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Celebrating our 2022 Blues Festival Guide... order now!
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 It’s our 20th Anniversary edition of the Blues Festival Guide! Our 2022 cover by photographer Marilyn Stringer features the talented Tullie Brae and Calvin Johnson at the 2021 North Atlantic Blues Festival!
Order your copy now!!
The 2022 issue is shipping and full of the latest happenings in the industry, glimpses of blues history and, of course, blues festivals to plan your calendar! Here's an editorial peek!
Living Legend: Billy Branch By Bill Dahl
Fueling Musicians Program - Joe Bonamassa's program to support and assist musicians
WLAC: Blues, Baby Chicks and Stim-U-Aid By Reverend Billy C. Wirtz
That Chicago Blues Sound By Wayne Baker Brooks
20 Years of Blues By Kaati Gaffney, Publisher - celebrating our 20th and our journey
What’s Cookin’ - Blueswoman Shaun Murphy shares a fave recipe
Hooked on Blues Docs - by Tom Andrews Cool blues documentaries
Trumpet Records Courtesy of the Delta Blues Museum - a testament to Mississippi’s musical gift to the world
And more!...
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Photo Moments with the 20th Annual BFG Magazine!
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 It's been a long time since a group of the Blues Festival Guide staff were in the same place at the same time. It just rarely happens. But a few weeks ago we lucked out for one reason or another and were able to meet for lunch in Reno, Nevada to celebrate our 20th anniversary where it all began.
From left to right is Kaati Gaffney (Owner, Publisher left) who was in from Arcata, California, Heather Penrod-Rudd (Distribution Manager and Sales Rep) who was in from San Felipe, Mexico, Cheryl O'Grady (Sales Director) who lives in Reno, and Michele Lundeen (E-Guide editor) who was in from San Marcos, California.
We had a great time catching up in person (and eating cheesecake! HA!).
Photo: Krissy Shaff
ORDER YOUR 2022 MAGAZINE! If you're a BFG client contact your sales rep.
*GET THE ANNUAL BFG MAG & SEND US A PIC WITH IT!
Anyone can 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 20th Anniversary 2022 Blues Festival Guide!
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Billtown Blues Association Walk-Up Ticket Outlets Now Open
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 (HUGHESVILLE, PA) - The 32nd Annual Billtown Blues Festival is coming June 10-11-12 to the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville, Pennsylvania. Walk-up ticket outlets are now open:
• Williamsport: Community Arts Center Box Office
10am-5pm Mon-Fri
• Hughesville: The Lockard Agency
9am-5pm Mon, Tu, Th, Fri
9am-12pm Wed
• Lewisburg: By appointment with Teri via email or 570-309-7953.
This 3-day event will feature live music from artists like Billy Price, EG Kight, Greg Piccola and Heavy juice, Sue Foley, Lurrie Bell, GA-20, Eddie 9V, and Cash Box Kings among others, private on-site camping, an array of food and craft vendors, free parking, and complimentary access for kids under 16.
Find more details and festival info at the website.
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2022 Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame Induction Day May 28th
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 (RENTIESVILLE, OK) - The 2022 Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame inductions will be held at D.C. Minner’s Blues Club in Checotah, Oklahoma feature Bronko's Bar-B-Que served in the club at 7pm while it lasts. The $10 at the gate covers the barbeque and a ton of music from 3:30pm-11pm! The event is21 and over. Smoking is allowed outside on the deck.
2022 Inductees are listed with * next to name:
3:30pm: Pat Moss solo set of roots blues
4pm: *Hadley Hockensmith played with Neil Diamond and Ray Charles
OBHOF KBA (Keeping the Blues Alive) AWARDS Recipients
TRACY BRIGGS and No Nonsense Productions
HILARY and RONALD CONLEY Support for Rentiesville Regulars trip to IBC in Memphis
JAYNE HUTT MOON Supported rehearsals and organized Rentiesville Regulars' trip to IBC
5pm: *MARK CLAYBROOK Former Tulsa Guitarist of the Year of Mobile Audio Labs put 2020 Festival onto YouTubeRentiesvilleOK page (three 6-hour shows), plus mastered D.C. Minner and Selby originals for YouTube.
6pm: HAROLD ALDRIDGE Jr.
7pm: PAT MOSS Band
*LOUIS PETTIT former Muskogee guitarist for Bobby Blue Bland, ZZ Hill, Little Milton, and more!
*EARL DAY from OKC presented by Walter Taylor lll
*BATISTE JONES BlackHawk Blues Band leader
8pm: LEON ROLLERSON BAND with Victoria Ellington
9pm: *STEVE “The Actor” KILMAN and The HYDRAMATICS
SELBY MINNER Singer/musician, former Inductee, and co-founder of Dusk ‘til Dawn Blues Fest, Friends of Rentiesville, and more.
