Page 4 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2025 Digital Edition

Hello Fellow Blues Fans!
PUBLISHED BY RBA Publishing Inc.
dba BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE
2150 Western Ave., Arcata, CA 95521 In this year’s magazine, which is primarily distributed
775/846-8238 in the U.S., you’ll find not only an abundance of U.S. blues
www.BluesFestivalGuide.com festivals and culture, but also blues history from across the
Facebook.com/BluesFestivalGuide
Instagram.com/BluesFestivalGuide pond and highlighted European festivals not to be missed.
TO HAVE A COPY MAILED TO YOU I want to additionally highlight our good neighbors.
Send $9.00 ($14.00 overseas) To the north, Canada has a wealth of blues offerings
PUBLISHER to share. Since the 1970s, the Canadian Academy of
Kaati: Kaati@BluesFestivalGuide.com
EDITOR Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has presented the
Irene Johnson: Irene@BluesFestivalGuide.com JUNO Awards, which recognizes outstanding achievements
BLUES FESTIVAL E-GUIDE NEWSLETTER EDITOR in Canada’s music industry (equivalent to the U.S. Grammy
Michele Lundeen: michelelundeen@live.com Awards). New members of the Canadian Music Hall of
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Fame are also inducted as part of the awards ceremonies.
Paul Aaronson, “Alabama Mike” Benjamin, Marty Gunther, Irene Johnson,
Michele Lundeen, Patrick Joseph O’Connor, Reverend Billy C. Wirtz This past March, This Old Life by Big Dave McLean won
PHOTO & ART CONTRIBUTORS Blues Album of the Year. Other nominees included New
Courtesy B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, Courtesy “Alabama Mike” Orleans Sessions by Blue Moon Marquee, YEAH! by David
Benjamin, Dave Blake /Blues Alley Photo, Courtesy Blues Alive, Barry Brecheisen, Gene Gogo, the self-titled Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit,
Broome, Sean Clohesy, Nick Contador, Rory Doyle /Courtesy King Biscuit Blues Festival,
Mike Garwood, Arnie Goodman Photography, Chris Griffiths – Riff Photos, Chris Hakkens, and One Guitar Woman by Sue Foley.
Jack de Nijs /Anefo, Courtesy Juke Joint Festival, Arthur Kenyon /Courtesy University Press To showcase Canadian and international talent,
of Mississippi, Courtesy LaBudde Special Collections/UMKC University Libraries, Courtesy
Lancaster Roots and Blues Festival, Melanie MacLeod, Paul Natkin, Courtesy Notodden there are many blues festivals across Canada each year,
Blues Festival, Patrick Joseph O’Connor, Courtesy Red White and Blues Festival, Kim including the Calgary International Blues Festival (Calgary),
Reed, Mark Rickard Photography, © Marilyn Stringer, Courtesy Vallemaggia Magic Blues, Kitchener Blues Festival and Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons, Dana Wullenwaber Blues and Jazz Festival (both in Ontario), and Tremblant
ADVERTISING SALES th
Kaati Gaffney, Joana LeRoque, Heather Penrod-Rudd Blues Festival (Quebec) which is celebrating its 30
MARKETING CONSULTANTS anniversary!
Nancy Edwards, Cathy Greaney, Michele Lundeen, The Blues Festival Guide database shows over 32 blues
Beth Rudolph, Marilyn Stringer societies. If you are Canadian and you love the blues, visit
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Heather Penrod-Rudd our website: www.BluesFestivalGuide.com to find a blues
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER society near you, and join it!
Heather Penrod-Rudd: Heather_P@BluesFestivalGuide.com And to the south, our neighbor Mexico – Hola! Though
DESIGN & PRODUCTION/WEBSITE perhaps not as prevalent, don’t be mistaken – the blues
Goran Petko, Aqua Design current also runs down through Mexico. Whether via the
TECHNICAL ENGINEER MX Chapter of the Blues Appreciation Society or down at
Derick Johnson the local hot spot, you can find performers and fans of the
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Marilyn Stringer blues throughout the country. Head down to celebrate the
The opinions of the contributors are not necessarily the views of RBA Publishing Inc. genre at several festivals, too – the Loreto Blues Festival, San
FRONT COVER Felipe Blues Festival (originally started by BFG’s Director of
You want scorching slide guitar prowess, raw and soulful vocals, and over-the-top Operations Heather Penrod-Rudd in 2017) and the Tequila
hip-shaking fun? Take a full-on dose of Alligator Recording artist Lil’ Ed Williams! Rock ‘n Blues Explosions Festival, who says, “We come
Ed and his half-brother, bassist James “Pookie” Young, learned the music ropes as together as Mexicans, Americans and Canadians. Bring
youngsters from their famous uncle, J.B. Hutto, before eventually forming a band.
Now, after 30 years and multiple awards, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials have been tequila and let’s hug it out in paradise.” Indeed, you can’t
giants of authentic, hard-hitting Chicago boogie blues. The band has won two say it much better than that!
Blues Music Awards for Band of The Year, and were 2024 inductees in the Blues
Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame. Here's Lil' Ed at the 2024 Tampa Bay Blues Here at Blues Festival Guide, we believe in the power of
Festival. www.LilEdBlues.com music. The blues knows no boundaries or borders.
FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPHER
© Marilyn Stringer www.MJStringerPhoto.com Blues on,
Kaati, Publisher

2 Blues Festival Guide 2025