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BFG Annual Marketing Opportunity
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Click image to email. Thanks for digging what we do! We're here for YOU!
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Photo Moments with the 22nd Annual BFG Magazine!
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 Here's the "Piana from Savannah," Victor Wainwright. This Grammy-nominated, award-winning composer, singer, producer "ivory-pounding" boogie man is an entertaining force to be reckoned with.
BFG's Pinkie Rideau posed the question "What is Music" to Victor while onboard the Jan 2025 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.
"It's joy," said Victor. "You make good music, you make people happy. That's what it is."
Victor will be performing at the Vero Beach Festival this Sun Feb 16, at the Indian River County Fairgrounds in Vero Beach, Florida.
Photo: Pinkie Rideau
Order your very own 2024 Blues Festival Guide or pre-order the 2025 BBFG now! Once you get it, go ahead and take a picture of yourself, friends, and/or artists, etc. with the BFG magazine... have fun with it! Send pic via email to michele@bluesfestivalguide.com. please include a caption (75-100 words max), URL if applicable, and photo credit.
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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The Taj Mahal Sextet - "Queen Bee" from the
GRAMMY-winning album Live At The Church Studio In Tulsa
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Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival on Waterfront and it's Free!
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 (CLEARWATER, FL) - Clearwater's signature waterfront blues event, Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival, will take place Feb. 28-Mar 2, at Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St., in Clearwater, Florida. The two-day free festival is known for its amazing blues performances, outdoor casual vibes and amazing seafood tastings.
This year, festival goers can expect a lineup of soulful performances from renowned national artists on the Main Stage and emerging local talent on the Visit St. Pete-Clearwater Locals Stage. The festival will feature free performances starting at 2pm each day, and includes a kickoff party 6-10pm on Fri, Feb 28.
The 2025 Sea-Blues Festival lineup includes artists Eddie 9V, Mr. Sipp, Eric Gales, Chris O'Leary Band, Ally Venable, Blood Brothers, and many more.
Details about artists, schedules and more can be found here.
While general admission is free and open to the public, VIP tickets and reserved seats are available starting at $25. VIP experiences offer exclusive perks, such as premium viewing areas, private seating and access to a hospitality tent.
A portion of VIP ticket sales will support the Homeless Empowerment Program (HEP), a Clearwater-based charity dedicated to providing housing, food, clothing, and essential services to homeless and low-income families.
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Gator By The Bay Tickets On Sale Now!
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(SAN DIEGO, CA) - Immerse yourself in the vibrant, authentic spirit of this Louisiana experience by the Bay. The 22nd annual family-friendly Zydeco, Blues and crawfish Festival is returning to San Diego May 8-11, with over 100 performances across 7 stages.
The Gator By The Bay festival features non-stop, live Zydeco, Blues, Rock, Cajun, Swing music and more, 10,000 lbs of crawfish from the bayous, and family-friendly fun. Enjoy music lessons, dance lessons, cooking demos, and kids' activities — all by the beautiful San Diego Bay in Spanish Landing Park – East, 3900 N Harbor Dr.
The Gator By The Bay lineup will feature a wide range of talented artists to get you on your feet and keep the good times rolling. Enjoy electrifying performances from award-winning headlining artists like bluesmen Sugaray Rayford, Chris Cain, Selwyn Birchwood, D.K. Harrell, and Zydeco legends Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, and Cajun favorites Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, and many more to be announced including regional favorites!
Tier one pricing is available until Fat Tuesday, Mar 4th, so secure your spot early and save! Need flexibility? Use their Buy Now, Pay Later option and lock in your tickets with just 50% down!
Join us for a weekend filled with authentic Louisiana culture, food, and music!
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B.B. King Museum hosts guests for Black History Month
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 (INDIANOLA, MS) - Tune into Black History Month hosted at B.B. King Museum, in Indianola, Mississippi. Enjoy special stories during the month of February, from individuals who have shaped and are continuing to improve their communities.
On February 20th, 6pm, a panel will discuss B.B. King’s Prisoner Reform Initiative and the state of prisoner reform today. On February 27th 6pm will be “The Evolution from Traditional Blues to Southern Soul” moderated by Jimmy Lee, Jr. All shows are free and open to the public free .
The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest covers wide range of music
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 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) - The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is coming April 24-May 4 to the mid-city Fairgrounds at 1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, Louisiana.
