ROSARITO BEACH, MX – Over the last 3 years, the Baja Blues Fest has evolved into a major musical event attracting thousands of blues enthusiasts to the beautiful Pacific shoreline of Baja California. Our 4th Annual Baja Blues Fest will be celebrated on August 21-23 on the grounds of the world famous Rosarito Beach Hotel & Resort in Rosarito Beach. The Baja Blues Fest Organization is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to Helping Kids with “The Blues.” We organize and promote events related to music, art and culture to raise public awareness to the needs of children in Baja. The charities we promote offer food, shelter, clothing, education and medical care.
The 4th Annual Baja Blues Fest 3-day event will begin with the Friday Night Meet-N-Greet at 7pm the 21st of August, followed by the all-day Main Event from 10:30am to 8:00pm (+) Saturday the 22nd of August and concluding with an afternoon Jam Session from 1-4pm on Sunday the 23rd of August.
We have an exciting lineup of artists, including 2014 Blues Blast Music Award winner, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers. Castro won four 2010 Blues Music Awards including, for the second time in his career, the coveted B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year Award (the very highest award a blues performer can receive). His song “Hard Believer” (co-written with Bonnie Hayes, who co-produced The Devil You Know), took first place in the blues category of the 2012 International Songwriting Competition. His latest release The Devil You Know, garnered him a 2014 Blues Blast Music Award for Rock Blues Album of The Year.
We’re pleased to welcome BMA Horn Instrumentalist of the Year (2008, 2009, 2010) and Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year 2013 Nominee, Deanna Bogart. As a bandleader, singer, songwriter, producer, pianist, sax player, Deanna combines the best of boogie-woogie, contemporary blues, country and jazz into a splendid blend she calls “blusion.”
San Diego’s Missy Andersen received a prestigious 2015 Blues Music Award nomination in the Soul Female Blues Artist category. She’s also received two Blues Blast Awards nominations: Blues Female Artist and Soul Blues Album for her CD, In the Moment.. Missy likens her musical approach to soul dipped in blues. Powerful, passionate and satiny at the same time — she’s fun, full of personality, and she and her band generate addictive rhythms.
The Backwater Blues Band (one of the hardest working bands in the blues world) is enthusiastically hosting the Baja Blues Fest for the third year. As a foremost San Diego band, they have performed everywhere up and down the coast from the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach to world-class events, festivals and international Blues Cruises. The Baja Blues Fest Organization’s Board of Directors greatly appreciates bandleader Tom Stewart’s dedication and drive in delivering an excellent experience for everyone involved. The Backwater Blues Band is the main reason that the Baja Blues Fest is able to work with so many talented and internationally recognized blues musicians in such a short existence.
We’re also happy to announce The Bayou Brothers will be shaking up the stage with their blues and a sound straight out of Louisiana’s dance clubs, bayou festivals and backyard crawfish boils. The band will rock you right on into “Fat Tuesday” with their extensive experience and endless enthusiasm to deliver a rousing, rollicking, heart thumpin’, foot stompin’ musical gumbo y’all won’t soon forget! Bayou Brothers were honored as San Diego Music Award’s 2013 “Best Blues Band.”
We are also fortunate to have returning from our first Baja Blues Fest, special guest, “Queen of Steam,” Michele Lundeen. Michele is a powerful, soulful vocalist with an incomparable style all her own. She effortlessly blends classic roadhouse rhythm & blues, jump swing, Memphis groove, sultry jazz and funky soul into a satisfying musical stew. A Michele is a multiple San Diego Music Awards “Best Blues” nominee, she’s an established, popular and respected veteran of the club, concert and festival circuit, Michele has shared stages with dozens of nationally known blues and roots artists.
Due to popular demand, Hola Soy Lola is also returning a second time to the Baja Blues Fest stage. In its very short musical career, Tijuana‘s Hola Soy Lola’s distinctive style is highlighted by its originality, spontaneity, professionalism and more than anything else, by their joyful and fresh interpretation of classic blues and rock.
Combining the talents of five prominent musicians, the group heads a cultural movement called Border & Blues Jam, whose sole purpose is promoting the Blues and reviving the Tijuana music scene.
Guest Jam Percussionist, Mark “LA” Smith, will be bringing his passion for the blues to our event. LA has played in festivals from coast to coast with many national headliners such as Tab Benoit, Chubby Carrier, Michael Burks, Grady Champion, Lightnin’ Malcolm, Calexico, Randy Oxford Band, Mike Zito, Sonny Mormon and Cedric Burnside, Coco Montoya, Tommy Castro, Larry McCray, Kim Wilson and Taj Mahal to name just a few.
The Baja Blues Fest greatly appreciates the support of our sponsors and partners; especially the Blues Festival Guide, the Rosarito Beach Hotel & Resort, TV stations: KSWT 13, KYMA 11, Estrella TV 13.3 and Bobby’s by the Sea as well as our army of dedicated volunteers! We couldn’t help the kids without you!!
Make your plans now to join us in offering our awesome, multi-talented bands a “warm welcome” to Rosarito!
Find more info
or email us at: admin@bajabluesfest.org
