The FREE Internet Magazine - All news BLUES!

Can't see images? Click Here

www.TheBluesBlast.com

May 6, 2010 

© 2010 Blues Blast Magazine

Latest news, photos, reviews, links & MUCH MORE in this issue! Scroll or Page Down!


Website Links: Reviews    Links   Photos    Videos     Blues Radio     Blues Shows    Advertise for FREE!     Past Issues


Hey Blues Fans,

Our friends at The Urbana Blues, Brew, and BBQ Festival have released their 2010 lineup. This FREE festival in Urbana, IL will feature Candy Foster, Big Bill Morganfield, Bernard Allison, The Sugar Prophets and Devon Allman's Honey Tribe on Friday June 24th and Bruiser and the Virtues, Eddie Taylor Jr., Shirley King, Wayne Baker Brooks, John Lee Hooker Jr., Kilborn Alley Blues Band and Cedric Burnside & Lightning Malcom on Saturday June 25th.

This the third year for this festival and we thought it was impressive that they were able to make it FREE admission last year. It is reported they had almost 10,000 Blues fans make it last year.

It is FREE again this year, and in keeping with their festival name, they are featuring the ability to sample 24 microbrews and many bottle bears as well as again having a slew of great barbecue food vendors. (The food and beer are NOT free but we did not expect it to be!) For more information please visit their website at http://www.urbanablues.com/

CORRECTION TO LAST WEEKS ISSUE: Our apologies to Grammy award winning producer Dick Shurman for misspelling his name in last weeks editorial section. We also apologize to all the Dick Sherman's in the world!


Blues Wanderings

We made it to Moline, Illinois to catch a show by Blues legend Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials last weekend. Ed Williams is a GREAT guitar player and singer. If you have not had the pleasure of seeing this fantastic performer, find out when he is coming your way and GET THERE!

At a set break we asked him when a follow up CD to his 2008 release Full Tilt might be forthcoming. Look for a new CD on Alligator Records before the end of the year! But don't tell anyone. We promised to keep it a secret!


In This Issue

Six new CD reviews this week! James "Skyy Dobro" Walker reviews a new CD from Chris Canas. Mark Thompson reviews a new CD by Shannon Curfman. Greg 'Bluesdog' Szalony reviews a new CD by Henry Oden. Steve Jones reviews a new CD by Mudcat and also a new CD by Mick Kidd. Last but not least we welcome new reviewer Malcolm "Yard Dog" Kennedy to Blues Blast Magazine. Malcolm reviews a new CD by Mark Hummel. All this and MORE! SCROLL DOWN!!!



 Featured Blues Review 1 of 6

Chris Canas - She’s Breaking Me

Self release

www.chriscanas.net

www.myspace.com/chriscanasbluesrevolution

11 songs; 48:42 minutes; Splendid

Styles: Contemporary Blues; Soul Blues

Typically artists hate having their music labeled and categorized. Presuming that is also how Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Chris Canas feels, I picture him very pleased. As a reviewer, I feel that I need to create a new word or label to describe his third release – one that means “not hard but not soft.” “She’s Breaking Me” with its eleven original songs is the most well balanced CD I’ve encountered in a long while. Between instrumentation and vocals and between upbeat rhythms and slower songs, Canas and his Blues Revolution Band create a wonderful mix.

There are none of the harsh, loud tones nor guitar-hero wanking often associated with CDs on the Rock side of Blues-Rock. But, this is also not “easy listening” music so mellow it should never be played before midnight. An enthusiastic and inspired singer, songwriter, lead guitarist and cornet player, Chris Canas reports that he, “...wants to help keep the "Blues" alive and kicking in the hearts of music lovers by adding a little new with the old. He crosses genres with ease and embraces diversity.”

My first ear-worm that has been stuck in my head all day is the chorus from track four, “Who the Hell Are You.” Lyrically, Canas and co-writer and co-vocalist Angie C. tell a story of a lover changing so much in a relationship that it is as if she has become a stranger whom the narrator asks, “Who the Hell Are You?” Shane Rasmussen carries the slower, sad and heart-breaking mood skillfully on organ while Canas’ guitar adds rhythm and a touching solo at the end. Bassist Kevin Schoepke and drummer Frank Kenny keep the beat and add distinctive nuances.

Never fear guitar lovers, Canas’ first love was blues guitar, and he spent plenty of time in the woodshed. The title track nicely showcases an example of his studied lead guitar licks leading the band’s rave up of sound and emotion on another tale of good love gone bad (and expensive), “She’s Breaking Me.”