As per usual, there's a huge variety of artists appearing. Some of the Blues and Roots fare includes Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Shemekia Copeland, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Samantha Fish, Kenny Wayne Shepherd with Bobby Rush, Carolyn Wonderland, Walter Trout, Tab Benoit, Eric Gales, Little Freddie King, Marc Broussard, Santana, The Radiators, Jon Cleary, Irma Thomas, Cyril Neville and tons more of course (click image to enlarge).
GA Weekend Passes and VIP Packages are on sale now! There are also special prices available for Louisiana residents. Purchase tickets here.
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• Sacramento Blues Society Little Charlie Baty Celebration
• Golden Gate Blues Society 2025 Event Calendar
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 (SACRAMENTO, CA) - The 4th annual Celebration of the Life and Music of the late, all time great, Little Charlie Baty is coming right up Mar 27th. Proceeds to benefit the Cal State University scholarship fund established in his honor.
The Sacramento Blues Society's Little Charlie Baty Memorial Music Scholarship was created in honor of Charles “Little Charlie” Baty, master guitarist, and fearless blues musician. This scholarship honors Charlie Baty’s commitment to the Blues in Schools program, and supports the Sacramento Blues Society’s commitment to continuing the education and preservation of Blues music. It is intended to support students in the School of Music within the College of Arts and Letters, California State University, Sacramento, California.
 (San Francisco Bay Area, CA) - The Golden Gate Blues Society (TGGBS) has posted their 2025 Blues Concert calendar from April to October at the Turf Club, 22519 Main St. in Hayward, California. The events are free to (TGGBS) members and $5 for non-members. You can join TGGBS here.
The lineup includes Willie G, My Blue Soul, Bobby Young Project, Fillmore Slim, Lovelight Blues Band, Niecey Livingsingle, and MIke Skinner.
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* BLUES SOCIETIES *
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Which Cruise Hits Your Groove?
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#43 Sea of Cortez Oct 2025: SOLDOUT Join Waitlist
#44 Eastern Caribbean Jan 2026
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 SOLDOUT - JOIN WAITLIST#43 SEA OF CORTEZ
Legendary Rhythm
& Blues Cruise
OCT 25 ~ NOV 1, 2025
Sailing on Holland America’s Koningsdam from San Diego, CA to Cabo San Lucas, Loreto & La Paz.
or call (816) 753-7979
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 Legendary Rhythm& Blues Cruise
#44 EASTERN CARIBBEAN
Jan. 24 ~ 31, 2026
Sailing on the Holland America Nieuw Statendam Ft. Lauderdale, FL to St. John (USVI), St. Maarten & Half Moon Cay (Bahamas Private Island). $500 fully-refundable deposit per cabin holds your space in line. Bands announced in late March. More passengers may be added once stateroom selected.
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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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Mark Muleman Massey :: BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME
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 Hard time leads to hard blues and Mark Muleman Massey’s life is a testimony to that. The grandson of sharecroppers, Muleman grew up in Clarksdale, Mississippi – in the cradle of the Delta. At 19, he found himself in Parchman Prison, which was modeled after a slave plantation. Like Leadbelly, R.L. Burnside, and Bukka White who preceded Muleman’s time there, he was living the unimaginable prison life.
Although he’d never picked up a guitar, David Kimbrough, the son of legendary blues icon Junior Kimbrough, took Muleman under his wing and taught him the basics. Muleman’s innate talents and inspired experiences earned him a spot in the legendary Parchman Prison Band, which was the first time Muleman opened up for B.B. King.
When Muleman completed his time, he vowed to turn the negative into a positive. He’s played every dive and juke joint, and rose through the ranks to play festival main stages and record with the likes of Bobby Rush, Eric Gales, and Earl “Peanutt” Montgomery to name a few. Muleman played other shows – no longer clad in prison stripes, with B.B. King on the bill. He’s been recognized – and recorded by - the Library of Congress.
Throughout it all, Muleman gives back whenever he can. His full circle moments came when he voluntarily returned to Parchman to help other inmates find musical inspiration. The very prison where he was shackled for years now proudly recognizes Muleman with his own Mississippi Blues Trail marker near the entrance. Muleman honors those before him with traditional Blues standards, but his renowned songwriting has earned him great respect, as you will hear on Been A Long, Long Time, this inspired record out of the legendary Muscle Shoals studio.