*WILLIE McGEE Bassist from Muskogee
*VICTOR BREASHEARS Family of late Las Vegas drummer will be in attendance
*ERNIE FIELDS Jr. California session man with incredible track record
*TOMMY TRIPPLEHORN played with Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Leon Russell and L.A. studio musicians the “Wrecking Crew.” Tripplehorn passed in Tulsa 2019.
Acts subject to change. Find more info at the D.C. Minner Blues website.
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The 50th Bentonia Blues Festival at Historic Blue Front Cafe June 16-18
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 (BENTONIA, MS) - This year marks the 50th anniversary of one of the longest-running blues festivals in the US. Bentonia is a tiny town in southern Yazoo County, Mississippi, which is also home to the oldest authentic juke joint that is still in daily operation. The 50th Anniversary Bentonia Blues Festival takes place June 16-18, 2022, in downtown Bentonia at the historic Blue Front Cafe. Blues musicians from as close as the Mississippi Delta and as far away as Boston will come to help keep the blues alive. The 2022 line-up includes festival favorites like Terry “Harmonica” Bean, 19th Street Red, Libby Rae Watson, and RL Boyce. Admission to the event is free.
“When I started this festival in 1972, it was to help preserve the Bentonia style of blues. I knew that it would be a great event, but I never knew it would be as big as it is now,” says Jimmy “Duck” Holmes. Mr. Holmes who still presents the festival is a Grammy nominee and is considered to be the last of the Bentonia bluesmen. His parents opened the Cafe in 1948, and he has owned and operated the juke joint himself since 1970.
More information about the line-up, dates, and times can be found on the Bentonia Blues Festival page on Facebook. Visitors to the area can find more information about places to eat and stay including hotels, motels, and RV Parks in the Yazoo County area at this website or by calling the Yazoo County CVB at 800-381-0662.
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Living History Live: Celebrating Taj Mahal’s 80th Birthday
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 (LOS ANGELES, CA) - Taj says, “It would be such a great honor to have y'all join me at the GRAMMY Museum in Downtown Los Angeles on June 16 for a special conversation and performance!”
In celebration of his 80th birthday, the GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome multi-GRAMMY Award winning and multi-genre traversing legend Taj Mahal for an intimate conversation moderated by Scott Goldman. The conversation will explore his incredible career and new music including the critically acclaimed recent album release Get On Board featuring Taj Mahal alongside former Rising Sons band mate, Ry Cooder. The event will also feature a live performance by Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal has found the blues in sounds across the entire global sonic landscape. A brilliant artist with a musicologist’s mind, Taj has pursued and elevated the roots of beloved sounds with boundless devotion and skill. He has traced origins to the American South, the Caribbean, Africa, and elsewhere, and has created entirely new sounds, over and over again. This special event will be held from 7:30-9pm. The museum is located at 800 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, California.
Tickets can be found here plus check this link for the venue COVID policy.
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Bluesdays Summer Concert Series in Tahoe begins June 14
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 (LAKE TAHOE, CA) - The Village at Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley), welcomes the return of Bluesdays, Tahoe's must-see summer music series. This free outdoor concert series features top blues musicians every Tuesday from June 14-Aug 30 on the Event Plaza from 6-8:30pm.
Bluesdays features an outdoor Blues bar with beer, wine and spirits as well as great grab-and-go food offerings from Village restaurants. A limited amount of seating is available, please bring your own low back chair to be placed in our Music Venue Seated Area if you plan to sit. Each Tuesday you can stop by Uncorked between 5-6pm for a Bluesday glass of white or red wine for $8, Bluesday beer for $4 + a combo plate of cheese and charcuterie for $10.
Bluesdays Summer Lineup:
JUNE 14 The Blues Monsters
JUNE 21 Chris Cain
JUNE 28 Mark Hummel Band
JULY 5 Laurie Morvan Band
JULY 12 Terry Hanck
JULY 19 Dennis Jones
JULY 26 Albert Castiglia
AUG 9 JC Smith
AUG 16 Studebaker John & The Hawks
AUG 23 Eddie 9V
AUG 30 Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings
(Photo Courtesy Palisades Tahoe)
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21st Heritage Music BluesFest Announces MainStage Lineup
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(WHEELING, WV) – The 21st Annual Heritage Music BluesFest, will be held on August 12-14, in Wheeling, West Virginia, and they are happy to present their MainStage lineup that will feature 15 Blues Music Award Nominations.
