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Now's your chance! Get Listed in the 2021 Blues Festival Guide Annual Magazine
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"The Blues Festival Guide is the road map to everything blues!” – Bobby Rush
Get your band, record label, festival, event or blues related business listed in the 2021 Blues Festival Guide magazine. Enjoy festival information (both physical and virtual), blues history and lifestyle, industry highlights and editorial content to keep you connected to the blues. Include our annual Blues Festival Guide print magazine in your marketing budget. Find Media Kit here with details.
This award-winning publication is free to the Blues community (distributed throughout U.S and Canada), and features entertaining and educational editorial by top Blues aficionados. Thousands of Blues fans will also read in digital format.
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Photo Moments with the 18th Annual BFG Magazine!
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 Here's (lt-rt) Cari Navarro, Walt Whitney, and Kelly and Scott Baker at Le Citron restaurant in Oceanside, California checking out their Blues Festival Guide magazine after dinner and some bluesy tunes on the porch.
Photo courtesy Michele 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 official sponsor of our 2020 Blues Festival Guide!
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12th Annual Simply Texas Blues Festival May 22
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 (SAN ANGELO, TX) - The San Angelo Blues Society presents the 12th Annual Simply Texas Blues Festival May 22 at the Bill Aylor Memorial River Stage, 11am-10pm. Performing will be The Mark May Band, from Austin, TX and 2014-2015 Simply Texas Blues Festival winner Jennifer B & The Groove. This family-friendly event will feature a motorcycle and car show, rib cookoff, food trucks, craft vendors and kids activities. The event is free. No glass. BYOB.
The San Angelo Blues Society presents the 12th Annual Simply Texas Blues Festival to further its mission of the preservation and promotion of Blues music, pay homage to its art form, and to the venues, musicians and communities who support it.
The day-long May festival serves several purposes within that mission, namely, a competition to select a band and solo/duo act to represent San Angelo at the yearly International Blues Challenge on Memphis’ famous Beale Street. More importantly it is a fundraiser for the Society’s scholarships program, benefitting students attending local colleges, its Blues in Schools program, and its other community outreach programs. Their scholarship awards top $93,000 to date.
The Simply Texas Blues Festival had its modest beginnings in 2009. It began with a group of Blues enthusiasts in a dirt lot, coming together to share their love of a music genre that inspired every genre of music going forward. It spoke to an entire community and flourished, and that community continues to celebrate a passion for this soulful means of expression.
The festival has brought statewide and national recognition to San Angelo and its music scene; acts who have competed have gone on to become featured performers all over the country. Sponsoring the winners of this competition to compete in The International Blues Competition on world famous Beale Street in Memphis, we further promote Blues music, Blues musicians and Blues music in general.
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Bobby Rush Raw: An Intimate Night of Stories & Songs
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 Two solo Bobby Rush solo shows will stream live via Mandolin Sunday, May 16th and Sunday, May 23rd at 7pm CT. You can hear the music and experience the story, based on Bobby’s new book, I Ain’t Studdin’ You, My American Blues Story. Purchase tickets for the live stream here.
His memoir charts the extraordinary rise to fame of living blues legend, Bobby Rush. Born Emmett Ellis, Jr. in Homer, Louisiana, he adopted the stage name Bobby Rush out of respect for his father, a pastor. As a teenager, Rush acquired his first real guitar and started playing in juke joints in Little Rock, Arkansas, donning a fake mustache to trick club owners into thinking he was old enough to gain entry. He led his first band in Arkansas between Little Rock and Pine Bluff in the 1950s. It was there he first had Elmore James play in his band. Rush later relocated to Chicago to pursue his musical career and started to work with Earl Hooker, Luther Allison, and Freddie King, and sat in with many of his musical heroes, such as Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and Little Walter. Rush eventually began leading his own band in the 1960s, crafting his own distinct style of funky blues, and recording a succession of singles for various labels. It wasn't until the early 1970s that Rush finally scored a hit with "Chicken Heads." More recordings followed, including an album which went on to be listed in the Top 10 blues albums of the 1970s by Rolling Stone and a handful of regional jukebox favorites including "Sue" and "I Ain't Studdin' Ya."
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ISC 2020 Winners Announced
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 This year’s Grand Prize goes to the Swedish folk-pop duo Smith & Thell (comprised of Maria Jane Smith and Victor Thell) and Peter Kvint, one of the most sought-after songwriters and producers in Sweden. Their winning song “Goliath” delivers a message of hope, determination, and perseverance. They described "Goliath" as their anthem for the underdog.
