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Once-a-year Advertising Opportunity in Annual Blues Festival Guide Magazine...
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 Artists, promoters, labels, festivals, etc., here’s your once-a-year advertising opportunity to appear in our 22nd annual Blues Festival Guide (BFG) print magazine.
The magazine will hit the streets April 2024. Our BFG Early-Bird Discount allows you to save money by ordering and paying for your ad space before December 20, 2023 (your artwork isn't due until March). Our popular, annual magazine makes a great marketing vehicle for you all year long.
75,000 copies of the magazine will be distributed for free throughout U.S. and Canada to festival promoters, club owners, music and book stores, labels, booking agents, bands, etc., and of course… blues fans! Thousands more are mailed to subscribers. Readers will enjoy many pages of festivals, blues history and lifestyle, industry highlights and editorial content to keep them connected to the Blues.
Of course, year-round online advertising opportunities are also available. We can also help you build a custom campaign with online and social media elements added for maximum exposure! Blues Festival Guide has the largest blues database in the world!
We’re proud that our annual Blues Festival Guide was a KBA recipient for "Print Media." Bobby Rush has even called us, "The roadmap to the Blues!"
Advertising with us is easy, affordable, and fun! We love what we do and live to share all that’s Blues related. Our Team is here to help you with your marketing, advertising, publicity, and graphics needs. We're looking forward to hearing from you soon to save you some money.
Happy Holidays,
Kaati, Michele, Heather, Joana, Goran and Irene
Contact us today: 707-630-3304; Text: 775-846-8238 or email.
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Photo Moments with the 21st Annual BFG Magazine!
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 Here's big time blues fans and amazing supporters, Kat and Lance Bowman showing off the BFG mag aboard the Oct 2023 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. We first "met" Kat and Lance when they were instrumental in sharing the phenomenal Can't Stop The Blues programming during the lockdown. Great folks that you blues fanatics may run across now and then, as they do get around!
Photo: Michele Lundeen
ORDER your own 21st Annual Magazine *ONCE YOU GET IT, SEND US A PIC WITH IT! 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 (100 words or less), URL if applicable, and photo credit to e-Guide editor!
The Blues Foundation is official sponsor of the 21st Annual Blues Festival Guide!
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Artists or Albums most listened to in 2023
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 “This should be a good post!” one of our Facebook readers responded.
And indeed it was!
We posed a question to our Blues Festival Guide Facebook followers earlier this week asking which artists or albums did they listen to the most in 2023. Some said, “Oh, that’s a tough one.” Most listed one or two, and some listed ½ dozen.
600+ responses later, and I felt totally compelled to attempt to organize them by copying and sorting all from the actual post ... whew!
There was a huge variety of mentions overall. It was refreshing to see the diversity of both newer artists and the classics. Some artists that were mentioned were not as familiar, and readers, as well as myself, were also able to discover some new-to-us gems, thanks to the feedback.
There’s no space here to share all the artists and album names in this article, so I will at least start by sharing what our Facebook readers deemed their 2023 most listened to artists.
Hitting the "most listened to" total was Joe Bonamassa, followed very closely by Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, then Buddy Guy, who tied with Stevie Ray Vaughan. Rounding out this Top 5 was Samantha Fish. Up next in the count with a tie was Muddy Waters, Keb’ Mo’ and Tab Benoit, followed by Gary Moore, Beth Hart, and B.B. King respectively. Tied next were Gov’t Mule, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Allman Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Walter Trout, followed by Howlin’ Wolf. Ties were next for Eric Gales, Tommy Castro, Otis Rush, Robert Cray, Robert Johnson and John Mayall. The next ties were Anthony Gomes, Danielle Nicole, Johnny Winter, Larry McCray, Ronnie Earl, and Tinsley Ellis…. And the list went on and on and on, with nearly dozens of other faves mentions.
I will post the entire list of over 100+ in our website news section soon, plus include some of the readers comments, so keep an eye out for it if you’re curious. I'll share the link next week in case you miss it.
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Memphis is a city like no other, with the Soulsville USA neighborhood at its very heart - the birthplace of Stax Records and the Global Capital of Soul. In a world where creative spaces and artistic education often face challenges, your generosity becomes a beacon of hope. It is your involvement that enables us to nurture emerging talents, providing them with resources and opportunities often scarce in their journey. Memphis is a city like no other, with the Soulsville USA neighborhood at its very heart - the birthplace of Stax Records and the Global Capital of Soul. In a world where creative spaces and artistic education often face challenges, your generosity becomes a beacon of hope. It is your involvement that enables us to nurture emerging talents, providing them with resources and opportunities often scarce in their journey.
Please click the image above and then click the "play" arrow to watch a special message of thanks from the students of Stax Music Academy.
