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Get your 19th Annual Blues Festival Guide Magazine!
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 Yay! We're excited to get back to the live music scene, and we know you feel the same. Plus... the 19th Blues Festival Guide is here!!
We're so thrilled to have the amazingly talented Kevin Burt gracing our 19th annual cover featuring the amazing photography of Marilyn Stringer!
Our magazines are shipping so get your orders in to have and to hold and refer too throughout the year!
If you are a festival, venue, blues society, etc., please contact our distribution manager or your sales rep.
The magazine is now digital as well on our website.
Along with our festival, artist and blues related features, here’s some of the cool editorial featured in our 19th annual!
Keeping the Blues Alive During a Pandemic By Irene Johnson
What’s Cookin’ with Larry Garner
The Lore of the Train By Michele Lundeen
Blues Against Hunger Society ...feeding thousands in the last decade while supporting, promoting and preserving the blues
Living Legend: Miss Lavelle White By Pam Cosel
The Blues Foundation Welcomes New Leadership... an interview with the new CEO and President
Ladies Sing & Play the Blues By Reverend Billy C. Wirtz
Thanks for digging and supporting the blues!
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Photo Moments with the New 19th Annual BFG Magazine!
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 Here's blues lover Heather McShea showing off her new BFG at the Arizona Pizza company in Tucson, Arizona for our illustrious cover photographer, Marilyn Stringer.
Photo: Marilyn Stringer
Want your picture here with the Guide? Order the 19th annual now!
*ONCE YOU GET YOUR 9TH ANNUAL BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE MAGAZINE, SEND US A PIC WITH IT! Are you are a BFG client? Reach out to your sales person so they can send to you!
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 2021 Blues Festival Guide!
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Mississippi Valley Blues Fest 2021 Sept 17-18
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 (DAVENPORT, IA) - The Mississippi Valley Blues Fest 2021 will be held on Friday and Saturday, September 17-18, at the historic LeClaire Park in Davenport, Iowa. Sept 17th, Friday Gates: 4pm-11:30pm, Sept 18th, Saturday Gates: 12pm-11:30pm.
For the past 35-plus years, the Mississippi Valley Blues Society has continued to bring both national and regional Blues legends and rising stars to the Blues Fest. Friday’s 2021 lineup includes John Primer, Jontavious Willis, Toronzo Cannon & Band, and Southern Avenue. Saturday’s Lineup includes Stephen Hull Experience, Selwyn Birchwood, Melody Angel, Joanne Shaw Taylor, and Eric Gales.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the MVBS website or at the gate on September 17th and 18th. Attendees 14 and younger get in FREE with an adult!
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25th Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza Blues and Brews Aug 5-8
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 (MAMMOTH LAKES, CA) - The 25th Annual Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza Blues and Brews in the High Sierra happens Thursday, August 5 – Sunday, August 8th at The Woods at Mammoth Lakes (5701 Minaret Rd, Mammoth Lakes, California). Join us outdoors among the pines in Mammoth Lakes for four days of incredible music on 2 stages, and the best craft breweries in the country. This is Mammoth Lakes’ biggest event – the best party of the summer!
Appearing over the 4 days are Robert Cray, Larkin Poe, The Record Company, Vintage Trouble, Dumpstaphunk, The Motet, Victor Wainwright & The Train, Mike Zito & His Big Blues Band, Carolyn Wonderland, Vanessa Collier, Robert Jon & The Wreck, T Bear, Raquel Rodriguez, Elektric Voodoo, Dirty Cello, Chris Pierce, Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan, Laurence Juber, Zach Person Ghalia Volt, Crooked Eye Tommy, and Electro Blues Dance Party With DJ Freshtracks.
All tickets purchased for the 2020 festival will be honored at the 2021 festival and nothing is required from you to change your tickets. Also, discounted tickets are being offered to Doheny Blues Festival fans! If you need help locating your tickets, please email festival ticketing group Nightout at support@nightout.com or call 800-936-3126. Be sure to include the name of the purchaser and a ticket or order number if you have it.
For more information on the 25th Annual Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza, please visit our website.
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Enter the International Songwriting Competition
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The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is the premiere annual song contest whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of songwriters on all levels and promote excellence in the art of songwriting. Amateur and professional songwriters and musicians are invited to participate.
2021 Blues Judges include: George Thorogood, Don Bryant, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, Sugaray Rayford, Joe Louis Walker, Robert Randolph, and more!
71 winners will share in over $150,000 worth of cash and prizes. In addition to cash and merchandise prizes, winners benefit from a multilateral promotional campaign designed to give international exposure and attention to their songwriting achievements.
Deadline for Submissions is September 22, 2021. Enter your songs here.
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New Albany Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival July 3
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(NEW ALBANY, IN) - The New Albany Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival (NABBBFest) will happen Saturday 3pm-11:30pm at The Enchanted Forest Live, the outdoor music venue at the Floyd County Brewing Company in New Albany, Indiana.
