Page 48 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2021

Ronnie Baker Brooks performs "Live From The Brooks Blues Basement" every Friday night on his Facebook page.
Photo by Ÿ Marilyn Stringer, Screenshot courtesy of Ronnie Baker Brooks

Here at CSTB, we have worked hard to instill the mindset Irene Johnson is the editor of the Blues Festival Guide. She lives
that virtual performances are worth paying for, as artists in the Sierra foothills of Northern California with her husband
work hard to put together these shows. Artists, agents and and two young daughters. During the pandemic, she’s also
managers need to begin protecting their video performance become a full-time at-home preschool/kindergarten teacher
rights in their contracts. I hope, in the rush to get back to and vegetable farmer.
playing live in front of an audience, artists and their reps
take the time to ensure those rights.” Support Our Contributors!
As fans, it is also our responsibility to show musicians that Alastair Greene: agsongs.com
we value their work and creativity. If you can afford it, use Can’t Stop the Blues: Facebook.com/CantStopTheBlues
pay links on the screen or platform to compensate artists for Chris Antonik: www.chrisantonik.com
their performances. Support your favorite artists via PayPal Dana Fuchs: www.danafuchs.com
or Venmo, on subscription membership sites like Patreon, Hadden Sayers: haddensayers.com
or buy music and merch directly from artists through online HowLive: Howlive.tv
platforms like Bandcamp. Visit artist's websites and social Juke Joint Festival: jukejointfestival.com
media accounts to see what they’re working on and how you Lady A: www.ladyababyblues.com
can contribute. Paul Filipowicz: paulfilipowicz.com
These stories are just a glimmer in the vast landscape of Ronnie Baker Brooks: Facebook.com/ronniebbrooksmusic
experiences across the blues community during the pandemic. Taj Mahal: www.tajblues.com
Yet, they illustrate the resilience and adaptability of both Teeny Tucker: teenytucker.com; teenys.art
humans and the blues when faced with crisis. Whether the Tom Stewart: www.backwaterbluesband.com;
blues would survive a pandemic was never the question, but pande-mic.com
how we could interact as a community – that’s what’s been Tommy Castro: www.TommyCastro.com
at stake. After all, it’s that shared connection of experiencing Veronica Lewis: www.veronicalewis.com
blues – live blues – together that gives the music its purpose Victor Wainwright: victorwainwright.com;
and soul. Facebook.com/VictorWainwrightFan

46 Blues Festival Guide 2021