Three nominees will grace the Heritage Music BluesFest Main Stage on Friday with blues rocker Damon Fowler and the soulful sounds of Curtis Salgado and Ruthie Foster.
Four BMA nominees will appear on Saturday. Closing out Saturday are the 2022 Blues Music Award nominees for Best Blues Rock Album and Best Blues Rock Artist, Albert Castiglia and Mike Zito ending the night with a two-band jam as the Blood Bros.
Closing out the MainStage of the 21st "Weekend of Award-Winning Blues" will be Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Blues Music Award winner Joe Louis Walker, followed by Grammy Nominee Victor Wainright and the Train.
MainStage Lineup:
• FRI AUG 12: Katie Henry Band - Curtis Salgaldo - Damon Fowler - Ruthie Foster
• SAT AUG 13: IBC Solo Winner - IBC Band Winner - Kat Riggins - Nighthawks 50th Anniversary Tour - Brandon Santini Band - King Solomon Hicks - Albert Castiglia & Mike Zito Blood Bros Jam
• SUN AUG 14: Micah Kesselring, Pat Herrington & Owen Eichensehr - Gracie Curran and the High Falutin' Band - Popa Chubby - JP Soars and the Red Hots - Joe Louis Walker - Victor Wainright & the Train
SecondStage line-up and AfterJam hosts to be announced soon.
See the website for more details and updates.
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• Philly Blues Society Blues at the Farm starts May 27
• Hamilton Blues Society New Zealand Sunday Blues June 26
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 (PHILADELPHIA, PA) - This summer join the Philly Blues Society for Live Blues Music at the Farm at The Farm at Awbury Arboretum, 6336 Ardleigh St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – great bands – great people – great fun! Fridays 6-8:30 PM, May 27th, June 24th, July 22nd, and Aug 26th. Crooked Eye Brewing will be selling beer. Bring your own picnic to enjoy during the concert. Concerts are rain or shine.
(click image at left to enlarge)
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 (HAMILTON, WAIKATO, NZ) - May's event has been canceled but the Hamilton Blues Society New Zealand is set to host some great acts Sunday June 26 in Biddy Mulligan's front bar. Doors open at 1pm featuring Mark 'Fatt Max' Hill (Auckland), 2pm: Phil Oxenham (Rotorua), 3pm: Mudslide Band, 4pm: Latitude. Biddy's is at 17b Hood St., Hamilton, Waikato (NZ). No cover. All ages welcome.
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Jon Spear Band :: B-SIDE OF MY LIFE
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Celebrating ten+ years as one of hardest working bands in the mid-Atlantic area, contemporary blues/roots rock quartet, Jon Spear Band, released their fourth album, B-Side Of My Life. Coming out of a lockdown that took the central Virginia band off the road and into the studio to record its third studio album allowed time to stretch out and explore new musical routes and journeys they call a collection of B-sides, like the old 45 records that sometimes yielded a surprise hit song.
With a style built around the dual guitar attack of Jon Spear and Dara James, who share lead vocal duties with bass player Andy Burdetsky, while drummer John Stubblefield keeps the pulse deep in the pocket, they create a pallet of blues, funk, rock, soul, and Americana. Guest keyboardist, Skip Haga, added depth to the eleven new originals and two select covers that address a wide range of topics equally introspective and humorous in their scope.
Although Spear is the primary songwriter and the namesake of the band, he spreads around thelead vocals to suit the compositions such as on “Big Talk,” “Heartbeat Like A Samba,” “Can’t Have Nothing,” “Snakes And Spiders,” and “Darker Side,” and a killer groove version of “the Neville’s “Yellow Moon”; sung by Dara James; Andy Burdetsky serves up the vocals on “Kick In The Head,” written by producer Andy Waldeck, “Can’t Have Nothing,” written by Burdetsky and Waldeck, and “The Muskie Grind” written by Burdetsky and Waldeck.
Everyone gets into the act on album closer “Time For The Blues,” a swinging tribute to all the heroes past and present and the music that has brought so many of us together.
Website
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Duke Robillard Band "Outta Here"
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Which Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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Bluesin’ is back baby! We're excited to Return to the West Coast in 2022! Cabins on Sale Now!
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LRBC #37 Sea Of Cortez
Cabins On Sale NOW! 95+% Sold & Going Fast…
Oct. 29 ~ Nov. 5, 2022
San Diego, CA to Cabo San Lucas, La Paz & Loreto
Sailing on Holland America’s ms Koningsdam
Band Lineup, Cabin Availability
LRBC #38 Eastern Caribbean
Cabins SOLD OUT & Wait List is HOT!
