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Sneak Peek into our 2024 print Magazine
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 The Blues Festival Guide team is hard at work on our once-a-year print publication.
We’re looking forward to bringing you the latest happenings in the industry, glimpses of blues history, lifestyle, entertaining and educational features, and of course, dozens of blues festivals to help you plan your calendar!
Our 2024 cover is of the awesome Jimmy Carpenter! Photo by Marilyn Stringer.
Click HERE to order a copy of the 2024 Blues Festival Guide print magazine — It will be shipped directly to you at the end of April. Although the magazine is free, there is a small shipping and handling charge.
Enjoy our editorial sneak peek below!
Living Legend: Bob Stroger By Marilyn Stringer
Bluesman Bob Stroger is one of the last living Chicago legends, and is still producing music and performing at the age of 93 and has defined the role of what an electric bass playing Chicago-style blues should sound like.
What’s Cookin’ with Anthony Geraci
Anthony says, “I grew up in an Italian family where food was sacred!” And his recipe for Linguini with White Clam Sauce does not disappoint. Buon Appetito!
Blues On Deck
Whether taking in a blues show for a few hours on a river steamboat or sunset cruise, or embarking on a multi-day all-in-one floating festival, adding some water to your blues will elevate your blues experience.
Shredding the Glass Ceiling By Irene Johnson
In blues, a genre steeped in tradition, the presence of women electric lead guitarists is a testament to the evolving landscape of music. Today’s guitar women are reshaping the narrative of what it means to be a lead blues guitarist.
Blues From the Bluegrass State By Keith Clements and Natalie Carter
Kentucky has not only produced many seminal artists of the blues, but continues to cultivate, preserve, and promote a rich blues scene. Learn more about the blues pioneers who helped shape the genre, to artists keeping the blues alive and well in Kentucky today.
Visiting First Cousins By Reverend Billy C. Wirtz
Get acquainted with some first cousins of what you may think of as “the blues” – a few country, R&B and gospel collections and artists per the Rev.
The European Blues Union: Promoting and Preserving the Blues in Europe
Blues activists in nearly every European nation have been committed to promoting the blues throughout the decades, and the European Blues Union strives to unite their efforts and create a strong blues network through its various initiatives and programs.
Order your very own 2024 Blues Festival Guide now!
The Blues Foundation is the official sponsor of the 22nd Annual Blues Festival Guide print magazine!
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Baton Rouge Blues Festival featuring Jimi “Primetime” Smith & Bob Corritore and more!
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 (BATON ROUGE, LA) - The Baton Rouge Blues Festival will be held in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana April 19-21.
Jimi “Primetime” Smith & Bob Corritore will perform April 20th on the LA1 stage. The two will do a set in honor of Bob’s longtime associate, Baton Rouge native, the late Henry Gray. Bob has arranged for a number of Henry Gray‘s friends to join the celebration, with each contributing a song in honor of Henry. Jimi “Primetime” Smith remembers Henry coming over to visit his mother Johnnie Mae Dunson in Chicago when Jimi was still a young boy.
Baton Rouge’s Advocate newspaper says, “This year's Baton Rouge Blues Festival has a powerful lineup, with plenty of leading lights from around town and further afield. The performer list is so strong that no matter who you end up catching you can't go wrong: Still, in the interests of mixing it up, we decided to  highlight four non-headliner acts that are worth checking out.”
Among their short list they feature Jimi “Primetime” Smith and Bob Corritore’s tribute to Henry Gray who was the former band leader for Howlin' Wolf and indisputably one of Louisiana's blues greats.
“One of Gray's greatest proponents was Bob Corritore,” the Advocate continues. “Based in Arizona, harmonica player Corritore is one of the busiest guys in show business, regularly touring, pumping out excellent albums, maintaining an active social media presence and running both a radio show and his Rhythm Room venue all at the same time.
Corritore has been to the blues festival before, once playing alongside Gray. Now, with frequent collaborator Jimi "Primetime" Smith, he's performing a tribute to his old friend.
The guitar-slinging Smith is no slouch himself, having played with everyone from Etta James to Albert King. Count on some blues at its most passionate.”
Find more details at the festival webpage.
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Piedmont Blues and Roots Festival May 4
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 (LAURENS, SC) - The annual Piedmont Blues and Roots Festival will happen May 4 from 2-8pm at West Public Square in downtown Laurens, South Carolina.
Laurens County was the birthplace and home of Rev. Gary Davis, Willie Walker, Lil McClintock, Arthur Guitar Boogie Smith and other prominent Piedmont Blues artists. The goal is to preserve and celebrate that heritage with the Piedmont Blues and Roots Festival.
Artists include Jerron Blind Boy Paxton, Veronika Jackson, Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, the Holler Floppers featuring Ali Kafka and Hunter Holmes, all of whom preserve and perform traditional music. Whether you're a "purist" or have never heard Laurens' homegrown genre of music, this year's lineup of artists from across the Southeast will bring the best of Piedmont Blues to you.
Listen to the music in the city where legends were born. The festival is an annual and free-to-the-public event. Click image for more details.
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Topanga Blues Festival happening Saturday, May 11
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 (TOPANGA, CA) - The Topanga Blues Festival is set for Saturday May 11, 2024 at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 North Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, California. One of the best and most intimate blues events in the world.
Hosted by the Cadillac Zack and the Southern California Blues Society (SCBS), they always book real blues legends, but never "obvious acts" that appear on all of the other festivals.
All award-winning artists, the festival stars the formidable guitarist Melvin Taylor, who is a major Chicago Blues Legend.
Sonny Green and Bobby Warren are So Cal's legendary elder statesmen of the blues and master entertainers.
Alvin "AJ" Jones is one of the best hidden blues guitar gems in the world.
The Delgado Brothers are absolute soulful icons from East LA. And finally, Vince Lee and Sophie Lord are a brilliant electric duo from the UK.
Find tickets via Eventbrite.
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• Central Delaware Blues Society presents
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 (SMYRNA, DE) - Singer and blues guitarist Sean Chambers recently formed a new band with Savoy Brown rhythm section members bassist Pat DeSalvo and drummer Garnet Grimm. They'll perform for an April 26 show at the Smyrna Opera House, W South St., in Smynra, Delaware. Hosted by the Central Delaware Blues Society, the show will be from 7:30pm-10:30pm.
Florida born Sean Chambers began his career in the Blues back in 1998 when he toured with the legendary Hubert Sumlin as his guitarist and band leader for 5 years. He's also played with Robert Cray, James Cotton, Pinetop Perkins and Pat Travers, among others.
Advanced tickets may be purchased from the Smyrna Opera House ticket sales site.
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Which Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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#41 Southeastern Caribbean Oct 2024 Soldout!
#42 Eastern Caribbean Jan 2025: Open Cabin Sales
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SOLDOUT! Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
#41 SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN OCT. 26 ~ NOV. 2, 2024
Sailing on the Holland America Eurodam from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Aruba & Curacao. Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Dumpstaphunk, Tommy Castro, Vanessa Collier, Paul Thorn & more
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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).
WAIT LIST & OPEN CABIN SALES LAUNCHED APRIL 16
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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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CD, Singles & DVD Releases
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Bart Bryant ::BACKSTAGE II
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 Cutting his teeth working in venues on the east coast and in Texas, guitarist Bart Bryant has paid his dues as a blues rock man. His vision of what a great band should sound like is presented in his newest project, Backstage II, produced by Vic Steffens. The twelve-song set transports the listener into a packed club on a Saturday night to bask in the glow of a smoking hot R&B venue playing revved up covers of classics and four originals mixed in for good measure that are designed to fill a dance floor.
Joining Bryant are a cast of characters including bassist Scott Spray of Johnny Winter and The Rascals’ fame, drummers Bobby Torello, (Johnny Winter, Black Oak Arkansas) Alex Giosa, Tyger MacNeal and Liviu Pop (Bruce Katz band), as well as piano man Floyd Domino (Asleep At The Wheel), guest vocalist Simone Young-Brown and horn arrangements by Emmy award-winning “one-man horn section” Bill Holloman.
Along with Bryant's originals, he covers songs by Robin Trower, Little Johnny Taylor, SRV, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, and even a version of the Elvis tune, “Mess of Blues,” and nods to the styles of Otis Rush and Led Zeppelin.
"You Make Me Move"
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"Can't Be Satisfied" Little Feat
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Just In Case... plus upcoming Holidays & Birthdays
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 APRIL:
• April 22, Earth Day
• International Guitar Month
• National Literature & Poetry Month
• National Humor Month
Birthdays: April 18 Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (1924-2005), Alexis Korner (1928–1984), Alastair Greene (1971); April 21-Clara Ward (1924-1973); April 22-George "Harmonica" Smith (1924-1983), Bullmoose Jackson (1919-1989); April 23-Charles "Cow Cow" Davenport (1894-1955); April 25-Albert King (1923-1992); April 26-Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (1886-1939), Johnny" Shines (1915-1992), J. B. Hutto (1926-1983), Mike Finnegan (1945-2022); April 27-Ann Peebles (1947), Michael Ledbetter (1985-2019); April 29-Big Jay McNeely (1927-2018), Otis Rush (1934-2018), Frankie Lee (1941-2015), April 30-Rev. Gary Davis (1896-1972), Mabel Scott (1915-2000), Frankie Lee Sims (1917-1970), Jimmie Lee Robinson (1931-2002)
 Just in case: April 23 is "Movie Theater Day." Think of all the great movies you've seen on the big screen in a theater. No matter the signs of the times these days, there still seems something magical about going to the movie theater.
