Thank You Letter

I have been asked by Kyle Rowland and his dad Curtis to forward this letter of thank you to everyone. Burwell Briggs

With the help from our loving community of blues fans, Kyle and I were able to cover the expenses for our beloved Debbie.

At the recent benefit we could feel the love conveying out of each and everyone of you. Kyle and I, as well as the rest of the family haven't experienced too many good days lately, the day of the benefit was a GOOD DAY! We needed that.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all that attended, and to all involved with making the benefit happen. The list of volunteers and musicians is so long it touches my heart and to list them all, brings me to tears.

Sally Katen. God Bless You. You are a ray of sunshine in a sometimes dark world. I could write thank you a million times, and that would still not be enough. We love you Sally!

Kyle and I will never forget what you all have done for us.

Thank You so very much,
God Bless you all
Curtis and Kyle Rowland

"We are never stronger than when we are weak, never taller than when we are on our knees"

Phil Kampel was on hand taking pictures at the Benefit and has posted his photos of the event at:
http://philkampel.smugmug.com/Music/Debbie-Rowland-Memorial/11178769_7t8WC#783717489_orRJi

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Hi Blues fans, here is update info on Fire on the Mountain Blues Festival
Aug 14, 2010, Sonora CA
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2010 Performers (so far)
Main Stage MCs ~ K104's Randy Maranz, Steve LaVine
Sierra Stage MC ~ Pop; Workshop Stage MC's ~ Mick Martin, Tom Meyers

TOMMY CASTRO BAND (www.tommycastro.com, www.deannabogart.com)
Tommy's Big Band w/Special Guest ~ DEANNA BOGART! 
5 time 2010 Blues Award Nominee =BB King Band of the Year
~~~~~~
ROY ROGERS & THE DELTA RHYTHM KINGS (www.roy-rogers.com)
World Renown, Grammy Winning, Delta Slide Guitarist.
w/Special Guest, violin/harpist CARLOS REYES (www.carlosreyesmusic.com) 
who was special guest at the Norton Buffalo Memorial Benefit Concerts
~~~~~~
RICK ESTRIN & THE NIGHTCATS (www.rickestrin.com)
4 time 2010 Blues Award Nominee=BB King Band of the Year
~~~~~~~
JASON RICCI & NEW BLOOD (www.jasonricci.com)- Blues Awards Nominee, "wowed"
everyone at 2009 show!
~~~~~~~~
LAURIE MORVAN (www.lauriemorvan.com) 
~~~~~~
ALASTAIR GREENE BAND (www.agsongs.com)
Smokin' guitarist from Santa Barbara, Eric Clapton Tribute set
~~~~~~
BIG MO & FULL MOON BAND (8 Piece Big Band) W/VOLKER STRIFLER,
(www.bigmoblues.com, www.volkerstrifler.com)
~~~~~~
MIKE HAMMAR & THE NAILS (www.myspace.com/mikehammarandthenails)
~~~~~~
MICK MARTIN & THE BLUES ROCKERS (www.mickmartinblues.com) w/ TIM BARNES
~~~~~~
VALERIE JOHNSON & AL B BLUE
~~~~~~
WILD T & THE SPIRIT is tentative at this point until he is OK'd for USA work
permit
~~~~~~
* WORKSHOPS(Q & A) *
GUITAR w/ TOMMY CASTRO, MIKE HAMMAR, LAURIE MORVAN, VOLKER STRIFLER, 
KID ANDERSON, ALASTAIR GREENE; 

HARMONICA w/ RICK ESTRIN, JASON RICCI, MICK MARTIN ;

SLIDE GUITAR with ROY ROGERS; 

PIANO w/ DEANNA BOGART;

WOMEN IN BLUES; 

BLUES FOR KIDS w/VALERIE JOHNNSON
Time Schedules for all shows will posted on the website in July. Acts
Subject To Change

--------------------
Plan Your Memorable Summer Vacation Around the Festival!
Your search for the perfect weekend getaway or extended vacation ends here! 
Tuolumne County in the Central Sierra is the recreational -cultural center
of the Mother Lode near Yosemite National Park (1.5 hour drive from Sonora
on Hwy 120). You'll find all the outdoor activities you love and dream of
taking part in - hiking, biking, river rafting, fishing, horseback riding,
motorcycle rides, camping, beautiful lakes, sightseeing, wineries, bed &
breakfast inns, casinos and more! The arts, live theater, museums and
entertainment are plentiful in the beautiful Sierra Foothills. 
See www.tcvb.com or www.thegreatunfenced.com for tourist info. 
Cabin rentals in Twain Harte (209) 585-5204, Sonora apartment rentals at
209-533-1310

See www.fireonthemountain.com for festival info and ticket sales.