Thank you for standing with us in this mission, for believing in the transformative power of music, and for helping us keep the soul alive for generations to come.
Your partner in soul,
Pat Mitchell Worley
President and CEO, The Soulsville Foundation
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 You may want to checkout BluzNdaBlood's #424 Podcast to get you in a bluesy, festive Christmas mood. Click the image at left to get yourself some Blues "yule" love! Then look into buying the artist's music! Cheers!
First Set: Jimmy McCracklin, “Xmas Time, Part 1”, Xmas Blues & R&B Classics First Set: Jimmy McCracklin, “Xmas Time, Part 1”, Xmas Blues & R&B Classics Jim Koeppel, “Slim Down Santa”, Jingle All Way Big Harp George, “Bad Santa”, Big Harp George Does Christmas Roomful of Blues, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, Roomful of Christmas
Second Set: Johnny & Edgar Winter, “Please Come Home For Xmas”, Various Blue Yule: Xmas Blues & R&B Classics Coco Montoya, “The Three Kings and Me”, Writing On The Wall Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, “I’m Your Santa”, A Blues Christmas
Third Set – WIB: Lisa Biales, “That’s What I Like About Xmas”, At Christmas Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers, “Funky Santa”, Christmas In Blue Mizz Lowe, “Christmas Tears”, Classy Woman Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers, “The Christmas Swing”, The Christmas Swing Third Set: Tobacco Road Blues Band (TRBB), “Crummy Crazy Xmas”, IV Mick Kolassa, “Christmas Morning Blues”, Uncle Mick’s Christmas Album Little Charlie & The Nightcats, “Santa Claus”, A Blues Xmas
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The Blues Ecosystem and Saving Historic Stanhope House
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 (STANHOPE, NJ) - The blues ecosystem is dependent on the collaboration of non-profits, venues, fans, bands, educators, business owners, and record labels.
Without venues, how do bands survive, especially when the music industry is figuring out such how to deal with the digital age? One music venue that needs to be saved is The Stanhope House in New Jersey, one of the last great blues bastions left in America.
This iconic venue was built in 1794 and has served the community as a former private home, stagecoach stop, general store, post office, tavern, rooming house, and hotel. In 1970, the Stanhope House became a legendary blues venue. For over 50 years a who’s who of blues have played there.
Over this past summer, the Borough of Stanhope passed an ordinance from the town's Land Use Board to recommend "redevelopment with non-condemnation" for The Stanhope House in Jan 2024. In other words, they may demolish this historic, nationally renowned, legendary blues and music venue.
Blues societies play an important role in this ecosystem. Cristy Benvenutti, President of the North Jersey Blues Society, has made it her top priority to help save The Stanhope House, an important, long-standing music venue that is part of the blues ecosystem.
A Preliminary Application to the NJ and National Registry Listing is underway but will take a while. They’re hoping that the pending ordinance in front of the Council will allow redevelopment to be set aside while the arts community may pursue ways to help restore the building and keep the music alive! A petition has been created (see image) and as of last count there are over 2,000 signatures.
Cristy has contacted Blues Societies, local historical societies, the regional District 24 Senator and Assemblymen, media outlets, national blues musicians and record labels pleading for help. She says she will continue to monitor the Borough of Stanhope council agendas. The Stanhope House currently does not have any kind of official historic designation.
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 (BRADENTON, FL) - They say the Blues sounds better in Bradenton!
The 2023 annual Bradenton Blues Festival Weekend, held in Bradenton, Florida in early December, brought musicians of national and regional acclaim to the big stage, representing a variety of blues styles. Headliner, and class act Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, topped off the super entertaining, and fun-filled weekend!
In addition to amazing music, the festival makes available for purchase local craft beer, imports, domestics, and wine, delicious food, and cool festival merchandise.
Realize Bradenton, the nonprofit organization that produces the annual Bradenton Blues Festival, directs proceeds raised from the event back into the community to support art and music programs for youth, including Blues in the Schools.
65+ members of The Villages Blues Society made their annual pilgrimage to the festival and proclaimed the VIP area the nicest they have ever experienced.
Meanwhile, Marcia and Mark Adams (Villages Blues Society President and Vice President, respectively) were interviewed by Manatee Education Television, a local Florida TV program. They were asked to speak about The Villages Blues Society and the annual International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis.
Good music, good times, and good food and drink! They will naturally be back again next year! Oh, and did we mention the nice December in Florida weather!
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• Connecticut Blues Society's 30th Anniversary Bash Dec 10
• Cascade Blues Association Holiday Party Dec 17
• New Jersey Blues Society Road to Memphis Party Dec 17
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 (NEW BRITAIN, CT) - Connecticut Blues Society's (CTBS) 30th Anniversary Party will be held at Trinity on Main in New Britain, Connecticut, this Sunday Dec 10, from 2pm-7pm.