As far as Blues-type movies, did anyone see Who Do You Love in 2008 which was about the Chess records saga? Born To Be Blue (2015), is a semi-biographical drama about Chet Baker — a jazzy film streaked with blues. Honeydripper (2007) is about an elusive blind guitarist (played by Keb' Mo') shrouded in mystery. Ray (2004), about the most famous blind bluesman Ray Charles, bagged Jamie Foxx an Oscar.
Crossroads (1986), is the Robert Johnson-inspired movie starring Ralph Macchio. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) is about the "Mother of the Blues" starring Viola Davis. Cadillac Records (2008) apparently stole thunder from Who Do You Love since it came out the same year and was about the same topic. I suppose great minds think alike?
The eye-opening movie Leadbelly came out in 1976. Of course The Blues Brothers (1980) was a big hit. The short, Jammin' the Blues (1944), was basically the first-ever blues movie and a crucial part of the genre's cinematic history.
There are countless other films about blues and roots... get out of your living room when one comes around and see it in a theater... yep, before theaters themselves slip into obscurity.
 April 25 is "National Telephone Day." Did you know in 1876 Inventor Elisha Gray filed a patent for the telephone within hours of Alexander Graham Bell, but Bell's patent gets approved first. We've come a long, long way from a tin can and a string! HA! What would we have done without the telephone? Now we have "Smart" phones and barely use them to talk on!
Back in 1946 Louis Jordan declared, "Buzz me , buzz me baby, I'll be waiting for your call. If you forgot the number... come on over, you won't have to call at all."
In 1951 Lightnin' Hopkins sounded a bit frustrated when he exclaimed...
"Hello Central, will you please give me 209, yes, you know I wanna talk to my baby, oh Lord, she is way down the line."
In 1956 Peewee Crayton worried, "The telephone is ringin', lord, and baby's on the line... I'm afraid to even answer, 'cause I know what's on her mind."
John Lee Hooker cried, "I ain't got nobody now people, just me and my telephone."
In 1960 Elmore James sounded pretty stoked when he sang, "I just talked to my baby, on the telephone, she said 'stop what you're doing and come on home... I can't hold out!'"
Indeed... these days we can barely holdout for the next new phone model!
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Billboard #1 Blues Albums
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Billboard & iTunes #1 Blues Album - as of April 18, 2024
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 #1 Billboard
MARCUS KING
Mood Swings
#1 iTunes
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD
Dirt On My Diamonds, Vol. !
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Get Ready to Blast Your Music with E-Blasts!
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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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Milwaukee Blues Festival
Apr-19-2024
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival
Apr-20-2024
Bessemer, Alabama, USA
Spring Fling
Apr-20-2024
Freeport, IL, Illinois, USA
Buffalo Blues & Roots Festival
Apr-20-2024
Buffalo, NY, New York, USA
SoCal Blues & Jazz Festival
Apr-20-2024 - Apr-21-2024
Murrieta, California USA
New Orleans Jazz
and Heritage Festival
Apr-25-2024 - May-05-2024
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Austin Blues Festival
Apr-27-2024 - Apr-28-2024
Austin, Texas, USA
Arena Blues Festival
May-03-2024 - May-04-2024
Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Blues Foundation
Blues Hall of Fame Awards
May-08-2024
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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| | For more festivals &
events plus tons of links
please checkout our website
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Blues Music AwardsMay-09-2024 Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Clarksdale Caravan
Music FestivalMay-11-2024 Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Heart of the Hills Blues BlastMay-11-2024 El Dorado Hills, California, USA
Blues on Broadbeach
Music FestivalMay-16-2024 - May-18-2024 Gold Coast, Kombumerri,
Broadbeach, Australia
Blues PeerMay-17-2024 - May-19-2024 Peer, Belgium
Bluesfestival BadenMay-18-2024 - May-25-2024 Baden, Switzerland
Deak's Harmonica Block PartyMay-25-2024 Clarksdale, Mississippi, 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 22 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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