Thanks, Richard

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Grammy award winner Roy Rogers will be performing with his band, the Delta
Rhythm Kings, this Sunday, March 14th, 2010 for the Powerhouse of Blues show
at the area's #1 rated entertainment venue, the Powerhouse Pub in historic
Folsom. Cover charge $10.00, Blues Lovers Meetup Group Members $5.00.

Join the Blues Lovers Meetup Group and get cover and pizza discounts and
free shows all year long! Also, blues dance lessons by Johnny Ray will be
offered on Sunday, March 14th starting promptly at 1:45 pm through 2:45 pm.
Come in early and sign up, then dance with a great group of blues
enthusiasts to the big band sounds of San Francisco's Delta Wires.

Attached is a flyer with March's shows. The Sunday blues jam follows the
Powerhouse of Blues at 7:00 pm. Sundays are always about the blues at the
Powerhouse Pub!

Here are some more Powerhouse of Blues coming attractions:

Rod Piazza, Nick Gravenites, Chris Cain, Volker Strifler, Kaye Bohler's Big
Band, Sacramento Blues Revue, Tom Rigney & Flambeau and more!!!

The Powerhouse Pub
614 Sutter Street
Folsom, CA
(916) 355-8586

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James "Superharp" Cotton - Thursday Night in Grass Valley

Don't miss out on this rare performance by one of the legends of the blues, James "Superharp" Cotton and his All Star Band. 

James Cotton is one of the true pioneers of modern electric blues. During his time with Muddy Waters among other things he was the arranger of "Got My Mojo Working". He also played with Howlin" Wolf for two years and is a Grammy award Winner as well as a member of the Blues Hall of Fame. 

If you saw Pinetop Perkins or Honeyboy Edwards at the Center you'll appreciate hearing one of the true legends of the blues in a dance concert at a small venue. 

See you on the dance floor.

Paul Emery

Thursday, March 11
James
Cotton 
8:00PM, $25
2009 is James Cotton's 65th year 
in the entertainment business. What an amazing adventure 
this man is experiencing with 
his little harmonica.
Congratulations SUPERHARP!
DANCE CONCERT! 
Theater seating on a
first-come-first-served basis.
Plenty of room to DANCE!

The Center for the Arts
314 West Main Street, Grass Valley, CA
Tickets at: The Center Box Office, 
Yabobo - 478-9114, Briar Patch - 272-5333, Cherry Records - 823-2147, 
Online at

The musical pedigree of Grammy Award winner James  Superharp  Cotton consists of a veritable who s who in the world of the Blues. Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2006, the Smithsonian Institute in 1991, and winner of countless W.C. Handy Blues Awards, he has shared the stage with B.B. King, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, the Allman Brothers, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Sam and Dave, The Grateful Dead among many others.
An orphan at the age of nine, he was raised in Mississippi by his mentor, Sonny Boy Williamson, who remains famous for his many unique songs and innovative Delta Blues harmonica style. As a young teenager Cotton befriended Howlin  Wolf and joined forces with him playing Mississippi and Arkansas juke joints for two years. During that time Cotton hosted his own afternoon radio show in West Memphis and also recorded  Cotton Crop Blues  and three other songs on Sun Records in Memphis. In 1954 when Muddy Waters needed a harmonica player, he found Cotton playing a club in Arkansas and took him to Chicago. Cotton remained with Waters for 12 years not only playing shows but also recording with him on Chess Records. One of the highlights of that period came when Cotton arranged the ever-popular anthem for the blues,  Got My Mojo Workin  , which was played for the first time by the Muddy Waters Band at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1961. 
In 1966 Cotton formed his James Cotton Blues Band which continues to showcase his immense talent and keeps him one of the most sought-after, hard-driving, seminal blues musicians touring the world today.
Cotton passionately explains,  My audience always tells me how I'm doing. If I look out there and don't like what I see, I work harder.  His audiences are still on their feet, they enjoy themselves as much as he does, and there continue to be standing ovations night after night. You will have a memorable evening with an international treasure and a true Living Legend of the Blues.
The year 2010 is Cotton s 66th year in the entertainment business. What an amazing adventure  Superharp  is experiencing with his little harmonica.
www.jamescottonsuperharp.com

Paul Emery presents
Friday, March 19
Newgrass Monsters
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Center for the Arts
Grass Valley, CA$20 general 

Paul Emery presents
Wednesday, April 7
Celtic Music & Dance with
Kevin Burke's 
Open House
The Nevada Theater
Nevada City, CA$20 general 

Paul Emery presents
Saturday, April 17
Blues Guitarist
Coco Montoya
The Center for the Arts
Grass Valley, CA$20 general 

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Ron Thompson to Solo at Austins at Noon Thrusdays

Hey Blues Lovers, Ron Thompson brings his Solo show to Austin's in downtown Fresno every Thusdsay 12 to 1pm upstairs at their all you can eat buffet $10 (includes drink and taxs) If you work close to downtown check it out. The foods ready and the music is hot. So for Austin's lunch time buffet the schedule is: Rudy Parris on Tuesdays, Eva Scow on Wednesdays and now Ron Thompson on Thursdays. 
