| March 23, 2007 |
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Vol 2 Issue 9
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ADVERTISE IN "THE MAGAZINE"
If Blues is your business, don't miss this is a once a year opportunity to promote yourself, your festival, your band, your record label, etc. in the 5th annual Blues Festival Guide magazine.
 With circulation numbers more than 3 times that of the next largest blues publication, this is where your ads need to be. THE BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE is retained and referred to for an entire year. Advertisers get multiple impressions from just one ad. Rates and payment plans for every budget. The Ad deadline for the 2007 BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE magazine is April 9th. Call 775/337-8626 TODAY to find out more and to reserve your space. Or click to visit our website www.BluesFestivalGuide.com |
DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISING EXTENDED
The deadline for submitting your ads to appear in the 2007 Blues Festival Guide magazine has been extended until April 9th.
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BLUE STEW AND FRIENDS : : Headed South
"Headed South" was one of the 5 finalists for The Blues Foundation's "Best Self Produced CD competition".
Blue Stew is a unique and original rockin' blues band from Ventura, CA. with three critically acclaimed CDs released in the USA. Formed in 1994, they have played shows with Little Feat, Duke Robillard, Eddy Clearwater, Roomful of Blues, Larry Carlton, The Blasters, Storyville, Doug Sahm & The Last Real Texas Blues Band.... Their music has had substantial radio play as well as glowing reviews in Blues Revue, Blues Access, L.A. Times, Blues Bytes.
The CD, "Stumbling Blocks & Stepping Stones", was released in September 2000. From that CD, "My Baby's Cookin'" and "Child of the Street" reached # 1 on MP3. "Nobody's There" was heard in a Warner Bros. T.V. series titled "Elimidate" on the W.B. network.
(remember to allow pop-ups in order to hear the music. That means holding down your control key for several seconds while two new pages open...it's worth the effort)
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SPENCER BOHREN : : The Long Black Line
"Every New Orleanian knows about the long black line, the dirty bathtub ring left by receding floodwaters. Folk/blues troubadour Spencer Bohren threads that indelible image through a post-Katrina landscape laced with the menace and moan of a slow-crawl, doomsday acoustic slide guitar. His unflinching narration resonates with the authority of an Old Testament prophet. "The Long Black Line" could serve as the soundtrack to a Katrina documentary, but video footage would be redundant - Bohren's song paints an all-too-vivid picture."
Also performed are an array of topical songs that give the listener the feeling of reading the news of the day.- Keith Spera for the Times Picayune
(remember to allow pop-ups in order to hear the music. That means holding down your control key for several seconds while two new pages open...it's worth the effort)
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Enter this contest and win!
Congratulations to Rob Botti Jr who won 2 tickets to see 3-time blues Grammy winner Delbert McClinton in concert at the Keswick Theatre, outside of Philadelphia.
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CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL
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Credited throughout his career with creating super sounds in super groups, the ultimate Eric Clapton collaboration will take place July 28, 2007 when he gathers the past, present and future of guitar music onto one stage for an incredible full day musical event.Announced this week, the second Crossroads Guitar Festival, scheduled for July 28, 2007 at Toyota Park in Chicago, will be a cornerstone of this year's summer music festival season.
Tickets for the Crossroads Guitar Festival will go on sale to the public
on Saturday, March 31 at 10am Central Time (11am EST) via
www.ticketmaster.com or Ticketmaster phone charge at 312-559-1950 or
Ticketmaster retail outlets. Both reserved and general admission tickets
will be available for this event.
All tickets will be priced at $90 plus applicable ticketing/service
charges. The ticket price includes parking for the day and the concert
begins at NOON.
CURRENT ARTIST LISTING CONFIRMED:
Jeff Beck
Doyle Bramhall II
Eric Clapton
Robert Cray
Sheryl Crow
Vince Gill
Buddy Guy
BB King
Alison Krauss and Union Station
Sonny Landreth
Albert Lee
Los Lobos
John Mayer
John McLaughlin
Willie Nelson
Robert Randolph
Hubert Sumlin
Derek Trucks
Jimmie Vaughan
Steve Winwood
Since its inception, Clapton�s vision for the Crossroads Guitar Festival has been to create an event where his friends and contemporaries can have fun and jam together for the benefit of a good cause. This year�s Festival will feature a full day of musical performances with once-in-a-lifetime guitar collaborations. Known as pioneers in their field, the roster of artists spans old and new, from BB King to John Mayer. The audience can expect unrivaled entertainment, brilliant guitar work, surprise guests and impromptu jams that are the hallmarks of these performers.
