All news BLUES in the US!

FREE Blues Internet Magazine

from IllinoisBlues.com

March 20, 2008           

© 2007 - 2008 IllinoisBlues.com

News, photos, reviews, live Blues links & MUCH MORE in this issue! - Scroll or Page Down!


IllinoisBlues.com quick website links: Reviews    Links    Audio Interviews    Photos    Videos     Blues Radio     Blues Shows near YOU!    Advertise for FREE!     The Blues Blast Archives


Hey Blues fans,

It was a great time last weekend for the Blues! We made it out to Bloomington, IL to hear Blues great Coco Montoya. The HOT Blues provided a break  from the Illinois cold. And we were again treated to a couple songs of 12 year old Matt Curry sitting in with Coco. We have pictures and a review of the show by Ben Cox.

To see ALL the fun pictures, CLICK HERE

 

Festival News
Our good friends at The Greater Ozarks Blues Festival in Springfield, Missouri have announced their 2008 lineup. The fest is held September 5 and 6th, 2008 and features 2008 IBC winner Trampled Under Foot, Tommy Castro, J.J.Grey & MOFRO, the Cate Brothers, Teeny Tucker, Deanna Bogart, plus Delta Groove Blues Revue w/the Mannish Boys featuring Special Guests John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Look for more information right here in the Blues Blast soon!

More Blues reviews!

We have 6 Blues reviews for you this week! James Walker reviews the new CD by Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater - West Side Strut, and Blues trooper Ben Cox again pulls out all the stops this week with 4 reviews. In addition to the review of the Coco Montoya live show, Ben reviews Coco's latest CD plus new CD's by Sugar Ray Norcia & The Bluetones and The Laurie Morvan Band.  Chicago editor Lordy reviews a show by Sharon Lewis & Texas Fire at B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted. Enjoy!


Coco & the Kid

 Coco Montoya Live - The New Lafayette Club,  Bloomington, IL

 Saturday, March 15, 2008

Coco Montoya is a staple of the blues-rock community today. His howling croon and scorching guitar attacks are known to all who are involved in the contemporary blues community, and if you don’t know him you should.

Coco brought his new material and the band from his latest album to the New Lafayette Club this past Saturday, Coco and his band would need a little luck for the evening. Even the most road-tested musician has bad nights, and it almost turned into one, but a 12-year old local guitar phenomenon helped to swing things around.

Montoya and company went on stage around eight o’clock and instantly some trouble started with some technical issues with the sound. Things like this happen all the time and they usually work themselves out. However, in live music, you never know what’s going to happen next whether you’re a musician or a fan in the crowd.

Coco, being the fantastic fellow he was, laughed his way through it for about the first 15 minutes but soon became a little displeased. You could tell he wanted to give the fans what they wanted. Playing two songs off of his latest disc, the title track “Last Dirty Deal” and the Texas groove shuffle of “Coin Operated Love,” Montoya and company seemed to be working their way through things.

Then, as sometimes things happen, on a cover of his former band leader John Mayall, Montoya’s high G-string on his guitar slipped and he couldn’t hit the last note of the song. Obviously frustrated, Montoya decided to pay tribute to some of his late friends Jeff Healey and Buddy Miles, and did so with some of the most heartfelt lyrics on “Nothing But Love.” It was midway in on his next song “The Heart of Soul” from his second album that something went terribly wrong. Coco had melted the amp to the PA!

After twenty minutes, the band returned to the stage and charged full steam ahead into the rest of the show. Coco’s performance seemed a little flat to me but, the crowd danced and cheered and wanted more after the band left the stage for a second time, and they got it!

Twelve-year old guitarist Matt Curry was asked to the stage to finish the evening with the band, and as the young man tore into the first few bars of Coco’s “It Takes Time,” the elder statesmen to the blues demeanor changed completely. A huge smile spread across Coco and everyone else’s face in the entire place. The next three songs and the next 30 minutes were pure joy as the young man brought the house down as he and Montoya traded licks back and forth.

Montoya asked the crowd on more than one occasion, “Do you like that?” And they only responded with more! Montoya also sagely labeled the young man on the baby blue Stratocaster as “the future.” Montoya and the rest of the 200 people he were in the Lafayette Club on Saturday night seemed to be more than pleased with that idea of things to come.

Reviewer Ben Cox is a Blues Songwriter, Musician, DJ and Journalist.