Bring your clients, they will love you for it. 

A reminder about the 44'S from Los Angeles this Friday Night at Austins. 820 Van Ness, Downtown Fresno. 

Also, the Harmonica Blowout show tonight at the State Theater in Modesto w/ Mark Hummel, Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza and The Mofo Party Band starts at 7pm not 8pm. 

Keep On Groovin'
Don Heflin
Central Valley Blues Society
www.cvblues.org
Deja Blues 
www.dejabluesmusic.com

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What going on at the BLUEROOM LOUNGE ? 
 
Friday March 5th 
Friday Night Blues Party 
1st Friday Blues Jam Hosted by Grant Urias 
Jam starts at 8:00 pm 
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Saturday March 6th at 9:00 pm 
 
CD Release Party for the 
 
CADAVER DOGGS 
 
Classic Old School ROCK&BLUES 
 
WITH TIM BARNS -- Lead Guitar & Vocals 
Tim original guitar player for the band STONEGROUND. 
Stoneground did 5 albums with Warner Brothers 
and 9 albums over all. Tim then went on to perform with Mick Martin & the Blues Rockers. 
 
Dan Stanton -- Bass 
Dan has performed with many bands including 
HEBRO, HEAVY PETTING ZOO, THE STEVE GANNON BAND, MUCHAS BLUEGRACIAS, and with musicians such as Mikie Lee Prasad and Alex Skolnick. 
 
MARK CARRABELLO -- DURMS 
Mark is a card carrying member of the 
GUARDIAN OF THE GROOVE. 
Mark has been a San Francisco Bay Area live and studio drummer for more than 3 decades. 
 
GREG KING -- GUITAR 
Early in Greg's career he hooked up with the DRIFTERS and toured across the USA. Greg has also performed with Stoneground & Pablo Cruise. 
 
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 
 
Next Weekend 
 
Friday March 12th Friday Night Blues Party 
 
TWO-TONE STEINY 
& 
Aaron King 
 
bring the Jump/Swing back to the BlueRoom 
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 
 
Saturday March 13th 
 
Rockin - Rhythm & Blues 
 
The BAD CATZ 
Drinking - Dancing - Carrying On 
starts at 9:00 pm 
 
check out www.badcatz.com 

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Swell Productions Announces Two Concerts in March: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue; 
and Little Feat Guitarists, Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett!
(Sacramento, CA) Swell Productions is happy to announce two new concerts coming to Sacramento in March:
New Orleans sensations Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue on Sunday, March 14, and legendary Little Feat guitarists, Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett on Friday, March 26. Both concerts will be at Harlow's, 2708 J St. in the bustling Midtown district.

Sunday, March 14
Direct from New Orleans! High octane Supafunkrock!
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Harlow's
2708 J St./Sacramento, CA 95814
Showtime: 8 PM
Harlow's is accepting dinner reservations prior to the concert this night. Call 916-441-4693.
Advance tickets: $17.50 /$20 @ the door available Feb. 1 at R5 Records (16th & Broadway/Sacramento) and online at www.harlows.com or www.inticketing.com

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest Star Returns to Sacramento!
You'd be hard pressed to find a star rising faster than Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews. The 24 year old (equally adept on trombone and trumpet) is a product of New Orleans' culturally rich Treme neighborhood; he was a bandleader by the age 
of six. Now, he & his blistering band, Orleans Avenue, are headlining jazz, jam, blues and rock festivals internationally. 
The group s performances have been known to run for hours at an energy level that few others could sustain for a much 
shorter performance. Rare indeed is the artist with the virtuosity, elegance and class to draw the unqualified respect of 
some of the most iconic legends in jazz--- and the ability to deliver a high-energy funk rock show capable of mesmerizing international rock stars.

Troy possesses the rarest combination of talent, technical capability and down home soul. I m his biggest fan" says 
Wynton Marsalis. "We were mesmerized by him" says U2's The Edge. Andrews was honored as the subject choice for the official poster of the 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival; and is roundly acknowledged as the torchbearer for New Orleans music across the globe.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue have been busy recording their LONG AWAITED record with Ben Ellman from Galactic producing. The record is scheduled for an April 2010 release. Andrews is also a guest on Buckwheat Zydeco s GRAMMY-nominated Lay Your Burden Down, is heard in the opening song of Disney's The Princess & The Frog and performs on forthcoming albums from Eric Clapton, Galactic, and Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars.
