LONG BEACH, CA – The place to be for Blues lovers this Labor Day Weekend is the New Blues Festival II, taking place over 2 days, Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, in El Dorado Regional Park (7550 E. Spring St.), Long Beach, CA with 2 stages and over 30 acts. Gates open at 9 am and music starts at 10 a.m. each day. Tickets are $25 and available now via the website, at six Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ locations, including Long Beach, Long Beach Towne Center, and the Cerritos Mall (Lucille’s is the festival’s Title Sponsor this year), and also at the gate both days. Amenities include a huge vendor village, food court; beer garden; and all-new VIP Lounge. Bring the family and settle in amidst the cooling Long Beach ocean breezes!
The festival has expanded due to the overwhelming success of last year’s inaugural NBF, when over 2,000 music lovers of all ages filled POA Park in Long Beach. “Los Angeles and Orange Counties have responded very well to the (New Blues Festival) concept. We definitely hit on a pent-up demand for a long-running inter-generational tradition, and we are excited to once again share all this great music with the public”, says William Grisolia, Producer of the New Blues Festival, whose own band, New Blues Revolution, is one of Sunday’s Main Stage headliners.
Saturday, September 5 – Main Stage Headliners
Saturday’s powerful lineup is headlined by harmonica master James Harman, who has been playing music since the 1960’s and who’s band has included such musical luminaries as Dave Alvin, Gene Taylor, Kid Ramos and the late Hollywood Fats, among countless others. Also headlining is Jazz/blues singing great Barbara Morrison whose sparkling resume’ includes a Who’s-Who of musicians including Jimmy Smith, Kenny Burrell, Etta James, Dr. John, and more. Also appearing: Long Beach legend, acoustic guitarist, Bernie Pearl; Southland staples 2000 Lbs of Blues, fronted by colorful Mike “Pink” Arguello; blues guitarist (and nephew of legendary John Lee Hooker), Teddy Lee Hooker; Americana-Roots artist, Sean Lane; blues-rock quartet, Union Hobos; And fifteen-year-old SoCal guitar wunderkind, Ray Goren.
Sunday, September 6 – Main Stage Headliners
Sunday sees no letup with top headliners, the eleven-piece Caravan of All-Stars, a powerhouse R&B/Soul/Blues revue assembled to showcase some of the unsung heroes of West Coast Blues, representing the Bay Area Blues Society; The Laurie Morvan Band, fronted by red-hot rockin’ blues guitar ace, Laurie Morvan. “Morvan has all the soulfulness of Bonnie Raitt and the swaggering, muscular guitar tone of Stevie Ray Vaughan,” say critics; New Blues Revolution, leading Long Beach-based innovators of the New Blues movement; The 44’s with Kid Ramos, an exciting pairing of the popular Johnny Main-fronted Roots/Blues ensemble with Ramos, the legendary SoCal guitarist; Respected Inland Empire-based Latin blues group The Delgado Brothers with soulful chanteuse, Sherry Pruitt; San Pedro guitarist-vocalist, Dave Widow, whose Waiting For The World To End was voted a “Top 5 Best CD” in the IBC’s; Rising L.A. quartet, the George Foster Band; And the Chase Walker Band, fronted by the teen prodigy of the same name.
More first-class blues each day on the Golden Groove Stage!
Saturday: Lil’ A & the Allnighters; Kelly Chappue & The Soul Collectors; The Other Mules; Shadow Blue featuring Lady Faye; L.A. Parks & Wrecks; Kenny “Big Daddy” Williams and BLUESPOWER; South River Slim; The Arc Flash Blues Band.
Sunday: East Falsted Blues Project; Jack Roberts Harvey Band; Tracy Niles; Crooked Eye Tommy; Frankie and the Crew; Seatbelt; Matt Picarelli and Raul Watson.