The first Crossroads Guitar Festival, in June 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, was an unprecedented collection of guitar icons from blues, rock and contemporary music. The sold-out show was chronicled in a 2-disc DVD that has since gone on to become one of the world�s top-selling music DVD�s, recently achieving the 8x platinum mark in the United States alone.
�The Crossroads Festival is the realization of a dream for me, to gather a group of amazingly talented musicians to perform on one stage,� said Clapton. �The Crossroads performers are all musicians I admire and respect.�
Additional Festival artists and elements to be announced shortly.
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American Laundromat Records And Daisy Rock Guitars Announce Neil Young Cover Song Contest
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Unsigned Female Artists Can Win a Spot on a Nationally Distributed Benefit CD, a Daisy Rock Guitar and More!
American Laundromat Records and Daisy Rock Guitars are co-sponsoring a contest inviting female artists and female-fronted bands to submit a cover version of Neil Young�s �Only Love Can Break Your Heart� to win a Daisy Rock guitar, consideration for an official Daisy Rock endorsement, and a guaranteed slot on the upcoming American Laundromat Records benefit CD �Cinnamon Girl - Women Artists Cover Neil Young�.
All proceeds from the Cinnamon Girl project will be donated to Casting For Recovery, a national non-profit support and educational program for women who have or have had breast cancer. Tanya Donelly, Jill Sobule, The Watson Twins, Kristin Hersh, Lori McKenna, Josie Cotton, and Britta Phillips are just some of the outstanding female artists covering Neil Young for the Cinnamon Girl benefit CD due out October 3, 2007.
To be eligible, bands must meet the following requirements:
- Have a lead female vocalist, and at least one female guitarist or bassist
- Have a website and/or myspace page, and gig regularly at local clubs and venues
- Be a fan of Neil Young�s music
The contest winner will receive:
- A guaranteed spot on the Cinnamon Girl benefit CD
- Free Daisy Rock guitar or bass, and consideration to earn an official Daisy Rock endorsement
- Winner will be announced worldwide on the American Laundromat website and myspace page as well as the Daisy Rock web site and myspace page
To enter, artists are invited to submit their cover version of �Only Love Can Break Your Heart� on CD to American Laundromat Records, c/o Cinnamon Girl Contest, P.O. Box 1428, Pawcatuck, CT 06379. Submission deadline is May 15th. The winner will be chosen and announced on June 1st. Any questions regarding the contest should be directed to americanlaundromat@hotmail.com with the following in the subject field �Cinnamon Girl Contest Question�.
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The Harry Fox Agency Collects Over $379 Million In Royalties For Its More Than 31,000 Affiliated Publishers In 2006
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The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA), a leading U.S. music rights licensing organization, announced today that its total 2006 royalty collections from all sources was $379.4 million, a 2% increase from 2005, with 1.49 million mechanical licenses issued in the year. 182 music publishers chose to affiliate with HFA in 2006, bringing the company�s total representation to over 31,000, with over 1.6 million songs available for licensing.
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Casio Recalls Electronic Keyboards Due to Fire Hazard
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The recalled keyboards can overheat when in use, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Casio, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of product: Electronic Musical Keyboards
Units: About 12,000
Importer: Casio� Inc., of Dover, N.J.
Manufacturer: Casio Computer Co. Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan
Hazard: The recalled keyboards can overheat when in use, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Casio� has received five reports of keyboards overheating, including two incidents that resulted in fire. There have been two reports of property damage, in addition to the unit itself. No injuries have been reported.
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HBO Taking on the Life of Robert Johnson
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HBO Films is developing a movie about the life of legendary blues musician Robert Johnson; James L. White (Ray) is set to write the screenplay.
The film will look at the life of the so-called King of the Delta Blues, partly from the point of view of his son Claud. Variety adds Johnson was an iconic blues musician from Mississippi who died in 1938 at the age of 27 and has been posthumously recognized as the grandfather of many musical genres, including rock 'n' roll. Claud Johnson, who waged a court battle for years to be acknowledged as the musician's son, was raised by his religious grandfather and taught that his father practiced the devil's music.
