| Blues Festival News Latest on Festival Weekend THIS Friday & Saturday.. "Steady Rollin'" Bob Margolin Is In The House"  As if there was ever any doubt about where you were going to be THIS Friday night... An already-strong lineup just went off the charts with the announcement that one of the world's top guitarists will be playing in the Friday night show of The 18th Annual River City Blues Festival. Former guitar player for arguably the most famous blues singer of all time, the inimitable Muddy Waters, Bob Margolin will be playing with the festival's opening act, Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy, on Friday, March 20, 2009 at the historic Lafayette Hotel in downtown Marietta.Diunna Greenleaf is one of the hottest acts in the Blues today. Since winning The International Blues Challenge (IBC)in 2005, she has been nominated twice for "Traditional Best Female Artist of the Year" - including this year - and has won "Best New Artist Debut" - 2008, last year. A native of Houston, Texas, she comes from a gospel music background and has developed her own "Diunna's style of Blues" in the same tradition as so many other great Texas blues men and women. She combines intricate patches of jazz, gospel and heart-felt soul to create a kind of blues that takes one on an emotional roller coaster ride. Bob Margolin - better know to blues fans as "Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin," played on her highly acclaimed latest CD entitled Cotton Field To Coffee House, so he's touring with her to support her album. He'll be playing bass, and then guitar on some numbers in the show. Diunna's guitar player, John "DelToro" Richardson is a "monster" guitar player in his own right - having won The Albert King Award for "Most Promising Guitar Player" at the 2005 IBC in Memphis, when Diunna won. That means the BJFMS will have TWO of the world's best guitar players on stage at the same time Friday night at their River City Blues Festival in Marietta. Then, at 10PM, another member of that club, Mr. Nick Moss (Nick Moss & The Flip Tops) takes the stage with his own style of traditional Chicago Blues. By the way, his nominations include "Artist of The Year," "Album of The Year," and "Band of The Year." Rumor has it the incomparable Piano Willie will be tearing up the keyboard with Nick. "I think we've got an unbelievable show on our hands," said "Cobbler" John Bolen, producer of the festival. "Having a blues legend like Bob Margolin on our stage is certainly icing on the cake." Bob Margolin was just a youngster when he so impressed the famous Muddy Waters enough that he hired him to be his guitar player To say Margolin learned from the master is a gross understatement. After 7-years with Muddy, the band broke up in 1980 and Muddy died in 1983. Since then, "Steady Rollin'" has played with just about every bluesman you can name and been nominated and/or won every music award they make, including the Grammy Award. Margolin tours worldwide both leading his own band and The Bob Margolin All-Star Blues Jam. He won the Blues Music Award (BMA) for Guitar in 2008 and 2005, to name but a few. Margolin's music credentials are well documented. He can be seen playing with Muddy Waters and The Band in The Last Waltz, the classic music documentary about The Band's last concert. His most recent album is The Bob Margolin All-Star Blues Jam for Telarc Records, which features many of today's surviving Chicago Blues legends. Since the 90's, Margolin has also recorded albums for the Powerhouse, Alligator and Blind Pig labels. He writes a regular column for Blues Revue magazine and contributes to BluesWax.com online magazine. The festival at a glance: 18th Annual River City Blues Festival March 20-21, 2009 Lafayette Hotel, Marietta, Ohio Friday, March 20, 2009 8PM - Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy with Bob Margolin  Gospel-influenced Blues from Houston, TX2008 BMA: "Best New Artist of the Year"; 2005 IBC Winner 10PM - Nick Moss & The Fliptops  Traditional Chicago Blues doesn't get any better than this! Nick Moss is nominated for "Album of the Year" and "Band of The Year". Piano Willie on keyboardsSaturday, March 21, 2009 1230PM - Directed by Mark Doebrich 1PM- 2009 Blues Competition Winners: Long Tall Deb & The Drifter Kings - Columbus 220PM - Thomasina Winslow From World Famous Winslow Family Band - Singer/Songwriter/Educator from Up-state New York 350PM - Big James Montgomery & The Chicago Playboys From Guess Where (Chicago). Big James is former band member with Little Milton, Albert King, Johnny Christian and yes, Buddy Guy 530PM - 8PM Dinner Break 8PM - Joey Gilmore Florida Legend, Blues and R&B Master. 