This week is chock full of blues news that we ALL can use! Here's hoping each reader can find something to help them connect with the music we all love.
Before I highlight this week's news,
I would like to report Ozark Blues Society held their annual elections this past week. We would like to present, Bruce Barton, who was elected to a two year term as Treasurer. Liz Lottmann was reelected as an unopposed candidate
to another two year term as President. The board also voted to invite Tim Treese to become a member of the board. He has accepted the position. Congratulations to all of the newly elected board members and officers!
The news this week encompasses information for every type of blues lover. Fans, musicians, supporters, and even kids! First up, local blues band, The Jeff Horton Band, has announced the release of an all originals album. Check out the article below to find out about Jeff, the band, and the new album, "These Blues Are Mine!" Also, new this week is a "Mark Your Calendar" article about the 3rd Annual Fayetteville Jazz Festival. Check it out below to find out more.
Running again this week, are several articles. One highlights the U of A arts integration teaching conference that invited Ozark Blues Society to offer
a presentation. There is an article
for becoming involved in supporting blues musicians who have suffered income loss due to the pandemic.
There is an article announcing the finalists in the International Songwriting Competition, and articles with resources that help blues lovers explore deeper
into the history of the genre'.
As we move toward spring, we would love to have more updates from local artists on how everyone is doing and what is (or isn't yet) on your horizons moving forward. If you are a local blues artist, venue, or fan and would like to share your information, please click the link below to email Sandy. And always remember, this is YOUR newsletter! Please send feedback or suggestions our way. You can reach me by email at the address below. We appreciate our readers and want
to see your ideas included!
~Sandy McCann
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Jeff Horton Band
Album Release
"These Blues
Are All Mine"
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The Jeff Horton Band based in Bentonville, Arkansas definitely has
a passion for the Blues! For the last
10 years Jeff and the guys have
done their part in sharing the Blues
as much as possible.
Now, they’re about to release their first all original album,
“These Blues are all Mine”!
Just like at their live shows, this album features a variety of Blues, from
the traditional to the contemporary there’s definitely something for
everyone that loves the Blues.
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Mark Your Calendar
2021 Fayetteville
Jazz Festival
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Blues, Jazz and Gospel lovers should mark their calendar to attend the 3rd Annual Fayetteville Jazz Festival.
Read on below for more information!
Music Moves Presents the Fayetteville Jazz Festival
Featuring Artists in Residence Alexa Tarantino, Rodney Block, Carmen Bruner, and Jeremy Thomas
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
April 23-25, 2021
For more information, contact:
Chris Teal, Fayetteville Jazz Festival Director, Institute for Creative Music Director (509) 230-0688; or,
Anthony Ball, Music Moves Director, (479) 595-9109
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Teaching The Teachers
Blues Integration in Classroom Curriculum
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A few weeks ago, Ozark Blues Society's Blues in the Schools program received
a request to partner with the UofA
2021 "ARTful Teaching Conference"
by offering a virtual presentation.
The theme of this year's conference
is "The Art of the Story."
Since many schools and classrooms
are not able to offer full Blues in the Schools events even in non-Covid times, we felt this was an exceptional opportunity to grow our outreach to Arkansas pre-service teachers in support of our effort to Keep the Blues Alive. We quickly agreed to join in this program!
The conference is a month away and planning is underway. We have invited long standing OBS supporter, blues lover, and skilled youth educator, Jules Taylor, to present on our behalf.
The title of the presentation will be, "Learning Through the Blues
to Tell Our Stories."
The presentation will be for teachers of all grade levels and Jules Shared the goal is to, "Learn about a pure American music form, The Blues and how it can help students tell their own stories. Within the rich layers of The Blues, this workshop will help you find simple techniques to integrate into the classroom. The Blues has a simple structure and rhythm, as well as a history and intention that facilitate a world of emotion and expression”
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Donations/Assistance
Pandemic Relief
for Touring Musicians
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 New donations and applications for 2021 assistance are being accepted for Joe Bonamassa’s Fueling Musicians Program. This emergency relief plan for touring musicians affected by the COVID-19 crisis is designed to support musicians by providing financial assistance for essential living expenses such as food, shelter, and more. Fueling Musicians provides immediate cash payments of $1,500 to help struggling musicians get back on the road again when it is safe.For information on the program, including how to donate,
To apply for support, VISIT:
The mission of Joe Bonamassa's Fueling Musicians Program is to provide financial support to qualifying musicians whose careers and livelihoods have experienced tremendous hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. KTBA reserves the right to broaden this mission over time. KTBA aims to ensure that musicians across the country, in every region, of every race, gender expression, sexual orientation, and disability status have access to this emergency fund. Current employees of Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., J&R Adventures and its affiliates are ineligible to receive funding. Individuals selected will be notified by email. To learn more about this program or how requests are processed, please contact Shawn Hagood at info@keepingthebluesalive.org!