 Blues Society News


 Send your Blues Society's BIG news or Press Release to:  

Max of 125 words, Text or Word file preferred.


Illinois Central Blues Club Springfield, IL - Blue Mondays

Held at the Alamo 115 N 5th St, Springfield, IL (217) 523-1455 every Monday 8:30pm $2 cover
March 24 - Scott Holt Band, March 31 - Suzy and the Smokers, April 7 - The Blu Tonz, April 14 - Pleasure Chest with Robert Sampson, April 21 - Bryan Lee, April 28 - Kilborn Alley Blues band

Mississippi Action for Community Education - Greenville, MS

31st Annual Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival - Poster Contest. (MACE) is accepting entries for the poster design for the 31st Annual Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival to be held on September 20, 2008. The theme for this year’s festival is: "Rollin’ Goin’ Home to da Blues".

Winning entry will receive $500 cash.  Entry deadline is April 30, 2008. Mail entries to: Mississippi Delta Blues Festival Poster Contest, 119 South Theobald Street, Greenville, MS 38701. Contact William Brown at 662-335-3523 or macetop@bellsouth.net for more info. Visit  www.deltablues.org , for contest rules and application form.

The Grafton Blues Association  - Grafton, WI

The Grafton Blues Association will host it’s annual Blues in the Schools and Scholarship fundraiser with the Legends of Chicago Blues!
Pinetop Perkins - Hubert Sumlin – Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Bob Stroger will take the stage on March 29, 2008 at Circle B Recreation Center in Cedarburg Wisconsin. More information is available on our website www.graftonblues.org 


  Thursday, May 22 - Saturday, May 24, 2008

http://www.dom.edu/blues

Email: bluesandthespirit@dom.edu

Phone: (708) 524-6050

A Symposium on the Legacy of Blues & Gospel Music

Dominican University (located just minutes from the Chicago Loop) hosts the Blues and the Spirit Symposium, emphasizing the heritage of African-American Chicago and exploring the shared roots of Blues and Gospel.

  • Panels and presentations with Timuel Black, Portia Maultsby, Horace Maxile, Paul Garon, Sterling Plumpp, Gayle Dean Wardlow, Barry Dolins, Jim O’Neal, Marie Dixon, Bob Davis, Bob Koester, Fernando Jones, Bob Marovich, David Whiteis, Scott Barretta, Salim Muwakkil, Sandra Pointer-Jones, Suzanne Flandreau, Bob Riesman, Stephanie Shonekan, Morris Phibbs, Bob Jones, Billy Boy Arnold, Stan Mosley and others

  • Blues Workshop with Billy Branch and Gospel Workshop with James Abbington
  • Multimedia Presentations, Raeburn Flerlage Photography and Outsider Art Exhibits
  • Musical Appearances by Larry Taylor, James Wheeler and Bob Stroger
  • Bronzeville Tour with a stop at the Blues Heaven Foundation, located in the former Chess Records
  • Chicago Blues Club Crawl
  • Otis Clay and Sharon Lewis in Concert      CLICK HERE to see schedule and registration information

 


 Streaming Blues Link of the Week

 

http://www.clearchannelmusic.com/formatlab/

Clear Channel Music has a variety of live internet streams. They have everything from talk radio to Rock and Roll. The description of their "Blues Channel" is "If variety is the spice of life, then the Blues Variety Channel is like sampling the whole spice aisle. Blues from today and yesterday. Etta James, Bo Weevil Jackson, Susan Tedeschi, BB King."

To go right to their Blues Channel CLICK HERE

Check out other great Blues Music Streams Click HERE

 Other IMPORTANT News   Help Save the music! CLICK HERE to Keep Blues Radio Alive!

 


 

May 9th & 10th - Fort Madison, IA
For tickets and details visit: 
Simply The Blues Website

Friday May 9th

Magic Slim & The Teardrops

Eddie Turner

Leon Redbone

Louisiana Red

Second Skinny Blues Band

Saturday May 10th
Sean Costello

Diunna Greenleaf

Zach Harmon

Shawn Kellerman

Trampled Under Foot

Alvin Jett

Rich Berry

Matt Wood & The Thunderbolts

 


 Featured Blues Reviews 

Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater - West Side Strut
Alligator Records # ALCD 4921
www.alligator.com
www.eddyclearwater.com

By James “Skyy Dobro” Walker

12 songs; 53:15 minutes; Library Quality
Genre: Chicago Blues with some Rockabilly, Rock and Roll, Soul, and Gospel

Who would have given credence to a Clearwater revival? Two men did: the 73-year-old bluesman himself, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater and Bruce Iglauer, president of blues’ biggest indie label, Chicago’s Alligator Records. After a decades’ long career, Clearwater has released his first album on Alligator, and it just may be his best ever.

