide guitar style that channels Johnny Winter, Duane Allman and Elmore James. Many have compared his playing to early Stevie Ray Vaughan due to his ability to combine lead and rhythm guitar simultaneously. The band is well-known for its big sound and driving rhythm section and are equally comfortable playing unique versions of covers or originals.
"Keating is a wild man on the guitar and his mighty rhythm section know how to keep him afloat and anchored at once" - Bill Copeland/Bill Copeland News
Their most recent single, “The End Of Us" written by Keating/Turnquist, is a slow soulful ballad shifting gears from their usual rocking blues-infused sound, and showcases their versatility.
Charlie is a gifted, prolific songwriter and a member of SESAC. The band's CD, Slide On Over, has gotten consistent international airplay. The Charlie Keating Band represented the Massachusetts Blues Society at the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. They’ve opened for Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard and Toni Lynn Washington.
“This is a boogie band... and these cats can play” - Aj Watchtell/The Noise
Charlie Keating Band with the Rhythm Regulators are accepting bookings for festivals and clubs for 2021 and beyond. Contact via website or email.
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Antonik's campaign centered on the power of community
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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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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 3/11:
9pm EST: Mitch Woods from The Vaults Episode 2 - At The Hands of The Masters
10pm EST: Bex Marshall Solo Acoustic Show
• FRIDAY 3/12:
9pm EST: Dirty Cello and Lots of Friends Blues Hour
10pm EST: Greaseland Fridays w/Friends Festival - Season 2, Episode 2
• SATURDAY 3/13:
9pm EST: The Nashville Trio: Featuring Meg, Jenny & Sheridan
10pm EST: Backtrack Blues Band Live at Utah Blues Festival
• SUNDAY 3/14:
9pm EST: Harpdog Brown & Friends Really Live from Canada Encore
10pm EST: Blue Moon Marquee Live from Coldsnap
• TUESDAY 3/16:
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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30th annual "Best of The Blues" Awards show April 18th
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 (SEATTLE, WA) - The Washington Blues Society, the Seattle Based affiliate of The Blues Foundation, is celebrating 30 years of Keeping The Blues Alive. Their 2021 Best of the Blues Awards show will be broadcast as a live stream presentation Sunday, April 18th on Youtube and Facebook to a worldwide audience kicking off at 5pm PDT.
Every year the membership of the Washington Blues Society honors the work and achievements of musicians, artists, venues and organizations from our state in 32 categories as nominated by and voted on by the membership. The ceremony also includes performances from select nominees and induction into the Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame.
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CD, Single & DVD Releases
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 Malaya Blue’s third full-length album, Still, re-affirms her position as one of UK's premier vocalists and songwriters. Previous album Heartsick unlocked the door and now she’s kicking it open with a dozen of old-school style songs to satisfy fans of blues, R&B and Neo-Soul.
Malaya collaborated with 3-time Grammy-winning producer and writer Dennis Walker (Robert Cray, B.B. King, Bettye LaVette), the first-ever UK artist to do so. Upon hearing Heartsick Dennis said, ‘’My first impression? What a voice. Wow! I get the feeling she’s got so much talent she’s about to burst at the seams.’’ Along the way Richard Cousins, himself a 5-time Grammy winner for his work with Robert Cray, offered the previously unrecorded title track “Still,” originally intended for a Cray album but a perfect fit for Malaya. The track is further enhanced by Richard himself adding his distinctive bass playing. Bettye LaVette’s long-time guitarist of choice, the gifted, multi-award winning Brett Lucas contributed music to two tracks.
Still is a well-produced album that is fresh, contemporary and classy, with first-class instrumentation backing Malaya Blues evocative vocal performances.
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Crooked Eye Tommy :: HOT COFFEE AND PAIN
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 Ventura County California brothers, Tommy and Paddy Marsh, formed Crooked Eye Tommy in 2010, becoming 6-time Ventura County music award winners and 2-time International Blues Challenge semi-finalist and in 2020 reach the IBC finals as a duo act. Capitalizing on that momentum, their sophomore effort, Hot Coffee And Pain, contains 9 blues and roots rock tracks consisting of 3 covers and 6 originals, including a duet written by Tommy Marsh, featuring Grammy nominee Teresa James on vocals and piano. The project was recorded at Carbonite Sound in Ojai, California with Grammy winning audio engineer Jason Moran (Joe Bonamassa, Robben Ford) at the helm.
The set kicks off with a funky, inspired “Death Letter Blues,” an energized track letting us know Crooked Eye Tommy is not an old timey skiffle group, but an electric band with dual lead guitars from the Marsh brothers, swirling Hammond B 3 from Jimmy Calire, and a heavy groove from the rhythm section of Samuel Corea on bass and drummer Charlie McClure.
This fine collection of tunes brewed up for Hot Coffee And Pain, is sure to maintain the brothers, Crooked Eye Tommy, on an upward trajectory.
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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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Brittany Howard "Stay High"
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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 [and a sense of humor] won't help heal..."
Birthdays upcoming of note:
Mar 12 Leonard Chess (1917-1969), Bill Payne (1949 Little Feat co-founder); Mar 13 Otis "Lightnin' Slim" Hicks (1913-1974); Mar 14 Robert Pete Williams (1914-1980); Mar 15 Bertha "Chippie" Hill (1905-1950), Lightnin' Hopkins (1912-1982); Sly Stone (1944), Ry  Cooder (1947); Mar 16 James "Yank" Rachell (1910-1997); Mar 17 Nat "King" Cole (1917-1965); Mar 18 Wilson Pickett (1941-2006), Big Daddy Kinsey (1927-2001); Mar 19 Clarence "Frogman" Henry (1937), Jackie "Moms" Mabley (1894-1975); Mar 20 Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973), Frank Edwards (1909-2002), Marcia Ball (1949), Sam Lay (1935), Eddie Shaw (1937-2018), Jimmie Vaughan (1951)
Just in Case: "Here's a health on to ye!"
St. Patrick's Day March 17th is a day of celebrating Irish history, ancestry, traditions and customs. We will also acknowledge well-known Irish bluesy players including Gary Moore (Belfast), Rory Gallagher (Ballyshannon), and Van Morrison (Belfast).
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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 12, 2021
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  #1
JOANNA CONNER
4801 South Indiana Avenue
#2
CURTIS SALGADO
Damage Control
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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
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please go to our website
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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
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 