The opening track is a great introduction to the well-paced set. “Crank Dat Blues and Drive” is an up-tempo romp allowing each member to stretch, including vocals. It’s a for sure party starter. Across the CD, everything is solid – not a throwaway in the bunch.

Chris Canas’ musical background began as a toddler when his mother took him to his first Jazz and Blues Festival at Hart Plaza in Detroit. While mastering the cornet in the Farmington music program, he quickly fell in love with the guitar and the Blues sounds it could make. The Chris Canas Blues Revolution can be seen blazing a trail in the Metro Detroit area and beyond. Canas up front is a self proclaimed “Soldier for the Blues” and has put together veteran musicians to help keep the Blues alive.

This album was made to pump new enthusiasm into The Blues. Based on the rich traditional roots of the past, Canas and crew can be proud of their product and efforts to soldier on while all around turn to rap.

Reviewer James "Skyy Dobro" Walker is a noted Blues writer, DJ, Master of Ceremonies, and longtime Blues Blast Magazine contributor. His weekly radio show "Friends of the Blues" can be heard Saturdays 8 pm - Midnight on WKCC 91.1 FM and at www.wkccradio.org in Kankakee, IL

To See James “Skyy Dobro” Walker's CD rating system, CLICK HERE 

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.



 Featured Blues Review 2 of 6

Shannon Curfman - What You’re Getting Into

Purdy Records

www.shannoncurfman.com

10 tracks/41 minutes

It sure doesn’t seem like eleven years have passed since Shannon Curfman made a big splash as a fourteen year-old guitar phenom with a debut recording that garnered widespread critical acclaim. Curfman was touted as a blues musician but the reality is that she really is a serious rocker with the guitar chops to justify the attention she has received.

Her new release throws the spotlight on Curfman’s powerful singing voice that she effectively uses to wring every bit of emotion out of each track. One minute she can belt it out with gospel fervor on a cover of Eric Clapton’s “The Core”, then shows her range on some glorious harmony singing on the chorus of “All I Have”. The title track finds Curfman adopting a tough vocal stance ringing out over multiple guitars including a wicked slide guitar part.

Occasionally a blues lick pops up in the mix but this disc is a solid rock record with plenty of crunching guitar licks, like the cover of Brian May’s “Dragon Attack”. There are four guitar players listed in the credits in addition to Curfman. Wade Thompson handles the bass and Paul Mayasich is in the drum chair. Lucy Curfman and Nels Urtel add the backing vocals. Curfman co-produced the disc with Jason Miller, who also plays several instruments including guitar.

Curfman injects some hip-hop influences on “Curious” and makes effective use of her effects pedals in support of a strong vocal performance. Another highlight is ferocious rendition of “Oh Well”. Curfman skips the resignation of Peter Green’s original in favor of genuine anger and disdain shouted out over a swirling backdrop of massed guitars. “Heaven is in Your Mind,” describes a woman looking for love and willing to take a chance without fearing what may come down the road. Curfman adds an element of funk in celebration of the power of music on “Free Your Mind”.

This is a very impressive effort, showing that Curfman has matured as an artist. Every song has an impressive musical arrangement and Curfman shines, whether on guitar or with her dynamic singing. It may not be blues but it is nonetheless a recording that deserves to be heard by anyone who appreciates good music.

Reviewer Mark Thompson is president of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL 

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.



 Blues Society News


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

You can submit a maximum of 175 words or less in a Text or MS Word document format.


Washington Blues Society - Seattle, WA

The Washington Blues Society’s local competitions for the 2011 International Blues Challenge will be held on Sunday, June 20th and Sunday, June 27th at the award-winning Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle. Depending on the number of entries received, there may be an additional competition on July 11th or July 25th. The preliminary solo/duo competitions will be held on either Sunday, June 27th or one of the July dates above. Competition finals will be held on Sunday, August 22nd at the the Snohomish Taste Of Music Festival.

Any Washington State blues act may enter, and the act must include at least one who is a member of the WBS. Band entry fee is $30.00 and solo/duo entry fee is $15.00. Entry deadline is Thursday, June 10th. For complete info see the website at: www.wablues.org or email president@wablues.org.

