Bob Dorr And The Blue Band Update

I'm assuming that the reason that the increased number of people who wish to be removed from this list is directly related to the fact that I rarely get to anything related to The Blue Band until the second or third paragraph or they see themselves as insulted by my remark about the appearances of some of the people I see shopping at WalMart. I don't want to lose anymore people, so let me start by saying there is no Blue Band gig this week. Or next week. Or the week after that. Unless you're finally going to break down and hire us for that spring deck party at your mansion on the outskirts of town (come on, we only need 10-15 couples with a hundred dollar bill and WE'RE THERE BABY!!) We kick off the summer festival season on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (5/30) at the North Liberty Centre's Blues and BBQ Festival, featuring all Iowa acts including BF Burt & The Instigators, Dennis (the Daddio) Mc Murrin, Craig Erickson, and The Blue Band. We play 6-7:30pm, It's billed as being rain or shine and is FREE of charge to get in. Need more info on that? try www.northlibertyiowa.org/bluesandbbq/activities.html. What's not to like about Iowa bands, barbecue, and FREE? Right Avis? And as far as WalMart is concerned, I have not returned since being rejected for Reason 88. What the hell IS Reason 88? My friend Jerry Grady (who's retiring from his producer/director job at IPTV) says I must have REALLY screwed up if they're using the ol' Reason 88 excuse. Now Reason 24, I could see that, but Reason 88, I DIDN'T DO IT!! I was framed. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Or is that a wad of used bubble gum that I just sat on? YIKES, either way, it's a sticky situation that neither of us want to really get into...
Remember when Johnny Carson used to describe some of his monologs as Peaks & Valleys? (if you don't remember Johnny Carson, let alone the Peaks & Valleys description, you're either too young to be reading this note OR your dementia is worse than mine) Well, my week has been one of those Peaks & Valleys series of episodes. I started in a Valley. Remember 14 months ago when I got a root canal? Which evolved into a root fusion? Which evolved into a partial root amputation? Well, I'm done with that now because the tooth died and was extracted Monday afternoon. Must have been all that CAKE! Then Tuesday I climbed to a Peak when the installation of the new stairs in my house was completed. That means we're on to the electrical installation, drywall and finally resumption of normal sleep habits. Except for some minor replacement of siding on the old part of the house, the exterior is pretty much done. Except for one thing that became the Valley of Wednesday. We got nearly 2.75 inches of rain right here in Sparkle City, mostly between 4:15pm-10:30pm. This is not a good thing if the only thing that is not finished on the exterior of the house is the lack of installing gutters. Combine this with the fact that there is currently only dirt, no grass, in the front yard because of all the construction trucks and the replacement of the sidewalks and all of a sudden the 2.75 inches of rain became 2.75 inches of standing water in the basement rooms where I live. While my wonderful wife endured back pain filling up the wet-vac four times (we're talking 16 gallons of muddy water) I was out in the rain trying my best to divert the water that was cascading down the new sidewalk and creating a small scale version of Lake Michigan in the front of my house. Then the lightning started. And I was reminded of all the times I heard my dad say "you're more likely to get hit by lightning than winning the lotto." And since I've never won the lotto, I immediately knew I was in trouble. So now, the $1400 worth of new carpeting that I had installed last Fall on the stairs, (remember, there's now NEW stairs, so the old stairs, with the new carpet, are in the landfill) in the hall (where the wet-vac sucked up 16 gallons of muddy water) and in my bedroom (which now is an island) will probably have to be removed. Wednesday was definitely a valley. It's 3am Friday morning and I'm STILL trying to dry out that carpet. But I'm headed to another Peak. Today's forecast is for sunny (BLUE) skies and a 20mph wind which will aid in drying out the place. Let's break out the CAKE and celebrate!...
On a completely different note. If you want to be hip to the latest happenings in the world of blues but you only want to spend 90 minutes a year to get that hipness, you should listen to my Blue Avenue radio show this Sunday evening (5-6:30p) on Iowa Public Radio. It's a recap of the Blues Music Awards that were presented by the Blues Foundation on May 6 and the latest music by the award winners. There's a better chance than getting hit by lightning that you'll dig the show. Try it, feel the electricity...
The contractors have become inspired by their own success and now regularly show up before 7:30am. Someday I'm going to have to teach them the Bo Diddley beat so they can pound out the rhythm to Willie & The Hand Jive while driving those nails. There probably won't be a Blue Note next week. I'm wishing you many more Peaks than Valleys as you drive the Blue Highway, keep rubbin' that washboard tie, always have yer gutters up in a rain storm, thanks to everyone who responded about the problems we had sending out the note last week, we're about 25 seconds away from finding out if we fixed it (let me know if yer gettin it more than once (!), keep yer CAKE in a dry place and always remember we love you. Bob Dorr & The Blue Band

Eric Sardinas At The Winter Blues Blowout!!

