So, it was an honor, yet no surprise, for Mitch to be invited to perform at the 9th Annual Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival in Western Canada in August 2007. Blues fans throughout Canada witnessed Mitch Kashmar and his band in action at the festival. And fortunately for blues fans elsewhere in the world, the event was captured for posterity by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and released by Delta Groove Music. Joining Kashmar at this festival performance are former bandmate from the Pontiax, drummer Tom Lackner, bassist Steve Nelson, pianist Jimmy Calire, and former William Clarke guitarist, John Marx, providing the perfect foil to Kashmar's dynamic harp playing and emotive vocals.

Click on button to hear "Dirty Deal" by Mitch Kashmar

For More: CLICK

The terms “Renaissance man” and the “blues” will rarely appear in the same sentence. But master musician Dave Fields is truly a “Renaissance bluesman” of exceptional skills as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and producer.

Dave was born in Manhattan but was raised by a nanny from Athens, Georgia named Olive Nettles Still. The experience would provide the rich, funky flavor of “grits, gravy and chitlins” to the sophisticated, urbane influence of his famous father, Sammy “Forever” Fields. Sammy is a virtuoso pianist and world-renown producer, arranger and composer with eclectic and refined tastes that run the gamut from fifties rock ‘n’ roll to Broadway show tunes, jazz and beyond. Though Dave was enamored with the guitar and Jimi Hendrix from an early age, his supportive but strict father insisted he receive a thorough grounding by first studying the piano beginning at age eight. At 15 he began playing sessions with Sammy and a year later composed his first big band score. The time spent in the studio would prove to be a technological education preceding his enrollment at Berklee School of Music in Boston.

When Dave returned to Manhattan he applied his enormous energy and talents to arranging, composing, producing and playing in the studios for an array of labels as Dobro, steel guitars, mandolin, drums and B-3 organ were added to his arsenal. He was performing and directing the New Voices of Freedom who performed with U2 in their movie Rattle and Hum and founding Fields Music, adding to his growing resume. Dave has performed or shared the stage with Hubert Sumlin, Richie Havens and Aretha Franklin. In 2006 Dave produced Roxy Perry’s Back In Bluesville that subsequently won Best Self-Produced CD at the 2007 International Blues Challenge.

Dave recorded his first solo CD, Field of Vision, in 1998, followed by Time’s A Wastin’ in 2007 and recently All Wound Up in 2008 (FMI Records). All Wound Up is an expansive 12-song set of originals that span the musical rainbow of the blues featuring blues harp “Ace” Billy Gibson, Gospel-R&B Queen Ada Dyer and “Mississippi” Dave Hughes.

Dave Fields is an extraordinarily talented contemporary singer, songwriter and instrumentalist who knows his music inside and out and from the bottom up. The result is an exceptional aesthetic experience for the mind and body. All his recordings reveal eclectic and exuberant original blues, R&B, rock, jazz and pop compositions featuring his slyly expressive vocals, virtuosic guitar and sassy organ stylings.

        -Dave Rubin GUITAR EDGE MAGAZINE

For more: CLICK

Recorded "live" in the studio with top-notch musicians, the diverse repertoire of material featured on "Crawling the Walls" reflects Dave's varied musical influences. The album showcases with energy and enthusiasm his diverse playing and writing style, as well as his ever-expanding set of musical tastes. The material on the record stems from traditional blues and jazz, rock 'n' roll, and swing, a colorful patchwork of the music he loves, the music that seems to be ingrained in his heart and soul.

These confluences of styles are performed by this young master with complete and irrefutable reverence for tradition and those who came before him, yet all the while sustain a fresh appeal. Dave's personal and youthful interpretations and approach to expressing his love for these timeless genres make for a refreshing record.

http://www.davegross.net/

Example of Savings:
2009 Rate Half Page B/W Ad: $875 - You Pay: $745 / Savings: $130
Example of Savings:
2009 Rate Color: $395 - You Pay: $335/ Savings: $60

AND IT GETS EVEN BETTER...THIS YEAR WE ARE ALSO GOING DIGITAL!!! YOUR MARKETING MESSAGE IS SEEN WORLDWIDE:

Customers around the globe can read the entire magazine, page by page ONLINE and even click through to the advertiser's website!
Digital Magazine Hyperlink (Full page ads) $75, (1/2 page) $50, (1/3 & 1/8 page) $25

This is THE publication that blues fans seek out when they are making festival plans and looking for their favorite headliners all year long... it's also become an in-depth industry resource. We distribute 100,000 copies free through blues societies, blues festivals, blues clubs and music stores... AND THIS YEAR, WE GO WORLDWIDE WITH A DIGITAL EDITION!

JACKSONVILLEBEACH - For the second time in four years, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival is scheduled for the same weekend as the George's Music Springing the Blues Festival at the Beaches.

That could mean two major festivals fighting for music fans simultaneously.

Blues fest founder Sam Veal said he found out this month that the Jacksonville Jazz Festival has been set for April 2-5 at Metropolitan Park downtown, the same weekend the blues festival is scheduled for the SeaWalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach.

"It doesn't make any economic sense, I can't understand it," Veal said Wednesday.

The blues festival has been held the same weekend for 18 straight years and Veal said the Jacksonville Special Events Office should have considered that while scheduling the jazz festival.

Veal said having the events on the same weekend would create too much conflict.

Special Events Office Director Theresa O'Donnell said, "I don't think it's a bad thing. If you look at New Orleans, there's jazz and blues going on for 10 days" during festivals at the same time.

The scheduling of the events on the same weekend happened once before, in 2004, for the upcoming 2005 festivals. But Veal and other blues festival supporters raised so many objections that Jacksonville changed the jazz festival date.

Veal said he'll try to bring pressure again.

O'Donnell said she's not ruling out moving the jazz festival date, but that it would be difficult.

Veal said ultimately, the blues festival would likely be the bigger draw if both events were to be held on the same weekend.

"The blues festival is a free event and draws about 100,000 people. The jazz fest is a paid event and draws less than 10,000 people paid attendance," Veal said, noting he's already getting input from blues festival supporters.

"I got feedback immediately. It's 99 percent against the jazz festival being on the same weekend," said Veal.

Delbert and his band, including long-time collaborator Gary Nicholson, will join the MPI class on days two and three to record and mix new songs. If you are interested in record production, the MPI clinic is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe Delbert record at the Sound Emporium's "A" Room, one of his favorite tracking rooms. You'll see the entire record-making process, from pre-production and tracking, to overdubbing, mixing and mastering.

Founded by producer Steve Fishell, MPI allows you the chance to study recording by watching "the real deal" --- Grammy-winning artists, musicians and engineers --- in a world-class studio. The class size is limited to just ten students. For more information about tuition costs and registration, please go to MPI's website at www.musicpi.com or call MPI at 615-337-0092.

Complete Line-Up: Taj Mahal & The Tuba Band; Irma Thomas & The Professionals with special guest Jon Cleary; Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival (also with respective bands); The Fabulous Thunderbirds; Tommy Castro; Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson; Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers featuring The Cate Brothers & Reba Russell; Floyd Taylor; James Hunter; Terrance Simien; Larry McCray; John Hammond; The Holmes Brothers; Sugar Blue featuring Rico McFarland; Ana Popovic; Kinsey Report; Guy Davis; Scrapomatic; Homemade Jamz Band; Trampled Under Foot (IBC Winners); Piano Bar Hosts: Mitch Woods, Paddy Milner & Taryn Donath; Special Guests: Bob Margolin, Debbie Davies, Catherine Russell, EG Kight, J.T. Lauritsen; Commemorative Artist: Commander Cody; plus Surprise Guests.

If you missed this ship, no worries, mate! The Blues Cruise is currently pre-booking for its next Pacific and Caribbean adventures at  www.BluesCruise.com  or by calling 888-BLUESIN (1+816-753-7979 International).

October 17-24, 2009 Pacific
From San Diego to Mexican Riviera on Holland America's intimate ms Veendam

January 23-30, 2010 Caribbean
From Fort Lauderdale to exotic Caribbean destinations on Holland America's new ms Eurodam

 Advance tickets are $25, $30 at door. There is also a $50 VIP ticket that includes a one-year basic membership in The Blues Foundation. In addition, existing Blues Foundation members who purchase a ticket will receive VIP privileges. 

An eight-time Blues Music Award "Best Blues Instrumentalist - Piano" award nominee, Henry Butler knows no limitations. Although blinded by glaucoma since birth, Butler is also a world class photographer with his work displayed at exhibitions throughout the United States. Playing piano since the age of six, Butler is a master of musical diversity. Combining the percussive jazz piano playing of McCoy Tyner and the New Orleans style playing of Professor Longhair through his classically trained wizardry, Butler continues to craft a sound uniquely his own. A rich amalgam of jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues and R&B influences, his music is as excitingly eclectic as that of his New Orleans birthplace.

For more info and tickets: CLICK

SAN MARCOS -- A three-day music festival billed as a fundraiser for an organization dedicated to helping came to an abrupt and early halt, leaving disappointed fans and angry vendors looking for refunds. The event, dubbed World United Music Festival had been intended to serve as the inaugural fund raiser for United States Entertainment Force, a California-based nonprofit group reportedly dedicated to helping soldiers and their families.