Special guest opening this hot night will be Sacramento's funky new favorite soul band, The Nibblers. The Nibblers, a seven piece band, feature Mikey Palmer (bass) and Reggie Marks (sax) from Mumbo Gumbo and are led by singer Hans Eberbach.
AND

Friday, March 26
The legendary Little Feat guitarists in a special acoustic performance
Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett
Harlow's
2708 J. St./Sacramento
Showtime: 7 PM
Harlows is accepting dinner reservations prior to the concert this night. Call 916-441-4693.
Advance tickets: $25 /$30 @the door available Feb. 1 @ R5 Records (16th & Broadway/Sacramento) and online at 
www.harlows.com or www.inticketing.com

Hoy Hoy, Featsters.The legendary guitarists from Little Feat, Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett return!

After three sold-out shows in Northern California last February, the legendary guitarists from Little Feat, 
Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett are returning for a four date mini-tour. The acoustic duo, just back from Little Feat s 
annual Jamaican sojourn, will perform songs from the vast and popular Little Feat catalog plus other guitar/Americana music. Additionally, Fred and Paul did a month (Nov 16 - Dec 12, 2008) in Scotland, Spain, the Netherlands, Wales 
and England and have a new live recording from their UK tour of 2008. The new CD will be available at these shows, 
as well as a specially designed highly collectible poster designed by the equally legendary Fillmore poster artist, Stanley Mouse.
 
Little Feat's unconventional signature of earthy, organic appeal and polished, first-rate musicianship wrapped around eclectic and memorable songs--clearly delivered as an authentic labor of love--has been a lasting fixture on the musical landscape since 1969. As American as apple pie--and rock  n roll itself--Feat s music transcends boundaries, a freewheeling fusion of California rock and Dixie-inflected funk-boogie. In the mix as well are strains of folk, blues, rockabilly, country and jazz, inventing a hybrid sound that is truly Little Feat s own. Barrere and Tackett, in their acoustic setting, give their own songs plus select songs by Dylan (Tackett was Dylan's guitarist), The Band and Woody Guthrie the warmest front porch vibe in this 
"all that you dream" concert.

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Janiva Magness' "The Devil Is An Angel Too" Set For April 13 Release

ALLIGATOR RECORDS PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MARCH 2, 2010
CONTACT: Marc Lipkin / Alligator Records / 773-973-7736 x235
EMAIL: publicity@allig.com
www.alligator.com
ALLIGATOR RECORDS SETS AN APRIL 13 STREET DATE FOR JANIVA MAGNESS' THE DEVIL IS AN ANGEL TOO
Alligator Records has set an April 13 street date for The Devil Is An Angel Too, the new release from award-winning blues and R&B vocalist Janiva Magness. The CD is a hard-hitting collection of material that explores the depths of good and evil, with Magness' glorious, soul-baring vocals burning their way through twelve powerful songs. A charismatic performer known for her electrifying live shows, Magness received the coveted 2009 Blues Music Awards for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year (she is only the second woman to ever win this award, Koko Taylor being the first) and for Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year, an honor she also received in 2006 and 2007. USA Today declared, "Magness is a blues star." In 2008, Magness performed in Iraq and Kuwait as a co-headliner of Bluzapalooza, the first-ever blues concert tour to perform for American troops in an active war zone. 

Prior to her extraordinary 2008 Alligator Records debut, What Love Will Do, Magness released six albums on various labels. The new CD, The Devil Is An Angel Too, co-produced by Magness and Dave Darling (Brian Setzer, Meredith Brooks, Dan Hicks), features Magness' dynamic voice wrapping around original material written especially for her, as well as songs from Julie Miller, Graham Parker, Nick Lowe, Joe Tex, Gladys Knight, Nina Simone, Ann Peebles and James Carr. Magness cuts to the heart of each song with fierce passion, making The Devil Is An Angel Too her most compelling release yet.
Although Magness is now a bona fide blues star, her rise to the top was far from easy. Born in Detroit, Magness was inspired by her father's blues and country record collection, and by the vibrant music of the city's classic Motown sound. By her teenage years, though, her life was in chaos. She lost both parents to suicide by the age of 16 and lived on the streets, bouncing from one foster home to another. At 17, she became a teenage mother who gave up her baby daughter for adoption. One night in Minneapolis, an underage Magness sneaked into a club to see blues great Otis Rush, and it was there that she found her calling. She began going to as many blues shows as possible, soaking up the sounds of her favorite artists, including Johnny Copeland and Albert Collins. She immersed herself in records by James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and all the other R&B greats.
She moved to Los Angeles in 1986 and slowly began finding work there as a singer. She married musician and songwriter Jeff Turmes, with whom she recorded the album It Takes One To Know One. After three more releases, Janiva signed with Northern Blues in 2004, releasing two albums and increasing her national touring schedule. Blues Revue said, "Magness is a bold and potent artist with a powerful, soulful voice... impossible to forget."