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2020 INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION ANNOUNCES FINALISTS |
Nashville, TN, March 7, 2021 – ISC is very pleased to announce the 2020 finalists. A total of 324 finalists have been selected from more than 26,000 entries representing 158 countries throughout the world. ISC is the world’s largest international songwriting competition and is designed to discover and promote professional and amateur songwriters who excel in the art of songwriting. ISC recognizes songwriters in all genres of contemporary music and gives away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes, including an overall Grand Prize of $25,000 in cash plus additional prizes.
Winners will be selected by a panel of iconic recording artists and high-profile industry executives. Click here for a complete list of judges. Winners will be announced in late April or early May as soon as the judges have completed the judging process.
ISC is sponsored by: Arturia; Audeze; Celebrity Access; Eventric; Fano Guitars; Fender Guitars; Gig Salad; iZotope; Lurssen Mastering; Merch Cat; Musicians Institute; Play MPE; PreSonus; SongU; Sweetwater; and TuneCore.
Judges include: BEBE REXHA, COLDPLAY, DUA LIPA, TOM WAITS, CAM, ARTURO SANDOVAL, LINKIN PARK, TREVOR DANIEL, CAM, AND LAURA PAUSINI
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Share Blues History
with your Grandchildren
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Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars
 From the Amazon page: "Willie Johnson was born in 1897, and from the beginning he loved to sing--and play his cigar box guitar. But his childhood was interrupted when he lost his mother and his sight. How does a blind boy make his way in the world? Fortunately for Willie, the music saved him and brought him back into the light. His powerful voice, combined with the wailing of his slide guitar, moved people. Willie made a name for himself performing on street corners all over Texas. And one day he hit it big when he got a record deal and his songs were played on the radio. Then in 1977, his song--"Dark Was the Night"--was chosen to light up the darkness when it was launched into space on the Voyager I space probe's famous Golden Record. His immortal song was selected for the way it expresses the loneliness humans all feel, while reminding us we're not alone." |
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Got the Blues?
25 Essential Mississippi Delta Blues Songs
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Support Options
For Local Artists
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Please check this section of the newsletter weekly for ideas of how to support local musicians and venues. Information may be submitted by all readers, though if reporting for your favorite musician or venue, please confirm the accuracy of the information you are providing.
All submissions will remain posted with new entries being added to the top of the list each week and will run until the music calendar relaunches.
*****
Jimmy Wayne Garrett
A new album from Jimmy Wayne Garrett is out titled Town on the Mountain. It is a collection of original songs written from 2009 until 2019.  The album was recorded at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville, TN and Easthall Recording Studio in Fayetteville, AR and features The Buffalo Gals (Melissa Carper and Rebecca Patek) and a handful of Nashville based artists. Each track was captured using only acoustic instruments. This album casts a unique contrast to JWG's previous album.
During these challenging times, Jimmy loves to share joy through his music. He suggests "that we should remember Love. A person could be trying to
find the beautiful and good things in life. It’s a short time we have to be alive and most conversations taking place are uninspiring, unintelligent, uneducated, unproductive, close-minded, and permeate from terrible addictions or distractions to say the least. I’d rather pull close to my kinfolk, the arts, and the earth than spend energy on worrying about 'the state of things'".
For more information about Jimmy Wayne Garrett, his schedule, recent interviews, or buy the latest album, visit: JimmyWayneGarrett.com
His music may also be found HERE:
*****
Buddy Shute and the Motivators
Even among the restrictions we have been able to get some gigs in. The feedback on our latest CD, "Bar-B-Que" has kept us happy and looking past canceled gigs and shuttered venues. We have been receiving feedback on our album BAR-B-QUE from all over the globe... Russia, France, the Netherlands, an island off the coast of Africa as well as national radio shows.As bad as things are we do have a lot to give Thanks for.