“It’s a dream come true. Recording for Alligator is a dream I’ve had for many years, and it’s worked out ten times better that I expected,” says Clearwater in an interview with Jeff Johnson, blues writer for the Chicago Sun-Times. Johnson further mentions in the liner notes Clearwater’s “pride” with the album “after previous efforts for the [labels] Rooster Blues, Rounder and Bullseye, among others.”

He was born Edward Harrington (a cousin of late harpist Carey Bell Harrington) on January 10, 1935 in Macon, Mississippi. With music from Blues to Gospel to Country & Western surrounding him, southpaw Eddy taught himself to play guitar left-handed and upside down. After moving to Chicago in 1950, Eddy met many of Chicago’s blues stars, namely “Magic Sam” Maghett, who would become one of Eddy’s closest friends and teachers.

By 1953, as “Guitar Eddy,” he made a strong name for himself working the South and West Side bars regularly. During the 1950s, Chicago’s West Side was a hot bed of some of the world’s greatest bluesmen. Otis Rush, Freddie King, Luther Allison and others ruled the clubs. He met and befriended everyone from Sunnyland Slim to Earl Hooker, picking up licks and lessons along the way. After hearing Chuck Berry in 1957, Eddy added that Rock and Roll element to his blues style, creating a unique sound that defines him to this day.

Drummer Jump Jackson invented Eddy's stage name “Clear Waters” – later just “Clearwater,” as a takeoff on the name of “Muddy Waters” (McKinley Morganfield). “The Chief” is a nickname from often opening shows wearing a Native American headdress as an ode to his grandmother’s Cherokee ancestry.

The album’s title West Side Strut is a tribute to his old neighborhood. “West Side Blues” is frequently mentioned in blues circles, but a good definition differentiating it from other styles is as illusive as a good paying club gig during a recession. The “Classic Chicago Blues” style was developed by fully amplifying Delta blues, putting it into a small-band context. Adding drums, bass, and piano to the basic six-string guitar and harmonica duo created the now standard blues band lineup. Singers, guitarists, pianists, and harmonica players can be the featured performer in front. Later, with newer and younger guitarists taking their ideas from the lead guitar work of truly creative national heroes, the “West Side” subgenre was born. Suggested to be the model used by power-trios like Eric Clapton’s Cream, West Side Blues put the guitar player out front in a strong and powerful role. “You had to have a lot of energy....You had to come on strong, or you wouldn’t be out there,” says Clearwater. With producer Ronnie Baker Brooks and guests, Clearwater demonstrates his ability on the album to play several styles.

The smile inducing first track has clever Clearwater/Brooks lyrics and a Classic Chicago Blues ensemble. With guests Billy Branch on harmonica, Daryl Couts – piano, RB Brooks on second guitar, and Brooks’ band regulars on bass (Carlton Armstrong) and drums (Maurice “Moe” Taylor), The Chief plays lead guitar and sings, I am going to give you (instead of a damn-good-whuppin’) “a damn ‘Good Leavin’ Alone.’”

“Hypnotized” showcases that West Side sound with Brooks peeling off scorching riff after riff in front of Steve Herrman arranged horns. Horns were often used in early West Side sessions, like for Otis Rush on Cobra.

Changing the tempo and mood, the third track, “Gotta Move On” is a plaintive ballad featuring Eddy’s formidable vocals. This track was first to catch me singing along on the second listen. It captivates with swelling organ and horn harmonies and solos courtesy of Dennis Taylor’s saxophones, Earnest Williamson’s clarinet, and Hermann’s trumpet.

Muddy Waters’ “Walking through The Park” and Lowell Fulson’s “Trouble, Trouble” are the only covers with the former being a fun, full-ensemble romp through the park and the latter a slower, heartfelt rendition.

Old friend and father of Ronnie Baker, Lonnie Brooks drops by the studio for a humorous, burning guitar number, “Too Old To Get Married” (but too young to be buried).

