The Blues Show

The Blues Show

Comin' up on The Blues Show:

March 6, 2010

We'll come on following Penn basketball at around 9PM with new blues from Ms. Jody, The Cash Box Kings, and more.

In the midnight hour on The Blues & Beyond it's a brand new album from Catherine Russell, the final recordings of the great Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré, with kora player Toumani Diabaté, more from the new album Place To Be from the amazing Hiromi Uehara, and a piece that became an anthem for the struggle against apartheid from South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim (aka Dollar Brand)with sax player Basil Coetzee.

About The Blues Show and Jonny Meister

It's been said that rock, pop, country, jazz and R&B are just branches of a tree whose roots are buried deep in the mud of the Mississippi Delta. To honor those roots 88.5 WXPN presents The Blues Show with host Jonny Meister every Saturday evening from 7pm to 12 midnight.

Catherine Russell and Jonny
Jonny Meister with Catherine Russell

The Blues Show covers the entire history of the blues from 1920 to the present, from the best-known to the most obscure blues, with an eye both on the rich history of this music and its current vitality.

Host Jonny Meister has been playing the blues on WXPN since March 1977. Meister grew up with old blues records in the house. His father played boogie woogie on the piano, which Jonny learned at about the age of 12. Later he played in rock bands and did a few solo gigs as a singer-songwriter. As his interest in blues grew, he became especially interested in the history of the music, a history not always revealed by the rock musicians and their promoters who drew heavily on the blues.

Jonny spent a week with the family of the late, great blues musician J. B. Lenoir in 1979, and he was one of the consultants for the Wim Wenders film The Soul Of A Man which featured Lenoir, in the PBS film series The Blues. He won the "Keeping The Blues Alive" award for work in Public Radio for The Blues Show in 2000 and a "Best of Philly" award from Philadelphia Magazine in 1996 for "Best Local Radio Show".

Area Blues Concerts & Events

For more detailed information please visit our concert calendar or a venue's website.

Jan | Feb | Mar
Apr | May | Jun
Jul | Aug | Sept
Oct | Nov | Dec
Back to top of page

• • • March • • •

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Samuel James @ Psalm Salon
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
215-477-7578

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Sellersville Theater presents
Marcia Ball with Honey Island Swamp Band
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
215-257-5808

Friday, March 19, 2010

Sister Blue Band @ Red Hot & Blue
Route 70 & Sayer Avenue
Cherry Hill NJ
8PM 856-665-7427

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Diamond State Blues Society
13th Annual House Rockin' Party
Lucky Peterson
Randy Lippincott
@ J. B. McGinnes Pub & Grille
519 Basin Road
New Castle DE 19709
4PM to 10PM 302-376-6298 DSBS members $20, non-members $25 tickets by mail (check, money order) DSBS, P. O. Box 863, Middletown DE 19709

The Dukes of Destiny @ World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia PA
9:30PM 215-222-1400

Mark Furman Band with Sister Blue @ Sokols
411 Crestmont Street
Reading PA
9:30PM 610-375-4500

• • • April • • •

Friday, April 2, 2010

Sellersville Theater presents
Tommy Castro’s RnB Revue starring
Joe Louis Walker & Debbie Davies
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
215-257-5808

Guitar Shorty @ Warmdaddys
1400 Columbus Blvd. (at Reed Street)
Philadelphia PA

South Memphis String Band @ World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia PA
9PM 215-222-1400

Saturday, April 3, 2010

The Holmes Brothers @ World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia PA
7:30PM 215-222-1400

Guitar Shorty @ Warmdaddys
1400 Columbus Blvd. (at Reed Street)
Philadelphia PA

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Sellersville Theater presents
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
215-257-5808

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Sellersville Theater presents
Allen Toussaint
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
215-257-5808

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Sellersville Theater presents
Shannon McNally & Hot Sauce
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
215-257-5808

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Sellersville Theater presents
James Cotton "Superharp"
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
215-257-5808

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Baltimore Blues Society presents
Mark Hummel with Rusty Zinn
John Németh
@ Rosedale American Legion Hall
1311 Seling Avenue
Rosedale MD 21237
410-744-2291

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Bucks County Blues Society
"Spring Fever Footstomper"
Mississippi Heat with Carl Weathersby
Mikey Junior & Stone Cold Blues
@ McStew's Irish Sports Pub
5316 New Falls Road
Levittown, PA
2PM (doors open at 1PM) - 21 and older only
215-949-9570, 215-946-9424, 215-946-4794, 215-943-1447

Friday, April 23, 2010

Deb Callahan @ Heritage Restaurant
6016 Morgantown Road
Morgantown PA
10PM 610-286-9390

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Deb Callahan @ World Cafe Live
recording a live DVD!
3025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia PA
9PM 215-222-1400

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Sellersville Theater presents
John Németh
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
215-257-5808

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Sellersville Theater presents
Smokin’ Joe Kubeck Band featuring Bnois King
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
215-257-5808

• • • May • • •

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Sellersville Theater presents
Mick Taylor with Todd Wolfe
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
215-257-5808

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Sellersville Theater presents
Sue Foley & Peter Karp
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
215-257-5808

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Deb Callahan @ Blue Parrott
1934 West 6th Street
Wilmington DE
9PM 302-655-8990

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival
Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis MD
Shemekia Copeland
Cedric Burnside and Lightning Malcolm
Tinsley Ellis
and more

Deb Callahan @ Bourbon Street Festival Lebanon Township Memorial Park
Burnvale Road
Lebanon Township NJ

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival
Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis MD
Chuck Berry
Joe Louis Walker
Jimmy Vaughan
Big Bill Morganfield
and more

• • • June • • •

Saturday, June 12, 2010

State Street Blues Stroll
downtown Media PA 7PM - 1AM
@ Media Theatre and most local venues
Eddy Clearwater
Lonnie Shields
Johnny DeFrancesco Power Trio
Deb Callahan Band
& many others
$20 day of show, $15 advance,
$12 XPN members in advance More Pricing Info
610-566-5039

• • • July • • •

Friday, July 9, 2010

Briggs Farm Blues Festival
Nescopeck PA
570-379-2003
Advance Concert and Camping tickets
on sale now online
or call 570-379-2003
Camping advance purchase $65 (early bird price till MAY 8th)
at the gate, show day: $80
Concert Only, advance:
One-day: $20, at gate show day: $25
Two-day: $35, at gate show day: $45
children under 12 Free

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Briggs Farm Blues Festival
Nescopeck PA
570-379-2003
Confirmed for Saturday July 10th
David Honeyboy Edwards
Also confirmed to perform:
John Primer, Mississippi Heat
Harper, Moreland & Arbuckle
More Artists TBA
Advance Concert and Camping tickets
on sale now online
or call 570-379-2003
Camping advance purchase $65 (early bird price till MAY 8th)
at the gate, show day: $80
Concert Only, advance:
One-day: $20, at gate show day: $25
Two-day: $35, at gate show day: $45
children under 12 Free

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Bucks County Blues Society 28th Annual R&B Picnic, featuring:
Larry McCray
Roxy Perry
Jr. Cline & The Recliners
J-W Jones Blues Band
Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble
Porkroll Project
Mikey Jr. & Matt Daniels
Joe Becton
@ Snipes Farm & Golf
890 West Bridge Street
Morrisville PA 19067

Friday, July 23, 2010

Pocono Blues Festival - Day 1
@ Big Boulder Ski Area, Blakeslee PA
10:30PM  Lady Bianca
 9:00PM  Johnny Rawls
 7:30PM  Jimmy "Duck" Holmes

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Pocono Blues Festival - Day 2
@ Big Boulder Ski Area, Blakeslee PA

Main Stages:

 8:00PM  Chicago Blues Legends - Pinetop Perkins,
Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith,
with Bob Stroeger & Bob Margolin
 6:15PM  CJ Chenier
 4:45PM  Theodis Ealey
 3:15PM  Johnnie Bassett
 1:45PM  Roy Roberts, Barbara Carr, AJ Diggs
12:40PM  Wanda Johnson
11:30AM  Marquise Knox

Tent Stages:

 8:00PM  Wanda Johnson
 6:30PM  Chick Willis
 5:00PM  Veronika Jackson
 3:30PM  Marquise Knox
 2:00PM  Chick Willis
12:30PM  Veronika Jackson

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Pocono Blues Festival - Day 3
@ Big Boulder Ski Area, Blakeslee PA

Main Stages:

6:30PM  Mavis Staples
4:45PM  Joe Krown Trio (with Walter Wolfman Washington, Russell Batiste)
3:00PM  The Fabulous Thunderbirds
1:30PM  Alabama Mike
12Noon  The Campbell Brothers
Tent Stages:

 8:00PM  Homemade Jamz Blues Band
 6:30PM  Alabama Mike
 5:00PM  Diana Braithewaite/Chris Whitely
 3:30PM  The Campbell Brothers
 2:00PM  Homemade Jamz Blues Band
12:30PM  Diana Braithewaite/Chris Whitely

• • • August • • •

Friday, August 6, 2010

Riverfront Blues Festival 2010
@ Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park
Wilmington, DE

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Riverfront Blues Festival 2010
@ Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park
Wilmington, DE

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Riverfront Blues Festival 2010
@ Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park
Wilmington, DE

Friday, August 27, 2010

Vermont Blues Festival - Day 1
@ Mt. Snow Ski Area
Dover VT
10:30PM  Alexis P Suter
 9:00PM  James Armstrong
 7:30PM  Harrison Kennedy and Julian Fauth

Saturday August 28, 2010

Vermont Blues Festival - Day 2
@ Mt. Snow Ski Area
Dover VT
8:00PM  Johnny Winter
6:15PM  Trombone Shorty
4:30PM  Ruthie Foster
2:45PM  Ryan Shaw
1:00PM  Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones

9:30PMSnow Barn After-Party with Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones

Sunday August 29, 2010

Vermont Blues Festival - Day 3
@ Mt. Snow Ski Area
Dover VT
6:30PM  Kenny Neal
4:45PM  Marcia Ball
3:00PM  Joe Louis Walker
1:30PM  Teeny Tucker
12Noon  Big James Montgomery

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Listen to our blues feature, The Blues File, which airs on The Morning Show with Michaela Majoun, Thursdays at 9:30AM
Streams Of Recent Programs:

The Blues Show
March 6, 2010:
MP3 | Windows Media
February 27, 2010:
MP3 | Windows Media

Blues & Beyond
March 7 & March 8, 2010:
MP3 | Windows Media
February 28 & March 1, 2010:
MP3 | Windows Media
Robert Johnson Charlie Musselwhite
Shemekia Copeland Blind Lemon Jefferson


The XPN Blues File, produced by Jonny Meister, is a weekly look into the world of blues, keeping you up-to-date on the latest developments in this essential musical form, as well as exploring the long and rich history behind it. Listen to The Blues File online too, by subscribing (free) to The Blues File Podcast.

Click an icon below to subscribe to The Blues File podcast using iTunes or MyYahoo:

Or copy & paste this address into your preferred podcasting application:
http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510165
The XPN Blues File MP3 Download
(listen to "out-of-print" Blues Files here):

Contact the Show:
Drop Jonny an email about the show.
Blues Links:
Visit these links to explore the Blues, learn about live events and to take part in the culture of this american art form.

Alligator Records
One of the leading Chicago blues labels. Alligator is Koko Taylor's label and also home for Lonnie Brooks, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, and many more. Recent releases include albums from Eddy Clearwater, Michael Burks, and Janiva Magness.

Delmark Records
A venerable Chicago blues & jazz label now celebrating 55 years in the business. Many of the blues greats of the past, like Junior Wells and Big Joe Williams, have recorded for Delmark. One of their finest recent releases is Byther Smith's Blues On The Moon. Another is Hattiesburg Blues from Mississippi Heat.

Blind Pig Records
This label is home to Kenny Neal, Magic Slim, Hamilton Loomis, and others and has put out albums by E. C. Scott, Elvin Bishop, Nappy Brown, Big Bill Morganfield, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and plenty more... plus classics from Buddy Guy, Johnny Shines, Snooky Pryor, Jimmy Rogers, Luther Allison... many others!

Pristine Audio
This French reissue company has done wonderful restorations of the audio from old records. Their blues releases include Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton, Mississippi John Hurt, and Tampa Red.

Diamond State Blues Society sponsors many blues events, notably regular day-long shows at Gators in New Castle, DE and summer events in Wilmington.

Bucks County Blues Society is America's oldest blues society. among the performers they have presented are folks like Willie Dixon and Albert Collins. They have regular events and a big Blues/R&B picnic every summer, and they sponsor "Blue Thursdays" every Thursday night at McStew's in Levittown PA.
 
WXPN Public Radio. Independent and supported by listeners who give. Support XPN Today