Alabama Blues Project - Northport, AL

On Saturday, May 1st, the Alabama Blues Project presents Blues Extravaganza 2010.  It is a free, family-friendly blues festival and will be held in historic downtown Northport from noon to 7 p.m. The live show features three After-School Blues Camp student bands as well as Alabama blues greats Microwave Dave, Bettie Fikes, Lil' Jimmy Reed and more! This event is hosted by the Northport Downtown Merchants Association. The Blues Extravaganza is in its third year as a unique musical celebration, bringing seasoned blues talent together with the young ABP After-School Blues Camp students and showcasing their combined Alabama blues power to the community at large. The 60+ students have been studying the blues all spring and are looking forward to sharing the fruits of their hard work and performing along side professional Alabama Blues Performers.

The After-School Blues Camp brings Alabama's rich blues heritage to the next generation of budding musicians and combines hands-on music instruction with a life-skills curriculum and blues music history. Students and audience alike will also be treated to performances by the Blues Instructors, whose members have been teaching our young students throughout the semester. These great musicians include B.J. Reed, Bruce Andrews, Debbie Bond, Jesse Suttle, Brad Guin and more. It's going to be a party!

For more information, or if you would be willing to volunteer, please call at (205) 752-6263 or email cara@alabamablues.org.  

Crossroads Blues Society - Rockford, IL

Crossroads Blues Society is producing their very first Blue festival this year. The Byron Crossroads Blues Festival will run from noon to midnight on Saturday, August 28, 2010, in downtown Byron, Illinois.

The festival lineup includes The Resistors, noted artists Filisko and Noden, The Cashbox Kings, Westside Andy/Mel Ford Band and Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames. For more information visit the Crossroads website at: www.crossroadsbluessociety.com

Mississippi Valley Blues Society - Davenport, IA

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society presents the Holmes Brothers on Friday May 7 at the Capitol Theatre, 330 W. 3rd Street, Davenport. The show starts at 8:00 p.m., with doors opening at 7:00. Admission is $20, $15 for MVBS members or in advance through the Capitol box office (www.thecapdavenport.com or 563-326-8820). The Brothers are touring the Midwest for the first time in three years to advance their recent release on Alligator Records, Feed My Soul.

For more info call the MVBS office at 563-32-BLUES or visit our website at: http://www.mvbs.org .

Columbia College - Chicago, IL

Free Blues Camp Audition -  Saturday, May 22, 10:00 AM - Noon, Columbia College Chicago Music Center, 1014 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago. This is an opportunity to audition for this great youth Blues Camp held at Columbia College July 4 – 9, 2010 by Artistic Director, Fernando Jones.

Other audition date is Thursday, June 3, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, at Guitar Center, 4271 West 167th Street, Country Club Hills, IL. Go to www.BluesKids.com for more details. RSVP Online at Bluesnewz@aol.com

The Friends Of The Blues - Watseka, IL

Spring 2010 Friends of the Blues shows - May 11 - Chicago Blues Angels, 7 pm , Bradley Bourbonnais Sportsmen’s Club, May 27 - Moreland & Arbuckle 7 pm , Kankakee Elks Country Club, June 15 - Albert Castiglia 7 pm , River Bend Bar & Grill, June 22 - Al Stone, 7 pm , River Bend Bar & Grill and August 10 - ean Chambers, 7 pm , River Bend Bar & Grill For more info see: http://www.wazfest.com/JW.html 

Illinois Central Blues Club - Springfield, IL

BLUE MONDAY SHOWS - Held at the Alamo 115 N 5th St, Springfield, IL (217) 523-1455 every Monday 8:30pm $3 cover. May 3 - The Mojocats, May 10 - Steve the Harp

River City Blues Society - Peoria, IL

The River City Blues Society has started booking more of their weekly Blues shows. The shows start at 7:00pm at Good Fellas Pizza and Pub, 1414 N 8TH St Pekin, IL. Admission for all shows is $4 or $3 for RCBS members. Shows currently scheduled are:  Wednesday May 19th, 2010 - Hounds Tooth


5th Annual T-Bone Walker Blues Fest
June 18-19, 2010
Music City Texas Theatre  -
Linden, Texas

Johnny Winter

Zac Harmon

Malford Milligan

Robin & the Bluebirds

Dorothy “Miss Blues” Ellis

Buddy Flett

Emily Elbert

Guitar Shorty

Honeyboy Edwards

Henry Gray & the Cats

19th Street Red

Sumter Bruton

Diddley Squat

Kayla Reeves

Pleasant Hill Quilting Group

Guitar Hero Competition – Friday & Saturday

Call (903) 756-7774 for more information or visit

www.tbonewalkerbluesfestival.com


 Featured Blues Review 3 of 6

Henry Oden - You're Wrong For That!

cptimemusic

www.henryoden.com

time-43:32

These retro-sounding blues releases by elderly blues journeymen are becoming commonplace, some working better than others. Henry Oden chose to do it by using mostly original material that has that old school blues sound. He obviously absorbed much working for 40 plus years as a bass player for John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, Big Mama Thorton, Boz Scaggs and many more. He has a big, robust, warm voice. Some of his lyrics veer away from the over used blues cliches' and employ modern day references to update his message. The various players here are top notch. Oden's rock steady bass lines provide a sturdy foundation.The only time he runs into trouble are on the two non-blues covers.