Jan. 28 ~ Feb. 4, 2023
Ft. Lauderdale, FL to St. John, St. Maarten & Half Moon Cay (Bahamas Private Island). Sailing on Holland America’s ms Nieuw Statendam. Band Lineup, Cabin Pricing & More Here! Join the Waitlist by visiting here or
call (816) 753-7979
The Best Blues Experience on the Planet!
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LEGENDARY RHYTHM & BLUES CRUISE
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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 • May 30 Memorial Day USA
Birthdays upcoming of note:
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 (BFG Owner/Publisher), Papa John Creech (1917-1989); John Fogarty (1945); Jun 3-Jimmy Rogers (1924-1997), Memphis Minnie (1897-1973), Curtis Mayfield (1942-1999), Heather Penrod-Rudd (BFG Sales Rep & Distribution Mgr); Jun 4-Tinsley Ellis (1957); Jun 8-James Harman (1946-2021), Derek Trucks (1979);  Jun 9-Jackie Wilson (1934–1984); Jun 10-Howlin' Wolf aka Chester Arthur Burnett (1910-1976)
Just in case:
May 31 is "National Smile Day" Right about now we could all use a smile more than ever it seems. Please be kind and remember to lift up your head and acknowledge your fellow human with a smile. It does wonders, believe me! Bobby Blue Bland knew that when he sang "Love To See You Smile," and Beth Hart says "Might As Well Smile." Of course Louis Armstrong shared the classic, "When You're Smiling"...yes, the whole world smiles with you... Just do it. it works. Smiles and yes, music... good medicine.
(Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Johnny Winter at left)
oh and... June is "National Soul Food Month"... well that might make a lot of you crack a smile! Go get you some of that comfort!
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Hey, come on over and Join 14,200+ Blues Freaks at our TWITTER feed @BluesFestGuide
___________________________________________
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Then please drop on by and "LIKE" us and get
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Radio Submit Roots Blues Chart
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Billboard & iTunes #1 Blues Albums
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Billboard/iTunes #1 Blues Albums - as of May 26, 2022
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 #1 Billboard
DELBERT McCLINTON
Outdated Emotion
#1 iTunes
VAN MORRISON
What's It Gonna Take?
(Note: iTunes rankings change very often.
This is #1 as of e-Guide publishing time)
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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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Silver City Blues Festival
May-27-2022
Silver City, New Mexico, USA
Ground Zero Blues Club
21st Anniversary
May-27-2022 – May-28-2022
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Goat Fest IX
May-27-2022 – May-28-2022
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Rainy Days Blues Festival
May-28-2022
Springfield, Oregon, USA
Red’s Old Timers Music Festival
May-28-2022
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame Induction Gala
May-28-2022
Rentiesville, Oklahoma, USA
Rory Gallagher Int'l Festival
Jun-02-2022 – Jun-05-2022
Co. Donegal, Ballyshannon, Ireland
Greeley Blues Jam 2022
Jun-03-2022 – Jun-04-2022
Greeley, Colorado, USA
Havre de Grace Jazz & Blues Fest
Jun-03-2022 – Jun-05-2022
Havre de Grace, Maryland, USA
Russell City Awareness
Blues Series
Jun-04-2022 – Jul-30-2022
Hayward, California, USA
Holland International
Blues Festival
Jun-09-2022 – Jun-11-2022
Holland, Netherlands
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please go to our website
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Chicago Blues Festival
Jun-09-2022 – Jun-12-2022
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Flagstaff Blues and Brews
Jun-10-2022 - Jun-11-2022
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Utah Blues Festival
Jun-10-2022 – Jun-11-2022
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
32nd Billtown Blues Festival
Jun-10-2022 - Jun-12-2022
Billtown, Pennsylvania, USA
Cape Fear Blues Festival
Jun-10-2022 – Jun-12-2022
Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
Stomp The Blues Festival
Jun-11-2022
Springfield, Missouri, USA
Bentonia Blues Fest
Jun-16-2022 – Jun-18-2022
Bentonia, Mississippi, USA
Blues On The Fox
Jun-17-2022 – Jun-18-2022
Aurora, Illinois, USA
A Weekend Of Blues
Jun-17-2022 – Jun-19-2022
Hemlock , New York, USA
Alpine Country Blues Festival
Jun-17-2022 – Jun-18-2022
Alpine, Arizona, USA
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We continue to stay 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
We welcome e-Guide suggestions and questions. You can reach our E-Guide editor, Michele Lundeen (pictured here) via EMAIL.
Michele is also a singer, songwriter, performer and bandleader based in the San Diego County, California area and nicknamed the "Queen of Steam" for her high energy and passionate style.
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 find out 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.
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Hey blues lovers! Got 
