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Celebrating our 2022 Blues Festival Guide
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 It’s our 20th Anniversary edition of the Blues Festival Guide! Our 2022 cover by photographer Marilyn Stringer features the talented Tullie Brae and Calvin Johnson at the 2021 North Atlantic Blues Festival!
Order your copy now!!
The 2022 issue is shipping and full of the latest happenings in the industry, glimpses of blues history and, of course, blues festivals to plan your calendar! Here's an editorial peek!
Living Legend: Billy Branch By Bill Dahl -
Fueling Musicians Program - Joe Bonamassa's program to support and assist musicians
WLAC: Blues, Baby Chicks and Stim-U-Aid By Reverend Billy C. Wirtz -
That Chicago Blues Sound By Wayne Baker Brooks -
20 Years of Blues By Kaati Gaffney, Publisher - celebrating our 20th and our journey
What’s Cookin’ - Blueswoman Shaun Murphy shares a fave recipe
Hooked on Blues Docs - by Tom Andrews Cool blues documentaries
Trumpet Records Courtesy of the Delta Blues Museum - a testament to Mississippi’s musical gift to the world
And more!...
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Photo Moments with the 20th Annual BFG Magazine!
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 Here's Cathy Grier with Tony Menzer (ctr & right) of Cathy Grier + The Troublemakers, showing of her brand new Blues Festival Guide magazine on the streets of Memphis. Cathy and her band are from Wisconsin and represented the Paramount Music Association at the 2022 International Blues Challenge (IBC) this past week making it into IBC semi-finals. Pictured at left are Cathy's sister in-law Karee and brother Marty Grier who came to support from Atlanta.
Photo courtesy Cathy Grier
ORDER YOUR 2022 MAGAZINE! If you're a BFG client contact your sales rep.
*GET THE ANNUAL BFG MAG & SEND US A PIC WITH IT!
Anyone can also Order one 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 (120 words or less), URL if applicable, and photo credit to e-Guide editor!
The Blues Foundation is official sponsor of our 2022 Blues Festival Guide!
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The Wacky Jugs "Diving Duck Blues"
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2022 North Carolina Blues Week Series May 12-22
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 (GREENSBORO, NC) – Here’s Piedmont Blues Preservation Society (PBPS) events for the 2022 North Carolina Blues Week Series May 12-22. This initiative was designed several years ago to build awareness and support around the state for the Blues. Blues is an African American art form and culture to which North Carolina lays unique claim. Piedmont Blues is one of the original regional styles from which a national and global Pop music industry was birthed. Concert experiences, open music jams, culinary experiences, competitions, and visual and literary arts will be on display leading up to the 36th Annual Carolina Blues Festival May 21 in LeBauer Park, downtown Greensboro. Tickets to Blues Week events and the Carolina Festival available here. www.PiedmontBlues.org.
• May 12th 7pm - Books and Blues Book Club (Facebook) Virtual discussion discussing "Wild Women and The Blues"
• May 13th 8pm - Blues Groove Beat Battle (The Flat Iron) Producers across NC re-mix Blues tracks in Hip-Hop competition highlighting journey from Blues to Hip-Hop.
• May 14th 9am - Blues and Greens (Corner Market) Acoustic set at weekly farmer’s market at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
• May 15th 6pm – “Young, Black, and Blues” Virtual Discussion inspired by an open letter by Jontavious Willis, Marquise Knox, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, this discussion amplifies the voices of the next generation of Blues players and patrons.
• May 18th 7pm - Chuck & Shiela’s Blues Jam (Ritchy's) & May 19th (Sawmill II) PBPS Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Shiela Klinefelter and Chuck Cotton host Greensboro-style jam. Bring instrument! 21+ open to public.
• May 20th 8pm - Eric Gales at The Blind Tiger Album release tour and festival Pre-Party!
• May 21st 3:30pm - Greensboro Bound Literary Festival: King of the Blues PBPS and Greensboro Bound host conversation at Van Dyke Performance Space
• May 21st 3pm-11pm - 36th Carolina Blues Festival: Young, Black, & Blues (LeBauer Park)
• May 22nd 1pm-5pm - Blues and Food Market (City Center Park) PBPS Blues & Foods Market is a free music event to raise awareness for food equity.
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Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza - Killer Blues, Rock & Soul Aug 4-7
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 (MAMMOTH LAKES, CA) - The Mammoth Festival Of Beers And Bluesapalooza, the largest and longest-running music festival in Mammoth Lakes, is proud to announce its line-up for the 26th Annual event taking place August 4th through 7th once again at the iconic Woodsite venue at 5701 Minaret Road, Mammoth Lakes, California.