The sprightly sax driven title song with Henry's energetic vocal should be a good omen for what is to follow. With a few flaws along the way he mostly gets the job done. Bernard Anderson does a fine job multi-tracking the sax section. Next up is the sexy and soulful blues of "I Love You That Way". Organ and Anderson's sax propell this slow burner featuring Henry's mellow voice. Throughout the record you can see he is trying to innovate so as not too make things sound too samey. It's seeming to get a little better with each listening, but his take on David Essex's "Rock On" comes off mostly as a poor choice of cover tune. The original worked because it was an atmospheric production piece. Without the echoing vocal and sliding strings we're left with a pale skeleton. And Oden's vocal here dosen't have the energy needed to pull it off. "Stressful Situation" gets us back on track. A jaunty blues with guitar and piano interplay. Nedo Eel's guitar powers through the instrumental workout "Haywire", that I wished would never end sounding like a bluesy Duane Eddy.

On "Trying To Get To You" Henry uses Google and GPS as he tries to get back to his nagging lady. The road lyrics moved along by the late Norton Buffalo's harmonica give the sensation of tooling down the highway. Norton gives the second of what appears to be his last recordings on the electric country blues "Please Come Home". His harp interweaves with Kenny Marchesse's snakey guitar. The guitar work throughout is top notch. Robby Bean's drum shuffle provides the foundation for "Your Time Is Gonna Come'. The synth-strings mar the gospel-blues of "I'm Gonna Miss You". Not his best vocal, but the organ and female vocals make up for the "strings". His live rendition of Bill Wither's "Who Is He And What Is He To You" is funky enough but the vocal here suffers from lack of energy. At one point he says "watch me now" and fails to take the energy level up. The band is fine as elsewhere, particularly the organ workout by Will Blades. From the sound of the audience at John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom Room this must work fine on the dancefloor.

When he stays in his comfort zone of Chicago blues this record clicks. He can craft retro-blues without stealing from old chestnuts. His mostly pleasing voice and bass skills make this a worthwhile effort.

Reviewer Greg 'Bluesdog' Szalony is from the New Jersey Delta. He is the proprietor of Bluesdog's Doghouse at http://bluesdog61.multiply.com.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.



 Blues Want Ads

 Blues Musicians Place Your Want Ad here for FREE

"workin Blues folks" ONLY can place Want Ads here for FREE.  NO Commercial Ads! 

Buy or sell equipment , musicians wanted, gigs wanted, help wanted, information wanted etc. Limit 100 words. All ads submitted will be used if space allows. If space is limited, ads will be randomly selected to appear in the Blues Blast. Ads may be edited. Send your ad submission to

Blues Bass Player Wanted

Blues Bass Player Wanted for new blues band with guitar, drums and harp. We are located in Westmont, IL, 20 miles west of Chicago.  Must be conversant in old school Chicago post war, Texas and West Coast jump, plus R&B, Soul and Funk. Upright Bass is a plus. Vocal ability is also a plus. Must be willing to rehearse. Fully equipped rehearsal studio.

Our goal is to gig and record ASAP but we play for the love of the music, first and foremost. Deep pocket love of the blues is a must - Rockers need not apply. Please contact Tom at email: mudharp@aol.com 

Magazine Seeks Summer Festival Reviewers

Blues Blast Magazine is looking for a few good men (Or Women)! Over the 2010 summer season we are looking for folks who attend Blues Festivals and take GOOD photos for festival reviews.  If you attend multiple Blues Festivals or Blues shows and could volunteer to send us 500 to 1000 word reviews and a few good photos, please reply to .

Reviewers are needed for the Midwest, Southwest and Texas area, the Florida and Gulf area, The West Coast, The Pacific Northwest, Canada, the Eastern coast area and also on the European, Asian and Australian continents. A short sample of your writing, a sample photo and info on your Blues background would be helpful. Please include your phone number with the reply.



