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Happy Holidays from our Blues-Lovin' Family to Yours...
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Sending all our best to you and yours now and into 2023.
May you enjoy peace, joy, laughter, good health, and true friends
and allow the music to soothe your soul!
...Team BFG
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Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas
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These are great any time of the year!
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 The holiday's are right around the corner folks!
Here's some gift ideas:
• Delta Blues Museum gift shop has exclusive, logo-branded items to Crossroads souvenirs. Or you can even buy a custom engraved "Blues Brick!"
• Passes to the 2023 IBC or help with travel and accommodations costs.
• Newly released The Birth of Rock 'n' Roll: The Illustrated Story of Sun Records And The 70 Recordings That Changed the World. Released on Nov 22, 2022, the book was written By: Peter Guralnick, Colin Escott, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Amazon has good price.
• Classic Vintage-style Radios. A retro look with Bluetooth and mp3 inputs, etc. (Search on Amazon for "vintage Radios with bluetooth")
• Noise Cancelling Music Ear Plugs (search on Amazon)
• Hey, gift someone a cabin or special package on a Blues cruise... Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Sandy Beaches Cruise, , The Big Easy Cruise (get great ideas in each e-Guide issue)!
• Gift someone Blues concert or Blues festival tickets and/or festival merch (like the Big Blues Bender)
• Donate to a charity in someone's name (Hart Fund...)
• Checkout the MusicMaker Foundation Gift shop or donate
• MojoHand's store includes Posters, fine art, clothing and much more!
• The final volume of the Classic 1920's Blues Artwork Calendar & 25-track CD (also find at the Delta Museum shop)
• Google "blues books" and you'll find hundreds of blues-related books (whether printed, digital or even some audio).
• Gift someone their favorite band's merch (CDs, Digital downloads, clothing, etc.) This in turn gifts the artist by purchasing their items!
• Give the gift of a Blues Society membership and/or their merch. Here's a list of Blues Foundation society affiliates FYI.
• Donate to your favorite Blues related organization in someone's name
• Checkout the Blues Foundation's store for cool merch, books, CDs and membership gifts, etc.
Alrighty then! What would a cool music gift you'd like to give or to receive?
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Photo Moments with the 20th Annual BFG Magazine!
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It's mind-boogling to realize that Ana Popovic is celebrating 20 years as a touring musician.The award-winning guitar player, singer and songwriter recently released Live For Live, showcasing her spell-binding skills while successfully merging styles. And "yes," the passionate artists exclaims, this is what she lives for, and we are all gratefuol for it!
We caught up with Ana on the Oct 2022 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise (LRBC).
Photo: Cari Navarro
ORDER your 2022 Magazine *SEND US A PIC WITH ANNUAL BFG MAG! BFG clients, contact your sales rep for one.
Anyone can Order 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 the 20th Anniversary Blues Festival Guide!
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Celebrate New Orleans on the Big Easy Cruise 2023!
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 Enjoy a New Orleans music festival at sea onboard the Big Easy Cruise, a 7-day event that brings together the music, food, culture and spirit of this extraordinary city.
Concerts will fill the days and nights with performances by Little Feat, Tab Benoit, Samantha Fish, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Leo Nocentelli from The Meters, Anders Osborne, Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Tuba Skinny, John Boutté, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters, Honey Island Swamp Band and John “Papa” Gros. Plus, Cha Wa was just recently added to the lineup! Even more jazz, funk, R&B, Cajun, zydeco and blues-based artists will be announced in the coming months. The cruise will stop in New Orleans for 24 hours for an exclusive performance by Galactic featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph at the famed club Tipitina’s, along with rich cultural experiences throughout the city.
The Big Easy sets sail November 4-11, 2023 from Ft. Lauderdale to New Orleans and Cozumel aboard the luxurious Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam.
A true New Orleans music festival at sea, fans will soak up great music, mouth-watering food and nothing but good vibes on the Big Easy Cruise. One-of- a-kind events will bring guests alongside leaders, creators and innovators in music, cuisine, and history for a series of events including live interviews and songwriting presentations, theme nights, cooking demonstrations, wine tasting and much, much more.
