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Over this past year we have been happy to present a series of concerts by Mississippi blues artists that will also be made into radio programs. It is funded with a grant from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Music Project - - and it's called The Mississippi Blues Project. Our first event took place in August, a concert with The Cedric Burnside Project and Big George Brock! Our second event was in October, with Terry "Harmonica" Bean and Jimmy "Duck" Holmes. Our third event featured extraordinary Mississippi hill country blues artist Robert Belfour and young bluesman Big A (Anthony Sherrod) with road warrior Robert "Bilbo" Walker. Our fourth and concluding event in May featured Super Chikan and The Homemade Jamz Blues Band.
Check out The Mississippi Blues Project to hear, and see, some of these shows, see some pictures, and read some articles, all relating to Mississippi blues and particularly to the artists who played for this special year-long series.
In the midnight hour on Blue Dimensions, it's the Django Festival Allstars 2012, a group of modern-day jazz musicians centering on the Schmitt family of France, who perform at at annual Django Reinhardt tribute festival in New York - and now have a CD out from last year's events. Family patriarch Dorado Schmitt plays both guitar and violin. His sons play guitars. They are a Romani family (that being the name used by people that others call "gypsies") and are musically and culturally true standard-bearers of the tradition of Django Reingardt. We'll play several tunes, including one featuring Anat Cohen on saxophone, and we'll also hear the guitar innovator Django Reinhardt himself, Europe's first great jazz artist. Born in Belgium in 1910, Reinhardt became a sensation in the 1930s working with his Quintet of The Hot Club of France, with Stephane Grappelly on violin and Reinhardt's brother Joseph on guitar. We'll check out a classic 1935 cut, and something recorded under difficult circumstances in 1942, the Nazi-occupation of Belgium. Also - new blues from Guy Davis, covering a 1928 Ishman Bracey song on the new album True Blues. We'll also play the original, which includes a verse Davis edited out. Plus - new blues from Philadelphia blues Artist Georgie Bonds. Stepping Into Time is his first album in well over a decade. And - - Global Noize reimagining the music of Sly & The Family Stone, as well as Sly and family themselves at Woodstock; and we'll pass some time, very happily, with the Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet from the new album Latin Jazz - Jazz Latin.
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.
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".
Georgie Bonds @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
8:30PM-11:30PM 215-558-2471
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John Hammond @ McCoole's Arts & Events Place
10 South Main Street
Quakertown PA
7:30PM $35 484-358-3868
Roy Book Binder @ Christ Ascension Lutheran Church
8300 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia (Chestnut Hill) PA 19118
8PM $25
Meet-and-Greet dinner with Roy at 6PM at
Roller's Flying Fish
8142 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia (Chestnut Hill) PA 19118
$75 dinner, show, signed CD
info and tickets
Mojo Gypsies @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
9PM-1AM 215-558-2471
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Roger Girke @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
9PM-1AM 215-558-2471
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Baltimore Blues Society presents
Event TBA
@ Rosedale American Legion
1331 Seling Avenue
Rosedale MD 21237
BBS Info Line: 410-744-2291
Sister Blue & Mark Furman Duo @ Nora Lees
124 Delaware Street
New Castle DE
7PM 302-322-7675
Sister Blue & Mark Furman Duo @ Dogg & Bull
810 Bristol Pike
Croydon PA
215-788-2855
The Band of Gypsies Experience featuring Billy Cox @ Sellersville Theater
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA 18960
8PM 215-257-5808
Jimmy Thackery @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
9PM $15 advance/$18 door 215-558-2471
Porkroll Project @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
9PM-1AM 215-558-2471
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Dukes Of Destiny @ World Cafe Live Wilmington
500 North Market Street
Wilmington DE 19801
8PM (doors at 6:30PM) 302-994-1400
Sister Blue Electric Trio @ Rios Bar & Grill
1572 Haines Road
Levittown PA
9:30PM 215-949-8735
Buddy Guy @ Longwood Gardens
1001 Longwood Road
Kennett Square PA 19348
7:30PM 800-745-3000
Monthly Blues Jam @ Jamey's House Of Music
First Wednesday of each month
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
7PM 215-477-7578
Watch the Blues Jam live
Reverend Chris and The High Rollers @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
9PM-1AM 215-558-2471
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Rough Mix @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
9PM-1AM 215-558-2471
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Chris Duarte Group with Anni Piper @ Sellersville Theater
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA 18960
8PM 215-257-5808
16th Annual Briggs Farm Blues Festival
Briggs Farm
88 Old Berwick Highway
Nescopeck PA 18635
Main Stage
9:45PM Shakura S’Aida
8:00PM Clarence Spady
6:15PM Cedric Burnside
4:30PM Georgie Bonds
Back Porch Stage
9:00PM Lonnie Shields
7:30PM Eli Cook
6:00PM Terry “Harmonica” Bean
4:40PM Nate Myers
3:20PM Rare Form
2:30PM Ed Randazzo with Bret Alexander
16th annual Briggs Farm Blues Festival tickets are now on sale.
