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Have you got your 2024 Blues Festival Guide print magazine
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 Click HERE to order a copy of the 2024 Blues Festival Guide print magazine — It will be shipped directly to you. Although our magazine is free, there is a small shipping and handling charge.
Find 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.
Editorial Features include!
• Living Legend: Bob Stroger
• Blues On Deck
• Shredding the Glass Ceiling
• Blues From the Bluegrass State
• Visiting First Cousins By Reverend Billy C. Wirtz
• What’s Cookin’ with Anthony Geraci
• The European Blues Union: Promoting & Preserving the Blues in Europe
Order your very own 2024 Blues Festival Guide now!
The Blues Foundation is official sponsor of the 22nd annual Blues Festival Guide magazine!
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Blues On The Fox — it’s the coolest
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 (AURORA, IL) - Blues On The Fox happens Friday, June 14 - Saturday, June 15 at the at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway in Aurora, Illinois. Gates 6pm Friday, and 2pm Saturday.
The coolest Blues Festival in the Midwest is back with an amazing line up.
Friday: Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon, the blistering guitarist, soulful vocalist, singular songwriter, fuses his muscular, rock-inspired blues guitar playing with his original, slice-of-life songs. (7pm)
Robert Randolph is a virtuoso on the pedal steel guitar. His innovative approach to the instrument has earned him four Grammy nominations, multiple Blues Music Awards, a BMI award, and Rolling Stone named Randolph one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” (9pm)
Saturday: Wayne Baker Brooks was born and raised in Chicago amongst the most prolific blues legends in the world. The youngest son of blues master Lonnie Brooks, Wayne was literally born into the blues. (3pm)
Guy King has built a reputation as one of the greatest blues and jazz artists to come out of Chicago in recent history — fresh, natural musical abilities and a one-of-a-kind blend of blues, jazz, soul, rock and R&B. (5pm)
Joanne Shaw Taylor is a critically acclaimed British guitarist and singer songwriter. The Billboard chart-topping Taylor is universally hailed as the UK’s premiere blues rock guitarist. (7pm)
Big Head Todd and The Monsters, the platinum-selling Colorado quartet, deliver uplifting anthems fueled no-nonsense hard rock, simmering soul, dyed-in-the-wool blues and a twist of country. (9pm).
General Admission Friday: $15 thru May 31, then $20. Admission Saturday: $20 thru May 31, then $25.
Bring your own bag chairs or blankets. Some limited bench seating near stage – first come, first served. Children 12 and under free, but get a ticket from Gate Ticket Booth. Click here for parking information.
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BMA’s Blues Rock Artist of the Year Mike Zito album & tour
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 Gulf Coast Records, multi-Blues Music Award-winner Mike Zito took home the 2024 Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Award (BMA) for “Blues Rock Artist of The Year” in Memphis, TN on May 9.
Zito recently released his new album, Life Is Hard, and is touring to support with the Mike Zito Band. He and the band will now be in California, Nevada and Utah through May.
“Life Is Hard is a complete work of art for me,” says Mike Zito about the new disc. “I believe this is the best album I’ve ever made in my life. My wife Laura and I planned this idea of pouring my heart out in music after her death from cancer.”
Zito recorded the Life Is Hard at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, California, with Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith producing. “Joe, Josh and the incredible musicians were fully aware of the task at hand,” Zito continues. “They brought a lot of emotion to the music. I am so proud of this album and I know Laura would be proud as well.”
Both Bonamassa and Smith were involved in the production of Blood Brothers, the critically-acclaimed album Zito recorded with fellow label guitarist Albert Castiglia. That album topped both the Billboard and iTunes Blues charts after its release in March, 2023 and it just won the 2024 BMA for “Blues Rock Album of the Year.”
Find schedule, music and more here.
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Score with JamBase in massive fly away contest
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Discover music festivals with artists you love, and a chance to go for free! Contest is open until next Friday, May 24, at 11:59pm PDT.
Our partner JamBase is helping music fans around the world "Go See Live Music" by launching a massive fly away contest that will send a lucky winner to a festival of their choice anywhere in the world!
On top of the epic contest there's an even cooler way to enter: "Find Your Fest" where you’ll discover your top 2024 music festival lineups based on artists you love.
We hope you'll explore JamBase's entire “Festivals For Everyone” campaign and share your top festivals with us! Remember, the contest open only until next Friday, May 24, up until 11:59pm PDT.
Check it out here and hope to see you at a Blues festival!
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Historic Mississippi Hall is living breathing landmark
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 (BAY ST. LOUIS, MS) – Journalist Rachel Dangermond and her son have owned the 100 Men Hall since 2018 and she's been heralded for literally bringing the Hall and museum back to  life. Through, floods, hurricanes, the pandemic and more, the Hall has thrived and survived! Under her guidance it has operated as a nonprofit, music venue, multipurpose hall rental, and community space.
Along with it's important community status, it is a significant juke joint on the Chitlin Circuit. In February she and her son were honored with a 36th Annual Governor’s Arts Award.
It’s a living, breathing landmark.
Among the events offered, the 100 Men Hall hosts a writer’s workshop once a month, and a Happy Hour every Thursday. The Hall just hosted “Harps on Fire” featuring 2024 BMA winner Jason Ricci and Johnny Sansone. Comin up June 7 you can catch Cedric Burnside in concert and BBQ.
The Hall presents Summer “Blues Brunches and kicking off on June 9th is 2024 BMA winner DK Harrell (11am-1pm). Bookerfest happens over Labor Day weekend honoring native James Booker. And there’s much more.
The 100 Men Hall organization was founded in 1894 by 12 civic-minded African American Bay Saint Louis residents who organized under the name "Hundred Members Debating Benevolent Association" in order to "assist its members when sick, bury its dead in a respectable manner, and knit friendship.” In 1922, a cornerstone was laid and the existing Hall was built 303 Union Street, in Saint Bay Louis, Mississippi,
Over many decades, the Hall attracted legendary musicians such as Ray Charles, James Brown, Etta James, Sam Cooke, BB King, Chuck Berry, Diamond Joe, Ernie K-Doe, Fats Domino, Lee Dorsey, James Booker, Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair and countless other Black musicians at a time when white-only clubs forbid their entry.
The 100 Men Hall is now one of the rare physical sites still standing on the Mississippi Blues Trail.
Bottom Photo by Marika Flatt
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Rockin' good time at Blues From The Top June 28-30
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 (Winter Park, CO) - Get ready to groove at the Blues From The Top Music Festival June 28-30
You know it will be a rockin' good time.
Presented by The Grand County Blues Society, the festival will be held at the Rendezvous Event Center, Downtown Winter Park 78821 U.S. 40, Winter Park, Colorado!
Friday, June 28th: Big Head Todd & The Monsters, and Eddie 9V.
Saturday, June 29: Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals. Charlie Musselwhite, Ally Venable Band, GA-20, and Taj Farrant.
Sunday, June 30: Eric Gales, Canned Heat, Tommy Castro & Deanna Bogart, and Toronzo Cannon.
Buy Tickets Today!
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• Lake of the Ozarks Blues Society Blues Festival May 18
• West Coast Blues Society Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
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 (ELDON, MO) - The Lake of the Ozarks Blues Society presents the 3rd Annual Blues Festival, Sat. May 18, in partnership with Shawnee Bluff Vineyard, 8 Tolwood Rd., Eldon, Missouri.
The festival runs from 12pm-6pm. Performing will be the Kirk Brown Band, Blues Society Band, Brother Jefferson Band.
There will be a Cajun food truck, ice cream, kettle corn, and beverages for purchase.
The festival is free and all ages are welcome!
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(HAYWARD, CA) - Saturday, June 22, the West Coast Blues Society and Juneteenth Hayward will present the 4th Annual Juneteenth  Freedom Celebration, from 12-6pm, at Hayward Heritage Plaza, 835 C Street, with a blues festival, a variety of foods, vendors, and a beer and wine garden.
Music performances include Leo Oliver and The Blues Knockouts, the Russell City Memorial Blues Band, The West Coast Caravan of All Stars, featuring the legendary Fillmore Slim, Mississippi Chuck Wallace and more. Plus, family and youth-oriented activities.
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. There will also be exhibits and programs at the Hayward Public Library during the month of June.
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Which Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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#41 Southeastern Caribbean Oct 2024: Soldout! Join Wait List
#42 Eastern Caribbean Jan 2025: Soldout! Join Wait List!
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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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SOLDOUT! 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).
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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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Big George Harp :: COOKING WITH GAS
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 San Francisco singer songwriter and harmonica man Big Harp George made a smart move across the bay taking his act to Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios in San Jose, CA to work with his team on his seventh studio album. The pair enlisted top players to lay down a dozen new tracks of simmering soul, funk and jazzy blues aptly named Cooking With Gas.
Drummers Derrick D’Mar Martin and June Core share duties with Joe Kyle Jr. and the legendary Jerry Jemmott on bass. Kid Andersen handles guitars, and producer Chris Burns on keyboards. Trombone genius Mike Rinta leads the five-piece horn section, with the Sons of the Soul Revivers on backing vocals.
The tongue-in-cheek title track is the first dish of this musical feast. George blends satire with swing on the timely commentary of “Cellphone Hater,” followed by an adventure ride on the Salsa flavored “Doom Loop.” George channels Amos Milburn on the classic R&B styled track, “Wine Is My Friend.” Saxophonist Michael Peloquin wrote the funk instrumental “Maceosity,” honoring Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, and the great players who originated the art form backing the Godfather of Soul. “Awkward Me” is orchestrated like a 1930’s radio melodrama, then the whole crew swings hard on the zany “What The Missus Misses,” and its 50’s sitcom theme song vibe.