Magness joined the Alligator family in 2008 and released her stunning label debut, What Love Will Do, to massive critical acclaim. The Chicago Sun-Times raved, "Her songs run the gamut of emotions from sorrow to joy. A master of the lowdown blues who is equally at ease surrounded by funk or soul sounds, Magness invigorates every song with a brutal honesty." Fueled by all the positive press, National Public Radio's Weekend Edition profiled Magness, putting her in front of an audience of millions and expanding her ever-growing fan base.
In addition to her musical accomplishments, Magness is reaching out to help others. She is a National Spokesperson for Casey Family Programs (her fourth consecutive year), promoting National Foster Care Month. "Our fate doesn't have to be our destiny," she says. "I'm living proof of that. And I'm so very grateful."
Janiva Magness' deeply emotional music, sung with passion, conviction and soul, and her telepathic ability to connect with an audience, assure her place among the blues elite. "We need real music now more than ever because it gives us strength to pull through tough times," says Magness. "We need it in a real bad way. Blues is a ray of hope. It articulates what's lacking in people's lives." With The Devil Is An Angel Too and her explosive live shows hitting cities across North America and Europe, Janiva Magness continues to spread her empowering message of hope through music.

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BBQ & Blues Jam Every Sunday w/ Steve Foster & Friends at Valencia Club

Hoping to get word out to my friends in the Sierra Blues Society.
Every Sunday 2-6 Valencia Club BBQ & Blues Jam w/ Steve Foster & Friends.
Valencia Club/ Penryn
Thank You, Steve

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ALLIGATOR RECORDS SIGNS ANDERS OSBORNE
AMERICAN PATCHWORK SCHEDULED FOR 
APRIL 27, 2010 RELEASE
Alligator Records is proud to announce the signing of award-winning guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Anders Osborne. Osborne's Alligator Records debut album, American Patchwork, is a moving collection of soul-baring roots rock, blues and ballads. Many of the songs on American Patchwork deal with healing and redemption, spirituality and acceptance. Often compared to Townes Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison, Osborne is an exceptional and singular talent. Paste Magazine says, "Osborne has an impossibly great voice and the songs to match." American Patchwork will be released on April 27, 2010.
According to Alligator president Bruce Iglauer, Anders is a perfect fit for the label. "We at Alligator are very excited to have a visionary artist like Anders Osborne join our roster. Having traveled over much of the world and honed his music in New Orleans, Anders combines a deep feeling for many genres of American roots music with straight-from-the-heart, deeply soulful songwriting. His voice has the unvarnished emotional honesty that we love. As a guitarist, he's simply thrilling. He's one of America's finest roots music artists, and we're honored to have him on Alligator."
Anders Osborne is in full agreement, saying, "I am very pleased to be working with such a reputable and classic American label like Alligator Records. This record, American Patchwork, means a helluva lot to both me and the guys helping me get it done. I wouldn't hand it over to just anybody. I am proud to call Alligator Records my label."
Osborne and friend Stanton Moore (Galactic) produced the album, with co-production by Pepper Keenan (of Down). Each track is delivered with soul muscle and contains unforgettable melodies. The ten original songs on American Patchwork are among the strongest Osborne has ever written. With musical assistance from Moore on drums, Keenan on percussion and guitar, and Robert Walter on keyboards, American Patchwork is a bright new chapter in Anders Osborne's remarkable journey. According to Osborne, "This is the healing, the patching back together, of a man scattered to the wind, broken and in pieces. The rebuilding of my home, a city under water and in ruins, friends lost, my community in disarray, all carefully patched and made whole again by the power of my America, and its endless source of inspiration to me. This is my American patchwork."
Since 1995 Osborne has released a series of successful albums for major and independent labels to wide critical and popular acclaim. His music mixes blues, soul, funk and R&B into a signature sound and style. Osborne is as well-known and well-loved for his songwriting as for his blue-eyed soul vocals and jaw-dropping guitar playing. Two songs co-written by Osborne appear on blues great Keb Mo's Grammy-winning 1999 release, Slow Down. Osborne's compositions have been covered by artists as diverse as Brad Paisley, Tab Benoit, Jonny Lang and Kim Carnes. Country superstar Tim McGraw scored a #1 hit with Anders' song Watch The Wind Blow. His song What's Going On Here appeared in the 1996 feature film Fled. Most recently, Osborne, along with Ivan Neville, wrote and will perform the title track for the upcoming Kate Hudson film, Earthbound.
Osborne was born in Sweden in 1966. His father was a professional jazz musician and, at an early age, Anders began playing guitar and discovering the musical power of the blues and the lyrical depth of songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Jackson Browne. At 16, he was traveling across Europe, North Africa, Asia and the Middle East, earning money by performing at every opportunity. His grandfather, a sailor, had often told him vivid stories of New Orleans, so when he arrived there in 1985, he felt right at home. He effortlessly incorporated the sounds of New Orleans into his own music, and the city quickly became a large part of his soul.
