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ONCE A YEAR MARKETING OPPORTUNITY!
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We're celebrating 21 Years as Blues Industry Leaders!
And it's time to reserve your Ad Space in the 21st Annual BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE Magazine!
Click Here for Ad Sizes and Prices (ads and payment not due until April 15)
Why You Should Include a PRINT Ad in Your Budget...
• People love the magazine! The physicality. Getting their hands on it. Engages senses: sight, touch, smell; the sound of pages turning, sharing with friends
• Interesting and entertaining editorial by top blues aficionados.
• Your website, e-Guide and Facebook Ads with us are deeply discounted when your campaign is anchored with a Print Ad.
• Thousands of bluesers read it online in digital format, also for free! We have an aggressive outreach program for our Digital Magazine (your ad in our print magazine, is automatically in the digital version at no up-charge).
• The Digital Magazine is also available to millions through two electronic newsstands: Magzter.com and Issuu.com
• The print and digital versions of the magazine have a long shelf life and are read and re-read throughout the year.
• Tens of thousands of magazines are shipped free to festivals, music museums, music venues, blues societies, etc. to be distributed free to blues fans.
• Thousands more order through a paid subscription to have magazine mailed directly to them.
ASK US ABOUT DISCOUNTED AD PACKAGES (PRINT & DIGITAL)
Click HERE to take a look at our complete Media Kit
for information about all of our Blues Media Products!
We have so many ways to market your project!
Peace & Music from Team Blues Festival Guide,
Kaati, Cheryl, Heather, Michele, Joana, Irene and Goran
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RBA Publishing Inc. | P.O. Box 920, Arcata, CA 95518 | 707-630-3304 |Text: 775-846-8238
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Photo Moments with the 20th Annual BFG Magazine!
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 Here's vocalist, guitarist, composer, piano man, recording artist, band leader, and actor Daryl Davis onboard the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.
Considered to be one of the top Blues, boogie woogie, and rock’n’roll pianists, this Chicago native is also a published author and lecturer and recipient of numerous awards for his impassioned knowledge as a race relations expert.
As an actor he also appeared on stage, in films, and episodes of The Wire among others.
Photo: Team BFG
ORDER your 2022 Magazine *SEND US A PIC WITH ANNUAL BFG MAG! BFG clients, contact your sales rep for your own copy
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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Tampa Bay Blues Festival returns to the waterfront this April
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(ST. PETERSBURG, FL) - The Tampa Bay Blues Festival returns to the waterfront at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, Florida April 14116, 2023. That’s three days of incredible blues music on the shores of Tampa Bay, plus there’s the official kickoff concert on April 13 at the Palladium Theater.
Join us for a fantastic weekend of music featuring Robert Cray, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Ana Popovic, Larry McCray, Colin James on Friday. Saturday it’s Tower of Power, Tab Benoit, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Chris Cain, and Dawn Tyler Watson. Sunday it’s The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mr. Sipp, Vanessa Collier, Jimmy Carpenter, JT Lauritsen. Gates Friday and Saturday open at approx. 12 noon. Gates on Sunday open at approx. 12:30pm.
The official Kickoff Concert happens Thursday April 13 at the historic Palladium Theater (253 Fifth Avenue North), St. Petersburg, Florida, featuring Tommy Castro & The Painkillers. Showtime is 8-9:30pm and doors open 7pm.Enjoy sunshine, sea breezes, palm trees, full liquor bars, multiple tasty food vendors and the best music of the year! All in a large grassy park, a short walk from the vibrant downtown area.
Try their exceptional VIP Experience which includes front stage seating with custom sound mix, free beers, wines and beverages, a complimentary meal from our 3 VIP restaurants, air-conditioned restrooms, huge shade tents on the waterfront, champagne & mimosas on Sunday, free fire baked pizzas, hotel discounts (while they last) more! It’s the best VIP in the business!
Order tickets and VIP now, for three great days of blues by the bay! Or email for more information.
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Get Ready for the Sandy Beaches Cruise XXVIII
...booking is open now!