Music will be provided by The Blues Talkers, Jake Kulak & The Modern Blues Vandals, plus the CTBS Invitational Jam with Peter Rost, Phil Caron and Joey Primo and a host of special guests!
No cover for CTBS members and $10 cover for general public. You can also join online and your name will be at the door. No-host food and full bar will be available. Parking is free in the garage across the street.
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 (PORTLAND, OR) - The Cascade Blues Association present their 2023 Holiday Party, Sunday, December 17th, from 1pm-5pm at Mekong Bistro, 8200 NE Siskiyou, Portland, Oregon.
Robin Gibson Band and Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys will perform.
There will be a raffle, an auction, and shopping.
No cover for CBA members or $20 for general public. Memberships will be available at the door.
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(MONTCLAIR, NJ) - Join the North New Jersey Blues Society (NJBS) on Sunday afternoon, Dec 17, at Montclair Brewery, 101 Walnut St, Montclair, New Jersey. The concert is help sendoff the NJBS International Blues Challenge winners - the edgy, honest and one-of-a-kind, BLUES People before they head to Memphis.
The NY/NJ band BLUES People is Kelton Cooper (vocals/guitar), Mike Griot (bass), Ron Thompson (keys) and Gene Lake (drums).
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Which Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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#41 Southeastern Caribbean Oct 2024: Pre-Book Now!
#42 Eastern Caribbean Jan 2025: Pre-Book Now!
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 Open Cabin Sales Launch Mon Dec 11 at 11am CST
LEGENDARY RHYTHM
& BLUES CRUISE
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OCT. 26 ~ NOV. 2, 2024
Sailing on the Holland America Eurodam from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Aruba & Curacao.
Don't miss the ship!
or call (816) 753-7979
 Dec 11 at 11am CSTto Book your cabin
Prebook Now with
$500 Per Cabin Deposit!
LEGENDARY RHYTHM
& BLUES CRUISE
#42 EASTERN CARIBBEAN
JAN. 26 ~ FEB. 2, 2025
Sailing on the Holland America Rotterdam from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Tortola (BVI), St. Thomas (USVI) & Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic).
Prebook HERE. or call (816) 753-7979. A $500 per cabin (not per person),
fully-refundable deposit holds your space in line to book a cabin
once the official artist announcement is made in April.
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LEGENDARY RHYTHM & BLUES CRUISE
Our Headliners Stay & Play... They Don’t Hit & Run!
Best Blues Experience on the Planet! |
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Various Artists :: JINGLE ALL THE WAY
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What better way to celebrate Christmas than with music that's bluesy yet merry and bright. Freshly curated for the season, Blue Heart Records offers its own version of a blue Christmas with its debut holiday album, Jingle All The Way, a compilation by the artists at Blue Heart and Nola Blue Records.
The Texas Horns tear open this sparkling package with a sharp set of horns and a cheerful vocal chorus, updating the traditionally more solemn “Silver Bells.” Then
Benny Turner makes a soulful plea in the very bluesy “I Want Some Christmas Cheer.”
The holiday chestnut “Santa Baby” gets a sultry update from Lil Red & the Rooster, and the equally classic “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” romps with a New Orleans vibe by Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps. Rick Vito then launches the rocking, guitar-driven “I Was A Bad Boy This Year.”
Jim Koeppel offers whimsical advice in “Slim Down Santa,” And Clarence Spady offers funkified spirit for the season in “Christmas.”
Bobby Gentilo struts his way through James Brown's “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto,” and Croatian bluesman Tomislav Goluban creates a dazzling harp-laced instrumental version of “Amazing Grace.” Mark Cameron then turns in a clever spoken word “Nick's Place.”
No bluesy holiday album should be without a version of the Johnny Moore classic “Merry Christmas Baby,” and Laura Tate doesn't disappoint, with a rousing, sax-spiced R&B version. Vaneese Thomas follows with her own full-throated plea for “Peace and Goodwill.”
Peter Veteska and solo piano backing offer the wistful and poignant “I'll Be Home For Christmas.” Tiffany Pollack, with the help of Johanson, then revives the lyrically and melodically gorgeous “River,” the too-seldom heard Joni Mitchell song.
The closer finds Teresa James backed by the Texas Horns in a gently swinging, socially conscious, “Even Santa Gets the Blues.”
Merry Christmas baby!
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Joel Astley - "Secondhand Kid"
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Just In Case... plus upcoming Holidays & Birthdays
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 • Dec is the Month of Giving!