In April Osborne will play three times at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (and make many more area appearances during the festival period), followed by a six-week tour of the U.S. on a double bill with The Stanton Moore Trio. With a new label, a new recording, and a new appreciation of life itself, Anders Osborne is ready to move forward. As a youth he traveled the globe before settling in New Orleans. Now, as a proud American, he'll travel from New Orleans, bringing his powerful original songs and soulful, bluesy, rock-fueled music to destinations all over the world.

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Sacramento Blues Society Event

Corned Beef Dinner & Show 
For Immediate Release
 
Sacramento, California March 13, 2010 Join the Sacramento Blues Society for a St. Patrick's "Corned Beef Dinner & Show"! 
VFW Hall #67 
2784 Stockton Blvd 
Sacramento, CA 
(916) 712-7277 
Dinner & Show
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Dinner 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Show 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Doors open @ 5:30 PM
Featuring:
The Volker Strifler Band
and
The Mind X Trio

photo by Dorothy Hill

Show only: $15 available at the door
Dinner & Show tickets are pre-sale only @ R5 Records
Dinner & Show: $25 or two for $45
All Ages Welcome
To reserve tickets or info: events@sacblues.com

Learn more...
About Sacramento Blues Society 
The Sacramento Blues Society (SBS) is a 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit organization formed to preserve and promote blues music as an art form.

The Sacramento Blues Society was founded in 1979 and is one of the oldest blues societies in California. The SBS has kept the blues tradition alive in the Sacramento area by promoting the local blues music scene, bringing international renowned artists to the region, and is an afilliated member of The Blues Foundation. We provide educational opportunities for young people with our "Blues In The Schools" program. Mailing address: Sacramento Blues Society, P.O. Box 60580, Sacramento, CA 95860-0580 The Sacramento Blues Society produces a newsletter, "Blue Notes" on a Bi-Monthly schedule (SIX times a year) to our membership
Website: http://www.sacblues.com/ 
Sacramento Blues Society 
Willie Brown
President
email; wsbrown1@prodigy.net 
phone: (916) 443-9212 wsbrown1@prodigy.net 

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ALLIGATOR RECORDS PREPARES NEW RELEASE FROM SOUTHERN BLUES ROCKER TINSLEY ELLIS

Blistering, inspired roadhouse blues and passionate Southern rock  supercharged guitar and gritty, soulful vocals.   Relix

Alligator Records has set an October 6 street date for SPEAK NO EVIL, the blistering new CD from Atlanta-based blues-rock guitarist and vocalist Tinsley Ellis. Over the course of 11 albums and literally thousands of live performances, Ellis has become one of today s most electrifying guitarists and vocalists. He attacks his music with rock power and blues feeling, in the same tradition as his Deep South musical heroes Duane Allman and Freddie King and his old friends Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes. Rolling Stone says he plays  feral blues guitar...non-stop gigging has sharpened his six-string to a razor s edge...his eloquence dazzles...he achieves pyrotechnics that rival early Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. 

SPEAK NO EVIL is the most guitar-driven album of Ellis  storied career. It features his fiercest, most brutally honest and hardest-hitting original songs to date. The soulfulness and expressiveness of his guitar playing are ferocious, but when the mood calls for it, can be gentle and melodic. Ellis pours his soul into each and every performance with unguarded, raw emotion. With rip-roaring songs that are both poignant and humorous, SPEAK NO EVIL is as wide-ranging and inspired a recording as Ellis has ever made, and one of the most satisfying Southern blues-rock albums in ages. 

Tinsley Ellis wears his Southern roots proudly. Born in Atlanta in 1957, he grew up in southern Florida and first played guitar at age eight. He found the blues through the back door of British Invasion bands like The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream, and The Rolling Stones. He especially loved the Kings   Freddie, B.B. and Albert   and spent hours immersing himself in their music. His love for the blues solidified when he was 14. At a B.B. King performance, Tinsley sat mesmerized in the front row. When B.B. broke a string on Lucille, he changed it without missing a beat, and handed the broken string to Ellis. After the show, B.B. came out and talked with fans, further impressing Tinsley with his warmth and down-to-earth attitude. By now Tinsley s fate was sealed; he had to become a blues guitarist. And yes, he still has that string.

