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Get your 19th Annual Blues Festival Guide Magazine!
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 We're thrilled to have the talented Kevin Burt on our 19th annual cover thanks to the photography of Marilyn Stringer! Get your order in now to have and to hold and refer to throughout the year! The magazine is also digital on our website.
If you're a festival, venue, blues society, etc., please contact our distribution manager or your sales rep.
Along with our festival, artist and blues related features, here’s some of the the cool editorial:
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 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 drummer, writer, former videographer and former editor of Blues Lovers United of San Diego's newsletter, Steve Douglas showing off his BFG at a recent fun bluesy, backyard birthday party.
Steve is the founder of his current band, Primal Vinyl. The San Diego, CA based band perform primarily up-tempo blues and some classic rock.
Photo Courtesy Steve Douglas
Want your picture here with the Guide? Order the 19th annual now
*ONCE YOU GET YOUR 19TH ANNUAL BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE MAGAZINE, SEND US A PIC WITH IT!
If you're 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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Larkin Poe to headline San Diego Blues Festival Sept 11
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 (SAN DIEGO, CA) - The AimLoan.com San Diego Blues Festival is back for its eleventh year. Saturday, Sept 11 from 11am-7pm, this family-friendly event will feature 9 stellar musical acts on two stages located on the picturesque Embarcadero Marina Park North, in San Diego, California.
The 2021 lineup features headliner Larkin Poe with amazing national and local acts including: Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Aki Kumar, Nikki Hill Band, Backtrack Blues Band, Tia Carroll, The Fremonts and Tracy Lee Nelson.
Festival attendees will also enjoy local craft beer, cocktails and wine along with specialty food trucks and arts and crafts vendors.
The event lives up to its mission to provide great blues at an affordable price, and raise money to support the battle against hunger in our community. All proceeds and food drive donations will benefit the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and its North County Food Bank chapter.
Tickets available here.
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MISSISSIPPI: Red's Old-Timers Blues Fest Sept 5th
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 (CLARKSDALE, MS) - Enjoy a little bit of the great outdoors and a whole lot of real-deal blues this Saturday in Clarksdale, Mississippi at the Martin Luther King Park Stage at Sunflower & MLK Drive! It's the 3rd-ever Red's Old-Timers Blues Fest, put on by your favorite grouchy old juke joint runner — Big Red Paden.
From 94-year-old Cadillac John to old-enough-to-know-better Super Chikan Johnson, it's gonna be a smile fest. Good people, good music, good times. Oh, and it's free, thanks to the generous support of Visit Clarksdale Tourism, Southern Bancorp and other generous private donors.
Red says “Hopefully, y'all got your shots." Red still asks that folks spread out and social distance. Also, please mask up when you talk to Red or any of the musicians... and maybe leave the selfies till next year.”
Appearing at Red's Old-Timers Blues Fest from noon on are Cadillac John & Bill Abel, Watermelon Slim, Johnny Drummer, Little Joe Ayers, RL Boyce, Miss Gladys & Big T, and then Super Chikan at 6pm.
Bring a chair or blanket. Maybe some bug spray and sunblock.
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CALIFORNIA: 14th Blue Wing Blues Festival delivers this Labor Day weekend
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 (UPPER LAKE, CA) - The 14th annual Blue Wing Blues Festival is ready to go this Labor Day Weekend Sept 4-6 at The Tallaman Hotel and Blue Wing Restaurant, 9520 Main St, Upper Lake, California. Doors 5:30pm-9pm.
Two bands will play in the cool of each evening, with headliners among the top blues bands in the nation. During the first artist's set, beginning around 6:15 PM, ticket holders are served a delicious barbeque dinner, with the headline performance beginning around 7:30 PM. Bands play on the raised veranda of the hotel. Many local companies and individuals help to sponsor the event.
Saturday, Sept 4th, the opening night of the 2021 festival, the talented young bluesman from Seattle, Ben Rice and his band, will open for the dynamic Australian Kara Granger and her band.
Sunday, September 5th, the blues revue of Red's Blues will open for the incomparable Rick Estrin & The Nightcats.
Monday, September 6, “Queen of Boogie Woogie” Wendy Dewitt will open for big blues sound of Big Mo and the Full Moon Band.
