 Featured Article: "Blues in Black & White" a Review | | "Blues in Black & White" Photography Exhibit at Ohio University's Kennedy Museum. Review by "the Voice." | | | Listen to "the Voice."
Music News You Can Use is Semi-Monthly email newsletter from the BJFMS. We try to be your Source for what's happening with Live Music in our area - from Marietta-Parkersburg to Charleston, WV, to Columbus, OH, to Pittsburgh, PA. We'll tell you what we know of, what we've heard about, and even the good rumors we've either heard or made up. You may learn something about music along the way, and maybe even get a few laughs in the process. You'll be getting Music News You Can Use in your email in-box about every other week - or when something important comes up in between. We promise we will never sell or give your email address to any 3rd party, and to never use it for any commercial purposes. You will always have the chance to "opt-out" (un-subscribe) on every issue.
| | Colony Fest
Red, White & Blues, The Wing Thing Marietta , Ohio
Three of Marietta's most popular Summer outdoors charity events have announced their entertainment lineups for this year. Cobbler John Bolen, President of The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society, who does the entertainment booking for all three events, has put together a solid lineup of regional talent that should draw a sizable crowd and "keep 'em dancing."
COLONY FEST:Friday & Saturday, June 5, 6
Parking Partners Lot
2nd Street, Downtown Marietta
FRIDAY, June 5th:
Johnny Reed & The Houserockers
Toledo, Ohio. Winners of 2006 Comp.
Ricky Nie w/Steve Perakis on bass
Cincinnati, Ohio. Blues, Boogie
Woogie and New Orleans Piano
SATURDAY, June 6th
Ricky Nie w/Steve Perakis on bass
Cincinnati, Ohio. Blues, Boogie
Woogie and New Orleans Piano
Blue Lunch, 8-piece band w/horns
Cleveland, Ohio
Blues, R&B, Soul & Rock
Colony Fest has grown up:
2-Days
15 vendors on site, BBQ Cookoff
Antique Show & Sale
Good Music, Good Food and a Good Cause
###
RED, WHITE & BLUES: FRIDAY, July 3rd
Lafayette Hotel Parking Lot 5PM
Front Street, Downtown Marietta
Only $5 Admission (proceeds go to "The Friends of Front Street" for beautification)
15th Annual; this is the 1-day festival "Moon" Mullen (now Mayor) and I started back in 1994. It has never been "rained out," but was moved inside the hotel for the first time last year. Music - Beer - Food - Everything You Need. Music starts at 5PM
LINEUP: Dennis McClung Blues Band
Fairmont, WV. Red Hot Blues.
Inner City Blues Band
Columbus, Ohio. Winners of
Columbus Blues Alliance Comp.
Sonny Moorman Group
Cincinnati, Ohio. Power Blues.
###
"The Wing Thing": SATURDAY, July 4th
Lafayette Hotel Parking Lot 5PM
Front Street, Downtown Marietta.
Sponsored by the Marietta/Washington County Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Annual chicken wing cookoff among area restaurants for bragging rights. $5 to get in. Sample the wings and vote for your favorite.
MORE Music - Beer - Food
Entertainment: Dennis McClung Blues Band, Fairmont, WV. Red Hot Blues.
### x | | Court Street Grill Report Support your local juke joint.... Court Street Grill, 112 Court Street, Pomeroy, Ohio COMING TO THE GRILL:
TONIGHT, "Real Deal" Chicago Blues!
Harmonica Ace, Bill Lupkin, returns to the Grill for a night of red hot Blues.  TONIGHT @ THE GRILL
Bill's recently found a good home at the Grill (mostly thanks to our mutual friends, Nick Moss & the Flip Tops) and we couldn't be happier!
Show time at 9PM and tix are $5.00 at the door. Lil' Dave Thompson & Big Love - 6/18 Daddy Mack Blues Band - 7/16 | | Charleston Blues Society ...just down the road Doug MacLeod Acoustic Blues and Storytelling
www.doug-macleod.com
Thursday, April 30
7:30 at the LewisTheatre
113 N. Court St. Lewisburg,WV
$10.00 in advance $12.00@the door!
Friday, May 1st
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation
520 Kanawha Blvd. W. Charleston, WV
Friday, May 1st @ 7:30pm
Suggested donation $10.00
Both performances benefit the Charleston WV Blues Society's History Project to honor W.Va's African-American musicians and contributions to the industry. Also the Blues in the Schools Program, bringing America's "roots" music to young people around the state.
Between stops at Merlefest and Memphis, MacLeod will have only two performances in WV, Lewisburg and Charleston.
Doug has been nominated for 2009 Blues Music Award
for Acoustic Blues Artist of The Year!! Award by the Blues Foundation! Doug MacLeod is one of the last remaining Bluesmen who learned from the old masters, lived the music, survived the life, and now continues to carry forward that valuable tradition. Within the Blues world, MacLeod is known for his quality recordings which feature superb songwriting, guitar wizardry and warm soulful vocals and for his wit and unforgettable live performances.
During performances, he entertains and draws his audience closer by telling the stories that inspired the songs. His songs have been covered by many artists including Albert King, Albert Collins, Coco Montoya, Joe Louis Walker, and Eva Cassidy.
Presented by : The Charleston WV Blues SocietyP.O. Box 2293 Charleston, WV 25328 Call 304.590.1042 for advance reservations and more information. www.myspace.com/charlestonwvbluessociety chaswvblues@yahoo.com | | Emerson Sports Grill 4000 Emerson Ave, Parkersburg, WV 304-422-7655
from Bill Poole...
Hey music lovers the newly remodeled "Emerson Sports Grill" formerly the Front Row presents "Friday Night Live Unplugged" featuring the regions best singer songwriters and acoustic musicians unplugged. A smaller room, a softer sound a more cozy and intimate listening experience. Hope to see you there.
BP
Here's The Emerson Sports Grill lineup of singer/songwriters for April: All Shows 9PM - 12Mid.
FRIDAY, April 24th: Joseph Henry FRIDAY, May 1st: Steve Hussey
EMERSON SPORTS GRILL, | | Marietta Brewing Company 167 Front Street, Marietta, Ohio 740-373-BREW
LIVE MUSIC at THE MARIETTA BREWING CO. TUESDAYS 9PM: MBC Unplugged Series WEDNESDAYS 10PM: Open Mike w/ Jeremy Harmon FRIDAY & SATURDAYS: Live Music
FRIDAY: April 24: Double Feature: The Head Changers & Nate DiRuzzo SATURDAY, April 25: Euphonic Brew TUESDAY, April 28: Greg Hale MAY SCHEDULE NEXT ISSUE | "Blues in Black & White"
A Review by the Voice
If you tried to name the greatest bluesmen of all time, you would probably come up with names like Muddy Waters, Albert King, Freddie King, B.B. King, Son House, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, Jr. Wells, Johnny Shines, Big Joe Williams, Carey Bell, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Otis Rush, Luther Allison, Sam Lay, Hound Dog Taylor, and Bukka White, just to name a few. Now what if you went to a blues festival and they were ALL there? Well that's exactly what happened in Ann Arbor, Michigan, back in 1969 and 1970. The landmark Ann Arbor Blues Festivals of '69 and '70 brought almost all living blues greats together for what was the first of what we know today as a blues festival. You see, The Blues threw a party and EVERYBODY came - the KINGS of electric blues, the FATHERS of country blues, they came to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a local Ann Arbor photographer named Stanley Livingston got pictures of them ALL. Now, this newly discovered collection is being shown publicly for the first time at nearby Ohio University. I attended the opening of "Blues in Black & White" last Friday night at The Kennedy Museum of Art, at The Ridges on the campus of Ohio University in Athens. Over sixty amazing pictures are on display, Chicago blues legends Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Little Frank (Krakowski) performed live, and they served hors d'oeuvres and wine - it was a spectacular evening. And, according to museum staff, it was the most people ever to attend an event at The Kennedy Museum of Art.