For further information and exclusive offers, visit the website and join the email list, follow Big Easy Cruise | Facebook or contact via email.
Cabins are selling quickly! Blues Guide fans can book now with promo code BLUESGUIDE to save on cabin prices.
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Carolyn Gaines Pays Tribute to Her Heroes: Ma Rainey, Roy Gaines, Buddy Guy, more…
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 Songbird Carolyn Gaines shares exciting blues history and thoughts about five heartfelt tracks from her album of covers, The Thrill Is Gone: “I Got Dreams to Remember,” “God Bless the Child,” “Deep Moaning Blues,” “Stormy Monday,” and “Damn Right I Got the Blues” (8X Grammy Winner Buddy Guy galvanized Carolyn to cover this song). She is the daughter of Rockabilly, Jazz, Classic and Blues guitar and singing phenomenon, Roy Gaines, and the niece of bluesman, Grady Gaines who was Little Richard’s and Sam Cooke’s saxophonist and bandleader.
“I Got Dreams to Remember” (Otis Redding & Buddy Guy)
Carolyn was inspired by Buddy Guy’s version to sing “I Got Dreams to Remember,” a beautiful, yet painful song first recorded by Otis Redding and written by Otis Redding, Joe Block, and Zelma Redding (Otis Redding’s wife). It was recorded by Blues Diva Carolyn Gaines at Leon Haywood’s Sunnyside Recording Studio in Los Angeles, CA in 2019. Listen Here
“God Bless the Child” (Billie Holiday, Diana Ross)
As a young teen, Carolyn Gaines dreamed of recording this song (written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr.) one day in a real-live recording studio. She would practice Holiday’s 1949 version (and Diana Ross’ 1972 version) of this song in her father’s home accompanied by her dad’s record player. Her father, the late Roy Gaines, was Billie Holiday’s last living guitarist at the young age of 21 in NYC. at Carnegie Hall. Listen Here
“Deep Moaning Blues” (Ma Rainey)
Carolyn Gaines reached back before-her-time to sing “Deep Moaning Blues” in her own special way paying tribute to one of her heroes, Ma Rainey, with her deep, raw, and soulful sound. (Ma Rainey’s hit song was recorded on Paramount Records in the format of a shellac, 10" 78 RPM). Listen Here
“Stormy Monday” (T-Bone Walker, Roy Gaines, Bobby Blue Bland)
“Stormy Monday” was recorded by Carolyn Gaines at Leon Haywood's Sunnyside Recording Studio in Los Angeles. Her father Roy Gaines also recorded “Stormy Monday” on blues-giant, Bobby Blue Bland’s early hit song ‘Stormy Monday’ in Houston, Texas in the early ‘60's. It was produced by legendary R&B, Rock and Roll, Blues Producer Don Robey in Fifth Ward (Houston). Carolyn Gaines studied her version of “Stormy Monday” from her father, Roy Gaines’ and Bobby Blue Bland’s fiery version. Carolyn Gaines rocked her “Stormy Monday” version with Blues and Jazz tones. “Stormy Monday” was first recorded by T-Bone Walker; at the age of 14, Roy Gaines was T-Bone Walker's protégé. Listen Here
Link here for Booking Carolyn Gaines
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 (BLOOMINGTON, MN) – The Rockin’ The Blues 2023 New Year's Eve party will be held Dec 31 at the Minneapolis/Bloomington Hilton (3900 American Blvd. West). The lineup features Johnny Burgin, RJ Mischo, Paul Barry and “Hurricane” Harold Tremblay and just added is blues guitarist extraordinaire Anson Funderburgh to this already talent-laden event.
The Texas based Funderburgh helped define the raw driving blues sound that originated in Texas along with the likes of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Funderburgh has been captivating blues audiences all over the world for the past 50 years with his soulful, tasteful and hard driving style. He has earned his reputation as one of contemporary blues music’s most relevant and esteemed guitar players.
This NYE event is not to be missed. Click the image for the ticket link and info.
A limited amount of $59 tickets remain - so don't delay! There’s free covered parking and a full-service restaurant onsite. Call the Hilton 844-856-8554 for special room rates.