All health and safety protocols then in place will be enforced at the Festival.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Tallman Hotel (707-275-2244 ext. 0) or online where the dates are bold and hyperlinked.
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INDIANA: Annual Fishers Blues Fest is Labor Day tradition
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 (FISHERS, IN) - End the summer with the 9th Annual Fishers Blues Fest, a Labor Day tradition! The free, two-night event at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater (6 Municipal Dr., Fishers, Indiana), include performances by renowned local and national blues artists. This year, Blues Fest returns from 5-10pm Friday, Sept 3, and from 3-10pm Saturday, Sept 4.
Friday Agents of Redemption kick it off, followed by Lil’ Red & The Rooster and then the great Bobby Rush. Saturday, September 4 includes Doug Henthorn, Mr. Kinetik, Joanna Connor, Bernard Allison, and Brandon “Taz” Niederauer.
Entry to all events is free and seating is first-come, first-served. Outside food and beverages are allowed with the exception of alcohol. Food, beverage, and snack vendors will be on site, with some selling beer and wine.
Hand sanitizer and hand-washing stations will be available throughout the venue. Masks are not required but are strongly encouraged for those who are not fully vaccinated and for all patrons when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Dogs are allowed but see the website for further festival details and parking, etc.
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MICHIGAN: 17th Marquette Area Blues Fest Sept 3-5
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(MARQUETTE, MI) – The 17th Marquette Area Blues Festival presented by the Marquette Area Blues Society features three days of world class blues on Sept 3-5, on the shores of Lake Superior in the Mattson Lower Harbor Park in downtown Marquette, Michigan.
Gates open 5pm Friday, and Noon Saturday and Sunday (EST).
The festival features an array of world-class blues musicians and offers a wide variety of food vendors, a beer and wine tent, free workshops, a large dance floor and assorted arts and crafts booths.
The festival will kick off with a free concert on Friday night September 3rd as a “Thank You” to the support from the community. Saturday is a ticketed event that will feature artists such as The Ivy Ford Band, Amanda Fish, and headliner Albert Castiglia. Sunday is also ticketed and includes John Primer & the Real Deal Blues Band and headliner, the Nick Moss Band. Laura Rain & the Caesars will also be the host band at the Post-Festival Party at the Marquette Elks Lodge on Sunday night.
Tickets are available through NMU Tickets online or via phone at (906) 227-1032. Discounts for young adults ages 15-23 are available daily at the gate, and children 14 and under are free with paid adult.
All times and artists are subject to change.
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ARKANSAS: Hot Springs Blues Fest Sept 3-4
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 (HOT SPRINGS, AR) - The Hot Springs Blues Fest returns to the Spa City on Labor Day Weekend, September 3-4, with a great lineup of free music plus food trucks and brews at Hill Wheatley Plaza (629 Central Avenue) in Historic Downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas. Gates open at 5pm and music starts at 5:30 each day.
Headliners are the chart-topping Ghost Town Blues Band (8pm Friday) from Memphis. Horns, harmonies and homegrown instruments combined with an energetic and roots-rich festival set make them one of the must-see live bands on the festival scene today.
Saturday's headliner is Memphis award-winning vocalist Reba Russell (8:30pm Saturday). Reba is a published songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, backing vocalist, bandleader and producer. She is a highly respected Memphis studio/session vocalist and a powerful live performer.
They’ll be joined by local and regional blues performers The Spa City Youngbloods who will kick off the weekend Friday at 5:30pm followed by Trey Johnson & Jason Wilman. Saturday it's Port City Blues Players and Josh Parks Band.
Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy. For more information call Bill Solleder at 501-321-2027 or visit the website.
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NEW YORK: Blues In The Bay in Alexandria Bay
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 (ALEX BAY, NY) - Blues In The Bay is back! Join us for four days of free blues music Sept 3-6 at the Scenic View Park Pavilion, Alexandria, New York 1000 Islands.
On Friday String of Pearls will kick off the music from 6-8pm.
Saturday The Mark Hoffman Blues Band plays 1-3pm, then Tas Crus Blues Band is up from 3:30-5:30pm, and the Ron Spencer Blues Band closes out from 6-8pm.