Reflecting his more serious side, Clearwater takes us to church twice, first on a Leipziger/Flemming original “Do Unto Others” with vocal guests Otis Clay and Jimmy Johnson on co-leads and Lonnie Brooks on background vocals. The theme of altruism continues in the Clearwater/Brooks song “A time For Peace” featuring what sounds like a full Gospel choir with accompanying organ swells.

A Chicago legend who has recorded for 50 years, Clearwater is an intense, flamboyant blues-rocking showman. With his fierce guitar playing, soulful and emotive vocals and wild stage shows, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, and this album, easily belong on everybody’s Chicago’s A-list.

James “Skyy Dobro” Walker is a noted Blues writer, DJ and Blues Blast contributor. His weekly radio show “Friends of the Blues” can be heard each Thursday from 4:30 – 6:00pm on WKCC 91.1 FM in Kankakee, IL

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.


Sugar Ray Norcia & The Bluetones
My Life, My Friends, My Music
Severn Records
www.sugarrayandthebluetones.com
 

Run Time: 60:46

Sugar Ray has been fronting blues bands on the East Coast since the late 70s with prowess and clarity. His harmonica playing has earned him accolades in many circles, putting him in with the likes of legends from long before he started his career. Norcia’s love of all kinds of music culminates in this 2007 Severn release My Life, My Friends, My Music uniting him with two phenomenal guitar players, a handful of Roomful of Blues alumni, and his ever-returning cast of award-winning musicians. This all wraps up into a Song of the Year BMA nomination for Norcia (as well as Album of the Year) and some fine pieces of a lasting legacy for long-time late original Roomful of Blues trumpeter Bob Enos.

Norcia and Company take no time getting into the swing of things with the Louis Prima classic “Oh Babe,” with the pulsating horns of Enos, Doug “Mr. Low” James (baritone sax), Greg Piccolo (tenor sax), Carl Querferth (trombone), and the fat acoustic bass of BMA-nominated Michael “Mudcat” Ward.

Norcia then strolls down the forties and fifties lane, exercising us in the arts of witty lyricism and swinging style of the jump blues masters with “Little Talking Frog.” Norcia shows us why he’s one of the best singers on the East Coast with a cover of New Orleans Legendary songwriter Dave Bartholomew’s “I Want To Be With Her.” The song conjures a feeling of early 50s Memphis and Johnny Ace.

Tracks 5-11 in which new, but not so new guitarist Monster Mike Welch shows us how far he’s come in recent years for command of his instrument. He stands almost a head above in style and composition than the legendary Duke Robillard, who guest on the 8 other tracks on the disc. Mike’s fills and acoustic playing hold their own with Norcia’s powerful vocals and exquisite harmonica playing on these seven tracks. On the Roomful of Blues-sounding “Shut Your Face,” the horns come front and center for their largest romp and colorful showing on the disc. Just listen to the long foghorn blow on the trombone of Querferth’s trombone and the searing solo of the late Bob Enos and you’ll understand what I mean. All of this held together from bursting at the seams by the punctuated guitar of Welch.

Norcia then turns around on the seventh cut of the CD, taking us to Sonny Boy Williamson II’s “I Don’t Know” (not the Willie Mabon song) and shows us that he can imitate Williamson’s style and add to it with some of the finest acoustic harp on the set. Norcia brings us all to the hear and now with the duet of just him and Welch singing about the current state of world affairs on “No Sorrow No More,” that’s neither trite or overly political but a solid statement of how things could be better if we’d all listen once in awhile.

“The Last Words of A Fool,” the premium cut for the BMAs this year, spins us a tale from Norica’s always-relevant pen about situations of good intentions filled with our own hubris that ultimately become our demise. In other words, Norcia’s telling us that the road to hell is paved with good intentions and egos. The arrangement is as always tight but doesn’t seem to stand out to some of the more peerless productions for the musicianship that accompany the tracks on the disc. However, if you were to base the award solely on the songwriting, then this would be a very adequate candidate.

Norcia also shows us his penchant for years gone by with the Doo Wop sounding number “Oh, Oh, Oh Pretty Baby.” Norcia takes us to Chicago with harp musings reminiscent of that fifties era from which the next song springs, Big Maceo Merriweather’s “Do You Remember?” where long-time bandmate Anthony Geraci holds down Maceo’s role on piano.