This just in from IPR. Eric Sardinas to perform at the Winter Blues Blowout!!!

For immediate release: January 14, 2009
Contact: Joan Kjaer, 319-335-5746

Eric Sardinas & Big Motor to headline 2009 Winter Blues Blowout for Iowa Public Radio

1/14/09 (Cedar Falls) - Eric Sardinas brings his signature brand of delta dynamite to the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo on February 21 for the 2009 Winter Blues Blowout, presented by the Friends of KUNI/KHKE on behalf of Iowa Public Radio.

Picking up the guitar at the age of six, Eric Sardinas reaped a heapin' helpin' of inspiration from a melting pot of influences numbering R&B, gospel, rock and roll and most tellingly, his profound love of traditional blues forms. All inform the songwriting and incendiary playing on the new album, "Eric Sardinas and Big Motor." And while those influences inexorably shape his playing he's no mere mimic. Instead, he's absorbed all those styles into his DNA, reinterpreting them into his own driving contemporary blues/rock sound.

On his latest album, the artist delivers a powerful musical statement that stands as his most accomplished release to date, fueled by a wily sense of adventure, imagination and ferocious lead guitar finery. Honest, soulful and fire-branded with a gritty passion, Eric Sardinas is the real deal, infusing his music with an embattled spirit, reconfiguring deep southern blues with the finesse of a master. Scoring accolades for his previous studio albums (1999's "Treat Me Right," 2001's "Devil's Train" and 2003's "Black Pearls"), Sardinas has garnered acclaim for his explosive live performances, which clearly demonstrate his consummate six-string agility. A veteran of the live circuit, he’s racked up thousands of performances worldwide.

Opening the show is Iowa City area's Kevin "BF" Burt & the Instigators. Showtime is 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.).

Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the door). Advance tickets can be ordered online at www.iowapublicradio.org or by calling 800-772-2440, ext. 0. Advance tickets are also available at the KUNI Studios and Bob's Guitars in Cedar Falls. All proceeds benefit Iowa Public Radio.

Financial support is made possible by The Warner Group, Inc. (Waterloo), Lucky 13 Design (Des Moines), Blue Monday Monthly (Owatonna, MN), Blackhawk Hotel (Cedar Falls) and the Friends of KUNI/KHKE.

Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. Iowa Public Radio includes the WOI Radio Group (Iowa State University, Ames), KUNI-KHKE (University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls), and KSUI-WSUI (University of Iowa, Iowa City).

###

Scott Vezdos

Iowa Public Radio Marketing/Communications Specialist

Iowa Public Radio

University of Northern Iowa

3rd Floor, CAC

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

p: (319) 273-3497

2008 Fall Blues Blowout For Iowa Public Radio

Press release for Iowa Public Radio

For immediate release: September 29, 2008
Contact: Joan Kjaer, 319-335-5746

Kenny Neal to headline 2008 Fall Blues Blowout for Iowa Public Radio

9/29/08 (Cedar Falls) - American bluesman Kenny Neal brings his axe to Waterloo’s Electric Park Ballroom on November 22 for the 2008 Fall Blues Blowout, presented by the Friends of KUNI/KHKE.

Let Life Flow marks the return of multi-instrumentalist and modern swamp-blues master Kenny Neal, with an inspired set that draws musically from the sizzling sounds of his native Louisiana, while striking a deep, emotional resonance in response to the personal trials he has recently endured. For the past few years, health problems forced Kenny away from the studio and touring, and his first release since signing with Blind Pig Records finds him returning with a renewed vigor and outlook on life. Let Life Flow reflects his optimistic sense of perseverance, set to the soulful grooves that have garnered him a solid fan base over the past twenty years.

Commenting on his recent return to recording and performing with Let Life Flow, Kenny said, "With all the tragedy and darkness I've been through in the past three years, I'm finally seeing the light. I've been waiting for a long time for a record company to say ‘Make a record that you feel good about.' Blind Pig Records gave me that opportunity. And my new CD, Let Life Flow, is coming straight from my heart. Hope everyone enjoys it."