Credit Card: Order Here.
phone: 570-379-3342
mail order: Briggs Farm Concerts, 88 Old Berwick Hwy, Nescopeck PA 18635
April Mae & The June Bugs @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
9PM-1AM 215-558-2471
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16th Annual Briggs Farm Blues Festival
Briggs Farm
88 Old Berwick Highway
Nescopeck PA 18635
Main Stage
9:30PM Lurrie Bell
7:40PM The Kinsey Report
5:50PM Mac Arnold
4:00PM Terry “Harmonica” Bean with The Cornlickers
Back Porch Stage
8:20PM Lonnie Shields
6:45PM The Badlees
5:30PM Lurrie Bell acoustic set
4:20PM Jesse Loewy
3:45PM Symphonic Haze
2:30PM James Owens with Dustin Drevitch
16th annual Briggs Farm Blues Festival tickets are now on sale.
Credit Card: Order Here.
phone: 570-379-3342
mail order: Briggs Farm Concerts, 88 Old Berwick Hwy, Nescopeck PA 18635
Dean Shot @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
9PM-1AM 215-558-2471
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Matt Schofield @ Sellersville Theater
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA 18960
8PM 215-257-5808
Bucks County Blues Society R & B Picnic
The Nighthawks, Mississippi Heat
Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang, Billy Price & The Billy Price Horns
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs. lower case blues band
Mike Mettalia & Midnight Shift, Big Frank Mirra
@ Snipes Farm
Route 1 South, 882 West Bridge Street
Morrisville PA
10:30AM - 7:30PM rain or shine
215-946-4794
Philly Gumbo @ World Cafe Live Philadelphia
3025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19104
9PM 215-222-1400
Deb Callahan Band @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
9PM-1AM 215-558-2471
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Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials @ Sellersville Theater
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA 18960
8PM 215-257-5808
Guy Davis @ The Twisted Tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
8PM $15 advance/$20 door 215-558-2471
Third Annual Pennsylvania Blues Festival
@ Blue Mountain Ski Area
1660 Blue Mountain Drive
Danielsville PA 18038
Third Annual Pennsylvania Blues Festival Kick-Off Night
8PM-Midnight in the Adventure Center "Lehigh Valley PA Blues Showcase"
The BC Combo; The Smith Brothers: Nick Franclik, Josh Kanusky, & Joe Mack
featuring Bev Conklin, Georgie Bonds, Mike Dugan, Charlie Brown, and Mike Mettalia.