But it is the pictures that are truly spectacular - there is no other word to describe them. The photographer captured the behind-the-scenes activities and performances of these Blues greats. Each one of these intimate images is a perfect portrait of its subject, so real, but never posed, so technically perfect, demonstrating Livingston's mastery of the art of "painting with light." When you look at these incredible images, you can almost "hear the music." This may be the most definitive collection of blues art in the world. This is the first display of this impressive collection of images, but I'm sure it won't be the last. Stanley Livingston's "Blues in Black & White" will travel throughout the country, and undoubtedly throughout the world as a "portrait of The Blues" and its players at that important time in the evolution of America's first popular music. We saw it first, thanks to the work and forethought of music fan (and my friend) Ed Pauley, who is the Director of The Kennedy Museum of Art at Ohio University. Many of you may remember Ed as Director of The Parkersburg Art Center in the early 90's (when I first moved back to Parkersburg.) He left here to run a museum in Huntington, WV. So when I saw him at the opening in Athens, I thought he and his lovely wife, Kellie, were visiting. But when I asked them what he's doing now, he said "Running this place." Frankly, I wasn't surprised. Ed Pauley is one of the smartest, nicest guys I've ever met, and if anyone could put together an extremely successful art event of this magnitude, it would be Ed. Good job, Mr. Ed Pauley.
The exhibit is sponsored in part by Friends of Kennedy Museum, and the opening reception entertainment was sponsored by Jorma and Vanessa of The Fur Peace Ranch. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. For ALL Blues fans, photography fans, art fans, this is a MUST SEE. The exhibit runs through June 14, but you have another chance to see the exhibit and hear some great live blues in the same evening. On May 14th, in conjunction with "Blues in Black & White," New Orleans bluesman Spencer Bohren will perform the journey of a single song through America's history and culture, from its African beginnings through Delta blues and country music, emerging as rock 'n' roll. That's THURSDAY, May 14th: 7PM, meet Spencer at the Kennedy Museum of Art. Then at 8PM, "Down the Dirt Road Blues, A Musical History In Live Performance," at The Ridges Auditorium. Again, this is a free show, another reason not to miss it. Bonus: Lin Hall, where The Kennedy Museum is located and the auditorium are at " The Ridges" on a hill across the Hocking River, overlooking the Convocation Center and Peden Stadium. " The Ridges" at one time was The Athens Lunatic Asylum, opened in 1874, and later The Athens Asylum for the Insane. It's rumored to be one of the most haunted buildings in the country, so there is a good chance, if you don't watch out, you could "get slimed" before the evening is over. the Voice.
Links: www.ohio.edu/museum | West Virginia Blues Society
www.wvbluessociety.org 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 CASTIGLIAJason Ricci and New Blood The Jimmi Vincent Band Izzy and Chris The Biscuit Rollers Mahajibee Blues Crossing Ms. Freddye and Blues Faze Sat/June 6th BNO/Parkersburg "Howlin' Wolf Birthday Party" with DENNIS McCLUNG BLUES BAND at The Thirsty Turtle in Parkersburg | Blues Music Awards (BMA's) Performers Announced:
The Blues Foundation has announced the first round of performers for the 30th annual Blues Music Awards. B.B. King will present the award named in his honor, the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award. These performers are part of a six-plus-hour Blues marathon May 7 in Memphis, Tennessee. All performers are also nominated for 2009 Blues Music Awards, except Taj Mahal. Other confirmed performers are Bettye LaVette, Irma Thomas, Otis Taylor, Marcia Ball, Gaye Adegbalola, Rory Block, Albert Castiglia, Janiva Magness, Kenny Neal, Maria Muldaur, Eden Brent, The Mannish Boys, and there will be Chicago Blues Jam with drummer Kenny Smith, drummer/harmonica player Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, bassist Bob Stroger, guitarist Lurrie Bell, and others.
The Blues Music Awards will be held Thursday, May 7, at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis. Tickets are still available. For information and to see the list of nominees, go to blues.org. | Classic Ray Charles Available for Download, (More Ray To Come): Now you can download "Georgia on My Mind," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Crying Time," and other great Ray Charles songs when the post-1960 catalog of "The Genius" goes digital for the first time. Beginning April 7, iTunes holds a two-week exclusive on the catalog that includes 27 albums. Now at the end of that two weeks it is being offered at all digital music outlets.
On April 7, Concord Records also released a 21-song anthology of hits titled Ray Charles - Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection. The volume presents Charles' most influential recordings for the Atlantic and ABC-Paramount labels, including 1954's "I've Got a Woman," plus "Busted," "Georgia on My Mind," "Hit the Road Jack," and "I Can't Stop Loving You," concluding with his signature 1972 rendition of "America the Beautiful." All are digitally remastered from the original tapes and will be available wherever music is sold.
