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Photo Moments with the 18th Annual BFG Magazine!
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 Here's multi-award winning singer, songwriter, story teller, producer, music mentor Lady A, showing off her Blues Festival Guide magazine.
Lady A has been a Pacific NW favorite for over 20+ years and has shared stages with countless top notch artists. Voted Washington Blues Society's 2020 Best Blues Performer, she's known as "The Hardest Workin Woman" in blues, soul, funk and Gospel. She's also a Host DJ on several radio programs.
Next week we will be featuring this talented artist in our CD, Single & DVD Release section!
Photo Courtesy: Lady A
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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Women of the Blues: Voice of Social Consciousness
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By Lynn Orman
"You can't have a movement without the music," Pops Staples
This year people may have been standing far apart, but they have stood closer together in thought and action for the first time since the Civil Rights Movement. Singing their way to justice. Singing truth to power. Women of the Blues are a voice of social consciousness.
MAVIS STAPLES
The Staple Singers gospel-folk performances at marches, rallies and churches, inspired participants to keep them in high spirits. Pops said about Dr. King, "If he can preach it, we can sing it." Their song "Freedom Highway" was about the march. The first song Pops ever taught Mavis Staples and her siblings was "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," clearly an anthem for today. Throughout her life Mavis Staples has been a champion for civil rights and social justice through her music. This was very apparent when Mavis teamed up with Chicago musician Jeff Tweedy’s "Peaceful Dream" on her 2017 album, If All I Was Was Black. Released in April 2020, All In It Together, has all proceeds going to My Block, My Hood, My City organization.
KOKO TAYLOR "I'm A Woman"
Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor sang as an expression of her deeply rooted connection to her youth growing up in Bartlett, Tennessee. According to her biography, Koko reflected on how a song she had learned from her father in the cotton fields, appeared on her album Old School, alongside her own compositions. “She grew up in blues culture, as a sharecropper and learning from listening to other singers, not just to records," said Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records founder. Koko Taylor has been an inspiration to women around the world.
SHEMEKIA COPELAND
Crowned the new Queen of the Blues, Shemekia Copeland's voice defines “an instrument for social justice” —...
...Find more about Shemekia and Melody Angel
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BFG has Taj Mahal Livestream March Series Tickets Now!
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 The Blues Festival Guide has partnered with the legendary, award winning Taj Mahal for a series of livestream series from the UC Theatre in Berkeley, California
March 20th Taj hosts a "Roots Rising Showcase" featuring some of his 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.
And on March 27th Taj presents another live performance with GRAMMY winning Fantastic Negrito! Shows are 6pm PT/8pm CT/9pm ET!
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: USD $25 includes1 entry into livestream concert. Group Ticket USD $32 (intended for group viewing within 1 household). Series Ticket USD $65 includes 1 entry into all 3 livestream performances. Group Series Ticket USD $80 and is intended for group viewing within 1 household.
Schedule:
- 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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ISC “People's Voice” Voting open now through April 7
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 This is your chance to be heard by casting a vote for ISC's People's Voice. The song with the most public votes will be the People's Voice winner, which is in addition to and separate from the regular winners selected by International Songwriting Competition’s (ISC) judge panel. Winners will be announced along with all ISC winners by April/May 2021.
Here are the finalists in the International Songwriting Competition "Blues" category:
• "All My Dues Are Paid" (Frank Bey) by Rick Estrin, Christoffer Lund Andersen, Kathy Murray, Frank Bey
• "Are You Ready Now?" (The Jagat) by Davide Pace, Manuel La Malfa
• "Barefoot Among Scarecrows" (Daniel Eriksen)
• "Chain Breaker" (John Nemeth) by John Németh, Jaki Taylor, Matthew Wilson
• "Come And Get This Love" (Avey Grouws Band) by Jennifer Grouws, Chris Avey • "Come and Take It" (John Nemeth)
• "Down To The River" (Zechariah Lloyd)
• "Godless Land" (The Lucky Losers) by Cathy Lemons, Kid Andersen
• "Scotch" Ft. Chelsea D.E. Johnson (Michael Wilford) by Michael Wilford, Joshua Litton, Colleen Lee Eccleston
• "Stand Up And Dance" (Missy Andersen) by Hattie Wilcox, Heine Andersen
• "Surrender"(Clarence Spady)
• "Tear Dust Blues" (Black Cadillac Kings) by Shane Thornton
• "Virginia" (Bad Mama's Blues Band) by Emily Pastuf, Zak Masoud, Jeff Swidowski
• "Weep & Moan" (Vanessa Collier).