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We know you’ve been anxiously awaiting the big news! Mark your calendars because booking for the Sandy Beaches Cruise XXVIII, sailing January 2024, opens to the public on Thursday, February 2nd 2023.We know you’ve been anxiously awaiting the big news! Mark your calendars because booking for the Sandy Beaches Cruise XXVIII, sailing January 2024, opens to the public on Thursday, February 2nd 2023.
Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates on the 2024 cruise, our lineup and hear about our special presale offer!
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Five trailblazing Black artists failed by history
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 By Tom Taylor
Rock ‘n’ Roll may not solve your problems, but it does let you dance all over them.” – Pete Townshend
In truth, while the Pete Townshend quote above might seem pithy on the surface, when you dig into it, you find it gets as close to distilling down an entire cultural movement as is possible with only seventeen words. The problematic seeding ground for rock ‘n’ roll was the plantations of old. Through the oppression of slavery, it staggered and soared as the defiant voice of liberated souls. Rock ‘n’ roll crawled out of the mire and misery of one of humanity’s great atrocities and etched itself as gilded poetry written in the margins of one of the darkest pages in history.
The early pioneers of the genre are now cast amid the coals of time as the diamonds who harnessed the suffering that surrounded them, absorbed the pressures of the world’s woes and transfigured it all into music that glistened with humanities inviolable spirit. It is no surprise that given the treacherous terrain from which it rose, this early exultation from woe came embalmed in a hue of what be called: the blues.
However, the beauty of the blues – from which the whole spectrum of modern music is spun out in a kaleidoscopic tailspin of medicinal glory to life’s mechanical grind – is that it too contains the multitudes of existence. As musician Wynton Marsalis once said, “Everything comes out in the blues. Joy, pain, struggle. Blues is affirmation with absolute elegance.” … continue reading here
[Editor's note: These artists may not be "failed" to enlightened Blues fans and historians, but no doubt by the general public's lack of knowledge of their roots and influence.)
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Blues & Bourbon for February & March
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 (SACRAMENTO, CA) - "Blues & Bourbon" has been bringing the best in "uptown and lowdown" and are now beginning their 6th year (with that 2 year grrr pandemic  in between). The series happens at The Starlet, located above Harlow's at 2708 J St., Sacramento, California.
The Wednesday series features local, regional and national blues artists from SoCal, NorCal, East Coast, West Coast... Delta to Delta, and even Spain! Doors open at 5:30pm and showtime is 6:30pm. Tickets $14 general or $12 for Sacramento Blues Society members.
The Starlet was newly remodeled in July 2022 with a big stage, new lights, new dance floor, larger capacity and always great professional sound. Such a great vibe on these nights. Hope to see you there!
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39th Annual IBC Winners & Best Self-Produced CD
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 (MEMPHIS, TN) – Congratulations are in order to the winners of the 2023 International Blues Challenge (IBC) and Best Self-Produced CD. The finals were held Saturday, January 28 at the historic Orpheum Theater in Memphis, Tenessee.
The Blues Festival Guide (BFG) is proud to be one of the media sponsors of the 2023 IBC. The IBC winners (both Duo/Single, and Band) received an advertising package with the Blues Festival Guide magazine and online platforms as part of their official prize package.
Our BFG publisher Kaati was in town for IBC week and also handed out some flyers to IBC participants announcing a discount offer for 20% off ads in the print magazine — if you received one, make sure to let us know.
Here are the winners of the 2023 IBC and Best Self-Produced CD
• BAND DIVISION
1st Place Winner: Mathias Lattin (top) (Houston Blues Society) w-Jesse Gomez (bass), and Nick Andres (drums)
2nd Place Band: The Cinelli Brothers (UK Blues Federation)
3rd Place Band: Dick Earl’s Electric Witness (Las Vegas Blues Society)
• SOLO/DUO DIVISION
1st Place Winner: Frank Sultana
(pictured at bottom) (Sydney Blues Society - Australia)
2nd Place: The Sugar Thieves (Phoenix Blues Society)
• BEST GUITAR AWARD (Best Band Guitarist): Mathias Lattin
• MEMPHIS CIGAR BOX GUITAR AWARD (Best Solo/Duo Guitarist): Adam Karch (Montreal Blues Society)
• LEE OSKAR HARMONICA AWARD (Best Harmonica): Deuce ‘n a Quarter (Columbus Blues Alliance)
• BEST SELF-PRODUCED CD: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal – Green Light
(Blues Society of Omaha)
Photos © Marilyn Stringer
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Canada's Maple Blues Award Winners
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 (TORONTO, CANADA) - The 26th Annual Maple Blues Awards are Canada's national blues awards program. The awards were presented to a sold-out audience at The Harbourfront Centre Theatre, in Toronto, Canada on Jan 30, 2022 by the Toronto Blues Society. Awards went to deserving Canadian Blues artists and one international artist. Blue Moon Marquee (pictured) were the top winners, taking home Entertainer of the Year, Acoustic Act of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Recording/Producer of the Year.