HBO Films hasn't yet decided whether it would release the Johnson movie theatrically or on the pay network.
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State historical marker will honor Ruth Brown
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Blues legend and Portsmouth VA native Ruth Brown, dubbed the "Queen Mother of the Blues," will be honored with a state historical highway marker. The location is still to be decided.
Brown, who died in November, was the best-selling black female recording artist of the early 1950s, as well as an enduring blues artist.
The singer received a 1989 Tony Award for her performance in the musical "Black and Blue," was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1993.
The marker, to be installed in Portsmouth sometime this year, was paid for by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the Virginia Historical Society as a joint celebration of the state's diversity.
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Nationwide Gig Calendar Hosted by STLBlues
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Press Release from www.STLBlues.net
"Consistent with our commitment to support and promote Blues musicians and live Blues music, STLBlues is doing something nobody has done for the Blues community. We've decided to GIVE AWAY the STLBlues Interactive Gig Calendar to blues artist nationwide.
We are committed that the STLBlues calendar to be THE online resource for live gigs, and we think the best way to make it a comprehensive resource for fans than to make it free for bands. We're even including the STLBlues iCalendar, which lets bands feed their syndicated STLBlues calendar gigs right to their website. Our goal is to have 1,000s of bands using the calendar making it a 'Blues Portal', where Blues fans nation wide can find them. By allowing bands to manage their own gig schedule in real time on a #1 Blues site, we'll be giving them a free promotional service like NOBODY has ever done! Additionally, this summer we'll be unveiling our new look and new promotional tools and enhancements to the basic calendar service available to both bands and venues!"
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Tina Turner To Come Out Of Retirement For Charity Event
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Music superstar Tina Turner is to perform a one-time charity gig in May, seven years after she retired from the music industry. The Simply The Best singer is staging her comeback at a fundraiser for London charity Cauldwell Children on 18 May at the city's Natural History Museum.
The 67-year-old is expected to perform a selection of her greatest hits. She says, "I am delighted to be associated with a charity which reaches out to so many young people. If my songs make people dig deep into their pockets, then I will have achieved my aim."
Cauldwell Children provides treatment, therapies and vacations for poor and unwell kids across the UK.
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Keb' Mo' and Joe Bonamassa to Perform Benefit Concert
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On Sunday, April 15, contemporary blues icons Keb' Mo' and Joe Bonamassa will perform an exclusive one-off benefit concert at Phoenix's premiere showplace the Dodge Theatre as a major fundraiser for Phoenix-based non-profit agency Casa - Center For Prevention Of Abuse & Violence (Casa). Coinciding with National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the benefit also encompasses a VIP pre-show reception and post-concert dinner with the artists for top-tier sponsors.
The concert, produced by Live Nation, is set for 7PM. 3X Grammy winning singer-songwriter Keb' Mo', whose most recent album was 2006's Grammy-nominated Suitcase, headlines the double bill. Blues-rock guitar virtuoso and Blues Foundation board member Joe Bonamassa, whose latest CD is 2006's You & Me, opens.
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Guitars For Girls A Growing Trend
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"I want it!" squealed 13-year-old Hiiaka Kaneao, pointing to a sparkly, hot pink, star-shaped bass guitar hanging inside a pink fur-lined booth.
Her high-pitched voice is music to the ears of the guitar's maker, Daisy Rock Guitars.
The Los Angeles retailer's colorful and smaller-sized guitars for girls and women have gained worldwide popularity in the last several years and signaled a growing trend within the traditionally male-dominated guitar industry.
"The industry is looking for growth opportunities given the overall slump in guitar sales. Guitars catering to women is one area that we understand is showing some signs of strength," said Wall Street analyst Rick Nelson, who covers the industry.
The country's two top guitar retailers, Gibson Guitar Corp. and Fender Musical Instruments Corp., have each debuted lines with a girl/woman-friendly focus over the past few years.
Why the surge of girl guitars now?
"Ten years ago, statistics showed that 96 percent of the instruments purchased were for men," said Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz over the phone. "The guitar is now becoming more a part of society in general."
Daisy Rock says its low-cost, lean and light line of electric and acoustic instruments jump-started the push specifically for girls. Guitars range from girly butterfly, heart and daisy-shaped gear for younger girls to glossy red, black, purple and pink standard guitars for women.