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Give the Gift of Joy... Book a Big Blues Bender package
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 (LAS VEGAS, NV) - The Big Blues Bender returns to the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, September 7-10, 2023!
Get ready for a musical vacation of a lifetime! 40+ artists, 5 stages, 4 days and nights of 'round the clock world class blues music, all within a four-star Las Vegas resort! Gather your crew and join us for a Bender!
The Bender is a hit! Only Signature and Luxe rooms remain.
Our On Sale event saw record amounts of traffic and as a result:
• All suites are sold out
• 4-day "music only" wristbands are sold out
• Big Daddy Baller Upgrades are sold out
Our remaining packages are fantastic rooms, so make your choice and join us for the blues party of the year! September 7-10, 2023. Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.
Check here for more info on Bender Packages and Add-Ons.
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Colne Blues Society take over running of Rhythm and Blues Festival
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(COLNE, LANCASHIRE, UK) - The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival will return to Colne in 2023 after a successful post-Covid return this year that saw record-breaking ticket sales and an attendance of more than 35,000 people.
The previous editions of the festival have been put on by Colne Town Council in association with the Colne Blues Society, but now the latter have been invited to take over the role of artistic director for 2023 and 2024.
The Coline Blues Society is a collective of creative and business professionals, events organisers and Blues lovers who run on a voluntary, not-for-profit basis.
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Which Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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- #38 Eastern Caribbean: Sold Out
- #39 Mexican Riviera: BOOK YOUR CABIN Now!
- #40 Western Carribbean: Now Prebooking!
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#38 Eastern Caribbean SOLD OUT!
Jan. 28 ~ Feb. 4, 2023
Sailing on Holland America’s ms Nieuw Statendam from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to St. John, St. Maarten & Half Moon Cay (Bahamas Private Island).
LRBC #39
Mexican Riviera
Oct. 28 ~ Nov. 4, 2023
Sailing on Holland America's ms Koningsdam from San Diego, CA to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan & Puerto Vallarta.
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#40 Western Caribbean
Jan 28 ~ Feb 4, 2024
Sailing on Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Grand Cayman, Roatán, Honduras & Costa Maya, Mexico. By placing a fully-refundable prebook deposit of $500 per cabin, you’ll reserve a space in line to book a cabin once the bands are announced in early Spring. Visit online reservations or call (816) 753-7979 to place your deposit!
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LEGENDARY RHYTHM & BLUES CRUISE
Our Headliners Stay & Play, They Don’t Hit & Run!
The Best Blues Experience on the Planet! |
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Shemekia Copeland "Stay A Little Longer Santa"
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Just In Case... plus Holidays & Birthdays
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 • Dec = "Month of Giving"
• Dec 25 Christmas Day
Birthdays upcoming of note:
Dec 22 Lil Green (1919-1954), Liz Mandeville; Dec 23 Little Esther Phillips (1935-1984); Dec 24 Lee Dorsey (1924-1986); Dec 25 Joe Louis Walker (1949); Dec 27 Tracy Nelson (1944); Dec 28 Roebuck "Pops" Staples (1914-2000), Johnny Otis (1921-2012); Dec 29 Matt "Guitar" Murphy (1929-2018), Terry Hanck (1944); Dec 30 Bo Diddley (1928-2008); Dec 31 Odetta (1930-2008); Jan 1-Frank Stokes (1888-1955), Estelle "Mama" Yancey (1896-1986); Jan 2-Little Smokey Smothers (1939-2010), Rubin “Rube” Lacy (1901-1969); Jan 4-Laurie Morvan; Jan 5-Johnny Adams (1932-1998), Wilbert Harrison (1929-1994), Sam Phillips (1923-2003 founder of Sun Records); Jan 6-Kim Wilson (1951); Jan 8-Elvis Presley (1935), Tampa Red (1904), Bill Graham (1931 promoter at legendary Fillmore)
Just in Case: December 28 is "National Short Film Day." The birth of the motion picture industry is celebrated on this day. In particular, this holiday commemorates the event when a public audience viewed a series of short films for the first time ever. There are some amazing short films about Blues history and artists.