Winners:
• Entertainer of the Year:
Blue Moon Marquee
• Female Vocalist of the Year:
Suzie Vinnick
• Male Vocalist of the Year:
Matt Andersen
• Acoustic Act of the Year: Blue Moon Marquee
• Electric Act of the Year: Colin James
• Guitarist of the Year: Sue Foley
• Bassist of the Year: Angelique Francis
• Keyboard Player of the Year: Jesse O’Brien
• Drummer of the Year: Jim Casson
• Harmonica Player of the Year: Steve Marinner
• Horn Player of the Year: Alison Young
• Songwriter of the Year: Blue Moon Marquee
• Recording/Producer of the Year: Blue Moon Marquee
• New Artist of the Year: Angelique Francis
• Blues With A Feeling (Lifetime Achievement): Harrison Kennedy
• Blues Booster of the Year: Patrick Monaghan
• B.B. King International Artist of the Year: Mavis Staples
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North Jersey Blues Society presents
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 The New Jersey Blues Society (NJBS) Sunday Blues Party happens every Sunday 1-5pm with the Dean Shot Trio at Muddy Waters Gastropub (1090 NJ-173), Asbury, New Jersey. The NJBS Blues & Brews series continues Feb 19 at the Montclair Brewery (101 Walnut St.) Montclair, New Jersey with The Powertones, and with Dave Keyes on Mar 19.
Join the NJBS at the Crossroads (78 No. Ave.), Garwood, New Jersey, for a blues-infused night on Feb 23 when West coast guitarist, Junior Watson, formerly of the Mighty Flyers and Canned Heat, is joined by East coast guitarist, Dean Shot, of the Fabulous Thunderbirds with support by Steve Kirsty (bass) and Nick Fishman (drums). Doors 7pm and show 8pm.
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Which Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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- #39 Mexican Riviera: BOOK YOUR CABIN Now!
- #40 Western Carribbean: Now Prebooking!
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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 bands are announced early Spring. Visit online reservations or call (816) 753-7979 to place 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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Jewel Brown :: GOOD OLE’ MUSIC AND MEMORIES
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 Reintroducing the one and only, the legendary Jewel Brown.
It’s not every day that a magical storyline like Jewel Brown’s comes around. Jewel began singing in the church but it didn’t take her long to start a commercial singing career. She played her first show when she was just 12, and she was cutting records by the time she was a teenager. Brown recorded a handful of hits with Clyde Otis in the 1950s for Liberty Records and by the early ’60s she was playing clubs nationally.
But she’s best known for her work with Louis Armstrong and His All-Star Band (1961-1968), until Armstrong fell ill. She continued singing, headlining shows, mainly in Vegas. In the early 70s she stepped out of the limelight to care for her aging parents. Her success didn’t end with show biz. Jewel started up numerous businesses and enjoyed a successful career.
Though retired, her generations of fans didn’t allow her musical legacy to be forgotten. In 2007 she was inducted into the Blues Smithsonian and in 2015 she received a congressional acknowledgment for her contribution to the Arts. In 2020, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner set aside December 12, 2020, as “Jewel Brown Day.”
Today, in her mid-80’s, Jewel Brown is back, this time, for the first time, with songs of her own. Thanks to this long-awaited new recording, done in collaboration with Nic Allen (Joe Sample’s longtime musical director), the ten jazz and blues tracks nod to Brown’s legacy, like the brilliantly updated “Did You Hear About Jerry” and the lush “Song of the Dreamer,” written by her ex-husband Eddie Curtis, but there’s much more, including the rockin’ cover “Which Way Is Up,” the a cappella “Pain and Glory,” the jazzy “Why Did You Do That,” and the boppin’, bluesy closer “How Did It Go?”