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YOU DON'T SEE THIS EVERYDAY
RECORD LABEL LOOKING FOR BLUES ARTISTS TO SIGN
From W.C. Taylor of Circuit Rider Records,Glory Road Records,Zig Zag Records,and Rider Records
"We are signing blues artist now. If you would like to have a company represent you. We are looking.This does not happen very often or rather never. We are also signing Christian Country Artist. We are Christian people. If you are interested let us know. Most of the time it's not the most talented that are succesful but the ones available. I don't want people with managers and already signed. You advertise for unsigned artist and you get thousands of what you don't want. We want to discover a great artist song writer."
My web is www.circuitriderrecords.com
My web.email magazine is www.cronlinemag.com
My email is cridercrider@earthlink.net
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OLGA:A mix of north Mississippi blues and singer/songwriter sensibility
 Olga provides an exciting twist on north Mississippi hill country blues certain to satisfy aficionados and new blues fans alike.  The latest release from Olga, Now Is The Time (on her label, 219records) represents the continued musical odyssey of one of the hottest new talents on the blues scene. On her third album, Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers) and house band Clarksdale Sound Machine provide backup on songs that enable the blueswoman to display her considerable vocal talents; outstanding lyrics; and ability to artfully meld the blues with rock and country. Mathus produced the album at his studio. The Memphis-based artist, who is from San Francisco and of Austrian descent, pours out heart and soul like a native of the hill country of north Mississippi, the nexus of her musical inspiration. The lyrics are simple, clean and powerful like the blues should be, and speak to truths to which every listener will relate. "Blues is the truth," she says. "Speak the truth and you'll know the blues." Classically trained in voice, piano and violin, her musical mastery is obvious. What is a pleasant surprise to the listener is the way she is able to shape and mold an old musical tradition into something that is uniquely hers while honoring the traditions of countless blues predecessors. Her early mentors, Maria Muldaur and Los Lobos, laid the groundwork for her to understand how to survive long-term in the business. Her blues inspiration derives from her close friendship with Jessie Mae Hemphill, Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Junior Kimbrough, Memphis Minnie, and Peggy Lee. Their influence is evident in both her performance and her songwriting ability. BOOKING & INQUIRES 219 records P.O.Box15366 New Orleans, LA 70115 www.219records.com
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News from Sioux Falls, Duluth, and all over Texas
JazzFest accepting submissions for regional bands
Bands in the region that want to play for a big audience are invited to send a CD and other materials to JazzFest.
The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society, sponsor of the annual free summer concerts set for July 20-21 this year, is taking local submissions for performances on the second stage at the Yankton Trail Park concert days.
Send materials to: JazzFest Local-Regional Artist Search, 123 S. Main Ave., Suite 204, Sioux Falls, S.D. 57104.
Each year JazzFest features 18 national, regional and local acts.
For information e-mail questions to info@sfjb.org, or learn more online at www.jazzfestsiouxfalls.com.
The Bayfront Blues Festival will be held in Duluth, Minn. after all.
Organizers of the annual music fest had previously announced that they were moving the annual festival to a campground outside of Duluth city limits, after efforts to work out disagreements with the city failed. The promoters had said the city was demanding new terms that would have cut into their profits.
However, Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson said the event will remain at Bayfront Festival Park. He said the promoters and city officials will issue a joint statement Monday.
According to Bergson, a new tentative one-year contract is ready for City Council approval, and that the council will hold a special meeting Monday night to vote on it.
The 2007 Bayfront Blues Festival is scheduled to be held August 9 through 12.
1st Annual Blues Festival
The 1st Annual Spring Blues Festival will be held in Lufkin, Texas on March 31st. It is the first BYOB event for Lufkin since the county went wet in November.
The blues festival starts at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 31st, at the Lufkin civic center.
Another 1st Annual Blues Festival
1st Annual Lubbock Blues Fest August 4 - 5, 2007. It will be at the Lone Star Amphitheater in Lubbock. Headlining act is Johnny Winter. Also scheduled are Janiva Magness, Smokin' Joe Kubeck & Bnois King, Sean Costello, and Seth Walker. Plus there will be 8 to 10 Texas acts (or Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico - regional blues acts)
And Yet Another 1st!
The City of Texas City in conjunction with the Texas City Cultural Arts Foundation has decide to allocate the neccessary funds to hold the Charles Brown Day of Remembrance Blues Festival. The Festival will be held at Nessler Park, in Texas City, on Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 (2pm).