Concord will release several other Ray Charles reissues this year including Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music, Volumes 1 & 2, The Genius Hits the Road, A Message From the People, and Genius + Soul = Jazz & More. | | Van Morrison To Reprise Astral Weeks Again:
By popular demand, multi-award-winning musical legend Van Morrison will return to California for "Astral Weeks Live" at the Berkeley's University of California, Greek Theatre on May 2 and 3, and at the intimate Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on May 7, 8, and 9. Morrison recently released Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl, a historic CD and double vinyl recording, performed almost 40 years to the date of the original studio masterpiece. The DVD release of Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl was April 7, exclusively through Amazon.com.
Morrison will perform the Astral Weeks material "from cover to cover" as well as a number of his classic hits from his extensive repertoire. Joining him on stage will be an orchestral string section and a band composed of world-class musicians, including renowned guitarist Jay Berliner, who played with Morrison on the original Astral Weeks sessions 40 years ago. Tracks will include "Astral Weeks/I Believe I've Transcended," "Beside You," "Slim Slow Slider/ I Start Breaking Down," "Sweet Thing," "The Way Young Lovers Do," "Cyprus Avenue / You Came Walking Down," "Ballerina," and "Madame George."
"These concerts give me a welcome opportunity to perform these songs the way I originally intended them to be," says Morrison. "These songs are timeless and as fresh today as the day they were written, actually even more so."
Universally regarded as one of the most important albums in Pop music history, Astral Weeks broke new ground with its experimental free-flowing arrangements and deeply reflective songs. Morrison's motivation to rework the music was to get back to his original signature sound, a blend of Jazz, Blues, Classical, and Folk unique to Van Morrison.
Says Morrison, "I'm not just a singer, I am a soul singer."
| short takes.....
things you might want to know about... Fred Eaglesmith TOMORROW NIGHT at Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville, Ohio. Saturday, April 25th at 8PM If you've never seen Fred Eaglesmith from Canada, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! 
Stuart's is excited to welcome back one of our favorites cult sensation and Americana music hero Fred Eaglesmith. Fred inspires comparisons to icons like Woody Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen, tops the roots music charts, and boasts devoted fans that include a slew of his fellow songwriters. Local legends J.D. Hutchison and The Realbilly Jive are reuniting to open the show!
Tickets still available. $18 - $23740.753.1924 Also: Nelsonville Music Festival May 15-17 (5th Annual) featuring Willie Nelson (Sat) Tickets $20-$55
At Last... The legendary Etta James will perform Saturday, May 2nd at The Palace Theatre in downtown Columbus. (8PM) Tickets: $42.50 - $52.50 Columbus Blues Alliance Mark your calendars for the milestone 11th Anniversary CBA Blues Jam, Sunday, May 3rd at The Thirsty Ear in Columbus. Fitting hosts for the big anniversary bash will be Ray Fuller & The Blues Rockers. The Thirsty Ear Tavern 1200 3rd Street Columbus, Ohio 43212 BIG JAMES IS COMING BACK! If you were blown away (like the rest of us) by Big James at this year's River City Blues Festival in March, or in case you missed his stellar performance, you'll have the opportunity to see him again soon. Big James (Montgomery) & The Chicago Playboys will be back on our stage for The Annual Chicago Blues Party on November 20, 2009 at the hotel. It's a done deal. More about it later. | About The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society 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 The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society Board of Directors: 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, Stage Manager Helen Holt - Board Member Mary Ann Osborne - Board Member Kezia Douglass - Board Member
The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society
P.O. Box 2122
Marietta, Ohio 45750
304-295-4323 | | And finally.... Check out this cool new website from our friend Loran Conley: The new site www.windinfeathers.com is now available on line. Please take just a few minutes now to look around. Let me know if there may be something I can create just for you! Thanks, Loran Elizabeth
Enjoy.... the Voice. just trying to have a little fun before I die... The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society
P.O. Box 2122
Marietta, Ohio 45750
304-295-4323 | |
Tour Dates for Murali Coryell
Apr. 26: GTCBMS Road To Memphis Competition