In addition to the Grand Prize winner, many other deserving songwriters also share in the prestige and kudos of winning their respective categories in ISC. These winners hail from all over the world (56% of this year’s winners come from outside the USA) and represent diverse cultures while ranging from talented amateurs to seasoned songwriting veterans. The 23 categories include all genres of contemporary music, from Pop to Blues to World Music to Country to Instrumental, and many more.
Here are the winners in the Blues Category: 1st Place Zechariah Lloyd (Vicksburg, MS, USA) “Down To The River;” 2nd Place Frank Bey (Philadelphia, PA, USA) “All My Dues Are Paid” Frank Bey, Rick Estrin, Christoffer Lund Andersen, Kathy Murray; 3rd Place Clarence Spady (Scranton, PA, USA) “Surrender.”
Judges included recording artists such as Tom Waits; Robert Randolph (Robert Randolph & The Family Band); Joe Louis Walker; and Sugaray Rayford, and industry executive Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records).
Find a complete list of all the ISC 2020 winners where you can also and click on their songs.
Entries are now open for ISC 2021. In honor of ISC's upcoming 20th anniversary, entries are only $20 for a limited time. This marks the lowest entry fee in ISC this year. For more information and to enter, go to the ISC website.
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Doctor uses music as motivation in pandemic
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 Dr. Sebastian Lane is a guitarist whose roots dig deep into music history. He is the grandson of Blues Hall of Fame legend, Jimmy Rogers, who gained prominence as the guitarist for Muddy Waters before starting his independent career with Chess Records. The music roots run deep for this family medicine doctor.
(OMAHA, NE) - "I was just always around it. Whether it was like Eric Clapton and all those kind of guys, literally coming by my grandparents' house in Chicago. I was just surrounded by it," Dr. Lane told station KETV.
He learned his chops early from his grandfather, Blues Hall of Fame legend Jimmy Rogers. "I really put in my time growing up. I've been playing since I was about 3 years old," he said.
The blues artist eventually hit the road on his own path, strumming his own songs on stages across the country. "Mostly around the Midwest over the last few years, just 'cause with medical school, it was really hard," he said. "But we would travel all over on the weekends and play shows."
Lane's tours hit a roadblock in 2020. Loud performances morphed into peace in the midst of a pandemic. "I've done more this last year than ever," he said.
Lane says his guitar kept him grounded while pandemic pressure skyrocketed. In the past year, the doctor saw his co-workers treat dozens of intubated COVID-19 patients. "They've been in it, day in and day out, having to deal with very sick patients and having to take care of themselves and still balancing everything out at work."
Lane also watched his friends hang up their instruments and music venues shut their doors.
"Everyone's kind of suppressed a lot of it," he said. "I'll go home and it's kind of like my de-stress method that I use, and I'll play music probably every night."
Lane's tunes took a different direction. "My writing, I would say, is a little more emotional, a little uplifting to people, because we've had a rough year."
...See full story at 4029TV by Jackie Ourada
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Independent Artists, Producers and Venues Streaming with HowLive.TV
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 HowLive, leading live event streaming platform, has announced “Producer,” a new product that enables artists, producers and venues to stream using the HowLive built in features to sell tickets, bundles, merch, accept donations, sponsor placement and open up new revenue channels.
Artists and venues are now the center of the virtual music experience and have full control with the HowLive platform. Deliver with confidence a front row seat with amazing 1080 video, hi fidelity and scalability to millions of viewers globally.
“Artists and venues use their existing camera gear or a variety of all-in-one solutions from HowLive” said, Gino Padua, CEO. “Rich features, our flexible pricing model, and production support keeps the process simple, removes risks and lowers costs compared to other approaches.”
As venues begin opening with limited capacity, HowLive streaming solutions can be implemented quickly to generate incremental revenue and remove geographic boundaries for live performance events.
HowLive has streamed 500+ live events across all musical genres and now is serving up live Blues weekly at HowLive.TV. Check out live events from artists such as Fantastic Negrito, Alvon Johnson, Keb’ Mo’, Tommy Castro, Chris Cain, Terrie Odabi and many more.
Head on over to Howlive.tv to check out upcoming events. To learn more about how to live stream your next event contact Howlive.
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CD, Single & DVD Releases
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Casey James :: If You Don’t Know By Now
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 If You Don’t Know By Now, produced by Grammy-Winner Tom Hambridge, allows musical breadth for singer, guitarist, Casey James fans. The music Casey loves is the blues. Between his shrewd playing and exuberant singing, the influence of that genre is highly apparent in If You Don’t Know By Now, which folds-in a variety of styles, all connected directly to that blues base.