 Featured Blues Review 4 of 6

Mudcat - Freedom Creek

Music Maker Relief Foundation

www.musicmaker.org

12 tracks

I was driving home one day and Mudcat was on Sirius/XM radio’s BB King’s Bluesville. I was intrigued by his vocals and made a mental note to find out more about him. Our next Crossroads Blues Society meeting was the next day, and one of the newly arrived CDs was this one so destiny, déjà vu or whatever it was forced me to volunteer to review this CD. I’m very glad I did.

Danny "Mudcat" Dudeck is a mainstay on the live Atlanta music scene. His and the band’s blend of Piedmont blues, gospel, bawdy humor and just great musicianship make for quite the fun listen. This, his ninth release, features Danny with three buddies recorded (as Tim Duffy notes on the CD) “one fine summer morning in the hills of Carolina.” Dave Roth on standup bass, Eskil Wetterqvist on drums and Lil’ Joe Burton on trombone along with Dudeck serve up a creative mix of traditional and original acoustic songs. Tim Duffy at MMRF has put together a fine little CD here with Mudcat and his buddies that every fan of acoustic blues needs to hear.

The title track starts off the CD. Mudcat’s busking style and slide work get the listener engrossed at the onset and take them for an enjoyable ride. Burto’s trombone adds a unique and very cool punctuation to the songs. He opens the next song “San Antone” with a burst and then Dudeck gets into a lilting melody. Dudeck wails in the chorus, “Somehow how tequila proceeded before my eyes open, and my mind blown again”, giving us an interesting visual image. He continues on the heavy drinking them even more in the next cut, “Empty Room Blues”, were he grunts and groans over an impressive guitar picking solo. In “I Want to Know” an uncredited gospel group with piano backs up Dudeck. He and the singers give a gut wrenching performance; Burton wails on his solo, too.

They go into some old fashioned bawdy humor with double entendres, unfinished lines and then obvious rhyming lines (usually quite dirty). “Big Bamboo” sings about how the plant pleases “one and all” in a variety of double entendres. In “Red Light” they get even more down and dirty with their unfinished thoughts. “Peter Rumpkin” continues in that vein a few tracks later. “Rattlesnake” again uses the double entendre. These cuts are both funny and musically well done.

A cool cover of James Brown’s “Try Me” gets respectfully done acoustically with some harmonies by the band members adding to Mudcat’s vocals. Another strong trombone solo further sells this one. “I Want to Know” and “Keep On the Sunny Side” are two other covers given a good treatment.

I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Mudcat’s vocals are gritty and strong, his slide work and guitar picking is great and his band is equally up to the task of delivering strong perfromances. Roth and Wetterqvist are solid backbones to this effort and Lil’s Joe adds so much with his trombone work. These guys would be a blast to see live but until you can do that I recommend listening to this album!!

Reviewer Steve Jones is secretary of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.


 Featured Blues Review 5 of 6

Mick Kidd - These Old Shoes

Self-released

www.myspace.com/mickkidd/

10 tracks

Other than Dave Hole, a blues CD from “down under” does not seem to appear very often, at least in my CD player. Mick Kidd has been a fixture in the blues circuit in South Adelaide for 25 years. He is a solo performer, with guitars and a stomp box as his tools of the trade. All of the songs here are written by Mick Kidd, and he also plays all of the instruments on the CD. Since there are only ten tracks, let’s touch on each of them here.

Kidd starts off with a thumping and acoustic “Big City Blues”, a somewhat angry cut with lyrics little patience for big city life. Kidd sings and plays with defiance and angst. Kidd slows the tempo down with “(These) Murray Waters Keep on Flowin’”. I was confused about ‘Murray Waters’ initially, which displayed my ignorance with Australian geography. The great Murray River and its tributary the Goulburn are a focal point and flow about 60 km north of Melbourne in central Victoria. Blues along and from the river are a theme both here in the States and half way around the world; problems with politics and natural disasters are also apparently universal and subject of blues songs, so Kidd makes a bit of a statement here. “N.Y. Blue (Sun Refused to Shine)” offers more slow blues and lyrics about his love in N.Y.C., a mere 10,630 miles from Adelaide.

Kidd switches from acoustic guitar over to a bigger electric sound with “Front Bar Guitar”. An instrumental, we get to hear Kidd deliver a bigger sound and it’s pretty well done. “Miss Behavin’” is a standard tome about the evil ways of women, and Kidd gives us an earnest acoustic effort. In “Hells Kitchen” he stays acoustic and delivers a song about living in hells kitchen, a simile for his existence with his woman. He bounces and rolls through this uptempo track into “Every Hour, Every Day” where he sings about how he’s fool for a woman and they are “born every minute, every hour, every day.”