Fans will enjoy three days of blues, rock and soul music led by Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, the GRAMMY-nominated New Orleans band known for their legendary live shows, are bringing their explosive live performance to Mammoth Lakes. The Taj Mahal Quartet led by the beloved blues legend mixes traditional blues and elevated roots music, and we are proud that Taj will return to the festival as he turns 80 years old this year.
Allen Stone brings classic soul and R&B to the event, Eric Gales is an exploding blues superstar, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers will feature special guest Deanna Bogart, Donavon Frankenreiter adds his unique blend of laid-back grooves, plus don’t miss Ana Popovic, Chris Cain, The Main Squeeze, Sugaray Rayford, Ron Artis II & The Truth, Jackie Venson, Carolyn Wonderland and many others. Also appearing are The Atomic 44s, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, Dirty Cello, Jelly Bread, Brother Yusef, Dano Forte’s Juke Joint Freak Show, Sixty Grit Band.
Multiple choices of craft beer will be available from 80+ craft breweries including Mammoth Brewing Company. Cocktails will also be sold on all four days of the event. Festival Tickets are available for purchase in multiple price levels that include beer tasting and festival ticket combinations, early entry to the festival grounds on all four days, and grand beer tasting on Saturday and Sunday.
All ticket types are available for purchase online here.
Find us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Celebrate Robert Johnson Month at Delta Blues Museum in the Month of May
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 (CLARKSDALE, MS) - Celebrate Robert Johnson Month in May at the Delta Blues Museum at 1 Blues Alley in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Summer Hours (beginning Monday, May 9th) Mon - Sat 10am-5pm.
Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, on or about May 8, 1911. Music scholars may disagree as to the particulars of Robert's life, but one fact is undisputed: Robert Johnson's music looms large on the American landscape, continuing to influence "millions beyond his time."
Robert Johnson left a legacy of 29 recorded tracks that display an unparalleled artistry in his guitar playing, singing, and original songwriting. His music both defines the essence of Delta blues style and reveals a singular, visionary approach to that tradition. At one time little-known beyond his recordings, a legend began that Johnson had “sold his soul to the devil” at a country crossroads to play and sing so magically. Now, new biographies and memoirs by family members have painted a complete picture of Johnson’s life and times.
See our Delta Blues Museum Gift Shop for these items, plus Robert Johnson CDs, posters, mugs, Crossroads signs, and a limited edition of promotional tee shirts that feature a rare photograph of the blues master. And see our exclusive visual biography, “Follow Robert Johnson,” at the Explore and Learn section of the Museum’s website and don't miss the section "Robert Johnson's Last Ramble."
Experience "The King of the Delta Blues"… in The Land Where the Blues Began.
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50th Bentonia Blues Festival 2022 June 16-18
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 (BENTONIA, MS) - Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bentonia Blues Festival June 16-18, at the historic Blue Front Cafe (107 E Railroad Ave.) in Bentonia, Mississippi off Highway 49 North. The event will feature food and merchandise vendors, RV, and tent camping (fees may apply), live music, and more.
The Bentonia Blues Festival is a unique, down-home style festival that runs on juke joint time just like the historic and authentic oldest juke joint in daily operation, the Blue Front Cafe. In other words, times and order of performances are bound to change a bit. Relax and have a great time with us as we help to keep the Bentonia blues alive!
The 50th-anniversary Bentonia Blues Festival (2022) lineup includes Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Terry Harmonica Bean, RL Boyce, Ghalia Volt, Little Willie Farmer, Mz Pleshette, Libby Rae Watson, Ryan Lee Crosby and much more. Check here for updates.
The Bentonia Blues Festival began on a farm just up the road from the world-famous Blue Front Cafe on land owned by the Holmes family. It was a tiny event, with only one D.J. and Walter “Big Daddy” Hood (“500 lbs. of Blues”) performing A Capella. The location of the festival was moved into downtown Bentonia, Mississippi in 2006. Since that time, the festival has grown from an attendance of a couple hundred to ten thousand in recent years.
“When I started this festival in 1972, it was to help preserve the Bentonia style of blues, which is unique to this area. I knew then that it would be a great event, but I never knew it would be as big as it is now,” says Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, owner of the Blue Front Cafe and creator of the Bentonia Blues Festival. The festival is funded by donations and there's never a cover charge.