Duke Robillard returns to the guitar chair on the final four tracks on the album, where the pace and the quality seems to slow down and plod along. Norcia’s vocals are up to the jazz stylings that Robillard brings to the table, especially with the torch song sounding “Think It Over Again” and “My Last Affair” (in which the two duet with Norcia on vocals and just Robillard on guitar). The raunchy jump blues sounding “I Like My Baby’s Pudding” is full of gall, raunch, and sexual innuendo from the era that it hearkens to. However, “Affari” and the Sinatra-esque “Until the Real Thing Comes Along” do not deliver the knock out punch but slowly lull you off to sleep.

Norcia can command any style vocally and the album demonstrates that in all equal parts as well as showing his songwriting skill and ample harmonica playing. It has a few hits and misses. If you like horn sections and miss the days of jump blues/brassy jazz than this disc is for you. If you are a Welch, Robillard, or Roomful of Blues fan than this disc is well worth your money, too. Plus, it has some of the last recorded work of Bob Enos which is equally important to any Roomful fan. I wouldn’t call it an album of the year but it’s pretty darn close. This CD is available from all major record outlets.

Reviewer Ben Cox is a Blues Songwriter, Musician, DJ and Journalist.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.


Coco Montoya
Last Dirty Deal

Alligator Records
Run Time: 50:47

Born out of the LA rock scene of the late seventies but baptized in touring and learning from the Master of the Telecaster and the icon of British Blues, Coco Montoya keeps contemporary blues from straying too far away from home. On his latest disc Dirty Deal, his second for Alligator, Coco shows us his fiery left-handed guitar still in stride and giving no hint of letting up.

The burning opener and title track to the album is sure to be a rock favorite for AAA radio. The hard crunch and the impassioned vocals throughout the track are unique, powerful, and hearken a little to days gone by in blues-rock. Plus, that opening riff is off the wall crazy-good!

Montoya slows it up but doesn’t let up on energy on the rhumba-infused John Mooney cover “Three Sides to Every Story” and shows some funky-blues licks over top of the solid back beat of Steve Evans (bass) and Randy Hayes(drums).

You know Montoya hasn’t strayed too far from his influences on the Texas-burnt shuffle of “It Takes Time,” in which Montoya seems to conjure the late Albert Collins (his guitar teacher and longtime friend) straight up from days gone by. The chicken pecking and riffs are straight out of the Collins songbook, giving a lasting tribute for years to come, as Montoya almost seems to say thank you while he carries the torch into the next decades. It’s almost spooky because it’s almost Albert but not quite, and you’ll like it.

Montoya shows he’s no slouch on vocals as he pours out his heart on the Johnny Copeland “It’s My Own Tears.” Montoya can also give some catchy and bring smile to your face lyrics with the tongue in cheek lyrics of “Coin Operated Love” once again in the blues-rock vein of Texas.

This is one of the best if not the best blues-rock release I’ve heard in the past 3 years. Montoya is constantly reinventing the genre because he’s not a clone of anyone but yet still stays true to his influences as shown by the covers on the disc and the guitars sounds. If you like guitar-heavy blues-rock, this is the benchmark for what should be going on today in all blues-rock circles. And, it’s safe to say, the guy’s not a bad singer either. Most of the time you get one or the other, but Montoya gives you passionate vocals and brilliant guitar. How can you go wrong with this dirty deal?

 Check out Coco on the web at http://www.cocomontoya.com/ or on MySpace. This album is available at all major record outlets.

Ben Cox is a Blues Songwriter, Musician, DJ and Journalist.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.


Laurie Morvan Band
Cure What Ails Ya

Self-released Screaming Lizard Records
Run Time: 51:41

“Where are the girls with guitars?” Laurie Morvan sings on her new disc. Here’s one, she proudly says with every statement on her latest release. However, labeling her a blues-rocker is a bit of a misnomer. This girl is a rock girl. Plain and simple, she rocks and rolls over and over throughout the disc. Laurie’s rocking took her all the way to the finals of Best Self-Produced CD at IBC this year as well as rocked her way into the finals at the IBC. She’s definitely turning heads. She’s got two shows coming up with the great John Mayall to put it all into perspective.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s some blues in here folks. You can definitely tell her influences are grounded in the foundation of blues-rock. Check out “My Baby Says” and the blues-rock ballad “One Little Thing” where the title of the album finds it name from one of the lyrics.