Already an accomplished teenaged musician, Ellis left Florida and returned to Atlanta in 1975. He soon joined the Alley Cats, a gritty blues band that included Preston Hubbard (of Fabulous Thunderbirds fame). In 1981, along with veteran blues singer and harpist Chicago Bob Nelson, Tinsley formed The Heartfixers, a group that would become Atlanta s top-drawing blues band. Upon hearing Live At The Moonshadow (Landslide), the band s second release, The Washington Post declared,  Tinsley Ellis is a legitimate guitar hero.  After cutting two more Heartfixers albums for Landslide, Cool On It (featuring Tinsley s vocal debut) and Tore Up (with vocals by blues shouter Nappy Brown), Ellis was ready to head out on his own. 

GEORGIA BLUE, Tinsley s first Alligator release, hit an unprepared public by surprise in 1988. Critics and fans quickly agreed that a new and original guitar hero had emerged.  It s hard to overstate the raw power of his music,  raved The Chicago Sun-Times. Before long, Alligator arranged to reissue COOL ON IT and TORE UP, thus exposing Tinsley s blistering earlier music to a growing fan base. 

Tinsley s subsequent releases   1989 s FANNING THE FLAMES, 1992 s TROUBLE TIME, 1994 s STORM WARNING, and 1997 s FIRE IT UP   further expanded the guitarist s hero status. By now his talents as a songwriter equaled his guitar prowess, and critics, writers, radio programmers and fans around the country were taking notice. Features and reviews ran in Rolling Stone, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, and in many other national and regional publications. His largest audience by far came when NBC Sports ran a feature on Atlanta s best blues guitarist during their 1996 Summer Olympic coverage, viewed by millions of people all over the world. 

After one album for Capricorn and two for Telarc, Ellis returned to Alligator in 2005 with the searing guitar-fueled LIVE--HIGHWAYMAN. It was the live recording his fans had been demanding for years. Recorded at a packed club just outside Chicago, the CD took Ellis  extended soloing and heartfelt vocals to staggering heights. His return to the studio in 2007 produced MOMENT OF TRUTH, an album The Chicago Tribune called  incendiary and inspired. 

Averaging over 150 live shows a year, Ellis has played in all 50 states, as well as Canada, Europe, Australia and South America. He has shared stages with almost every major blues star, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Son Seals, Koko Taylor, Albert Collins and many others. Whether he s out with his own band or sharing stages with major artists like Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers, Gov t Mule or Widespread Panic, he always digs deep and plays, as Guitar Player says,   as if his life depended on it.  With SPEAK NO EVIL and continued non-stop touring, Ellis will bring his monumental guitar work and intensely powerful vocals to rock and blues fans all over the world, letting his songs and his guitar do the talking.

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Alligator Records News Briefs 03-08-2010

ALLIGATOR RECORDS NEWS BRIEFS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MARCH 8, 2010
CONTACT: Marc Lipkin / Alligator Records / 773-973-7736 x235
EMAIL: publicity@allig.com 
www.alligator.com

TWO JJ GREY SONGS TO APPEAR ON 
FOX TELEVISION'S HOUSE
Two of songwriter and vocalist JJ Grey's recordings will appear in tonight's episode of FOX Television's medical drama, House. The episode, entitled "Private Lives," features the songs Lochloosa (the title track from JJ Grey & Mofro's second album, reissued by Alligator in 2008) and The Sun Is Shining Down (from the band's 2007 CD, COUNTRY GHETTO). Grey is currently at work on a new album, tentatively due for Fall 2010 release.

ALLIGATOR ARTISTS IN AUSTIN, TX, 
AT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2010
Alligator artists Guitar Shorty and Anders Osborne will perform in Austin, Texas during the South By Southwest Music Festival. Shorty's new CD, BARE KNUCKLE, was released on March 2, and is already being hailed as a highlight of his long career. Osborne will release his Alligator label debut, AMERICAN PATCHWORK, on April 27. Performance information is as follows:
Guitar Shorty:
Thursday, March 18
11:00pm
Valhalla, 710 Red River Street

Anders Osborne:
Wednesday, March 17
4:30pm
"Export NOLA Showcase"
Momo's, 618 West 6th Street
Thursday, March 18
12:00pm
"Only In Louisiana"
Brush Square Park, 409 E. 5th Street

THE BLUES FOUNDATION TO INDUCT LEGENDARY LONNIE BROOKS INTO THE BLUES HALL OF FAME
Blues legend Lonnie Brooks is among the 2010 inductees into the Blues Foundation's Blues Hall Of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held on May 5, 2010, at the Memphis Marriott Downtown in Memphis, Tennessee, the night before the 31st annual Blues Music Awards. Brooks, a Louisiana native, played with Clifton Chenier, recorded with Jimmy Reed, toured with Sam Cooke and recorded six groundbreaking albums for Alligator beginning in 1979.

TOMMY CASTRO TO APPEAR ON THE HOUSE OF BLUES 
RADIO HOUR
Guitarist/vocalist Tommy Castro, who is currently touring behind his recent Alligator CD, HARD BELIEVER, will appear on The House Of Blues Radio Hour the weekend of March 13 - 14. Castro will sit down with Elwood Blues (AKA Dan Aykroyd) to discuss his career and his new CD.
The House Of Blues Radio Hour airs nationally on over 200 radio stations around the country. For more info check out www.thebluesmobile.com.

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Saint Blues launches World s First Production Electric Washboard   the Woogie Board
 
Electrifying a washboard and adding a wah-wah makes sounds God never intended 
 
MEMPHIS, Tenn.   February 8, 2010   Saint Blues Guitar Workshop announced today the launch of the Woogie Board, the first production electric washboard in partnership with Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars.
 
The Woogie Board has been developed together with Cody Dickinson. Cody is the son of legendary producer, Jim Dickinson, who worked with artists such as the Rolling Stones, the Replacements, and Bob Dylan.  I had been playing guitar, drums, and piano, then one day my father literally hung a washboard around my neck, and said  Son, you re going to play the washboard   , says Cody. Although it was his father s love of roots, blues, and folk music that introduced Cody to the washboard, electrifying it and marrying with traditional guitar effects, was all Cody.  The electric washboard, which is utterly Cody s instrument, is a thing unto itself  Cody s father Jim, said.  That wah-wah pedal does something to it that God never intended. There s something really, really vulgar about what the wah-wah pedal does. It makes it sound like oral sex, somehow. 
 
Saint Blues and Cody have taken this home grown, roots instrument and made it a true gig-worthy instrument. It is handmade in Memphis from solid Mahogany, and finished with a hand-rubbed tung oil. The Woogie Board features enclosed dual-Piezo pickups, with a three-way switch for pickup selection, volume control knob, and a high quality output jack all housed in a tele control plate built into the leg.  The electric washboard is taking things to a whole new level. It s never been done before, it s completely unique, and there is tradition, so it kind of has all the makings of a juggernaut  says Cody. 
 
The sounds and effects the new Woogie Board can create outside of an amplified traditional washboard have to be heard to be believed.  When I plugged it into a wah-wah pedal and a delay, and realized it sounded like Jimmy Hendrix, it blew my mind. It s psychedelic, it tickles that part of the brain.  Saint Blues and Cody are currently working on custom effect pedals designed for new players to create these sounds if they don t already own these effects.  To me, there s something irresistible about taking a familiar instrument, and a familiar chord pattern or musical structure, and doing something just completely innovative with it, like Hendrix did. It gets harder and harder to do, but clearly the Woogie Board is doing it  said Jim Dickinson.
 
Saint Blues has a long history of working with Memphis and Mississippi Delta musicians on their instruments and sound.  Working with Cody and the Dickinson family to build a unique and new instrument is an opportunity we couldn t turn down. It s not just the connection to our Memphis roots, but a partnership with an innovative musician and friend that is licensed to hold the torch.  said Brian Halley, Director of Sales and Marketing for Saint Blues.
 
I m no purist, by any stretch of the imagination, but at the same time I understand the responsibility of keeping tradition alive  whatever part I can play in keeping it alive I m proud to do it. The idea that it s going away is ridiculous, and the fact that it s going to change is inevitable   Cody Dickinson
 
To see an MTV produced video of Cody or him live at Madison Square Garden: http://www.woogieboard.com/videosound.html
 
The Woogie Board is available to purchase through the Saint Blues website at www.saintblues.com, or directly at www.woogieboard.com
 
About Saint Blues Guitar Workshop
 
Originally launched in Memphis in 1984 by one of Schecter s early founders, Tom Keckler, Saint Blues quickly became one of the sought after boutique guitar brands in the mid and late 80 s, but closed the production line in 1989. The line was restarted in 2006 with Tom Keckler back involved. The artists that played, or still play, original Saint Blues are a who s who of rock and blues legends including Albert King, Billy Gibbons, Joe Walsh and Billy Squire to name but a few. The Saint Blues line features the original Bluesmaster (61 South, Mississippi Bluesmaster, B-II and B-IV), the Bluescaster (BC-IV) and the King Blues Bass. 
 
Based out of Memphis, Tennessee, Saint Blues  line of vintage-style guitars and basses are available for sale at over 175 independent dealers in 19 countries and on line at www.saintblues.com.
 
 
About Cody Dickinson
 
Cody Dickinson is widely known for his role as the indefatigable drummer, keyboardist, and electric washboard maestro for the North Mississippi Allstars (NMA), and most recently the front man and guitarist for his own band, Hill Country Revue. His brother, Luther Dickinson, is currently playing with the Black Crowes when he is not touring with the NMA. Cody is the son of famed and legendary producer, Jim Dickinson. Cody has three Grammy nominations with the North Mississippi Allstars and has professionally contributed to multiple movie soundtracks. Cody has recorded with such artists from John Hiatt to John Spencer to Robert Randolph.  

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