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International Blues Challenge 2022 Winners
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 (MEMPHIS, TN) - One act came from France and the other from Phoenix, but they both proved to be outstanding at this year’s International Blues Challenge finals, which took place May 9th in Memphis’ historic Orpheum Theatre.
The Wacky Jugs, representing France Blues, left Memphis with a first-place finish in the Band Division. Capturing 2nd place was Cros (Phoenix Blues Society), and coming in third was Soul Nite featuring D.K. Harrell (Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola).
Eric Ramsey from the Phoenix Blues Society triumphed in the Solo/Duo Division and also took home the Memphis Cigar Box Guitar Award. Jhett Black of The San Angelo Blues Society picked up the Lee Oskar Harmonica Award for the Best Harmonica Player and also came in 2nd place in the solo/duo division.
T.C. Carter took home the Gibson Guitar Award for Best Band Guitarist (Piedmont Blues Preservation Society.)
Winning the Best Self-Produced CD was Memphis Lightning (Suncoast Blues Society) for their album, Borrowed Time.
• 1st Place/Band: The Wacky Jugs (France Blues)
• 2nd Place/Band: CROS (Phoenix Blues Society)
• 3rd Place/Band: Soul Nite Feat. DK Harrell (Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola)
• 1st Place/Solo-Duo: Eric Ramsey (Phoenix Blues Society)
• 2nd Place/Solo-Duo: Jhett Black (San Angelo Blues Society)
• Memphis Cigar Box Award: Eric Ramsey (Phoenix Blues Society)
• Lee Oskar Harmonica Award: Jhett Black (San Angelo Blues Society)
• Gibson Guitarist Award: TC Carter
• Best Self-Produced CD Award: Borrowed Time by Memphis Lightning (Suncoast Blues Society)
The International Blues Challenge is sponsored by Americana Music Association, ArtsMemphis, Blues Festival Guide, Blues Matters, BMI, Canadian Consulate, European Blues Union, Folk Alliance International, Hohner Harmonica, Lancit Digital Media, Lansky Bros., Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Living Blues, Memphis Airport Authority, Memphis Music Hall of Fame, Memphis Tourism, Rock n’ Soul Museum, Silky O’Sullivan’s, Ted Reed Productions, and the TN Arts Commission.
Save the date for IBC #38 Jan 31 - Feb 4, 2023. See You On Beale!
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Flagstaff Blues & Brews Festival 2022
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Which Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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Tony Holiday :: PORCH SESSIONS VOL 2
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"Going To Court2"
Following his 2019 Blues Blast Music Award nominated album, Porch Sessions, Tony Holiday returned with more field recordings for a second volume. Dedicated to Holiday's friend and hero, the late harmonica wizard James Harman, a sentimental highlight of Volume 2 is Harman's track, "Going to Court 2".
One of the magical aspects about blues music is the form of a universal language which transcends nationally, genre, age, and skill level among the artists, who understand its parameters, allowing them to have musical conversations filled with spontaneity, openness, and freedom.
Bluesman Tony Holiday convened several sessions with a cavalcade of players – friends and mentors – for Porch sessions Volume 2. The sixteen tracks recorded raw without overdubs at studios in Memphis and Jackson, TN, Bristol, VA, Fort Collins, CO, Clarksdale, MS, Anaheim and San Jose, CA, are reminiscent of the historic Lomax Field recordings from the 1930s/40s that documented undiscovered voices of roots music.
Holiday, along with Big Jon Atkinson and JD Taylor, set up the mics for as they call them “One Take Shots,” employing over thirty-five musicians on a collection of timeless classics and undiscovered gems. The guests include GRAMMY winner Bobby Rush, Victor Wainwright, Kim Wilson, Vasti Jackson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Bergin, Ben Rice, and Kid Andersen together with stellar vocalists Willie Buck, AJ Fullerton, Watermelon Slim, James Harman, Jon Lawton, Rae Gordon and Tierinii Naftaly, and fellow harmonica gurus Mark Hummel, Dennis, Gruenling, Andrew Ali, Jake Friel, who shared duties with Holiday.
Website
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Crossroads Blues Society presents "Blues in the Schools in the Park" May 28
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 (ROCKFORD, IL) - Kicking off the Crossroads Blues Society Summer blues music events is "Blues in the Schools in the Park" on May 28th at Lyran Park!
Tas Cru and Dave Fields will take the stage with Wheatbread Johnson opening the day.
Joe FIlisko who will do a harmonica workshop with free harmonicas for the first 200 kids!
The event is free for all pre-school to high school students and kids, and for all school employees with IDs. It's $10 in advance for everyone else or $15 at the door. Tickets on sale now!