Thanks for Good Ole’ Music and Memories is an inspired reintroduction of an impressive talent, an important musical figure, and, best of all, an incredible voice.
Website
"Niches & Glitches"
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"All On My Own" Mathias Lattin
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Just In Case... plus Holidays & Birthdays
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 • Feb: "Black History Month"
• Feb 2: "Groundhog Day"
• Feb 14: "Valentine's Day"
Birthdays upcoming of note:
Feb 3-Johnny "Guitar" Watson (1935-1996), Jody Williams (1935-2018); Feb 3-Jason Ricci (1974); Feb 5-Al Kooper (1944), Victor Wainwright (1981); Feb 6-Bob Marley (1945-1981); Feb 7-Earl King (1934-2003), King Curtis (1934-1971); Feb 8-Alonzo "Lonnie" Johnson (1889-1970), Floyd Dixon (1929-2006), Eddie "Guitar" Burns (1928-2012); Feb 9-Johnny Heartsman (1937-1996); Feb 11-Josh White (1908-1969), Phillip Walker (1937), Little Johnny Taylor (1943), Otis Clay (1942); Feb 12-Pink Anderson (1937-2010); Feb 13-Sugaray Rayford (1969); Feb 14-"Magic Sam" Maghett (1937-1969), Maceo Parker (1943); Feb 15-James "Kokomo" Arnold (1901-1968), Gary Clark Jr. (1984); Feb 16- Bill Doggett (1916), Super Chikan (1951), Andra Faye (1960)
 Just in Case:
• February is not only "Black History Month," and we certainly celebrate and respect the music that Black Blues artists have shared and influenced us with, but it's also "American Heart Month," and the first Friday in February is "National Wear Red Day" also known as "National Women's Heart Day." So, this Friday, don the color red in any way, shape, or form in order to raise and spread awareness in hopes to help eradicate heart disease and stroke in millions of women all over the nation.
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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 Feb 2, 2023
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 #1 Billboard
BUDDY GUY
The Blues Don't Lie
#1 iTunes
BONNIE RAITT
Juat 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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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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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
Mahindra Blues Festival
Feb-11-2023 – Feb-12-2023
Mumbai, India
Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival
Feb-18-2023
Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA
Villa Sessions 2023
Vila do Conde Blues Festival
Feb-23-2023 – Feb-26-2023
Vila do Conde, Portugal
Winterfolk Blues and Roots Festival XXI
Feb-24-2023 – Feb-26-2023
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Vero Beach Blues Festival
Feb-25-2023 – Feb-26-2023
Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Leeds Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
Feb-26-2023
Leeds, United Kingdom
Saskatoon Blues Festival
Feb-27-2023 – Mar-05-2023
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
River City Blues Festival
Mar-17-2023 – Mar-18-2023
Marietta, Ohio, USA
Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival
Mar-17-2023 – Mar-19-2023
Boquete, Panama
Blues on Reid
Mar-25-2023
Port St. Joe, Florida, Florida, USA
Woodystock Blues & Brews Fest
Mar-25-2023
Lake Havasu State Park, Arizona, USA
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please go to our website
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2023 Byron Bay Bluesfest
April-6-2023 - April-10-2023
Byron Bay, Australia
Nidaros Blues
Apr-13-2023
Trodheim, Norway
Juke Joint Festival
& Related Events
Apr-13-2023 – Apr-16-2023
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Tampa Bay Blues Festival
April-14-2023 - April-16, 2023
St. Petersburg, Florida USA
Buffalo Blues & Roots Festival
Apr-22-2023
Buffalo , New York, USA
Baton Rouge Blues Festival
April-22-2023 – April-23-2023
Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA
Blues, Brews & Barbeque
May-06-2023
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Lincoln Blues, Rhythm
& Rock Festival
May-6-2023
Lincoln, United Kingdom
Gator by the Bay
May-11-2023 – May-14-2023
San Diego, California, USA
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
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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 