 "Can't Tell Me Nothing About The Blues"
Website
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Birthdays & Just In Case...
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Just In Case... plus various upcoming Holidays & Birthdays
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 • FEB: Black History Month
• International Friendship Month
• American Heart Month
• Feb 13 World Radio Day
• Feb 14 Valentine's Day
"Hard times ain't nothing that
music won't help heal..."
Birthdays: Feb 13-Sugaray Rayford (1969); Feb 14-"Magic Sam" Maghett (1937-1969 pictured), Maceo Parker (1943); Feb 15-James "Kokomo" Arnold (1901-1968), Gary Clark Jr. (1984); Feb 16- Bill Doggett (1916), Super Chikan (1951), Andra Faye (1960); Feb 17-Lou Ann Barton (1954); Feb 18-Irma Thomas (1941); Feb 19-Sam Myers (1936-2006), William "Smokey" Robinson (1940), Robert “Bilbo” Walker (1937-2017); Feb 20-Jimmy "Papa" Yancey (1898-1951), Joanne Shaw Taylor (1985); Feb 21-Francis "Scrapper" Blackwell (1903-1962), Nina Simone (1933-2003); Feb 23-Johnny Winter (1944-2014); Feb 24-Willie Kent (1936-2006); George Thorogood (1950); Feb 25-Ida Cox (1896 or 1898-1967); Feb 26-Antoine "Fats" Domino (1928-2017), Bob "Bear" Hite (1943-1981); Feb 27 Goran Petco (BFG webmaster)
 • Just in Case: Happy Valentine's Day Blues lovers!!
 Feb 18th is "National Drink Wine Day." Okay, well we know we don't need a special day to "drink" wine but let's think of it as a day to not only celebrate a human tradition that's thousands of years old.... but also recall those songs inspired by this nectar. Some of the early jump blues type songs include "Stick's" McGhee & His Buddies "Drinking Wine Spoodie Oodie" that hit the #1 spot in 1949, "Cherry Wine" by Esther Phillips (1953), "Pink Champagne" by Joe Liggins And His "Honeydrippers" (1953), "Hey Bartender" by Floyd Dixon (1955), the obscure "Wine Drinker" by Cats & The Fiddle (1950) ... many more over the years but we simply can't leave out Luther Allison's heart-wrenching plea of "Cherry Red Wine." __________________________________
Missed your Weekly e-Guide?
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Billboard #1 Blues Albums
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Billboard & iTunes #1 Blues Album - as of FEB 13, 2025
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 #1 Billboard
ETTA JAMES
At Last
#1 iTunes
THE TESKEY BROTHERS
Run Home Slow
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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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Savor your very own 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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BFG Twitter-Instagram-Facebook
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Join Blues Freaks at our X feed & Instagram
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 Hey, come on over and Join 14k+ Blues Freaks at our
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  Follow us on INSTAGRAM with 11.6+ 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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South Orange Int'l Blues Festival
Winter Blues Fest
Feb-14-2025 - Feb-15-2025
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Winterfolk Blues & Roots Festival
Feb-14-2025 - Feb-16-2025 Toronto, Canada
Vero Beach Blues Festival
Feb-15-2025 - Feb-16-2025
Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Poulsbo Blues & Jazz Festival
Feb-25-2025 - Feb-26-2025
Poulsbo, Washington, USA
St. Kilda Blues Festival
Feb-28-2025 - Mar-02-2025
St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Mid-Winter Blues Festival
Mar-06-2025 - Mar-08-2025 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Blues Bash at the RanchMar-14-2025 - Mar-16-2025 Brooksville, Florida, USA
14th Walla Walla
Guitar FestivalMar-14-2025 - Mar-16-2025 Walla Walla, Washington, USA
Loreto International
Blues FestivalMar-15-2025 Loreto, Mexico
Keeping the Blues Alive At SeaMar-21-2025 - Mar-26-2025 Miami, Florida, USA
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| | For more festivals &
events plus tons of links
please checkout our website
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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
19th Annual
Blues By the Sea
Apr-13-2025
Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA
UK Blues Awards
Apr-16-2025
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Byron Bay Bluesfest
Apr-17-2025 - Apr-20-2025
Byron Bay, Australia
23rd Spring Harp Fest
Apr-19-2025
San Diego, California, 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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