The new material is more diverse and yet somehow manages to come together and fit into a style that is pure Casey James. Recorded at Sound Stage Studio and The Switchyard in Nashville, If You Don’t Know By Now endeavors to provide a positive influence and to have a good time along the way with the blues. The album’s 13 songs stretch from the funky “Come On Saturday Night,” bolstered by a spry horn section and wacky kazoo (yes, really, a kazoo!), to a New Orleans tinged “Come On Saturday Night,” to the Latimore-like R&B ballad “Wish Me Luck,” a Marley-tipped “Be Mine,” an ambitious blues/rock number “A Better Place” and the conclusive eight-minute, two part slide-and-swamp-rock opus, “Faith.”
Casey James had come to national attention as a contestant on American Idol, using his fierce instrumental skills, emotional tenor and musician-next-door approachability to land high among the finalists. With his 2017 album Strip It Down, Casey James made the blues project he’d always envisioned. Now with the 2020 follow-up, If You Don’t Know By Now, James digs in deeper on the genre, exploring its range while setting himself apart as an inspired, melodic guitarist and as an expressive, soulful vocalist.
(Sample at iTunes via the Listen button)
Website
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Piedmont Blues Preservation Society Junior Bluesman and Lifetime Achievement Awards Presented
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(GREENSBORO, NC) – Piedmont Blues Preservation Society have presented the Mike Carr Junior Bluesman Award and the KBA Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Mike Carr Junior Bluesman Award is presented each year to one regional up and coming youth blues artist. The presentation is named in honor of former board member, Mike Carr, who encouraged PBPS to reach out to young musicians in the Piedmont.
In 2020, the award was presented to Brendan Hinch, a 15-year-old native of Greensboro North Carolina and the winner of the 2019 PBPS: Road to Memphis Blues Challenge, where he qualified to perform in the 2020 International Blues Challenge. This year, Brendan will be recognized at the in-person Carolina Blues Festival on May 15th and will showcase his talent live on stage.
Photo by Bob Powell.
The Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to blues culture through their work, volunteerism, or investment. The 2021 award recipient is Penny Smith, a lifetime resident of Greensboro, NC. “Penny represents the very best we have to offer in every way.” said Atiba Berkley, PBPS President. Penny will be performing a selection at the festival of ‘Rather Go Blind” by Etta James live at the Carolina Blues Festival on May 15th at Lebauer Park in Greensboro.
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Sneak peek at the upcoming 2021 Blues Festival Guide
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Things are looking up in 2021! We can’t wait to get back to the live music scene, and we know you feel the same. The Blues Festival Guide team has been putting together the 2021 issue to bring you the latest happenings on the festival circuit and in our blues community. Click image above to order!!
Here’s a sneak peek into the cool editorial we're working on as well!
Keeping the Blues Alive During a Pandemic By Irene Johnson
As we are all too aware, the Covid-19 pandemic halted live events and severely hindered the making of music. In this feature, the Blues Festival Guide explores the innovative solutions musicians have come up with to reach their fans, maintain their careers and keep the blues alive.
What’s Cookin’ with Larry Garner
You may be familiar with Baton Rouge bluesman Larry Garner’s songwriting and sound, but what about his cooking? Find out how he soothed his craving for chargrilled oysters during the pandemic – without the grill. Garner’s “Oven Oysters” will have you crankin’ some blues as you lay on the hot sauce.
The Lore of the Train By Michele Lundeen
What's the blues connection? The lore and fascination with trains has been with us for nearly 200 years. Trains and their winding tracks harken back to another time, reminding us of life’s trials, survival, wanderlust, love, humor or even urgency and have been inspiration for many blues songs. Explore the connection!
Blues Against Hunger Society
The Blues Against Hunger Society is dedicated to ending hunger while supporting, promoting and preserving the blues. Its food drive events – which include tours, festivals, seasonal musicals and community Jamborees – have fed thousands in the last decade throughout Baja California, So California and AZ.
Living Legend: Miss Lavelle White By Pam Cosel
Miss Lavelle White is a living legend of the blues. The Texas-based singer-songwriter’s career dates back to the 1950s, and she still captivates audiences on stage at the age of 91. Learn more in this feature how Miss Lavelle has impacted the blues over the last 70 years.
The Blues Foundation Welcomes New Leadership
Patricia Wilson Aden became the new President and CEO of The Blues Foundation in October 2020. The Blues Festival Guide was able to catch up with Patty about her first few months at The Blues Foundation, meeting the challenges of the pandemic and what’s on the horizon looking forward.
Ladies Sing & Play the Blues By Reverend Billy C. Wirtz
The Reverend is back to share his blues wisdom – this time, about some of the great ladies of the blues. Join him in worship of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Big Maybelle Smith, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, Memphis Minnie, Camille Howard, Julia Lee, Ella Mae Morse, and the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
...And more!
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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!
Click image for enlarged view
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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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Chasing The Blues Podcast is Back!
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Tom the Suit Forst is Chasing The Blues!
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 We're back for our 3rd season! We've produced over 100+ shows to date with more to come! Look for upcoming show announcements and special giveaways! This will be an amazing year for festivals and we will be talking to many of the top acts as well as with the people behind the scenes who bring you the music.
Join the over 10,000 fans who get the inside story and the behind-the-scenes information that make the Blues come alive.
Go to the Chasing The Blues Podcast website, Spotify or Apple.
Hosted by Tom the suit Forst and sponsored by The Blues Festival Guide.
Tom the suit Forst is a Connecticut and New York Blues Hall Of Fame recording artist and podcaster.
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Kaz Hawkins - Live at Cognac Blues Passions (Tell Mama - Memories of Etta James show)
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Holidays, Birthdays and... Just In Case
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May 9 Mother's Day
"Hard times ain't nothing that music won't help heal..."
Birthdays upcoming of note:
May 8-Joe Bonamassa (1977), Robert Johnson (1911-1938); May 9-Bob Margolin (1949), A.C. Reed (1926–2004); May 10-Ted Bogan (1909-1990), Larry Williams (1935-1980); May 11-Kansas Joe McCoy (1905–1950); May 12-Barbara Dane (1927), Guy Davis (1952); May 13 Stevie Wonder (1950), Ana Popovic (1976), ; May 14-Grady Gaines (1934-2021); May 15-Johnny Williams (1906-2006), L.C. "Good Rockin" Robinson (1915-1976), Larry Johnson (1938); May 17-Taj Mahal (1942); May 18-Little Son Joe Lawlars (1900-1961), Big Joe Turner (1911-1985); May 19-Jimmy Thackery (1953); May 20-Joe Cocker (1944-2014); May 21-Fats Waller (1904-1943), Dave Specter (1963), Billy Wright (1932-1991), Ronald Isley (1941); May 24- Bob Dylan (1941); May 25-Miles Davis (1926); May 26-Mamie Smith (1883–1946), Levon Helm (1940-2012); May 27-Junior Parker (1932-1971); May 28 T-Bone Walker (1910-1975), Gladys Knight (1944), Kaati (our BFG Owner/Publisher), Papa John Creech (1917-1989); John Fogarty (1945)
 Just in Case: May 11 is National "Twilight Zone" Day! “The Twilight Zone” TV show had more unexpected twists than you could shake a fifth-dimensional stick and has led to a number of spin-offs... and, no doubt trippy songs!
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Missed your copy of the Weekly e-Guide? Find back issues in
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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 13,900+ Blues Freaks at our TWITTER feed @BluesFestGuide
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  Also Follow us on INSTAGRAM with 8,900+ BluesersSee awesome, bluesy festival photos
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Then please drop on by and "LIKE" us to get
a daily dose of blues related stuff!
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Radio Submit Roots Blues Airplay Chart (click chart for more)
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Billboard Blues Album This week
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Billboard's Top 2 Blues Albums - Week of May 8, 2021
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 #1
STEVE CROPPER
Fire It Up
#2
ERIC JOHANSON
Covered Tracks Vol. 1
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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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Our platforms are a portal for live stream and 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 our social media platforms ( Facebook with 195,000 followers, and Instagram @bluesfestguide with 8,900+ followers). This service is provided for free to the artist as well as the viewer.
Even though most music festivals and clubs are still on lockdown across the globe, there is new music and live concerts via live stream, both 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
15th Clarksdale Caravan
Music Fest
May-8-2021
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Greater Prescott Valley
Blues Festival
May-22-2021
Prescott Valley, Arizona, USA
Mifflinburg Spring Flight
& Blues Party
May-22-2021, Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, USA
3rd 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
Virtual 42nd Blues Music Awards
Jun-6-2021
Memphis, Tennessee USA
31st Billtown Blues Festival
Jun-11-2021 - Jun-13-2021, Hughesville, Pennsylvania, USA
Flagstaff Blues and Brews
Jun-11-2021 - Jun-12-2021
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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please go to our website
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Sierre Blues Festival
Jun-12-2021
Sierre, Switzerland
Bentonia Blues Fest
Jun-14-2021 - Jun-19-2021
Bentonia, Mississippi, USA
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
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Blues On The Fox
Jun-18-2021 - Jun-19-2021
Aurora, Illinois, USA
Cleethorpes Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
Jun-19-2021
Cleethorpes, United Kingdom
20th Greenwood Blues Cruise
Jul-08-2021 - Jul-10-2021, Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
Briggs Farm Blues Festival
Jul-08-2021 - Jul-10-2021
Nescopeck, Pennsylvania, USA
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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 (pictured) via EMAIL.
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Hey blues lovers! Got 