On that note, the 13th annual Clarksdale Film & Music Festival returns with a curated collection of blues documentaries and Mississippi-connected films (short and a little longer), live music, and more. Plan the attend in Clarksdale, MS Fri-Sun, Jan 27-29. Find details at their website about the venue, a few film classics, some brand-new blues film premieres, fabulous special guests, real-deal live blues and more!
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Missed your Weekly e-Guide?
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Billboard #1 Blues Albums
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Billboard & iTunes #1 Blues Album - as of Dec 22, 2022
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 #1 Billboard
BUDDY GUY
The Blues Don't Lie
#1 iTunes
BONNIE RAITT
Just Like That
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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 14.3k+ Blues Freaks at our TWITTER feed @BluesFestGuide
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  Also Follow us on INSTAGRAM with 10.4+ 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 and get
a daily dose of blues related stuff!
Over 183K blues fans can't be wrong!
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Radio Submit Roots Blues Chart
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20th Annual Blues Festival Guide
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20th Annual Blues Festival Guide Magazine
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 You can not only get a hard copy of the magazine via select festivals, blues societies or by ordering, but our 20th Anniversary digital edition of the Blues Festival Guide is available on our website! Click the image at left to read and enjoy all 84 pages. Turn on the speaker to hear Tulle Brae singing "Seven Bridges."
Blues legend Bobby Rush calls our magazine: "The roadmap to everything blues." Indeed, the articles offer something for everyone, all blues related, of course. This year’s engaging editorial from aficionados in the blues community includes articles from Victor Wainwright, Mitch Woods, Reverend Billy C. Wirtz and Roger Stolle among others.
Our cover by photographer Marilyn Stringer features the talented Tullie Brae and Calvin Johnson at the 2021 North Atlantic Blues Festival!
You can also order your own hard copy here!
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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 highlight your festival on our web and here in the e-Guide Festival Calendar please EMAIL for ad rates
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Due to space constraints
Not all upcoming Blues festivals/events are listed here
For a complete list & links see our comprehensive website.
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NOTE: Highlighted/Linked events
are paid "Featured" ads.
Checkout our website Festival page!
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MLK Blues Festival
Jan-12-2023 – Jan-15-2023
Chester, South Carolina, USA
Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest
Jan-13-2023 – Jan-14-2023
Zephyrhills, Florida USA
Go Mexico Rock ‘n Blues
Explosion Festival
Jan-21-2023 – Jan-29-2023
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Clarksdale Film & Music Festival
Jan-27-2023 – Jan-29-2023
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
The February Blues XXIV
Feb-02-2023 – Feb-26-2023
Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada
Cincinnati Winter Blues
Experience IV
Feb-11-2023
Mason, Ohio, USA
Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival
Feb-18-2023
Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA
Vero Beach Blues Festival
Feb-25-2023 – Feb-26-2023
Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Saskatoon Blues Festival
Feb-27-2023 – Mar-05-2023
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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| | For more festivals & events plus links
please go to our website
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Leeds Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
Feb-26-2023
Leeds, United Kingdom
2023 Byron Bay Bluesfest
April-6-2023 - April-10-2023
Byron Bay, Australia
Juke Joint Festival
& Related Events
Apr-13-2023 – Apr-16-2023
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Baton Rouge
Blues Festival
April-22-2023 – April-23-2023
Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA
Lincoln Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
May-6-2023
Lincoln, United Kingdom
10th Annual Big Island
Jazz & Blues Festival
Jun-01-2023 – Jun-03-2023
Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA
Billtown Blues Festival
Jun-09-2023 – Jun-10-2023
Hughesville, Pennsylvania, USA
Waterfront Blues Fest
July-1-2023 - July-4-2023
Portland, Oregon USA
Tampa Bay Blues Festival
July 14-16, 2023
St. Petersburg, Florida USA
North Atlantic Blues Festival
July 15-16, 2023
Rockland, Maine USA
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We continue to stay optimistic!
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We're thinking of you.. here's to good health & good music!
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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 the annual 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 20 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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Fair Use Act statement and disclaimer
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Hey blues lovers! Got 