Doors open at 7PM. Cover charge at the door - $7 & Jam Buffet (additional $7 optional)
Third Annual Pennsylvania Blues Festival
@ Blue Mountain Ski Area
1660 Blue Mountain Drive
Danielsville PA 18038
Gates open at 12Noon
Main Stage
8:00PM Robert Randolph & The Family Band
6:15PM Robert Randolph presents The Slide Brothers featuring Calvin Cooke, Chuck Campbell, Darick Campbell,
and Aubrey Ghent
4:30PM Sista Monica
2:45PM Bonerama
1:00PM John Primer Band
Tent Stage
8:00PM Bonerama
6:30PM Guy Davis (solo/acoustic)
5:00PM John Primer Band
3:30PM "Meet & Greet" The PA Blues Fest Artists for Interviews & Autographs
2:00PM Guy Davis (solo/acoustic)
Saturday Night Jam in the Adventure Center
9:30PM Johnny Rawls with The Dave Keller Band
Doors open at 8:30pm - Cover charge at the door is $7, & Jam Buffet is additional $7 (optional)
Third Annual Pennsylvania Blues Festival
@ Blue Mountain Ski Area
1660 Blue Mountain Drive
Danielsville PA 18038
Gates open at 11AM
Main Stage
7:00PM The Bobby Rush Revue
5:15PM Ruthie Foster
3:30PM Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
1:45PM Johnny Rawls
12Noon Alexis P. Suter Band Gospel Show
Tent Stage
7:00PM Alexis P. Suter Band
5:30PM Warner Williams & Jay Summerour
4:15PM Bobby Rush (solo/acoustic)
2:00PM Electro-Fi Records Canadian Showcase with Harrison Kennedy, Diana Braithwaite, & Chris Whitely
12:30pm Warner Williams & Jay Summerour
Buddy Guy @ Keswick Theatre
291 North Keswick Avenue
Glenside PA
7:30PM 215-572-7650 $29.50-$59.50
Riverfront Blues Festival Day 1
Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park
Wilmington DE
8:30PM James Cotton Band
6:45PM John Primer
5:00pm Moreland & Arbuckle
10:30PM Diamond State Blues Society After-Party with artist TBA
"Sessions Tent" - In-between set performances from Garry Cogdell
and Gary Allegretto with harmonica workshops
Riverfront Blues Festival
Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park
Wilmington DE
8:30PM Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers Reunion Band
featuring Alex Shultz, Bill Stuve, Jimi Bott
6:45PM Eric Lindell & The Sunliners with Anson Funderburgh
5:00PM Jimmy D. Lane
3:15PM Eden Brent
1:30PM Jesse Dee
12Noon Richard Ray Farrell
10:30PM Diamond State Blues Society After-Party with artist TBA
"Sessions Tent" - In-between set performances from Garry Cogdell
and Gary Allegretto with harmonica workshops
Riverfront Blues Festival
Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park
Wilmington DE
4:30PM Elvin Bishop
2:30PM Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues
12:30PM The Lee Boys
"Sessions Tent" - In-between set performances from Garry Cogdell
and Gary Allegretto with harmonica workshops
Buckwheat Zydeco @ World Cafe Live Wilmington
500 North Market Street
Wilmington DE 19801
8PM 302-994-1400
Monthly Blues Jam @ Jamey's House Of Music
First Wednesday of each month
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
7PM 215-477-7578
Watch the Blues Jam live
Carolyn Wonderland @ Sellersville Theater
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA 18960
8PM 215-257-5808
Baltimore Blues Society presents
Event TBA
@ Rosedale American Legion
1331 Seling Avenue
Rosedale MD 21237
BBS Info Line: 410-744-2291
Monthly Blues Jam @ Jamey's House Of Music
First Wednesday of each month
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
7PM 215-477-7578
Watch the Blues Jam live
Pre-Festival Party for Phoenixville Blues Festival
Club 212 Bistro
Phoenixville PA
"Blues Idol" semi-finalists perform with the final three moving onto the festival
$20 7PM-11PM
Phoenixville Blues Festival
@ Reeves Park
Main Street and 3rd Avenue
Phoenixville PA
1PM-10PM free event:
Sunnybrook Ballroom 4th Annual Blues Festival
High Street & Sunnybrook Drive
Pottstown PA
1PM-9PM 484-624-5187 $30 advance $25 door
Monthly Blues Jam @ Jamey's House Of Music
First Wednesday of each month
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
7PM 215-477-7578
Watch the Blues Jam live
Baltimore Blues Society presents
Event TBA
@ Rosedale American Legion
1331 Seling Avenue
Rosedale MD 21237