The blues festival includes a lineup of six local acts and locally-brewed beer from the Floyd County Brewing Company, as well as domestic beer options. Enjoy eats from Big Brass BBQ, the featured barbecue vendor at the festival and the Cosmo's Craft Chicken food truck.
Festival organizer James Gaetano presented the first full NABBBFest in 2018 in downtown New Albany with the stage set up in Bicentennial Park. The festival expanded to two days with the second event in 2019, but it was put on pause in 2020. The festival will be much smaller this year and feature local acts The Vinyl Covenant, da Mudcats, Louisville Fats, The Saints, The Stella Vees, and Jimmy G & the Sidewinders. Previously, the festival had included musicians from around the country.
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2022 BMA’s & IBC + Blues Foundation Podcast News
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 BMA Submissions Now open for Consideration
(MEMPHIS, TN) - Blues Music Award 2022 submissions are open July 1- Oct 15, 2021 when it officially closes. All musicians are invited to submit their Blues recordings for consideration. Go to this link to submit your recording(s) on The Blues Foundation website. Blues music released between Nov 1, 2020 and Oct 31, 2021 is eligible for consideration. Find more information about submission details, fees and deadlines. You must upload your music and artwork and complete payment for your submission transaction no later than Oct 15 at 8am CST to be considered for a Blues Music Award nomination. Questions? Contact Joe Whitmer via email.
 IBC will be back on Beale St.
Jan 18-22, 2022
(MEMPHIS, TN) - Pack your bags for Memphis. The Blues Foundation and our Affiliated Blues Societies are actively preparing for a live in-person 2022 International Blues Challenge! IBC #37 tickets, hotel reservations, and more will open this October. We can't wait to see you!
 The Blues Foundation Podcast
Season 1: Episode 15 of The Blues Foundation Podcast spotlights one of the most electrifying individuals in the history of popular music, maverick producer Sam Phillips, who was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1998. Sam was an audio engineer, a talent scout, a producer, a studio owner, and a record label owner. He approached all these endeavors with unbridled enthusiasm, an unparalleled sense of showmanship, and keen understanding of the levers of human psychology. His "laboratory" (aka Memphis Recording Service) delivered groundbreaking efforts from B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Rufus Thomas, Junior Parker, James Cotton, and countless others. In fact, Sam Phillips' legacy was established long before Elvis walked through his door.
We invite you to listen to Season 1: Episode 15 of The Blues Foundation Podcast.
All 26 episodes of Season 1 of The Blues Foundation's podcast are available now.
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CD, Single & DVD Releases
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The Reverend Shawn Amos :: THE CAUSE OF IT ALL
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"Goin' To The Church"
Website
Blues torchbearer, The Reverend Shawn Amos, honors the greats with a duo album, The Cause Of It All. “I want to bring the ancestors into the room,” says The Reverend Shawn Amos, likening himself to the griots of West Africa, a class of traveling poets, musicians, and storytellers who keep oral tradition alive, binding the people together with song. With The Cause of it All, alongside longtime guitarist Chris “Doctor” Roberts, The Rev does exactly that.
The Cause of it All, The Reverend’s 4th studio album (Shawn Amos’ 8th), arrived less than a year after Blue Sky, his full band outing with the Brotherhood – including drummer Brady Blade and bassist Christopher Thomas. In lieu of gigging to promote Blue Sky, The Rev and the Doctor made some potent, spiked lemonade out of some particularly bad pandemic lemons. They manifested a long-held desire of The Rev’s to journey back to the inspiration that launched him in 2014: raw, unbridled, canonical blues, presented in elemental duo format, no-frills, live in a room, as both testament and evangelism. The Cause Of It All harkens back to historic pairings like Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and Junior Wells and Buddy Guy. The Rev and the Doctor deliver standards and lesser-known chestnuts, all bracingly intimate, every word hanging unencumbered in the air like an incantation.
With no rhythm section to mask the occasional reckless moment, The Rev executes his most assured vocals and harp playing yet, radiating within spartan arrangements percolating with Dr. Roberts’ unique, deeply sympathetic, snaky electric and acoustic stylings.
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- Colorado Blues Society Heritage Award
- Paramount Blues Challenge Winners
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 (GREELEY, CO) -The Colorado Blues Society (CBS) presented Pam and Al Bricker with the Colorado Blues Society's Heritage Award at the Greeley Blues Jam June 5th in Greeley, Colorado. The Heritage Award honors individuals whose legacy reflects profound credit upon themselves and the blues community.
Through Al and Pam Bricker, The Greeley Blues Jam (GBJ) became recognized among the country’s outstanding blues festivals. To the Brickers’ credit, the GBJ has covered every dimension of the blues. Together they have arranged musical lineups to always include something for everyone, not just the latest hot performer. Their untiring energies have been the backbone of GBJ’s success. As the event’s organizer and driving force, each year they recruit hundreds of volunteers to make GBJ a reality. Partnering with the Town of Greeley and commercial sponsors, Al and Pam are able to keep ticket prices at a minimum while generating significant funds that are donated to their local charities.
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Paramount Blues Challenge Winners
(WAUBEKA, WI) - Cathy Grier + The Troublemakers performed at the annual Paramount Blues Challenge on Sunday June 27th in Waubeka. They competed with 7 other bands, and won the right to represent not only Paramount Music Association, but the State of Wisconsin at the International Blues Competition to be held January 19-23, 2022 in Memphis, TN. The winner of the solo category is Madison's own "Too Sick Charlie."
Cathy Grier + The Troublemakers will perform at Central Park, Two Rivers, Wisconsin on July 10 for Bryan Lee Day, a tribute to the late artist.
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CORRECTION from 6/24 issue: The Charlotte Blues Society is NOT holding their 2021 Blues Talent Competition. The news source that this info was pulled from in our 6/24 issue was no longer valid.
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James "Super Chikan" Johnson & Heather Tackett Falduto "Chikan Blues"
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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!!
Announcing #35 New Date Nov 6-13, 2021 + band updates!
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 NEW DATE! LRBC#35 Southern Caribbean: Nov 6~13, 2021 From Ft. Lauderdale, Fl To Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba and Half Moon Cay (Bahamas Private Island) on Holland America’s Ms Nieuw Amsterdam. Cabins & Info HERE
SOLDOUT!
Join Waitlist!
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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Holidays, Birthdays and... Just In Case
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 "Hard times ain't nothing that music won't help heal..."
4th of July 4 - Independence Day
Birthdays upcoming of note:
July 1-Willie Dixon (1915), James Cotton (1935-2017), Syl Johnson (1939); July 3-"Mississippi" John Hurt (1893-1966); July 4-Champion Jack Dupree (1910-1992); July 5-Smiley Lewis (1913-1966); July 7-Pinetop Perkins (1913-2011); July 8-Louis Jordan (1908-1975), Johnnie Johnson (1924-2005), Larry Garner (1952), July 9-Jack White (1975); July 10-Mavis Staples (1939), Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records guru (1947), Casey Bill Weldon (1909-1970), Barrelhouse Chuck (1958-2016), Blind Boy Fuller (1907-1941), Charlie Baty (1953-2020); July 11-Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929); July 14-Claude & Clifford Trenier (1919); July 15-Willie Cobbs (1932); Washboard Sam aka Robert Brown (1910–1966); July 16-Denise LaSalle (1939-2018); July 17-Peppermint Harris (1925–1999); July 18 Jalacy "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins (1929–2000), Martha Reeves (1941), Lonnie Mack (1941-2016)
 Just in case:
July 6th is "National Fried chicken Day!"
Did you know that the ultimate comfort food that originated in our own backyard — where Scottish chicken-frying methods were combined with West African seasoning traditions — to create what is now one of the world’s favorite guilty pleasures?
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Missed your copy of the Weekly e-Guide? Find back issues in
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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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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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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
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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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 July 3, 2021
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 #1
THE BLACK KEYS
Delta Kream
 #2ALLIGATOR RECORDS
VARIOUS ARTISTS
50 Years of Genuine Houserockin' Music
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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 the festival links on our site for CURRENT UPDATES
Torrita Blues Festival
Jul-02-2021 - Jul-03-2021
Torrita di Siena, Italy
Spirit of Kansas Blues Festival
Jul-04-2021
Topeka, Kansas, USA
20th Annual
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
Vallemaggia Magic Blues
Jul-09-2021 - Aug-05-2021
Vallemaggia / Ticino, Switzerland
Grassroots Blues Festival
Jul-09-2021 - Jul-10-2021
Duck Hill, Mississippi, USA
Canton Blues Festival
Jul-09-2021 - Jul-10-2021
Canton, Ohio, USA
VIRTUAL
North Atlantic Blues Festival
Jul-10-2021 - Jul-11-2021
Rockland, Maine, USA
Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival
Jul-16-2021 - Jul-18-2021
Winthrop, Washington, USA
Blues & Soul Legends
"The Relief Sessions"
Jul-23-2021 - Jul-25-2021
Burnsville, Minnesota, USA
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please go to our website
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Notodden Blues Festival
Aug-05-2021 - Aug-08-2021
Notodden, Norway
25th Annual Mammoth Festival
of Beers & Bluesapalooza
Aug-05-2021 - Aug-08-2021
Mammoth Lakes, California, USA
Magic City Blues
Aug-06-2021 - Aug-07-2021
Billings, Montana, USA
Lebanon Blues Festival
Aug-06-2021 - Aug-07-2021
Lebanon, Ohio, USA
Blue Ribbon Blues Fest
Aug-07-2021
Fairfield, Iowa, USA
In The Market for Blues
Omaha's Blues Fest
Aug-07-2021
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
20th Annual
Heritage Music BluesFest
Aug-13-2021 - Aug-15-2021,
Wheeling, West Virginia, USA
Waukesha Rotary BluesFest
Aug-13-2021 - Aug-14-2021
Delafield, Wisconsin, USA
Joliet Blues Festival
Aug-14-2021
Joliet, Illinois, USA
Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest
Aug-14-2021
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA
Blues from the Top
Aug-14-2021
Winter Park, Colorado, 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 