2-time IBC Winner - South Florida Blues 10PM - Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater Chicago's premier blues showman. "The Chief" of authentic West-Side Chicago Blues Original Festival Release: Festival Brings National Acts to Marietta Some of the best blues acts from around the country will be heading to Marietta for the 18th Annual "River City Blues Festival" on Friday, March 20th and Saturday, March 21, 2009. Known as one of America's best small blues festivals, the local Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society will be presenting their annual event once again at the Lafayette Hotel, on the river in downtown Marietta. "This year's festival lineup is strong, and we expect a strong turnout to enjoy the blues," said Steve Wells, vice president of The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society (BJFMS). "The blues was America's first original form of "popular" music," said Wells. "And blues is the roots of all American music since then. It's where rock 'n roll came from, and jazz, and R & B, and even country," he said. "More and more people are getting into the Blues. That's why we're predicting another successful festival," said Wells. "We expect our shows to sell out, and the restaurants, bars and shops in town to be full all weekend. Everybody wins," he said. "Cobbler" John Bolen, president of the BJFMS, puts the festival together, and this year he's "out-done" himself," said John Gifford, BJFM board member and stage manager for the event. "We have a strong lineup for all three shows: Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday night," said Gifford. Friday night kicks off with "Hot Texas style Blues" from Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy from Houston, at 8PM. Greenleaf is one of the most sought-after lady blues singers on tour today, and she has the awards to prove it: 2009, nominated 30th Blues Music Awards (the Grammy's of blues music) "Best Traditional Female Artist of the Year"; 2008, nominated Blues Blast Music Awards, "Best Female Blues Artist" and "Best New Artist Debut Recording"; 2008, winner, Blues Music Awards, "Best New Artist Debut"; 2005, 1st Place Winner, The International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and on and on. (www.diunna.com) Put Diunna in front of some amazing musicians who play together flawlessly and tightly, and you have one of the hottest acts in the Blues. Her guitar player, John Richardson, is a "monster" guitar player in his own right and winner of The Albert King Award at the IBC for "Most Promising Guitar Player" in 2005. "Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy" is one of the strongest acts we've had on a Friday night in a long time," said Bolen. "She will really get the crowd warmed up for Nick Moss & The Fliptops, our Friday night headliners at 10PM. Nick Moss & The Fliptops are from Chicago, and one of the new generation of performers keeping the heritage of traditional Chicago blues alive. Nick Moss & his Fliptops sizzle in live performance hundreds of times a year. Nick Moss knows he has something special happening. "I feel like I'm one of the only bands from Chicago that's actually still playing Chicago Blues the way people think of Chicago Blues. I've gotten praise from a lot of the old-timers that have seen us play, even guys who are not from Chicago like Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza, and Charlie Baty and Rick Estrin of Little Charlie & The Nightcats. They say it's great to see there's actually a band from Chicago that actually plays Chicago Blues," says Moss. For the third year in a row, Nick Moss and his great band have been nominated for the prestigious title of "Band of The Year" at the 2009 Blues Music Awards. Nick's albums have made the nomination list for "Contemporary Blues Album of The Year", and blues icon Buddy Guy says "Nick Moss is one of the local favorites at my club, Legends. I always enjoy the way he plays and works hard to please our audience." (www.nickmoss.com) "Chicago Blues. Those two words conjure up the most powerful and evocative images in the entire history of American music," says BJFMS' Wells. " We have a strong representation of genuine Chicago Blues all weekend, starting with Nick Moss on Friday night. Our Friday night may just be the best show of the entire festival," declares Wells. "Not to be missed." Then, Saturday afternoon is set to be another strong example of the powerful force that is the blues. At 1230PM, alumni from the BJFMS "Blues in The Schools" project at Marietta Middle School, now at Marietta High School will perform as "High Schools That Rock" under the direction of Mark Doebrich. Doebrich has been involved with "Blues in The Schools" since its beginning in Marietta, and has been extremely vital to its local success. At 1PM on Saturday, the winners of the 17th Annual "River City Ohio Blues Competition" will take the stage for a 1-hour set. "Long Tall Deb & The Drifter Kings" are from Columbus, and features Deb Landolt out front on lead vocals, with one of Columbus' hottest guitar players (Ritchie B.) and an equally outstanding rhythm section. This is the band that will represent the BJFMS at The International Blues Challenge (IBC) early next year in Memphis. "It's everybody's chance to see the very best from the competition," said John Gifford, Competition Director for BJFMS. (www.longtalldeb.com) At 220PM, Saturday afternoon's traditional acoustic blues slot in the program brings Thomasina Winslow of the world famous Winslow Family Band. She is a singer/songwriter and music educator from up-state New York. Her newly released CD is "Essential Tunes" a collection of what she terms "heritage music" that draws from her roots of traditional acoustic blues and folk. (www.thomasinawinslow,com) At 3:50PM, get ready to dance, 'cause Big James and the Chicago Playboys will rock the house when they bring their horn-driven contemporary Chicago Blues to the stage. Lead by "Big James" Montgomery on trombone and lead vocals, The Chicago Playboys are performing regularly at many of the well known blues clubs around Chicago. "Big James" is a former band member with the famous Little Milton, Albert King, Johnny Christian and yes, Buddy Guy. His first CD entitled "Funkin' Blues" received rave reviews from musicians, critics and fans all around the globe. His newest release called "If It Wasn't 4 Da Blues" is proving to follow suit. "This young and exciting Chicago bluesman will have you up and dancing at, yes, 4PM in the afternoon 'cause we doubt you'll be able to sit this one out," says the "Cobbler." (www.bigjames.com) "Our Saturday afternoon show is a complete journey on the Blues Highway," says Bolen. "From Columbus to upstate New York to Chicago, it's all there," he said. "After all that, you'll be hungry, so we're taking a dinner break from about 5:30PM until 8PM." The music gets rolling again at 8PM, with the Joey Gilmore Blues Band from South Florida. "Joey Gilmore is no opening act," declares Steve Wells of the BJFMS, "Joey can and does headline at festivals and venues all over the country (and the world)," says Wells. In the business for going on 50-years, Joey has spent the last 30-years living in South Florida, playing with most every major blues act that travels anywhere close by. He is a true blues and R&B master who incorporates new and varied styles into his music, performing original compositions mixed with traditional standards in his high-energy live shows. By the way, Joey Gilmore is the only blues act in history to win The International Blues Challenge in Memphis TWO consecutive years in a row. (But that's another story.) Safe to say you don't want to miss Joey Gilmore on Saturday night. Then, at 10PM, it's back to Chicago; this time to see a true Chicago legend right here in Marietta. Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater is an intense, flamboyant blues-rockin' showman who has ruled many a Chicago stage and festival. He's equally comfortable playing the deepest, most heartfelt blues tune, or rockin' the house with good time party music. Downbeat Magazine said, "Left-handed Eddy Clearwater is a forceful six-stringer...he lays down some gritty West Side shuffles and some belly-grinding slow blues that highlights his raw chops, soulful vocals and earthy, humorous lyrics." (www.eddyclearwater.com) Between his slashing left-handed guitar work, his room-filling vocals, his self-defined "rock-a-blues" style (a forceful mix of blues, rock, rockabilly, country and gospel) and his boundless energy, Clearwater is among the very finest practitioners of West Side Chicago Blues working today. The blues world recognized his great talent by giving him the Blues Music Award for "Contemporary Blues - Male Artist of the Year" in 2001. His last release , 2003's Rock 'N' Roll City was nominated for a Grammy Award, Now he's back with his very first CD on the Alligator label, aptly titled West Side Strut, which has been nominated this year for "Traditional Blues Album of The Year" at the Blues Music Awards, along with Eddy (The Chief's) nomination for "Traditional Blues Male Artist of The Year." The BMA's will be given out in May. "This is why we're known a one of the best small blues festivals in the country," said Wells. "You'd have to go a long way to beat that lineup, and lucky for us, "Cobbler"John does it every year. That has led to growth and a very high rate of return festivalgoers for our River City Blues Festival." Tickets will be sold at the door, but advanced tickets and weekend passes are suggested. For tickets, passes and information, call Peggy Bolen at 740.376.0222 (evenings). Weekend passes to all three shows are $50 for members/$70 for non-members. Tickets for individual shows are: Friday Night: $15/$25, Saturday Matinee: $15/$25, and Saturday Night: $20/$30. The ballroom at The Lafayette Hotel will be set up with a large dance floor and a cash bar. As with all BJFMS events, the festival will be a non-smoking event. Complete information about the 18th Annual River City Blues Festival is available at www.bjfm.org Special "blues rate" room rates are available at the Marietta Holiday Inn ($45+tax) and at The Comfort Inn in Marietta ($52.99+tax). Taxi service will be available for the 1.8 mile trip downtown to The Lafayette. See you there, everybody... |