BBS Info Line: 410-744-2291
Sonny Landreth @ World Cafe Live Wilmington
500 North Market Street
Wilmington DE 19801
7:30PM 302-994-1400
Monthly Blues Jam @ Jamey's House Of Music
First Wednesday of each month
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
7PM 215-477-7578
Watch the Blues Jam live
Baltimore Blues Society presents
Event TBA
@ Rosedale American Legion
1331 Seling Avenue
Rosedale MD 21237
BBS Info Line: 410-744-2291
Monthly Blues Jam @ Jamey's House Of Music
First Wednesday of each month
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
7PM 215-477-7578
Watch the Blues Jam live
Monthly Blues Jam @ Jamey's House Of Music
First Wednesday of each month
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
7PM 215-477-7578
Watch the Blues Jam live
Monthly Blues Jam @ Jamey's House Of Music
First Wednesday of each month
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
7PM 215-477-7578
Watch the Blues Jam live
Monthly Blues Jam @ Jamey's House Of Music
First Wednesday of each month
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
7PM 215-477-7578
Watch the Blues Jam live
Bucks County Blues Society Spring Fever Footstomper
@ Terchon VFW
Airport & Hardy Roads
Edgely PA 19057
2PM age 21+ 215-946-4794
Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival - Day One
Sandy Point State Park
1100 East College Parkway
Annapolis MD 21409
410-974-2149
Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival - Day Two
Sandy Point State Park
1100 East College Parkway
Annapolis MD 21409
410-974-2149
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[Return To Top Of Blues Calendar]
Acoustic Tuesdays with Niki Sbaffoni @ The Twisted tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
6:30PM - 9PM 215-558-2471
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The Old Crispy Minstrels @ Saint Georges Country Store
1 Delaware Street
Saint Georges DE 19733
302-836-8202
Mikey Junior & The Stone Cold Blues
every Wednesday @ The Twisted tail
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
8PM 215-558-2471
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Monthly Blues Jam @ Jamey's House Of Music
First Wednesday of each month
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
7PM 215-477-7578
Watch the Blues Jam live
Chuck McCrory, Larry Baltimore, Russ Massimin, lead blues open mic
The Greenwood Inn
4457 Marlton Pike
Pennsauken NJ 08109
8PM-12Midnight 856-663-9868
"Saint Georges Sessions"
acoustic blues last Friday & Saturday of each month
Saint Georges Country Store
1 Delaware Street
Saint Georges DE 19733
302-836-8202
"Saint Georges Sessions"
acoustic blues last Friday & Saturday of each month
Saint Georges Country Store
1 Delaware Street
Saint Georges DE 19733
302-836-8202
Sunday Blues Jam at The Twisted tail
hosted by Mikey Junior & Friends
509 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
5PM - 9PM 215-558-2471
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Fred Miller Blues Band @ The Rusty Nail
Blues Jam last Sunday of each month
2580 Haverford Road
Ardmore PA 19003
8PM 610-649-6245
Weekly Blues Jam on Sundays, hosted by Blues In The Attic @ Casey's Restaurant & Lounge
155 South Antrim Way
Greencastle PA
4PM - 7PM 717-597-8383
Contact the Show:
Drop Jonny an
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about the show.
Hubert Sumlin receives Pocono Blues Festival Lifetime Achievement Award from Jonny Meister.
Jonny Meister and the one and only Super Chikan, with one of his homemade "chiktars" at The Riverfront Blues Festival, August 6, 2011.
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.The Twisted Tail is the one place where you can hear blues in Philadelphia just about every night. They have a blues jam every Sunday starting at 5PM hosted by Mikey Jr. & Stone Cold Blues. Mikey Jr. and band also play there pretty regularly on Wednesday nights. They're located at 509 South 2nd Street in Philadelphia.
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.
Jonny Meister jammin' with Samuel James
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