• Hannukah Dec 7-Dec 15
• Dec 16-24 Las Posadas
• Dec 25 Christmas
• Dec 26-Jan 1 Kwanzaa
Birthdays: Dec 8 Gregg Allman (1947-2017); Dec 9 Junior Wells aka Amos Wells Blakemore Jr. (1934-1998), Dec 10 Guitar Slim aka Eddie Jones (1926-1959); Dec 11 Big Mama Thornton (1926-1984); Dec 12 Joe Williams (1918-1999), Lonesome Sundown (1928-1955); Dec 13 Lurrie Bell (1958), Lucky Peterson (1964-2020); Dec 15 Andrew “Big Voice” Odom (1936), Mark Hummel (1955), Nick Moss (1969 photo by Jason Wood); Dec 16 Billy Gibbons (1949); Dec 17 James Booker (1939-1983), Paul Butterfield (1942-1987); Dec 18 Pee Wee Crayton (1914-1985), Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (1917-1988), Lonnie Brooks (1933-2017), Arthur "Peg Leg Sam" Jackson (1911-1977), Rod Piazza (1947); Dec 19 Professor Longhair (aka Henry Roeland Byrd) (1918-1980)
 Just in Case: "National Violin Day" is December 13. The first violin documented was said to made in 1555. I don't know if there's a "fiddle" day but I'm going to just say this is one and the same. Notable Blues fiddle players include Papa John Creech, Bo Chatmon, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Big Bill Broozy, T-Bone Walker, Lonnie Johnson (recognized as the first to play an electrically amplified violin), Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Henry "Son" Sims, and currently, and of course the amazing Anne Harris (pictured at left).
Online you can find pro-violinist Christian Howes that teaches Blues violin among other styles. I'm sure there are more cool Blues violin/fiddle players out there.
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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 7, 2023
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 #1 Billboard
KENNY WAYNE
SHEPHERD
Dirt On My Diamonds
#1 iTunes
KENNY WAYNE
SHEPHERD
Dirt On My Diamonds
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Get Ready to Blast Your Music with E-Blasts!
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BFG Twitter-Instagram-Facebook
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Join Blues Freaks at our X feed & on Instagram
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Hey, come on over and Join 14.1k+ Blues Freaks at our
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Radio Submit Roots Blues Chart
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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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Blues for FoodDec-15-2023 - Dec-16-2023 Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, Canada
New Orleans
Cigar Box Guitar Festival
Jan-18-2024 - Jan-20-2024
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Go Mexico Tequila
Rock 'n Blues Explosions Fest
Jan-19-2024 - Jan-28-2024
Zihuatanejo & Ixtapa, Mexico
South Orange International
Blues Festival - Winter Edition
Jan-27-2024
South Orange , New Jersey, USA
Winter Blues Fest
Feb-09-2024 - Feb-10-2024
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Cincinnati Winter Blues
Experience V
Feb-10-2024
Mason, Ohio, USA
Pigz in Z Hills BBQ & Blues Fest
Feb-10-2024
Zephyrhills, Florida, USA
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| | For more festivals &
events plus tons of links
please checkout our website
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Winterfolk Blues
& Roots Festival
Feb-16-2024 - Feb-18-2024
Toronto, Canada
Poulsbo Blues & Jazz Festival
Feb-24-2024
Poulsbo, Washington, USA
Vero Beach Blues Festival
Feb-24-2024 - Feb-25-2024
Vero Beach, Florida, USA
St. Kilda Blues Festival
Mar-01-2024 - Mar-04-2024
St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
24th Annual Blues Café
Mar-08-2024 - Mar-09-2024
Rothschild, Wisconsin, USA
Blues Bash at the Ranch
Mar-15-2024 - Mar-17-2024
Bradenton, Florida, USA
Tampa Bay Blues FestivalApr-12-2024 - Apr-14-2024 St Petersburg, Florida, USA
Milwaukee Blues FestivalApr-19-2024 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
3rd Annual
Buffalo Blues & Roots FestivalApr-20-2024 Buffalo, NY, New York, USA
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21st Annual Blues Festival Guide magazine
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Are you missing us at times?
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 Hi blues peeps...Sometimes your weekly e-Guide newsletter may arrive a little late due to us, but other times some end up as soft bounces (ones that are temporarily undeliverable). We send to the soft bounces addresses after the first initial batch has completed sending, but some may still end up as soft bounces.
*As a friendly reminder, and to hopefully help this situation, please remember to set up your spam filters to allow mail from the info@BluesFestivalGuide.com and eguide+bluesfestivalguide.com@mnb.email to ensure delivery.
We hate if you don't get your newsletter that often includes time-sensitive events and special interest bluesy content we know you don't want to miss.
Here's to a music and sunshine filled week ahead.
Yours in the blues,
Team BFG
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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 
Want to hold your own copy and have it delivered straight to your door? Then click here!