Opening the show is the 2008 Iowa Blues Challenge winner, the Avey Brothers, from Davenport. Showtime is 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the door). Advance tickets can be ordered online at kuniradio.org or by calling 800-772-2440, ext. 0. Advance tickets are also available at Bob's Guitars in Cedar Falls. All proceeds benefit Iowa Public Radio.

Financial support for this event is made possible by The Warner Group, Inc. (Waterloo), Veridian Credit Union (Waterloo), Bob's Guitars (Cedar Falls) and the Black Hawk Hotel (Cedar Falls).

Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. Iowa Public Radio includes the WOI Radio Group (Iowa State University, Ames), KUNI-KHKE (University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls), and KSUI-WSUI (University of Iowa, Iowa City).

###

Scott Vezdos

Iowa Public Radio Marketing/Communications Specialist

KUNI/KHKE Public Radio

University of Northern Iowa

3rd Floor, CAC

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

p: (319) 273-3497

www.kuniradio.org

www.myspace.com/kuniradio

www.khke.org

www.iowapublicradio.org

KUNI Live Broadcast From The Des Moines Arts Festival

Press release from KUNI

Iowa Public Radio broadcasts live from the Des Moines Arts Festival:

Join Iowa Public Radio on Thursday, June 26 in downtown Des Moines as we celebrate the load-in of the 11th annual Des Moines Arts Festival. Iowa Public Radio will broadcast live on WOI 90.1 FM and all KUNI stations from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. from the legendary Blues on Grand featuring break-out blues guitarist Mike Zito. Admission is free.

Singer, guitarist and songwriter Mike Zito grew up in St. Louis, immersed in the gritty and soulful sounds of the city's south side that would help provide the groundwork for his future in music. He began singing and performing at the age of five and has been touring heavily since the age of nineteen. But throwing himself headfirst into the pursuit of his art had a toll, and Zito paid it. The non-stop rock 'n' roll lifestyle led to a dark and dangerous period during which Zito came close to destroying all that he'd worked so hard to establish. It took time, but thankfully, with the help and intervention of friends and supporters in the music business, loved ones and the woman who would become his wife, Zito regained his faith in himself and his music, cleaned up his act and settled down in Southeast Texas to begin anew.

With a clean slate, a fresh outlook and a new found dedication to his music, Zito now embraces a positive message of hope and redemption; illuminating his music with a deeper relevance and validity, while elevating his craft to all new artistic heights. Together with producers David Z and Tony Braunagel, Zito's previously untapped potential is fully realized and complimented by an assemblage of world class musicians that can best be described as "The Dream Team." Joining Zito on his brand new release, "Today," are bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson (Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Joe Cocker), keyboardist Benmont Tench (Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash), drummer Tony Braunagel (Eric Burdon, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal) and Michito Sanchez (Joe Walsh, Elton John, Crosby, Stills & Nash).

Zito is that rare new artist who is completely in-synch with the contemporary music scene, while at the same time having a lifetime’s worth of experience to draw from that informs his music with soul, depth, and lasting appeal that grows with repeated listening. With a new chapter of his life unfolding, Mike Zito has only begun to scratch the musical surface yet again.

For more information about the Des Moines Arts Festival visit www.desmoinesartsfestival.org.

Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. Iowa Public Radio includes the WOI Radio Group (Iowa State University, Ames), KUNI-KHKE (University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls), and KSUI-WSUI (University of Iowa, Iowa City).

KUNI Big Show Alert!! Blues Cruise With Bob Dorr

Press release from KUNI about the Blues Cruise featuring our friend Bob Dorr!

For immediate release: May 9, 2008

Contact: Scott Vezdos, 319-273-3497

Friends of KUNI present Blues Cruise with Bob Dorr & the Blue Band:

Set sail with Iowa Public Radio on Friday, June 6 on the mighty Mississippi River for the 2008 Blues Cruise. Join the Friends of KUNI and the Spirit of Dubuque for a three-hour tour with Bob Dorr & the Blue Band.

The Blue Band is celebrating their recent induction into the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Led by Iowa Public Radio’s very own Bob Dorr, the Blue Band has acquired a dedicated fan base of all ages and has become one of Iowa’s most revered and requested bands.

The Spirit of Dubuque is a replica of a century-old Mississippi River steamboat with decorative smokestacks, a scalloped canopy over its open-air deck, and Victorian red and gold décor throughout the enclosed dining salon. The gangway and dining area are handicapped accessible for standard wheelchairs.

Boarding begins at 7 p.m. at the 3rd Street Ice Harbor in Dubuque. The Blues Cruise departs at 7:30 p.m. and returns at 10:30 p.m. Drinks and concessions are available and sold separately.

Attendance at the event is limited to 300 guests and tickets are available in advance for $15 per person. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.kuniradio.org or by phone at 1-800-772-2440, ext. 0. Advance tickets are also available at Bob’s Guitars in Cedar Falls and Moondog Music in Dubuque. Tickets purchased at the event are $20 per person.

Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. Iowa Public Radio includes the WOI Radio Group (Iowa State University, Ames), KUNI-KHKE (University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls), and KSUI-WSUI (University of Iowa, Iowa City).

###

Scott Vezdos

Iowa Public Radio Marketing/Communications Specialist

KUNI/KHKE Public Radio

University of Northern Iowa

3rd Floor, CAC

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

p: (319) 273-3497

www.kuniradio.org

www.myspace.com/kuniradio

www.khke.org

www.iowapublicradio.org

KUNI: Big Blues Show

For immediate release:

Contact: Scott Vezdos, 319-273-3497

KUNI Blues Blowout featuring the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue (Tommy Castro, Magic Dick, Deanna Bogart)

Saturday, February 9, 2008 (8 PM)

Electric Park Ballroom – Waterloo, IA

12/28/07 (Cedar Falls) - The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue will roll into Waterloo’s Electric Park Ballroom for the KUNI 2008 Winter Blues Blowout on February 9, 2008. This is not just another blues show, but a standout blues event! Spearheaded by Tommy Castro and Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise founder, Roger Naber, it brings the energy and excitement of this decade’s hottest blues ticket from the High Seas to the land.

Tommy Castro, one of the most requested artists on the extremely popular and always sold out Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, has a brand new Blind Pig CD out now entitled “Painkiller.” Tommy also won BluesWax Blues Artist of the Year 2006 with a record number of first place reader votes. BluesWax is a weekly internet publication with nearly 100,000 subscribers.

Tommy has gathered two of his favorite cruising musicians for an explosive show that features former J. Geils Band founding member Magic Dick as well as 2007 Blues Music Awards finalist Deanna Bogart. Each artist will perform a set with the Tommy Castro Band, and the show closes with an electrifying jam (the highlight of the evening) sure to thrill and satisfy any blues fan. These late night jams are the highlight of each day of music on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, and all three of the acts featured in the revue are favorites of the Blues Cruise community passengers, as tallied by cruiser feedback.

Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the door). Advance tickets can be ordered online at www.kuniradio.org (in the STORE section) or by calling KUNI weekdays at 319-273-6400 or 800-772-2440, ext. 0. Advance tickets are also available at Bob's Guitars in Cedar Falls. All proceeds benefit KUNI Public Radio.

Scott Vezdos

Iowa Public Radio Marketing/Communications Specialist

KUNI/KHKE Public Radio

University of Northern Iowa

3rd Floor, CAC

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

p: (319) 273-3497

www.kuniradio.org

www.myspace.com/kuniradio

www.khke.org

www.iowapublicradio.org

KUNI Blues Bash Eddy Clearwater

A press release from KUNI about the upcoming Blues Bash in Waterloo

For immediate release: October 5, 2007

Contact: Scott Vezdos, 319-273-3497

The KUNI Blues Blowout returns to the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo on Saturday, November 17, 2007 featuring versatile, flamboyant Chicago blues rocker, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater touring in support of a brand new release.

With his distinctive blend of Chuck Berry-style rock (and the occasional duck walk) and Magic Sam-influenced West Side blues, combined with his left-handed/upside-down guitar playing and dramatic stage performances, Eddy Clearwater quickly developed a reputation as a great showman with a diverse repertoire. He recorded several singles (for Atomic-H, LaSalle and Federal) and worked steadily in Chicago-area nightclubs for the next 20 years, remaining one of Chicago's hidden treasures until recognition of his talents began to come from abroad in the late '70s.

His 1980 U.S. debut album, The Chief (named after Clearwater's affinity for wearing the full Indian headdress given to him as a good luck charm), was the first release on Chicago's fledgling Rooster Blues label. His next album, recorded for England's Red Lightnin' label, won a W.C. Handy Award for "Best Import Blues Album."

Clearwater continues to tour across the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Asia, and South America, performing 200+ concerts a year. With his powerful left-handed guitar playing, unique hybrid of West Side blues and relentless rockabilly, stage costumes, and high energy performances, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater lives up to his reputation as one of the most versatile and colorful entertainers to have emerged from Chicago's blues scene. The Chicago Tribune proudly declares him "Chicago's premier blues showman."

