Page 98 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2018

Festivals receive kBa

The Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival has raised over one million dollars
for a number of different charities. Bluesfest Byron Bay has grown into
a 5-day event presenting over 200 performances. Both these festivals

feature renowned headliners, beautiful settings and truly contribute to
the blues scene. As such, they are the deserving recipients of the Blues
Foundation’s Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Award for 2018!

Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival which hosts camps for children with cancer as well as their
siblings, and We Care and Friends which provides food,
Founded in 1998, the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival is shelter and support directly to those in need in Annapolis and
one of the premier music festivals in the country. For over 20 the surrounding area.
years, tens of thousands of music fans have come out to this The Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival is honored and
two-day festival located on the sandy shore of the Chesapeake humbled to be recognized by the Blues Foundation with
Bay, just outside of Annapolis, MD, to enjoy local food and the 2018 Keeping the Blues Alive Award, and would like
drink as well as outstanding musical acts. The festival was to thank all that have made the last 20 years possible: to
founded with the mission of giving back to deserving causes the volunteers who dedicate their time year after year, the
while showcasing world-class blues – all in a picturesque sponsors who believe in the festival’s mission and enable
environment that has helped make this event a must for fans helping those in need and, most importantly, the dedicated
and artists alike. fans who support the festival’s causes and keep the blues
This non-profit event, completely run by volunteers, has not alive! On May 19-20, 2018, the Chesapeake Bay Blues
only featured headlining acts such as Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Festival will also celebrate its 20 anniversary. This milestone
th
Hooker, Joe Bonamassa, Aretha Franklin and James Brown, event will feature Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot, the Kenny
but has also raised over one million dollars for a number Wayne Shepherd Band, Keb’ Mo’, Delbert McClinton,
of different charities over the years. Teaming with national Doyle Bramhall II, Shemekia Copeland, Mike Zito, Mr. Sipp,
organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Heather Gillis and more.
Special Olympics, the festival has helped countless deserving For more information, visit www.bayblues.org
children and young adults realize their dreams. Keeping true to
their local ties, the festival has also helped local organizations
such as Camp Face which provides a safe and comforting BluesFest Byron Bay
environment for children with facial anomalies, Special Love
Bluesfest Byron Bay is an annual music festival that has
been held since 1990 in the Byron Bay area of Australia. It
features a large selection of blues and roots musicians from
around the world and is considered one of the world’s leading
contemporary music festivals. Initially running for three days
to a crowd of 6,000, it now runs for five days over Easter
weekend and attracts an audience of over 100,000 music
fans.
Each year Bluesfest presents over 200 performances on
several stages, as well as camping for over 6,000 people on
site. Past blues and roots artists that have been showcased
include Mavis Staples, Bob Dylan, John Mayer, Trombone
Shorty, Irma Thomas, B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Bo Diddley,
Bonnie Raitt, Ben Harper, Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Jason
Isbell, St Paul and the Broken Bones and the Tedeschi Trucks
Band, among many others. In addition to bringing some of
Buddy Guy performs on the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival stage. Photo by Duane Heaton

96 Blues Festival Guide 2018