“These Old Shoes” gives us his take on taking a walk in someone else’s shoes, namely his. “The Forgiven” is another nice acoustic track where his guitar work shines and he tells the story of broken bottles, hearts and promises. He closes with “My Time”, a slower and reflective cut.

While I can’t say there is anything earth-shattering here, there is also nothing bad at all. Kidd is a solid acoustic guitar player and songwriter with feeling and charm. I enjoyed the discourse and stories he weaved, both lyrically and musically. If you want to try out some acoustic blues from down under with a hint of an edge to them, this one man band might suit your needs just fine.

Reviewer Steve Jones is secretary of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.



 Featured Blues Review 6 of 6

Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowouts - Still Here and Gone 1993-2007

Electro-Fi Records

www.markhummel.com

Ok, you start out by putting on a series of shows where you pick some of the best blues harp players in the business, then you record them. Periodically you release a “Harmonica Meltdown” compilation (Mountain Top Productions.)

Then you come along and pick 21 of the best performances by 12 of those players from all the blowouts over a 15 yr period and put out a 2 CD set on Electro-Fi Records and what you have is dynamite, I’m talking set you on fire smokestack lightning, I’m talking about some low down mean and evil blues, you’ll be crying mercy, mercy, mercy.

Mark, William Clarke and Paul deLay are each featured on 3 tracks. Lee Oskar, Magic Dick and Sam Myers had a pair each and Johnny Dyer, Carey Bell, James Harmon, Rick Estrin, Billy Boy Arnold and Lazy Lester round things out with one track each. From the opening notes of Hummel’s “Harpo-Ventillating” you know this suckers going to be a MONSTER!!!

By the very nature of this compilation every track is a stand out; but the Paul deLay and William Clarke tracks are really special. Paul gave versions of “Blues and Trouble,” “Can’t Stand Your Evil Ways” and “Mean Old Frisco” while Clarke weighs in with “Lonesome Bedroom Blues,” Stretch Your Money” and “Chrome Jumpin’.”

Tracks like Johnny Dyer “You’re Sweet” or Rick Estrin solo as in sans band doing “Getting’ Out of Town” and James Harmon singing ‘I love this BBQ, just don’t want it all on me, bring the napkins bring ‘em on ‘round to me’ on “Extra Napkins” all jumped out to me and blew me away! If you like serious harmonica blues then look no further than Mark Hummel’s Blue Harmonica Blowouts “Still Here and Gone” 1993-2007, very highly recommended.

Reviewer Malcolm "Yard Dog" Kennedy is a frequent contributor to the Washington Blues Society Bluesletter, and he is the former Vice President and Merchandise Director of the society. He is the co-author of the profile published in the 2009 Blues Festival Guide, which recognized the WBS for its Keeping the Blues Alive Award. Malcolm volunteers at the society's monthly all-ages Blues Bashes and at many festivals and special events promoting the blues in the Pacific Northwest.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.


 Live Blues Calendar


 YOU can submit your Blues performances for FREE at:
http://www.thebluesblast.com/submitnews.htm  

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

TheBluesBlast.com is not responsible for errors or omissions.

CLICK HERE - for the Latest Complete Blues Calendar on our website at: TheBluesBlast.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 Countries

Performance dates submitted by Musicians, Clubs, Blues Societies and Blues festivals.

TheBluesBlast.com is not responsible for errors or omissions.


 Advertise With Blues Blast Magazine

Get the Blues word OUT!

Festivals...  Blues Blast Magazine & TheBluesBlast.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 Blues event!

Blues CD's... For less than the cost of one small ad in a newspaper, you can advertise your shows, new CD or any Blues product. A great way to get the Blues word out!

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!

Blues Blast Magazine covers Blues all over!

We also offer effective advertising for Festivals and Club Owners, Recording Companies and Performers. Put your Blues advertisement on our homepage at: http://www.TheBluesBlast.com either as a sponsored event or as a featured event, product, recording or merchandise.  We get 20,000 visitors and 1,000,000 hits A MONTH on our website!

More than 15,000 Blues Fans, Musicians, Recording Companies, Club Owners, Blues Societies and Festival Promoters in all 50 states and in 70 countries read the Blues Blast magazine each week. 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

Visit our website at:


P.O. Box 721 Pekin, Illinois 61555     © 2010 Blues Blast Magazine

 To be REMOVED from Blues Blast Magazine

 Send an email with Remove Me in the subject line to: