Trempealeau Hotel Blues Bash
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Trempealeau Hotel, Trempealeau, Wisconsin, U.S.
608-534-6898   |   www.trempealeauhotel.com

Headliners: Bryan Lee and the Blues Power Band, pat mAcdonald featuring melaniejane and Alex Wilson

Santa Cruz Blues Festival
Saturday-Sunday, May 24-25, 2008
Aptos Village Park, Santa Cruz, U.S.
831-479-9814   |   www.santacruzbluesfestival.com

Headliners: Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith

13th Annual Silver City Blues Festival
Friday-Sunday, May 23-25, 2008
Gough Park, Silver City, New Mexico, U.S.
888-758-7289   |   www.mimbresarts.org/blues_fest08/index.htm

Headliners: Sherman Robertson, John Mooney, Marie Knight

2008 Elk Creek Vineyards Blues Festival
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Elk Creek Vineyards Outdoor Stage
Owenton, KY, U.S.
502-484-0005   |   www.elkcreekvineyards.com

Headliners: Buddy Guy - Five Time Grammy Award Winner with Roomful of Blues & Sonny Moorman

Eureka Springs Blues Weekend
Thursday-Sunday, May-June 29-1, 2008
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
479-253-7333   |   www.eurekaspringsblues.com

Headliners: Koko Taylor & Her Blues Machine, Native American Blues Wonders, Rory Block

Coloma Blues Live
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Henningsen-Lotus Park
Lotus, California, U.S.
530-295-3496   |   www.colomablueslive.com

Headliners: Los Lobos, The Tommy Castro Band, Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings

11th Annual Mountain of Blues Festival
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Events Plaza
Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S.
866-207-4810   |   www.ruidosobluesfest.com

Headliners: Coco Montoya, Todd Tijerina Band, Bad News Blues Band

Billtown Blues Fest
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Lycoming County Fairgrounds, Hughesville, PA, U.S.
Hotline: 570-584-4480

Johnstown FolkFest
Friday-Sunday, August 29-31, 2008
Johnstown, PA, U.S.
Hotline: 888-222-1889
Headliners: TBA

Virginia Blues & Jazz Festival
Friday-Sunday, June 13-15, 2008
Hot Springs, Virginia, U.S.
877-558-1689   |   www.vabluesfest.org

Headliners: Taj Mahal and the Trio, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Tab Benoit

Tinner Hill John Jackson Blues Festival
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Cherry Hill Park
Falls Church, Virginia, U.S.
703-241-4109   |   www.tinnerhill.org

Headliners: Memphis Gold, Deanna Bogart

T-Bone Walker Festival
Friday-Sunday, June 20-22, 2008
Music City Texas Theater, Linden, Texas, U.S.
903-756-7774   |   www.tbonewalkerbluesfest.com

Headliners: Delbert McClinton, Marcia Ball, Steven Bruton

Hambone Blues Jam
Friday-Saturday, June 27-28, 2008
Austin, Minnesota, U.S.
507-545-2809   |   www.hambonebluesjam.com

Headliners: Gizzae, Mississippi Heat, Ronnie Baker Brooks

Bear Creek Blues Fest
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Slater, Missouri, U.S.
60-529-2212   |   www.bearcreekblues.com

Headliners: Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Mike Zito, Lew Jetton and 61 South

IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival
July 3-5, 2008
LaClaire Park, Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
563-322-5837   |   www.mvbs.org

Headliners: Koko Taylor, Elvin Bishop, Denise LaSalle, and the Holmes Brothers

Bluesfest International
Thursday-Sunday, July 10-13, 2008
Riverfront Festival Plaza, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
866-934-6889   |   www.thebluesfest.com

Headliners: Taj Mahal, Rick Derringer, Richie Havens

Bluesfest London
Friday-Sunday, July 11-13, 2008
King & Clarence, London, Ontario, Canada
866-934-6889   |   www.thebluesfest.com

Headliners: Colin James, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, Jeff Healey Tribute

Hayward-Russell City Blues Festival
Saturday-Sunday, July 12-13, 2008
Hayward City Hall Plaza, 777 "B" Street
Hayward, California, U.S.
707-647-3962 or 510-836-2227   |   www.bayareabluessociety.net

Headliners: Texas Johnny Brown, John Primer, Zac Harmon & Homemade Jamz featuring Ryan, Kyle & Taya Perry

Pocono Blues Festival
Friday-Saturday, July 25-27, 2008
Big Boulder Ski Area
Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania, U.S.
570-443-8425   |   www.jfbb.com/summer-blues-festival.asp

Headliners: Bobby Rush, Sugar Pie Desanto, Jimmy McCracklin

Calgary International Blues Festival
Thursday-Sunday, August 7-10, 2008
Pumphouse Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
570-443-8425   |   www.calgarybluesfest.com

The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Canned Heat, Savoy Brown

Riverfront Blues Festival
Thursday-Sunday, August 8-10, 2008
Harriet Tubman Riverfront Park, Wilmington, DE, U.S.
302-576-2137   |   www.riverfrontbluesfest.com

Koko Taylor, Elvin Bishop, Mannish Boys

Fire On the Mountain ~ Sonora Blues Festival
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Mother Lode Fairgrounds, Sonora, California, U.S.
209-533-3473   |   www.fireonthemountain.com

Headliners: Joe Bonamassa, Tommy Castro, Electric Flag, Magic Dick

Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
October 5-12, 2008 Pacific
Mazatlan, La Paz & Cabo San Lucas from San Diego
Holland America's Intimate ms Ryndam - ON SALE NOW!

January 24-31, 2009 Caribbean
Dominica, Tortola & Samana, Dominican Republic from Ft. Lauderdale
Holland America's NEW ms Eurodam - RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW!

888-BLUESIN or 816-753-7979 International www.BluesCruise.com

January 17-24, 2009
From San Diego to Manzanillo & Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Holland America Vista-Class Ship ms Oosterdam
1-800-Delbert / www.delbert.com
International 615-370-5155

Featuring: Delbert McClinton, Marcia Ball, Cyril Neville & Tribe 13, Tab Benoit, Jimmy Hall, Raul Malo & many more!
NOW BOOKING!

As the basis for American music, the rhythms and musical progressions of blues music has had a public following since the early 20th century. As time progressed, the sounds of blues music have been altered, expanded, and often renamed. The basis of rock 'n roll, hip hop, rap, heavy metal, and jazz all have a genesis in blues music. To ensure the continued survival of an audience for blues music and expand the financial opportunities for blues and it's life blood festivals The Blues Festival Guide is committed to the process of outreach and a search for methods to present blues to a wider public.

Blues Music... Sometimes sad, lonely and mournful, but in other cases fully energized and bursting with electric-guitar-fueled vigor, blues is one of the most powerful, influential and popular musical styles to have risen during the last few centuries.

The song structure is simple ­ much of classic blues is based around a three-chord, 12-bar progression that leaves room for boundless improvisation ­ and it serves as a foundation for much of today's popular music.

Today it's still being picked on the front porches of tar-paper shacks, but it's just as frequently fired up loud and proud in front of a barroom (or for that matter stadium) crowd. In either case though, it remains a music that reflects hardship, trouble and strife, but also perseverance and strength of character ­ to know the blues is to be in touch with your true spirit and soul.

Notable artists include: B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Delbert McClinton, Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon