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Photo Moments with the 22nd Annual BFG Magazine!
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 Here's the affable Bill Wax during Blues Hall of Fame and Blues Music Awards week in Memphis. Bill was the original Program Director of Bluesville, Sirius/XM Satellite Radio, Proprietor of Lo-Fi's Bar and Pool Hall in the Heart of Bluesville, and former President of the Blues Foundation.
Bill is a "Champion of and for the Blues."
Photo: Marilyn Stringer
Order your very own 2024 Blues Festival Guide now! Take a picture of yourself, friends, and/or artists, etc. with the BFG magazine... have fun with it! Send pic via email with a caption (100 words max), URL if applicable, and photo credit to michele@bluesfestivalguide.com.
BFG clients, contact your sales rep for your own copy!
The Blues Foundation is official sponsor of the 22nd annual Blues Festival Guide print magazine!
Blues legend Bobby Rush calls BFG: "The roadmap to everything blues."
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29th Annual Tampa Bay Blues Festival on the waterfront
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 (ST. PETERSBERG, FL) - The Tampa Bay Blues Foundation Inc. announces the 29th annual Tampa Bay Blues Festival set for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 11, 12, 13, 2025 at Vinoy Waterfront Park, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Staged on the scenic shores of Tampa Bay, this popular waterfront blues festival features a world-class lineup of blues music, tasty food vendors, full liquor bars, craft beers and wines, arts and crafts, and fun on the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg. The event draws visitors from throughout the United States and beyond and was recognized by the Blues Foundation as one of America’s Best Blues Festivals.
Join us for a fabulous weekend of blues music with artists including Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Tab Benoit, Walter Trout, Taj Farrant, Ana Popovic, Curtis Salgado, Ruthie Foster, North Mississippi Allstars, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Selwyn Birchwood, Mathias Lattin, Tad Robinson, DK Harrell, Sierra Green & The Giants, plus a Saturday headliner TBA. Artists and times subject to change.
The Thursday Kick Off Party at The Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Avenue North, in St. Petersburg, will feature Ronnie Baker Brooks and the North Mississippi Allstars. Doors 6:30pm.
The weekend offers a unique VIP program that provides front stage seating, backstage shade tents located directly on Tampa Bay, complimentary foods, beers, wines, a/c restrooms, early entry, and much more — an ideal way to enjoy one of America’s best blues festivals in a comfortable and relaxing setting. For tickets, VIP passes and more information, visit the website.
Please order your tickets and VIP passes now to join us in St Petersburg, Florida for three great days of blues by the bay! For festival sponsorship opportunities please contact us via email.
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Thank you from Eden Brent
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 In this holiday season, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for your support of Eden Brent this year. We've been thrilled with the response to the new album Getaway Blues on Yellow Dog Records, and we deeply appreciate everyone who has listened, shared, and enjoyed!
Laid down in London, mixed up in Memphis, made in Mississippi, Getaway Blues is a testament to all that makes the award-winning Brent shine as an artist: roots-perfected musical honesty, taste, and chops, combined with stellar songcraft.
Getaway Blues charted for multiple months on the Living Blues Radio Chart, Big Blues Radio Chart, Roots Music Report, and Americana Music Association Chart while racking up airplay from SiriusXM to KPIG. Take a listen here.
We've shared a few of our favorite press quotes:
"Refined blues, heartfelt and passionate... has true soul and in spots is outright sensual. Eden Brent is on fire." — Living Blues
"When she starts to sing, she just totally owns us... intoxicating and sultry and wonderful." — Michael Doherty's Music Log
"A direct, unadorned treasure... mixes songs laced with familiar double-entendre messages and intimate ballads that will leave you yearning for more." — Blues Blast
"A brilliant album packed with boogie-woogie piano blues that is all but impossible to walk away from..." — American Songwriter
"Her passionate lyrics draw their power from emotional precision, not from roof-shaking volume... If you love blues, you surely should be hearing Eden Brent, who can lay claim to rank among the 21st-century masters. " — Rambles
Follow Eden on Socials: Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
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Boogie Woogie piano maestro Mitch Woods’ Happy Hour
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 "On this, his 14th album, singer and boogie piano master Mitch Woods has reprised 13 of his top cuts with new recordings ... This is one fun blues party. If you are new to Mitch Woods, this is a great place to start. If you are a long-time fan, you friends in their new clothing." - Mark Smith, WYCE-FM
"Mitch Woods...gives heart and soul to jump blues... Woods sings with smooth ebullience and hammers the piano keys with the unchecked gaiety of mentors Professor Longhair and Amos Milburn." - Frank-John Hadley, Downbeat
Click the image to listen to "Jukebox Drive" from Woods' new album Happy Hour, which was recorded at Greaseland Studios with Kid Andersen at the helm.