A valid email address must be provided to cast a vote. Please note you may only vote once per day. Also, be sure to like ISC's Facebook page to stay current on updates.
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2021 Blues GRAMMY Winners 2021
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Congratulations to Bobby Rush (pictured on right), who won the GRAMMY for “Best Traditional Blues Album” for Rawer Than Raw. “I want to thank all of my friends, fans, and voters,” Rush said in a press release. “I accept this Grammy on behalf of all of the people who came before me that helped pave the way for me. Some of the guys who came before me like Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King who were my friends and inspired me so much. These are guys that taught me not to never give up. I’m speaking about all of the guys who won. All of the guys who didn’t win, I take this on their behalf too. To beat out these guys, I’m so blessed to be in this kind of race with this kind of company. All of these guys are much better than I think that I am."
Fantastic Negrito won the GRAMMY for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” with Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?. The gravity of COVID-19 was on the mind of the three-time Grammy winner, who said he dedicated the award to first responders and frontline workers who put their lives at risk at the most tense moments of the pandemic. “This year I feel like it really wasn’t about me and I’m celebrating in a different way, because half a million Americans have lost their lives … 2.6 million people across the world. This is about appreciation, thankfulness and gratitude, gratitude, gratitude,” he said. “I’m here, but a lot of people can’t say that. So, I’m celebrating this with everybody because this has been a really challenging year for people.”
Roots, rock, blues performer Brittany Howard won “Best Rock Song” for “Stay High.” We featured this song for last week's issue of Video of the Week.
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!
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Campaign continues for Maple Blues Nominee Chris Antonik's highly anticipated 4th album
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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 3/18:
9pm EST: Niecie- Live from Nashville
10pm EST: The David Landon Band Live from Whip Records, Berkeley, CA
• FRIDAY 3/19:
9pm EST: Niecey Livingsingle and The Obamas - Love Show, A Golden Gate Blues Society Production
10pm EST: Nick Moss’ Jimmy Rogers Tribute with Special Guests: Dennis Gruenling, Rick Estrin, Rod Piazza and More!
• SATURDAY 3/20:
9pm EST: Selwyn Birchwood Live - Online
10pm EST: Blues Beatles- Are You Ready?
• SUNDAY 3/21:
9pm EST: Mike Dangeroux Blues Band - Double Trouble Chicago Blues Party featuring Shorty Mac and Inetta Visor
• TUESDAY 3/23:
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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Blues Society of Northwest Florida "Monday Night Blues"
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 (PENSACOLA, FL) - Blues Society of Northwest Florida and Seville Quarter present Monday Night Blues at Lili Marlene's in the Seville Quarter (130 East Government St., Pensacola, Florida). The longest running weekly Blues Jam in Florida has an opener at 7pm, then a host band at 7:30pm, followed by the Blues Jam at 9pm.
On Monday, March 22nd "Monday Night Blues" will feature Tas Cru & The Tortured Souls. March 29th the "Monday Night Blues" will feature Johnny Barbato & The Lucky Doggs, and April 5th, "Monday Night Blues" will feature True Blue Band.
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CD, Single & DVD Releases
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Duke Robillard & Friends :: BLUES BASH!
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 Blues Bash with Duke Robillard & Friends, from two-time multiple award-winning guitarist Duke Robillard, is “packed with plenty of bright sounding Fender guitar a la Ike Turner, Lefty Bates, etc." says Duke. "Just a good listening or dancing record like the blues records I bought when I was a kid. It was pretty much a reunion of sorts and I wanted the material to be simple, straight-ahead ‘50s style blues and R&B... Basically it’s a blues party album and that feeling is what I wanted to convey.”
And while Duke has admitted that his concept for Blues Bash was to make a straight vintage-style blues album with rhythmic grooves and no hook-laden songs, as always, the music is impeccable, classy and powerful. Two stellar horn sections (including one that reunites him with many members of the original Roomful of Blues horns), searing guitar and organ solos, boogie woogie piano and guest vocalists Chris Cote and Michelle Willson help to propel the groove.