Laurie’s experience on guitar is definitely what carries her throughout the disc. Her arpeggio-filled solos can be a little bit intrusive to some blues purists. However, she’s definitely a barrier-pushing musician who’s definitely opening the breadth of contemporary blues, by blending in the strong rock influence.

The Freddie King-esque “Wiggle Room” instrumental is definitely a shape changing workout on Laurie’s Strat, that screams from the roots of guys like Walter Trout, the late Jeff Healey, and Tinsley Ellis.

Laurie’s got a little ways to go on the vocals, but she has some ample help with her back up singers and the great keyboardist Doña Oxford who guests on two tracks on the disc. However, it’s Laurie’s guitar tone that will make all the guitar fans out there perk up. She can hang with the big boys, and future releases will probably best demonstrate.

Though not a favorite of mine personally because it tends to lean more to rock than anything else, it’s well worth a listen for folks who are just getting into blues from other genre’s music. She’s a great introductory course into where the blues and it’s bounds have been pushed. And if you’re a lady out there who plays guitar, she’s bound to be an inspiration for you to pick up your guitar and go kick the guys in the ass!

Visit Laurie Morvan Band on the web at http://www.lauriemorvan.com/ to purchase this CD or visit ITunes. Laurie is also on MySpace. Check her out in various other guitar magazines, as she continues to make waves as one of the best female guitarists going.

Ben Cox is a Blues Songwriter, Musician, DJ and Journalist.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.


 Chicago Blues Update

Live Blues reviews by Chicago Blues editor Lordy

Blues Beat: Chicago (Photos by August Lord)

Sharon Lewis & Texas Fire at B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted

I may be mistaken, but I thought we had a date every February 29th to meet at B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted. If you were there I didn’t see you, but I did get to meet new blues friends and see a great show. I met Dr. Janice Monti who is working hard to present a symposium on the legacy of the blues at Dominican University. (Editors Note: See ad above for complete information.) The event starts on Thursday May 22, 2008 and runs through that Sunday. I also met author David Whiteis. I have been reading his articles for some time, and also noticed how many times his book Chicago Blues Portraits and Stories is referenced in the blues community. Dave Doppelt from The American Live Blues Society was there as well. What a video archive this man has! The Chicago Blues Beat website has links to these friends of the blues. I’ve already shared with you how I get intimidated when real photographers are in attendance. Well I’m even more self-conscious of my writing in front of real writers. I only get over it because I do this out of my love for live Chicago blues.

The reason we were supposed to meet there was Sharon Lewis & Texas Fire. Texas Fire is Tony Dale (drums), Bruce James (guitar) and C.C. Copeland (bass). When they warmed us up I noticed a potential logistical problem. To say that C.C. the bass player is animated is an understatement. All bands carry duct tape, so I was sure they were going to have to contain him with tape to allow the diva Sharon Lewis on stage. When announced, she had the crowd from hello. From blues purists to white boys doing rebel yells they stayed on the ride for three sets. Ms. Lewis brings her songs to life. Even standards sound like she is telling you her story. My personal favorite was Baby I Love You (Aretha) done with three part harmony. Her self-penned Angel is a goose bump song, and you know it comes from a deep place in her soul. I didn’t think the song Proud Mary could be interesting anymore. I was wrong and I came to find out that Sharon Lewis was a member of Ike & Tina Turner’s revue. Bruce James, Tony Dale and C.C. Copeland are each good singers as well as instrumentalists. Bruce James threw in a Chuck Berry song. As you know that means he had to sing six pounds of words in a four pound song. If you hadn’t stood me up you would have seen very tall, very thin Bruce James on Sharon’s right, rock-solid Tony Dale behind her and hyperactive Copeland on her left. The Diva however commanded center stage, and all eyes were on her. Write this down please. Go with Lordy to B.L.U.E.S. next February 29th.

CLICK HERE to visit Lordy's website at ChicagoBluesBeat.com

To see a Chicago Area list of upcoming events CLICK HERE

If you know of a Chicago Blues event or news, please send it to


Live Blues Calendar

 

Performance dates were submitted by Musicians, Club Owners, Blues Societies and Blues festivals.

IllinoisBlues.com is not responsible for errors or omissions.

CLICK HERE - for the Latest Complete Blues Calendar on our website at: IllinoisBlues.com.

or click a state to see Blues shows by State

Alabama  Alaska  Arizona  Arkansas  California  Colorado  Connecticut  Delaware  D.C.  Florida  Georgia 
Hawaii  Idaho  Illinois  Indiana  Iowa  Kansas  Kentucky  Louisiana  Maine  Maryland  Massachusetts  Michigan  Minnesota  Mississippi  Missouri  Montana  Nebraska  Nevada  New Hampshire  New Jersey
New Mexico  New York  North Carolina  North Dakota  Ohio  Oklahoma  Oregon  Pennsylvania  Rhode Island  South Carolina  South Dakota   Tennessee  Texas  Utah  Vermont  Virginia  Washington  West Virginia  Wisconsin  Wyoming   Other

 Submit your blues performances for FREE at: http://www.illinoisblues.com/submitnews.htm

 


 Featured Advertisers



Top Croatian Guitarist

Nebojsa Buhin

 Guitar Language

 

www.nebobuhin.com
www.myspace.com/nebobuhin


MARCH 19 to MARCH 23rd
THE 6th ANNUAL ST. JOHN BLUES FESTIVAL
Coral Bay Ball Field – Coral Bay

Tab Benoit
Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band
Waylon Thibodeaux
Sean Carney & The Sean Carney Band

For further information contact Steve Simon at 340-693-8120
stevesimonlive@yahoo.com  or go to www.stjohnbluesfestival.com

6 live Blues shows over 5 days beginning on March 19th and running through March 23rd.


 Advertise with IllinoisBlues.com

Get the Blues word OUT!

Festivals...

With the new year, Blues festival promoters and Blues societies begin work planning a great 2008 Blues season for all. Festival committees are hard at work booking Blues performers, planning their advertising budgets and getting ready to put on the next great Blues show.

For those of you doing the planning for these great Blues events, remember that the Blues Blast & IllinoisBlues.com's website are great ways to promote ANY Blues event or product. In fact we believe we just might have THE best Blues advertising vehicle anywhere to promote YOUR event!

New Blues CD's....

For less than the cost of  one small display ad in your local newspaper, you can advertise your festival, club show, new CD or any Blues product to a VERY targeted Blues audience. We promise great results getting the Blues word out for you.

Blues fans WANT to know about your Blues event of product. Call Bob at (309) 267-4425 or send an email to for a confidential quote today!

llinoisBlues.com covers Blues all over the US - NOT just in Illinois!

IllinoisBlues.com also offers paid/sponsored advertising for Festivals and Club Owners, Recording Companies and Performers selling their own music or performances. We can put your Blues advertisement on our homepage at: http://www.illinoisblues.com  either as a sponsored event or as a featured event, product, recording or merchandise.  We get 400,000 hits A MONTH on our website!

Over 10,000 Blues Fans, Musicians, Recording Companies, Club Owners, Blues Societies and Festival Promoters in all 50 states and in 12 countries read our weekly Blues Blast internet magazine. With paid advertising you can feature your event or product in the largest FREE internet Blues magazine delivered right to your inbox each week.

Contact us Today at

 


 Blues Want Ads

 Place Your Blues Musician Want Ad here for FREE

Festivals seeking Blues performers!

Bands wanted for the 6th Annual BBQ Blues Bash, August 15th and 16 2008, Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, Joliet, Illinois. 6 Bands 2 days Nuthin But Blues please. Forward CD Demo to R. Dale Evans, 6 S. Broadway Street, Joliet, IL 60436.  All proceeds to benefit The Housing Authority of Joliet After-School Programs

Place "workin Blues performers" Want Ads here for FREE.  NO Commercial Ads! 
Buy or sell equipment , musicians wanted, gigs wanted etc. Limit 100 words.

All ads submitted will be used if space allows. If space is limited, a selection of ads submitted will be randomly selected to appear in the Blues Blast.  Send your ad submission to


Visit our website at:


P.O. Box 721 Pekin, Illinois 61555
© 2007 - 2008 IllinoisBlues.com

IllinoisBlues.com SPAM Policy
If you ever wish NOT to receive our Blues Blast emails you can promptly un-subscribe your email address.

 To be REMOVED from the Blues Blast Updates

 Send an email with a blank subject line to the address below:


Clicking the email address above and then hitting send will immediately remove you.