Buddy notes there is another option for everyone to stay connected and to keep Bluesin'! Ron Sumner is making use of the empty Eureka Springs Auditorium by streaming concerts. The Motivators were live Dec. 3rd which is available for viewing anytime after on youtube under LiveAtTheAud
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"Bar-B-Que" is the latest album from Northwest
Arkansas' own Buddy Shute and the Motivators. Fourteen Tracks and a lot of love. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Moore at East Hall Recording Studio in Fayetteville. The incredible Rachel Fields lends her vocals to a couple of tracks, and the song "I Been Changed" (aka "Angels in Heaven") was beautifully enhanced by the voices of Rachel, Ashtyn Barbaree, Dawn Cate-Bonner, Janna Falkner-Perry, Ashley Keylor, Kendra Kirklin and Sarah Loethen. Fronted by Buddy Shute (vocals, guitar), the Motivators are: Brenda Baskin (vocals), Mark McGee (harmonica), Steve Baskin (bass, vocals), and Randy Reese (drums). Keith Hubbard was named an honorary Motivator, and his distinctive keyboard playing can be heard throughout. http://www.buddyshute.com
Best wishes from Buddy Shute and the Motivators
Facebook: Buddy Shute and the Motivators
*****
Brick Fields
Rachel shares: I just wanted to update everyone on our upcoming album.
We have completed the recording and are in the mixing and mastering process. The album is a Gospel / Gospel Blues album and will be titled "In The Garden".  It features the Blues Therapy Group: Kevin Bonner, Chris Parker, Hunter Judkins, myself, Larry and also Vince Turner who has been filling in since
we lost our dear Hoobie. My children Riley and Sally are also lending their vocals on the record and we have included some special guests including Jason Smith on trombone. The record was recorded at Crisp Studio's
by engineer Darren Crisp in Fayetteville, AR who is also co-producer along
with the band and myself.
The album has been a labor of love. Since times are tough everyone has been donating their time. We've
had a few donations which will help
with getting the hard copy printed and distributed and also help with some
of the recording costs.
We have released a single from the upcoming album. Here is a link to the video "Take Me To the Riverside"
The date for the broadcast has not been set yet. As of now, we plan to pre-record the event with Jamie Anawaty and Darren Crisp teaming up on the production.
Once live music begins again, folks can stay updated on our concerts by signing up to our email at www.BrickFieldsMusic.com and following us on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/BrickFieldsMusic
We also have two stores on our website one for music merchandise and another for Blues Therapy handmade items such as essential oil blends, Jewelry, tie dyes, bath salts, body butters and more.
Thank you for your support.
I pray that each of you and your families are all doing okay through this.
Brick Fields
Booking Call: The Brick House 479-846-4668
*****
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Please enjoy the following listings comprised of bands, venues, and/or organizations that support Ozark Blues Society. Always check with individual venues for event details and schedule changes.
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Mark Your Calendar
Please Check Back
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On this day
in Blues History
March 12
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Today’s show features music performed by Hank Marr and
Arbee Stidham
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"Particularly with the blues, it's not just about bad times. It's about the healing spirit."
Taj Mahal
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Blues Education Supporters
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Thanks to the following for their support of blues education.
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Check Out these regular local radio programs
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"The Generic Blues Show" hosted by Paul Kelso airs every Friday night at 9pm on KUAF 91.3FM
Rockin' Hog Radio presents "Sunday Morning Blues" from 8am to 10am every Sunday
LINK
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Get Involved with the Ozark Blues Society
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Annual membership levels begin at $15 and give you so much in return, including meeting new friends while enjoying the best blues artists in the area.
By being a member of The Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas, you are helping to support the Arts and to preserve the Original American Art Form known as The Blues.
Membership Benefits Include:
Weekly E-newsletter
Opportunities to win tickets to events
VIP seating at events (when available)
Discounts on OBS merchandise
Social networking – meeting other people who also love the blues
Opportunities to volunteer on OBS committees and at events
Ability to attend board meetings and vote on upcoming organizational issues and elections
Visit our Website to renew or join! Ozarkbluessociety.org
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