Organizers for the event claim that the cancellation was due to inclement weather, in particular accident that occurred on the first day due to high winds. According to the The Austin American-Statesman, Jerry Payne, the event's founder, said that he pulled the plug after a piece of the stage, dislodged by the wind, fell on some attendees, sending at least one to the hospital. However, the bands and vendors point to financial mismanagement and low attendance as the reason for the cancellation.
 
Robert Chapman, who runs the Dallas production company that had been hired to provide lighting, audio and staging for the event, says he pulled his gear on Saturday, leaving bands performing sans P.A. when he says Payne couldn't come up with the promised $60,000. Chapman also claims that a $10,000 check he had received prior to the event bounced.

Food vendors also claim that they are out money. One vendor, Salim Daou, traveled from Virginia for the event and after paying $6,000 in expenses, including a booth fee of $1,500, he had made $300 in sales before the event was canceled. Others, such as Ray McEachern who provided 200 portable toilets for the festival, are out $13,000 The American-Statesman reported.

Some bands are out too. Many bands had agreed to pay for free, with the understanding that the money raised would be used to help American combat troops, but others, such as headliners Asleep at the Wheel and Roger Creager, had been promised a fee.

For ticket refunds and vendor refunds contact the executive producer Jerry Payne at the United States Entertainment Force

jerry@theusef.org

Phone: (559) 645-5015

The 2009 International Blues Challenge will be the 25th year of Blues musicians from around the world competing for cash, prizes, and industry recognition. The Blues Foundation will present the 25th International Blues Challenge February 4-7, 2009 in Memphis, TN. The world's largest gathering of Blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to take their act to the international stage. In 2008, 100 bands and 60 solo/duo acts entered, filling the clubs up and down Beale Street for the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday and the finals at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday. There will be at least that many in 2009.


IS YOUR BAND COMPETING AT THE 2009 IBC"S?

Everybody knows that the IBC's are THE PLACE TO BE to network with the people that count in the blues world. Now is a great time to take advantage of the E-Guide to promote yourself or your band before you go to Memphis. The E-Guide goes out to 17,000+ confirmed blues fans every week and is a great way to let everybody know that you are going to Memphis.

For rates : CLICK
or contact
  Cheryl@Bluesfestivalguide.com 
  Gordon@Bluesfestivalguide.com 

NorthernBlues annouces that they will be releasing next year Watermelon Slim’s first country music CD! "Yes, country music. We took Slim to Nashville, hired the best session musicians we could find, and the results are amazing. Gary Nicholson, songwriter for Delbert McClinton, managed most of the sessions, and even co-wrote two songs with Slim. Delbert even came by for two days just watch Slim record." Most of the songs are Slim originals with a few choice covers thrown in as well.

One of NorthernBlues first releases of the year will be more Indian-blues fusion from Doug Cox and Salil Bhatt. This time around, Cox & Bhatt are joined by Louisiana soul/cajun singer John Boutte for the vocals.

Going back into the studio will be the Homemade Jamz and recording a fresh batch of original songs. They’ve now had a good year of touring behind them, so we can expect them to be even better than on their debut CD.

Not bad considering that barely two years before the release of "Stiletto Angel," singer Kerry Pastine and bassist Mac McMurray first spoke of forming a band after bumping into each other at a nightclub. Within days of that encounter they enlisted pianist Mark Richardson, drummer Paul Christophersen, guitarist Paul Shellooe and the dual sax attack of Kenny Plum and Jonny Love.

Inspired by the roots music of the legendary juke joints, Richardson would emerge as the band's primary songwriter, composing a set of eclectic upbeat roots numbers showcasing Pastine's powerful vocals and sex-kitten charm. Mixed by Big Head Todd & the Monster's Jeremy Lawton, "Stiletto Angel" has proven to be more than just an exercise in retro recycling; as one critic put it, "not only are the Informants able to recreate a great vintage sound, at times they also manage to sprinkle in a little bit of modern music, creating something new and alive."


For more about The Informants:CLICK



THE LEE BABY SIMS SHOW




The Lee Baby Sims Show formed in a stretch of southern backwoods in 2004, and have been spreading their particular shade of blue on a national level ever since, touring almost constantly for the last four years. In essence a band of drifters, The Show has recently settled in the Lawrence/Kansas City area, but is rarely relegated to any single location.

The music is a primal and powerful blend of old and new, combining the raw musical power of early blues masters such as Son House and Skip James with the lyrical strength and modern appeal of artists like Tom Waits.

The band's stage show is straight out of a Mississippi Juke Joint, brimming with a frank and sometimes overwhelming emotional realism, as if channeling those real gone innovators in blue.

Instrumentation

Jackie Lee- Vocals, slide guitar, rhythm guitar, harmonica, drums, diddleybow

Sims Murphy- Lead guitar, rhythm guitar, banjo, mandolin, percussion, vocals, piano

For more on The Lee Baby Sims Show: CLICK