Appearing Sunday will be the Double Barrel Blues Band from 1-3pm, followed by StratCat Willie & The Strays 3:30-5:30pm, then the award-winning Keesha Pratt Band headlines from 6-8pm.
The festival wraps up on Monday 1-4pm with an allstar blues jam hosted by the Double Barrel Blues Band.
There will also be Craft Fairs located at the Pavilion on Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday from 10am-5pm.
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Labor Day Blues and Grooves thanks to this NPR Collection
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 Americans have been observing Labor Day since 1894, through cycles of economic good times and bad times. Whatever the economic climate, though, almost everyone looks forward to the holiday — and the three-day weekend that comes with it.
To aid in the festivities, here [below] are five songs by great blues and R&B artists on the subject of work: how hard it can be, and how delightful it can be to shirk it every once in a while. (Like on Labor Day, for example).
- Lee Dorsey singing "Working in the Coal Mine," written by the great New Orleans pianist, songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint
- Ray Charles’ "I'll Do Anything But Work," which goes back to the very early days of his remarkable, groundbreaking career
- St. Louis Jimmy Oden delivering “Hard Luck Boogie”
- “Too Lazy (To Work and Too Nervous To Steal)” by one of the pioneers of the electric guitar, Texas blues guitarist/singer T-Bone Walker
- And "blues activist" Blues in the Schools guru Fruteland Jackson testifying "Blues 2.0," a powerful, relevant and sometimes humorous updating of the early blues "field-hollers.
Listen to them here on NPR
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Blues Society of Omaha has lots cooking
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 (OMAHA, NE) - The Blues Society of Omaha (BSO) presents Josh Garrett Sept 9th 6-10pm at The Jewell (1030 Capitol Ave, Omaha); Sean Chambers Sept 10 at The B. Bar 5:30-8:30pm; and Selwyn Birchwood at The Strut Sept 14, 6-9pm. Check BSO's website or Facebook for further shows and updates.
BSO also presents vocalist, songwriter and saxophonist Vanessa Collier with Hadden Sayers Sept 23rd at the Jewell! Hadden will open the show with a solo acoustic set and then join Vanessa's band for her evening performance. Doors 5pm; show 6pm CST.
And don't forget, the deadline is Sept 6 to get your band or solo/duo act entered in the Blues Society of Omaha’s annual Nebraska Blues Challenge.
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Last Chance to win cool Colorado Blues Society Raffle prizes!
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 The Colorado Blues Society Q Blues 2021 Raffle fundraiser is live. Now through Labor Day you can link to the raffle website, see the exciting themed prizes and purchase tickets. You can also text QBLUES2021 to 855-202-2100.
From the collection of 17 raffle prizes, two examples include a Louisiana Grills wood pellet smoker donated by Lulu’s Farm. and a stunning, ceramic guitar art original by Scott Fitzke.
Among other prizes, there are also specially selected books, signed by their acclaimed authors on the history, lives and cooking cultures of blues music and barbeque cuisine.
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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!
Book your cabin for Nov 2021 Southern Caribbean or PREBOOK #37 West Coast LRBC in 2022!
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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 & booking info HERE
SOLD OUT! 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 ms Rotterdam. Bands & Waitlist info HERE.
WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR RETURN TO THE WEST COAST IN 2022! LRBC #37 Sea of Cortez: Oct. 29~Nov. 5, 2022 from San Diego, CA to Cabo San Lucas, La Paz & Loreto on Holland America’s ms Koningsdam. PREBOOK NOW with a fully refundable deposit of $500 per cabin!
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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CD, Single & DVD Releases
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  "Rising Up"
Rising Up is the 5th album of Cleveland born guitarist and singer songwriter, Alex Lopez, a prominent figure on the Florida blues scene. Rising Up strives for a stronger more authentic sound of straight-ahead blues. rock and soul.
The eleven tracks of original material feature Lopez and his band, The Xpress, a tight, dynamic quartet of Lopez on guitar and vocals with Kenny Hoye on keyboards, Steve Roberts on bass and drummer Kana Leimbach. Gulf coast singers, Latonya Oliver from the Soul Sensations, and Dana Merriwether add sweet background vocals to the title track.
Co-producer, engineer and “preacher at the big electric church,” George Harris, out of Creative World Recording Studios in Tampa, also lent his acclaimed guitar playing and songwriting skills to the project and captured the songs in a live off-the-floor style.