Click here to order your copy of Happy Hour now.
Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s have been the torchbearers of a great American blues musical heritage for four decades. Taking their inspiration from the great jump n' boogie outfits of the late 40s and early 50s and adding a healthy dose of New Orleans rhythm and blues, pile drivin' piano, and some of his own contemporary playful lyrics, Woods and His Rocket 88s forge their own brand of fresh music they call "rock-a-boogie." Stop in and get a closer look at Mitch here.
Festivals worldwide have enjoyed Boogie Woogie piano maestro Mitch Woods along with his all-star Rocket 88s, featuring noted players from his two home bases of New Orleans and San Francisco. Mitch has also performed solo and led workshops at many festivals as well.
Mitch Woods & his Rocket 88s are available for festivals, private parties, corporate events, concerts, and clubs and will be glad to talk to you about customizing the band for your event requirements, from solo to big band.
Always ready to boogie, Mitch and is now booking Festival Season 2025! Book him via email and get your place jumpin'.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
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#43 LRBC Bands Announced + Open Cabin Sales Dec 13
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 The bands have been announced for Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise #43. which will sail Oct. 25-Nov. 1, 2025 on Holland America Koningsdam from San Diego, CA to Cabo San Lucas, Loreto, and La Paz, MX before returning to the San Diego port — Open cabin sales begin Dec 13th at 11am Central.
Performing onboard will be Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Keb’ Mo’, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Bobby Rush, Shemekia Copeland, Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, Ana Popovic & FANTASTAFUNK Big Band, Victor Wainwright & the Train, Danielle Nicole Band, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, James Hunter, Mr. Sipp, Deanna Bogart & the Blusionaires, Desoto Tiger's Testimony w/Damon Fowler, Jason Ricci, Jonathon Boogie Long & more, Marquise Knox, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & the Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band, Kid Andersen's Greaseland Allstars w/Surprise Guests, D.K. Harrell, Dennis Jones, Dylan Triplett Band, Mathias Lattin, and Stephen Hull Experience.
Acoustic: Dom Flemons "The American Songster," and the 2025 IBC Solo-Duo Winner (TBA)
Piano Bar Hosts: Mitch Woods Club 88, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, Daryl Davis, Taryn Donath Duo, and Eden Brent w/Bob Dowell.
Late Night: Mr. Sipp’s Sugar Shack
Plus more artists and surprise guests to be announced!
Mark your calendar for Dec. 13th at 11am Central. Visit Online Reservations or call (816) 753-7979 at that time.
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Thanks for the Ruf Tour Memories
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 We would like to thank all of the artists, crew and so many great people who came out to the Ruf Records 30th Anniversary Tour! We made so many memories that will be cherished for a very long time. Thank you again to all who made this special tour a success!
You can still grab a 30 year Anniversary Tour T-shirt at the Ruf Records website!
Photo by Arnie Goodman
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Big Easy for those who are not booked on the 2025 cruise... Registration for the 2026 Big Easy Cruise Presale is now open!
Register now for your chance at early cabin access before they open sales to the public! Not only will you have a shot at the best cabin selection, but you’ll also receive the lowest early-bird cabin rates.
You must register by 11:59pm ET on Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 to secure a spot for our 24-hour presale window. The 24-hour booking window will begin at 9am ET on Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025.