A bronze plaque honoring Charles Brown is scheduled to be unveiled at the Festival along with a proclamation from the mayor declaring Charles Brown Day. This is a non-ticketed event free to the public. All are welcome.
Festival Lineup:LZ Love (Austin),Ezra Charles & The Works (Houston),Texas Johnny Brown & The Quality Blues Band (Houston), and Marcia Ball (Austin).
Editors Note: Any other inaugural blues festivals out there? If so drop me a note with information about your festival (nancy@bluesfestivalguide.com) and let me sing your praises too.
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News from Cincinnati OH, Madison WI, and Marrietta OH
Seven sassy, bluesy Ohio women band together Sunday for an afternoon of music and fundraising.
Cincy Ladies Sing the Blues, produced in cooperation with the Cincy Blues Society, is a lineup of local women who do everything from raspy Delta blues to broken-hearted torch songs.
Proceeds go to Pass-the-Hat, an organization that supplies emergency funds to women battling breast cancer. Working with St. Luke Hospital to identify needs, co-founder Sheri Heffern says the money is cash the women need to go on with daily life.
Madison Blues Society to Host 1st Wisconsin Blues Challenge
Madison Blues Society will showcase regional blues talent in a competition to select a Wisconsin representative to send to the next International Blues Challenge. Event details follow:
Wisconsin Blues Challenge, hosted by Madison Blues Society
When: Sunday, April 15, 2007, 1:00 pm (doors open at 12:00 noon)
Where:The Brink Lounge, 701 E. Washington Ave. Madison
Tickets:$7 ($5 for members of Madison Blues Society)
More Info:www.madisonbluessociety.com and www.thebrinklounge.com
Nine blues bands from around Wisconsin will take the stage at the Wisconsin Blues Challenge. Each band will have just half an hour to strut their stuff in front of the judges. Judges will score bands on a set of established criteria; the top three bands will win prizes and the first place band will represent Wisconsin in the 24th International Blues Challenge to be held in Memphis in early 2008.
The Blues, Jazz and Folk Society of Marrietta OH host their first ever Blues in the Schools event
The Sean Carney Band, from Columbus, Ohio will headline the first-ever B.I.T.S. Benefit to be held on Sunday, April 29, 2007 at The Parkersburg Art Center on Market Street in downtown Parkersburg, Ohio. Proceeds from the benefit will support the nationally-recognized, life-changing, hands-on alternative school based �Blues in the Schools� program in Wood and Washington Counties.
The Columbus, Ohio based Sean Carney Band recently took top honors at The Blues Foundation�s 23rd Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, the world�s largest gathering of Blues talent, and what has become the world�s largest and most prestigious Blues competition.
Along with The Sean Carney Band, the benefit show will feature national Blues educator and Blues singer/songwriter Fruteland Jackson from Chicago; local favorite, WV singer/songwriter Todd Burge, Austin �Walkin� Cane, 2006 winner of The River City Ohio Blues Competition in Marietta, and a performance by The Marietta Middle School Boogie Woogie Blues Band, under the direction of principal Dr. Mark Doebrich. �It�s a full afternoon of great musical entertainment and fun� says Wells. The benefit is from 3PM until 7PM; showtime is 4PM.
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GUITAR SHORTY:With songs from his new CD "We the People"
When Jimi Hendrix was a young army paratrooper, he used to go AWOL to see bluesman Guitar Shorty. Guitar Shorty has been dazzling audiences with his wild showmanship an superb guitar skills for 50 years, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Join Elwood Blues and Guitar Shorty with music from his latest CD "We the People" this weekend on the House of Blues Raido Hour.
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For years, the Blues Festival Guide Magazine received numerous requests for updates on festivals via email, and on January 10, 2006, the Marketing Director of the Blues Festival Guide magazine, Nancy Edwards partnered with the magazine (RBA Publishing) and published the first emailed issue of the E-Guide E-Newsletter.
The E-Guide is a wonderful resource for everyone interested in Blues! You can expect to see the E-Guide in your inbox weekly. Please email the editor with any questions at
nancy@bluesfestivalEguide.com
To reach thousands of blues enthusiasts, click here to learn how to advertise in this Blues Festival E-Guide E-Newsletter.
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