Duke is in his element here, displaying his authority, versatility, passion and virtuosity. Not only is Blues Bash the kind of album that made so many blues fans fall in love with Duke’s music, it’s a career highlight from one of the world’s best. Since starting his musical career in 1967 by founding and fronting Roomful of Blues, Duke Robillard has been at the forefront of Blues, Swing and classic R&B/Jump blues for over 50 years, earning him his legendary status while influencing and inspiring countless legions of musicians and fans worldwide. Leading his own group, Duke has toured non-stop for the past 40-some years, recording more than 30 critically acclaimed CDs under his own name.
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Peter Veteska & Blues Train ::
GRASS AIN'T GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE
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 Peter Veteska and his band, Blues Train’s Grass Ain’t Greener On The Other Side, is a 10-song set with the renowned hard-working guitarist going for a purer rock and blues sound.
Peter V and longtime bandmate drummer, Alex D’Agnese, joined forces with rock solid bassist Coo Mo Jhee, and legendary blues, rock, and funk keyboardist, Jeff Levine, who’s recorded and toured with Joe Cocker, Hall and Oates, Clarence Clemons, the Chambers Brothers and John Fogerty, to name a few.
Special guests include Mikey Junior on vocals and blues harp, powerhouse vocalist Jen Barnes, and Delaware blues guitar veteran Roger Girke. The sessions were engineered at Shorefire studios in Long Branch, New Jersey capturing the group in a pure wide-open recording, while a hurricane was brewing outside.
The blues party goes from slinky rocker “Am I Wrong Pretty Baby,” with Mikey Junior on vocals and greasy blues harp, to Jen Barnes joining Peter for a cover of the 1960 Dinah Washington and Brook Benton hit “Baby You’ve Got What It Takes,” reimagined as a hot Texas Blues shuffle that amps up steamy vocal interplay. “Running Like A Dog” grooves featuring duel leads on Strat and Hammond B-3. “I’ve Been Missing You” is a sweet, swinging acoustic blues followed by the band swinging “You Give Me Loving,” then the rat-pack styled “Learning The Blues.” D’Agnese throws down a New Orleans boogaloo beat on “Thinking And Drinking,” then Roger Girke and Peter trade vocals and guitar on Ray Charles’ 1958 classic, “Heartbreaker.”
A rousing version of Willie Cobbs’ “You Don’t Love Me,” pays homage to the extended jam version made famous by the Allman Brothers. Peter V closes with the title track, “Grass Ain’t Greener On The Other Side,” revealing the philosophy behind his rebellious nature and showing off his formidable guitar skills.
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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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Bonnie Raitt, Ruth Brown, Charles Brown, Kim Wilson "Never Make Your Move Too Soon"
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Holidays, Birthdays and... Just In Case
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 March is Women's History Month
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 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); Mar 21 William Clarke (1951-1996), Eddie James "Son" House, Jr. (1902-1988), Otis Spann (1930-1970), Gaye Adegbalola (1944); Mar 22-Weldon "Juke Boy" Bonner (1932-1978), Leo "Bud" Welch (1932-2017); Mar 23-Stick McGhee (1918), Chaka Khan (1953), Iverson "Louisiana Red" Minter (1932-2012); Mar 24 Frank "Scrap Iron" Robinson Jr. (1951-2020); Mar 25-Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)
Mar 26-Rufus Thomas (1917-2001), Curley Weaver aka "Slim Gordon" (1906-1962); Mar 27-Leroy Carr (1905-1935), Robert "Junior" Lockwood (1915-2006), Sarah Vaughan (1924), Herman "Little Junior" Parker (1932), Johnny Clyde Copeland (1937-1997)
Just in Case: Mar 21st is World Poetry Day... turn it into songwriting day!
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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 20, 2021
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  #1
JOE BONAMASSA
Royal Tea
#2
ALLY VENABLE
Heart of Fire
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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
Wednesday Dose of Blues
Weds- Mar-17-24-31-2021
Howlive, USA
Can't Stop The Blues
Thurs-Sun 9PM EST
Facebook, Universal
The Magical Power of Music
Apr-01-2021
HOWLive TV, USA
Wednesday Dose of Blues
Weds- April-7-2021
Howlive, USA
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
3rd Annual Red's
Old-Timers Blues Fest
May-29-2021
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
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 