Find more important details for the presale event and register here.
The Big Easy team will be announcing more exciting lineup details before the presale begins, so stay tuned!
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William Lee Ellis :: LONG NIGHT
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 On new EP, Long Night, acclaimed roots music master William Lee Ellis offers a blues, gospel, and ragtime-infused companion to his Blues Music Award-nominated Ghost Hymns. The six-track collection of original compositions continues Ellis’s singular journey with deftly arranged fingerpicking on a panoply of guitars and in as many styles, all connected by Ellis’s unique songwriting voice.
Proclaimed "one of our finest contemporary songwriters" by Living Blues, Ellis explores heartbreak, joy, and whimsy in equal measure on such tracks as the slide-guitar gospel opener, "Mighty Storm," co-written with noted blues songstress Sandy Carroll; the lovely twelve-string instrumental, "Luna Rosa," sonically suggesting a 78-record roaring back to life; the picker’s delight of a rag, "Heaven’s Full of Cats;" and the powerful Delta blues-imbued title track.
Long Night continues Ellis’s long and fruitful string of hailed releases for Yellow Dog Records, now five albums strong.
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• Atlanta Blues Society Holiday Party
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(SANDY SPRINGS, GA) - The annual Atlanta Blues Society (ABS) Holiday Party on Dec 8th is a membership drive and “Thank You” to members, and will be held at the Dorothy C. Benson Multipurpose Complex, Building B, 6500 Vernon Woods Drive, Sandy Springs, Georgia. Buffet, provided by Fat Matt’s, is free for members and sponsors, and non-members will be charged $15. Cash Bar available. Non-smoking, kid friendly event, with plenty of parking, and lots of dancing room! Check in at the membership table to get your Door Prize ticket. Santa will be dropping by! Please bring at least one new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.
Performing will be this year’s Atlanta Blues Challenge Youth Act Winner Time Crunch, followed by the Solo/Duo Winner, Cash’s Juke Joint Duo; and the Band Winner, The Garrett Collins Project. ABS will be presenting the winners with their prize money and will be collecting tips from you. The ABS will match the tips collected, so please make sure to bring cash and be generous. These funds will help offset the costs for their trip and stay in Memphis.
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 (SAN ANTONIO, TX) - San Antonio Blues Society presented an Honorary Lifetime Member Artist award to former Bluesbreaker, Texas guitarist, songwriter Rocky Athas. "What a great night we had," Rocky said! "Let's keep rockin' the blues!"
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* BLUES SOCIETIES*
Send us your Event info so
we can share with readers
(max 125 words). Toot your horn, promote and support your talented regional artists.
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Which Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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#42 Eastern Caribbean Jan 2025: Soldout! Join Wait List
#43 Sea of Cortez Oct 2025: Open Cabin Sales start Dec 13
#44 Eastern Caribbean Jan 2026: Pre-Book Now
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#42 SOLDOUT!
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
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).
or call (816) 753-7979
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PRE-BOOK NOW!
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
#43 SEA OF CORTEZ
OCT 25 ~ NOV 1, 2025
 Sailing on Holland America’s Koningsdam from San Diego, CA to Cabo San Lucas, Loreto & La Paz. A $500 fully-refundable deposit per cabin holds your space in line. Open cabin sales begin Dec 13th 11am CST. Additional passengers may be added once you select your stateroom. (816) 753-7979 to prebook early and receive priority cabin selection!
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PRE-BOOK NOW!
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise #44 EASTERN CARIBBEAN
Jan. 24 ~ 31, 2026
Sailing on the Holland America Nieuw Statendam from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to St. John (USVI), St. Maarten & Half Moon Cay (Bahamas Private Island). A $500 fully-refundable deposit per cabin holds your space in line. Detailed instructions announced in early April. Additional passengers may be added once you select your stateroom.
(816) 753-7979 to prebook early and receive priority cabin selection!
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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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Chris Cain, Albert Castiglia, DK Harrell "Blues Power"
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Birthdays & Just In Case...
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Just In Case... plus various upcoming Holidays & Birthdays
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 • DECEMBER IS THE MONTH OF GIVING!
• Dec 10 Human Rights Day
• Dec 16-24 Las Posadas
• Dec 23 Festivus
• Dec 25 Christmas
• Dec 25-Jan 2 Hanukkah
• Dec 26-Jan 1 Kwanzaa
Birthdays: Dec 5 Alec "Rice" Miller aka Sonny Boy Williamson II (1912-1965), Kim Simmonds (1947-2022), "Little Richard" Penniman (1932-2020); Dec 6 Sean Carney (1972); Dec 9 Junior Wells aka Amos Wells Blakemore Jr. (1934-1998), Dec 10 Guitar Slim aka Eddie Jones (1926-1959 pictured); 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); 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)
 Just in Case: December 8th is"Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day!"
Oh, go ahead, use your imagination!
If you could move across the time, where would you want to go and who would you want to meet?
Maybe go back to visit a long forgotten juke joint or go back in the day when you could experience an artist you dig that was still with us, maybe even just to sit and have a simple conversation with them? Or... go forward to experience the future of Blues. I think it will still be a soulful, enriching source in our lives.
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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 5, 2024
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 #1 Billboard
WARREN HAYNES
Million Whisper Voices
#1 iTunes
JERRON PAXTON
Things Done Changed
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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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Have your 2024 Blues Festival Guide print magazine?
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 Click HERE to order your copy of the 2024 Blues Festival Guide print magazine shipped directly to you for only a small shipping/handling charge.
(BFG clients, reach out to your BFG reps for your copy).
The annual features industry happenings, blues history, lifestyle, entertaining and educational features, and dozens of blues festivals to help you plan your calendar!
You can also peruse the 2024 Blues Festival Guide Magazine Digital Edition online with a simple click in the outside margins. Listen to "Soul Doctor." by cover photo artist Jimmy Carpenter. Plus find hyperlinks throughout!
Cover photo by Marilyn Stringer
Blues legend Bobby Rush calls the BFG: "The roadmap to everything blues."
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 Hey, come on over and Join 14k+ 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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Allman Betts Family RevivalDec-5-2024 - Dec-21-2024 MA - NY - VA - FL - SC - KY - MO
TN - WA - CO - NV - CA USA
Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival
Dec-07-2024
Lakewood Ranch, Florida, USA
Clarksdale's New Years WeekendDec-31-2024 Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
International Blues ChallengeJan-7-2025 - Jan-11-2025 Memphis, Tennessee USA
Clarksdale Film & Music Festival Jan-24-2025 - Jan-26 -2025 Clarksdale, Mississippi USA
Lehigh River Blues JamFeb-01-2025 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
Cincinnati Winter Blues
Experience VI
Feb-08-2025
Mason, Ohio, USA
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| | For more festivals &
events plus tons of links
please checkout our website
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Vero Beach Blues Festival
Feb-15-2025 - Feb-16-2025
Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Keeping the Blues Alive At Sea
Mar-21-2025 - Mar-26-2025
Miami, Florida, USA
19th Blues By the Sea
Apr-13-2025
Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA
33rd Springing The Blues
Apr-4-2025 - Apr-6-2025
Jacksonville Beach, Florida USA
Baton Rouge Blues Festival
Apr-4-2025 - Apr-6-2025
Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA
New Orleans
Jazz & Heritage Festival
Apr-04-2025 - May-04-2025
New Orleans, Louisiana USA
22nd Annual Juke Joint Festival
& Related Events
Apr-10-2025 - Apr-13-2025
Clarksdale, Mississippi USA
French Quarter Festival
Apr-10-2025 - Apr-13-2025
New Orleans, Louisiana USA
Tampa Bay Blues Festival
Apr-11-2025 - Apr-13-2025
St. Petersburg, Florida USA
Byron Bay Blues Fest
Apr-17-2025 - Apr-20-2025
Byron Bay, North South Wales AUS
Bob Sykes
BBQ & Blues Festival
Apr-26-2025
North Bessemer, Alabama USA
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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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