| West Virginia Blues Society Announces Lineup for 2nd Annual Charlie West BluesFest Here is the lineup for the Charlie West Blues Fest, May 16, 2009 to be held at Oakes Field, South Charleston, WV. Times: gates open at noon. Show is 1 pm to 11 pm. Prices are, members - $ 15.00, non members is $ 20.00 at gate, with military and their families to be admittied free with ID Card. Blues Society's everywhere are admitted at the same member fee with current membership card from their Society. ALBERT CASTIGLIA Jason Ricci and New Blood The Jimmi Vincent Band Izzy and Chris The Biscuit Rollers Mahajibee Blues Crossing Ms. Freddye and Blues Faze WVBS Blues Night(s) Out: Sat/April 4 Blues Night Out/Fairmont: with JOHNNY RAWLS at Christopher's Banquet Center Fri/April 10 Blues Night Out/Pomeroy: "Hands Across The Water" BNO with EDDIE SHAW & THE WOLF GANG at The Court Street Grill in Pomeroy Sat/June 6th BNO/Parkersburg "Howlin' Wolf Birthday Party" with DENNIS McCLUNG BLUES BAND at The Thirsty Turtle in Parkersburg |
| News from Our Friends at BSWPA That's Blues Society of Western PA Don't miss the special night of live music THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 21 @ d'vine wine bar & lounge 12017 perry highway - route 19 wexford 15090 Saturday at 10pm Sweaty Betty Blues Band takes the stage for an evening of musical entertainment. And Sunday, March 22 The International Blues Challenge for details, see http://www.bswpa.org/cms/ LINEUP: 1) ANGEL BLUE AND THE PROPHETS 2) SHOT O SOUL 3) FELIX AND THE HURRICANES 4) JILL WEST AND BLUES ATTACK 5) DAVE IGLAR BAND 6) BIG HOUSE PETE 7) PAMELA BICK AND THE WAREHOUSE BLUES BAND 8) KINGS RANSOM Thank you for supporting live music www.sweatybettybluesband.com |
| SHORT TAKES... Live Music Happening Around Campus.... The zaney, unpredictable but hugely talented LEON REDBONE this weekend (Thursday, March 19th at The Winchester Music Hall, 12112 Madison Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. 216-226-5681 www.thewinchester.net Great Live Music Venue in Cleveland. The legendary GEORGE THOROGOOD will perform at The LC Pavillion (formerly PromoWest) in downtown Columbus on March 26th. First Annual Spring Blues Fest in Mansfield, Ohio March 28 Saturday, March 28, 2009 6PM - 1AM JOEZ LOUNGE 880 Laver Road, , Mansfield, Ohio (Rt 30 @ Laver Road) Phone for tickets: 419-589-7671 $7.50 Advance/$10 at door Special Romm Rates available at the attached motel: $39.95 Motel Phone: 419-589-2200 FEATURING: FAT DADDY BLUES BAND 6:00PM STICK PEOPLE (from Akron/Wooster) 8:30PM The JIMI VINCENT BAND 10:30PM BLUES IN TUSCARAWAS: from Gary Brill MICHAEL BURKS will be playing (rockin' the house) at THE CANAL HOUSE (in beautiful downtown Tuscarawas ) on Saturday, March 28. |
| About The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society www.bjfm.org P.O. Box 2122, Marietta, Ohio 45750 The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 all-volunteer "force" of music enthusiasts on a mission to enhance the appreciation of American Roots Music in the Mid-Ohio Valley and we do it by presenting concerts, workshops, conferences, and a forum for education and development in the schools. The BJFM Society celebrates and perpetuates blues and roots music as a traditional, evolutionary, and uniquely American art form. During the grant period, we will continue to present live music in genres not normally available in a small town like ours, to educate and expose our audiences to music new and unfamiliar to many of them. Our goal is to keep blues, jazz and roots music alive in our area. With the help of volunteers from our membership, and an 8-member board of directors, the BJFM Society will continue to produce and present our "core events" plus other shows throughout the year as the opportunity presents itself. The BJFM Society has also undertaken the expense of production and presentation of the nationally recognized multicultural "Blues in the Schools" program here in our local schools John Bolen - President Steve Wells - Vice President, Director of "Blues in The Schools" Peg Bolen - Treasurer Maren Beery - Secretary John Gifford - Board Member, Competition Director Helen Holt - Board Member Mary Ann Orborne - Board Member Kezia Douglass - Board Member |
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P.O. Box 2122
Marietta, Ohio 45750
304-295-4323
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