George demonstrates his skill on the chromatic harmonica on the swinging instrumental “June’s Tune,” named after the much-loved drummer, and the spicy rhumba, “DIY Mama,” is a modern twist on a classic form. “Paradise Is Burning” is thought provoking, and then George pokes fun at himself and fellow men of a certain age on the big band number “The Older We Get.” The sentimental ballad, “When I First Held Valerie,” finishes off the banquet with George using his blues harp to convey his deep feelings of love and inspiration.
"Cooking With Gas"
Website
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"Why I Sing The Blues"
with D.K. Harrell, Kingfish, Sean "Mac" Macdonald, David Julia, Scottie Miller (keys), Larry Fulcher (bass), and Brannon Temple (drums)
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Just In Case... plus upcoming Holidays & Birthdays
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 MAY: • National Photography Month
• International Drum Month
Pictured is Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith who just won the 2024 BMA "Best Drummer"
• May 27 Memorial Day (U.S.)
• Amnesty Day International May 28
Birthdays: May 17-Taj Mahal (1942); May 18-Little Son Joe Lawlars (1900-1961), Big Joe Turner (1911-1985); May 19-Jimmy Thackery (1953); May 20-Joe Cocker (1944-2014); May 21-Fats Waller (1904-1943), Dave Specter (1963), Billy Wright (1932-1991), Ronald Isley (1941); May 24- Bob Dylan (1941); May 25-Miles Davis (1926); May 26-Mamie Smith (1883–1946), Levon Helm (1940-2012); May 27-Junior Parker (1932-1971); May 28 T-Bone Walker aka Aaron Thibeaux Walker (1910-1975), Gladys Knight (1944), Kaati (our BFG Owner/Publisher), Papa John Creech (1917-1989); John Fogarty (1945); May 29-Ron Levy (1951)
 Just in Case: May 22 is "Buy A Musical Instrument Day"... this obviously needs no explanation but whether you find a harmonica, guitar, microphone, horn, maracas, or a drum kit you can't live without at a music store, via a private party, or a thrift store, go ahead and get down with your bad self!
May 24 is "National Brother's Day"... I have one sister but I feel absolutely blessed and fulfilled to have many music brothers!
May 25 is "National Sing-Out Day"... so if you don't have a gig that day, you could find an actual jam, or just belt it out in the car, or let the neighbors in on some of your favorite tunes. ___________________________________________________
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Billboard #1 Blues Albums
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Billboard & iTunes #1 Blues Album - as of May 16, 2024
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 #1 Billboard
GARY CLARK JR.
JPEG Raw
#1 iTunes
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHARD
Dirt on My Diamonds Vol. 1
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Get Ready to Blast Your Music with E-Blasts!
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Click the image above for our rate card. We're here to serve! |
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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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  Follow us on INSTAGRAM with 11.3+ BluesersBluesy fest 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
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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 on Broadbeach
Music Festival
May-16-2024 - May-18-2024
Gold Coast, Kombumerri,
Broadbeach, Australia
Blues Peer
May-17-2024 - May-19-2024
Peer, Belgium
3rd Women In Blues
May-18-2024
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
7th Baton Rouge
Soul Food Festival
May-18-2024 - May-19-2024
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Bluesfestival Baden
May-18-2024 - May-25-2024
Baden, Switzerland
No. Central Florida Blues Society
6th Women in Blues Showcase
May-19-2024
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Mönsterås Blues and Roots
May-24-2024 - May-25-2024
Mönsterås, Sweden
Ground Zero Blues Club
21st Anniversary
May-24-2024 - May-25-2024
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Deak's Harmonica Block Party
May-25-2024
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Duvelblues
May-25-2024
Puurs-Sint-Amands, Belgium
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| | For more festivals &
events plus tons of links
please checkout our website
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Exit 56 Blues Fest
May-25-2024 - May-26-2024
Brownsville, Tennessee, USA
Westsylvania Jazz & Blues Festival
May-25-2024
Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
Bad Apple Blues Festival
May-26-2024
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Eureka Springs Blues Party
May-30-2024 - Jun-02-2024
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA
Greeley Blues Jam Music Festival
May-31-2024 - Jun-01-2024
Greeley, Colorado, USA
Benicàssim Blues Festival
May-31-2024 - Jun-02-2024
Benicàssim, Spain
Chester County Blues Barbeque
Jun-01-2024
Elverson, Pennsylvania, USA
Ojai Blues Fest
Jun-01-2024 - Jun-02-2024
Ojai, California, USA
BigLlou's Blues Fest
Kickoff Party & FunRaiser
Jun-05-2024
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Chicago Blues Festival
Jun-06-2024 - Jun-09-2024
Chicago, Illinois, US
Germantown Schnitzelburg
Blues Festival
Jun-07-2024 - Jun-08-2024
Louisville, Kentucky, 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.
To ensure delivery please set up your spam filters to allow mail from
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Fair Use Act statement and disclaimer
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