Coolers and outside food and beverages are allowed.
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Holidays, Birthdays and... Just In Case
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 • May 30 Memorial Day USA
Birthdays upcoming of note:
May 12-Barbara Dane (1927), Guy Davis (1952); May 13 Stevie Wonder (1950), Ana Popovic (1976); May 14-Grady Gaines (1934-2021 pictured); May 15-Johnny Williams (1906-2006), L.C. "Good Rockin" Robinson (1915-1976), Larry Johnson (1938); 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 (1910-1975), Gladys Knight (1944), Kaati (BFG Owner/Publisher), Papa John Creech (1917-1989); John Fogarty (1945)
Just in case:
 May 14 is "National Train Day" Trains have inspired a multitude of blues and roots stories, songs, travels and escapes. "Southbound Train" by Muddy Waters, "Freight Train" by Elizabeth Cotten, "The Midnight Special" by Leadbelly and so on.
Trains have not only been an essential means of transportation for work and pleasure, but also have held a mystic of long ago hardships, hence the blues, symbolized love lost, a yearning to escape, new adventures, never-ending train tracks, and more to the imagination.
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Radio Submit Roots Blues Chart
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Billboard & iTunes #1 Blues Albums
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Billboard/iTunes #1 Blues Albums - as of May 12, 2022
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 #1 Billboard
BONNIE RAITT
Just Like That
#1 iTunes
BONNIE RAITT
Just Like That
(Note: iTunes rankings change very often.
This is #1 as of e-Guide publishing time)
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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 ensure that your festival also appears here in the e-Guide Festival Calender EMAIL |
Not all upcoming blues festivals/events are listed here at certain times of the year due to space constraints. Unless highlighted, festivals are no longer inked due to increasing spam
For a complete list and links see our comprehensive website.
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NOTE: Highlighted/Linked events are paid "Featured" ads.
Checkout website Festival page!
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Kwadendamme Bluesfestival
May-12-2022 – May-15-2022
Kwadendamme, Netherlands
North Carolina Blues Week Series May-12-2022 - May-22-2022
Greensboro, North Carolina USA
Women In Blues
May-13-2022 – May-14-2022
Helena, Arkansas and
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Simply Texas Blues Festival
May-14-2022
San Angelo, Texas, USA
Piedmont Blues & Roots Festival
May-14-2022
Laurens, South Carolina, USA
5th Annual Baton Rouge
Soul Food Festival
May-14-2022 – May-15-2022
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Blues on Broadbeach
May-19-2022 – May-22-2022
Broadbeach, Australia
Carolina Blues Festival
May-21-2022
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival
May-21-2022 – May-22-2022
Annapolis, Maryland, USA
Silver City Blues Festival
May-27-2022
Silver City, New Mexico, USA
Ground Zero Blues Club
21st Anniversary
May-27-2022 – May-28-2022
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Goat Fest IX
May-27-2022 – May-28-2022
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Rainy Days Blues Festival
May-28-2022
Springfield, Oregon, USA
Red’s Old Timers Music Festival
May-28-2022
Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
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please go to our website
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Rory Gallagher Int'l Festival
Jun-02-2022 – Jun-05-2022
Co. Donegal, Ballyshannon, Ireland
Greeley Blues Jam 2022
Jun-03-2022 – Jun-04-2022
Greeley, Colorado, USA
Havre de Grace
Jazz & Blues Fest
Jun-03-2022 – Jun-05-2022
Havre de Grace, Maryland, USA
Russell City Awareness
Blues Series
Jun-04-2022 – Jul-30-2022
Hayward, California, USA
Holland Intl' Blues Festival
Jun-09-2022 – Jun-11-2022
Holland, Netherlands
Chicago Blues Festival
Jun-09-2022 – Jun-12-2022
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Flagstaff Blues and Brews
Jun-10-2022 - Jun-11-2022
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Utah Blues Festival
Jun-10-2022 – Jun-11-2022
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
32nd Annual
Billtown Blues Festival
Jun-10-2022 - Jun-12-2022
Billtown, Pennsylvania, USA
Cape Fear Blues Festival
Jun-10-2022 – Jun-12-2022
Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
Bentonia Blues Fest
Jun-16-2022 – Jun-18-2022
Bentonia, Mississippi, USA
Blues On The Fox
Jun-17-2022 – Jun-18-2022
Aurora, Illinois, USA
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Continue to stay optimistic! We've got this!
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We are thinking of you and wishing you good health!
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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 annual the 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 over 18 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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Hey blues lovers! Got 