A half century after his arrival in Chicago, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater is still making history.

Opening the show is the 2007 Iowa Blues Challenge winners, Matt Woods & the Thunderbolts, from Des Moines. From the delta to the hills, the Thunderbolts thumping rhythm and stomping slide workouts will remind you what real party music is meant to be.

Showtime is 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the door). Advance tickets can be ordered online at www.kuniradio.org (in the STORE section) or by calling KUNI weekdays at 319-273-6400 or 800-772-2440, ext. 0. Advance tickets are also available at Bob's Guitars in Cedar Falls. All proceeds benefit KUNI Public Radio.

Financial support is made possible by The Warner Group, Inc. (Waterloo); Veridian Credit Union (Waterloo); Dyton Creative (Cedar Falls); Impact Marketing Technologies (Waterloo); and The Blackhawk Hotel (Cedar Falls).

Scott Vezdos

Marketing Manager/Special Events Coordinator

KUNI/KHKE Public Radio

University of Northern Iowa

3rd Floor, CAC

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

p: (319) 273-3497

www.kuniradio.org

www.myspace.com/kuniradio

www.khke.org

www.iowapublicradio.org

Two Big Iowa Shows

I Thought I would post a couple of press releases from KUNI. KUNI is the NPR station located in Ceder Falls- Waterloo Iowa. They play blues, jazz, world music, plus the typical NPR shows. They are having a couple of shows one in Clear Lake at the famous Surf Ballroom. The Surf was the location of the final show of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper. After the show they chartered a plane in a snowstorm and crashed in a cornfield. Truly the day the music died. However, the blues lives now at the surf, and KUNI is having a Bike, Blues, and BBQ fest in Clear Lake. more details below. the second show is a blues cruise featuring Bob Dorr, and the Blue Band. The cruise takes off from Dubuque at 7:30 and returns at 10:30. The important details are below. However, if you haven't seen the blue band, especially my readers in Illinois, you need to catch them while you can. Bob Dorr is in the Iowa Blues Hall Of Fame, the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, and is a legendary DJ in Iowa. He has had a great run with the Blue Band, and even though the personal has changed through out the years, Bob has always had one of the best blues, rock, and soul shows going in the Midwest. You need to check them out.

OKAY Below are both press releases for both shows:

KUNI Night at Clear Lake’s “Bicycle Blues & BBQ” Festival

Saturday, July 7, 2007 – 7 p.m.

The Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA

The Bicycle, Blues & BBQ festival gets underway in Clear Lake on Friday, July 6 at 5:00 pm with food and cycling vendors and culminates with a USCF-sanctioned race on Sunday, July 8 at 7:30 am. Inflate those tires, find your helmet and get biking! KUNI will participate in this Clear Lake event with a great night of blues on Saturday, July 7 at the Surf Ballroom featuring a CD release party from R&B pianist/vocalist KELLEY HUNT, blues diva CANDYE KANE in support of her new release "Guitar'd and Feathered," and Iowa City's ambassadors of soul THE DIPLOMATS OF SOLID SOUND featuring THE DIPLOMETTES!

KUNI BLUES NIGHT AT THE SURF (Saturday):

KELLEY HUNT: These days it's rare when a blues-based artist shows up with both tradition and true originality on their side. Roots R&B / Americana singer / songwriter / piano player KELLEY HUNT is just such an artist -- a woman who has muscled her way onto the scene on her own terms with an identity that is clearly steeped in blues/roots/gospel but reaches out toward refreshingly unexpected horizons. That freshness together with a commanding, passionate stage presence and superior skills as a vocalist, piano player and writer have earned Kelley the respect of critics and fans across the country. Born in Kansas City, Hunt’s love for her craft was fine tuned listening to early blues, R&B, roots rock, jazz and gospel influences including Ruth Brown, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, Ann Peebles, Ray Charles, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin, Charles Brown, Wanda Jackson and a crossection of the New Orleans/St. Louis/KC piano traditions of Professor Longhair, Toots Washington, Johnnie Johnson and Kansas City masters Jay McShann and Mary Lou Williams among others. While subtle reminders of those very traditional influences can be heard in Kelley’s live performances and recordings, her lyrics, soul and passion are all her own. Kelley will be touring in support of a brand new release and this stop in Clear Lake serves as Kelley Hunt's CD release party, so don't miss it!

CANDYE KANE: In the tradition of none-too-shy, brassy, larger-than-life flamboyant blues singers like Memphis Minnie, Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton and Etta James comes CANDYE KANE. The Blues was a place where women had colorful pasts - many were plus sized like herself. Most had grown up in oppressive, horrible circumstances and yet were still able to make music and celebrate their sexual lives. She sings of her life in a way audiences all over the world can relate to. Such candor, combined with excellent showmanship and a crackerjack band has helped Candye Kane rise in the world of the blues rather rapidly. Her eighth cd, tentatively titled "Guitar'd and Feathered" will feature performances by many of Candye's closest guitar playing pals. A remake of the song "Female Trouble;" penned by drag queen Divine for the John Waters movie of the same name, was recorded earlier this month in Amsterdam with Ana Popovic. Other guitar slinger guests will include Sue Foley, Junior Watson, Dave Alvin, Poison Ivy of the Cramps, Popa Chubby and Nick Curran. Produced by former Muddy Waters guitarist, Bob Margolin, Kane's latest effort proves to be an exciting merger of Candye's powerful vocals with scorching guitar icons.

DIPLOMATS OF SOLID SOUND featuring THE DIPLOMETTES: Steeped in the sizzling, funky gumbo of Booker T & The MG's, The Meters, James Brown and the B-3 driven, backyard barbecue jams of Jimmy Smith, Lou Donaldson, Jimmy McGriff, Lonnie Smith, and Brother Jack McDuff, THE DIPLOMATS OF SOLID SOUND surge forward in their passionate crusade to steam-clean the planet's dancefloors with their instrumental soul stew. THE DIPLOMETTES' smooth and sassy vocal stylings hit the scene in July 2006 and they've been shakin' a tail feather and gettin' down ever since. Together with The Diplomats of Solid Sound, all three write original tunes, such as "Already Gone," "Gotta Decide," and "Smokey Places." Look for their new album with The Diplomats - out soon!!

2 FOR 1 SPECIAL AT THE SURF! Buy one ticket for KUNI's Saturday night show with Kelley Hunt and get one FREE ticket for The Surf's Friday night show with blues axeman Walter Trout at 8 pm! While supplies last.

Advance tickets can be ordered online at www.iowatix.com and www.kuniradio.org (in the STORE section) or by calling KUNI weekdays at 319-273-6400 or 800-772-2440, ext. 0. Advance tickets are also available at Bob's Guitars in Cedar Falls and CDGB’s in Mason City.

Scott Vezdos

Marketing Manager/Special Events Coordinator

KUNI/KHKE Public Radio

University of Northern Iowa

3rd Floor, CAC

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

p: (319) 273-3497

www.kuniradio.org

www.myspace.com/kuniradio

HERE IS THE SECOND PRESS RELEASE FROM KUNI

KUNI Blues Cruise with Bob Dorr & the Blue Band

Friday, June 1, 7:30-10:30 p.m. (boarding begins at 7 p.m.)

Spirit of Dubuque, 3^rd St. Ice Harbor, Dubuque

Join KUNI and the Spirit of Dubuque for a three-hour tour on the mighty Mississippi for the 2007 Blue Cruise with Bob Dorr & the Blue Band!

The Blue Band is celebrating 25 years, with KUNI’s very own Bob Dorr recently being inducted into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame. The Blue Band has acquired a dedicated fan base of all ages and has become one of Iowa's most revered and requested bands.

The Spirit of Dubuque is a replica of a century-old Mississippi River steamboat with decorative smokestacks, a scalloped canopy over its open-air deck, Victorian red and gold decor throughout the enclosed dining salon. The gangway and dining area are handicapped accessible for standard wheelchairs.

Set sail with us on Friday, June 1. Boarding begins at 7:00 p.m. at the 3rd Street Ice Harbor in Dubuque. Cruise departs at 7:30 p.m. and returns at 10:30 p.m.

Blues Cruise tickets are $15 in advance. Advance tickets can be ordered online at www.kuniradio.org in the STORE section or by calling KUNI weekdays at 319-273-6400 or 800-772-2440, ext. 0. Advance tickets are also available at Dubuque River Rides, Bob's Guitars in Cedar Falls and Moondog Music in Dubuque.

Financial support for this event is made possible by The Busted Lift (Dubuque) and Best Western Midway Hotel (Dubuque) – the official hotel of KUNI’s Blues Cruise.

Scott Vezdos

Marketing Manager/Special Events Coordinator

KUNI/KHKE Public Radio

University of Northern Iowa

3rd Floor, CAC

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

p: (319) 273-3497

www.kuniradio.org

www.myspace.com/kuniradio