Website
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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..."
Birthdays upcoming of note:
Sept 2-Billy Preston (1946-2006); Sept 3-Memphis Slim (1915-1988), Freddie King (1934-1976 pictured); Sept 4-Meade "Lux" Lewis (1905-1964); Sept 5-Sunnyland Slim (1907-1995); Sept 6-Jimmy Reed (1925-1976); Sept 7-Little Milton Campbell (1934-2005), Latimore (1939); Sept 8-Harmonica Fats (1927-2000), Guitar Shorty (1939), Derrick "D'Mar" Martin;
Sept 9-Otis Redding (1941-1967), Inez Foxx (1942); Sept 10-Roy Brown (1925-1981), Johnny Rawls (1952); Sept 11-Barbeque Bob (1902-1931), John “Juke” Logan (1946-2013)
Just in case:
"Labor Day is September 6th! On the first Monday in September, we take the day off to celebrate Labor Day and reflect on the American worker’s contributions to our country. Do you get weekends off work? Lunch breaks? Paid vacation? An eight-hour workday? Social security? If you said “yes” to any of these questions, you can thank labor unions and the U.S. labor movement for it.
There are several blues-type events happening over this coming weekend, like Rentiesville, Oklahoma Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival, Red's Old-Timers Blues Fest in Clarksdale, MS, Blue Wing Blues Festival in Upper Lake, California, a Labor Day Blues Festival at The Merc in Placitas, New Mexico,... see the news section of this issue and also our e-Guide Festival Event-Calendar below... plus check your local listings for more of what's on tap in your neck of the woods. Get some blues this weekend... the good kind!
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Missed your Weekly e-Guide? Find back issues in the
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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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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 Sept 4, 2021
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 #1
GA-20
GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor:
Try it...You Might Like It!
#2
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND
featuring TREY ANASTASIO
Layla Revisited (Live At Lockin')
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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.
Checkout website Festival page!
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Westcoast Blues Festival
Sep-03-2021 - Sep-04-2021
Goderich, Ontario, Canada
Germantown Schnitzelburg
Blues Festival
Sep-03-2021 - Sep-04-2021
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Hot Springs Blues Festival
Sep-03-2021 - Sep-04-2021
Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
9th Annual
Fishers Blues Fest
Sep-03-2021 - Sep-04-2021
Fishers, Indiana, USA
Rentiesville
Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival
Sep-03-2021 - Sep-05-2021
Rentiesville, Oklahoma, USA
John Coltrane Jazz
and Blues Festival
Sep-04-2021 - Sep-05-2021
High Point, North Carolina, USA
Marquette Area Blues Fest
Sep-3-2021 - Sep-5-2021
Marquette, Michigan USA
Blue Wing Blues Festival
Sep-04-2021 - Sep-06-2021
Upper Lake, California USA
Blues In The Bay
Sep-04-2021 - Sep-06-2021
Alexandria Bay, New York USA
Red's Old-Timer's Blues Fest
Sep-5-2021
Clarksdale, Mississippi USA
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please go to our website
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Big Blues Bender
Sep-09-2021 - Sep-12-2021
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Eastside Kings Festival
Sep-10-2021 - Sep-14-2021
Austin, Texas, USA
AimLoan.com
San Diego Blues Festival
Sep-11-2021
San Diego, California, USA
Riverside Art, Wine
& Blues Festival
Sep-11-2021
Murphysboro, Illinois, USA
Gainesville Blues Showcase
Sep-12-2021
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Mississippi Valley Blues Festival
Sep-17-2021 - Sep-18-2021
Davenport, Iowa, USA
Lone Star Blues
and Heritage Festival
Sep-17-2021 - Sep-18-2021
Tomball, Texas, USA
15th Chi-town Blues Festival
Sep-18-2021
Hammond, Indiana, USA
Band of Helping Hands
Blues Festival
Sep-18-2021
Banner Elk, North Carolina, USA
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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 welcome e-Guide suggestions, critiques and questions. You can reach our E-Guide editor, Michele Lundeen (pictured) via EMAIL. Michele is also a singer, songwriter, performer and bandleader based in the San Diego County, California area (click image).
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Hey blues lovers! Got 
