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Hey Blues fans,

The River City Blues Society presents the Luther Allison Memorial Blues Fest in East Peoria, IL this Saturday, August 11th, 2007.  It features Anthony Gomes , The Blues Legends with Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Bob Stroger,  Judy Page with Preston Jackson & friends, Rooster Alley, The Greg Glick Band and the Low Down Blues Band.  Full information is below. SCROLL DOWN

The Luther Allison fest was started 3 years ago to honor Luther's music legacy and the fact that Luther lived in Peoria, IL for a good part of his life and raised his family there.

In honor of this fest we have included a great video for you. This video is a clip from a 1978 PBS special  featuring the rock band Journey playing some great Blues with special guests Luther Allison, Albert King, Pinetop Perkins (at the tender age of 65) and harmonica great Jerry Portnoy. 

Pinetop Perkins turned 94 years young on July 7th of this year. Don't miss the opportunity this Saturday to hear this Blues Boogie-Woogie Legend at the Luther Allison Memorial Blues Fest. To read All Music Guide's biography of Pinetop,  CLICK HERE

We have pictures from the The Prairie Dog Blues Fest courtesy of Bluesman Gary Eckhart. CLICK HERE to view the fun! 

   Also see pictures of Phillip Walker at Creekside Bar & Grill. CLICK HERE

IllinoisBlues.com has added several new Blues videos like the one above. CLICK HERE to view them.

New to the Blues Blast and IllinoisBlues.com?

CLICK HERE to go directly to the IllinoisBlues.com list of Live Blues Music. Click a link for more Blues content.   Reviews  Links  Audio Interviews  Photos Videos  Blues Radio   To advertise your blues shows or event for FREE,  Click HERE!

  Blues Basics

 NEW to the Blues? Sometimes it is hard for those new to the Blues to explore this journey called the Blues! IllinoisBlues.com 's weekly artist spotlight introduces (or reminds experienced Blues fans) about a Blues artist or subject worth knowing about.

This week we spotlight Delta Blues guitarist and slide player, Bukka White (Real name - Booker T. Washington White) . Below is an old black and white clip of Booker playing Aberdeen Mississippi Blues

All Music Guide has more great GREAT information and a complete discography of this great Bluesman from Houston, Mississippi.  CLICK HERE to read more about him at their site. 

IllinoisBlues.com has added several new Blues videos on our website like the one above. CLICK HERE to view them.

 Blues Radio - Streaming Link of the Week

A Link worth repeating
Blues Radio UK
http://www.bluesradio.co.uk
These English Chaps got it goin on! Click Here to listen.

Check out other great Blues Music Streams Click HERE

 Other IMPORTANT News   Help Save the music! Click HERE to Keep Blues Net Radio Alive!

 Blues Link of the Week

Harlem Avenue Lounge

www.harlemavenuelounge.com

This club south of Chicago has been operating under the same management for 30 years. Owner Ken Zimmerman is well know around Chicago for having great live Blues entertainment in a small neighborhood atmosphere pub. If you are in Chicago and want to hear some Blues, this is a great place to go.

For more Blues links  Click HERE to visit the IllinoisBlues.com Links Page

If you know of a COOL Blues link, please send it to

 Blues Reviews of the Week! 

James “Skyy Dobro” Walker , noted Blues writer and IllinoisBlues.com contributor reviews Mike Bader Band's CD - Matches My Feelings

Mike Bader Band – Matches My Feelings
www.mikebaderblues.com
11 songs; 48:29 minutes; Recommended

By James “Skyy Dobro” Walker

When a solid and enjoyable blues album comes along like this Mike Bader Band release, it should not be a surprise to a blues records reviewer. That is precisely the case, however, in this age when too much other music tries to get in under the blues umbrella. Matches My Feelings is all original, contemporary blues reflecting Bader’s many influences and featuring Mike’s great, stinging guitar and smoky vocals.

Born in 1958 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, guitarist/vocalist Mike Bader got his first electric guitar when he was 12, and by 1971 he was playing at paying gigs. As a teenager his inspiration came from seeing and meeting several of the great blues players. Currently residing in Missoula, Montana, Bader released his acclaimed first album, Clearcut Case of the Blues, in 2004. He travels regularly throughout the Northern Rockies and Midwest states playing clubs and festivals.

On this CD, his rhythm section of veteran bass player Larry Hirshberg and drummer "BZ" Brandon Zimmer are joined by Tom “T-Bone” Giblin on keys. Three Bader brothers: Tom, Bob, and Dave guest respectively on harmonica, drums, and bass, and Joan Zen adds vocals while Jason Hicks adds saxophone.

“Been Grounded” begins with the shouted phrase, “$3.20 a gallon?!” immediately followed by Bader’s plaintive guitar in front of Hirshberg and Zimmer in the pocket. “I’ve been grounded by the price of gas / I’m going nowhere fast,” Bader sings in this 12-bar blues combo of, first, protest then resignation. Ain’t that the blues.

Other standouts include the rollicking “Jump Shufflin’ Blues,” the slide guitar ode to Montana “High & Wide,” the party tune, “Call Me the Grizz,” and the guitar and lyric nod to his blues heroes in the title track.

If you are a blues lover, Bader’s emotions will Match your Feelings.

To Purchase this CD at CD Baby - CLICK HERE

IllinoisBlues.com also features another great review by Blues Songwriter, Musician, DJ and Journalist, Ben Cox.

ZZ Hill Jr. - Goin' To Mississippi
Delta Roots Records
Running Time: 51:33
By Ben Cox

 I had come to believe that soul-blues and southern fried soul had all but passed on (with a few exceptions of course) with the passing of Johnnie Taylor and Tyrone Davis in the past five years. It's always nice to be proven wrong once in awhile. Maybe I just haven't been picking up the right records. However, I came across this CD via a blues forum on the internet and knew that I had to at least give it a listen. The son of the late ZZ Hill, the soul blues icon of the late 70s and early 80s from Stax/Malaco fame has brought a renaissance to my ears of the golden era of great soul-blues.

Singing with vocals reminiscent of his father and even at times reminding me of the great Jackie Payne, who's reemergence with the Steve Edmondson Band on the West Coast has brought a revival to the great soul-blues genre! Hill, along with acclaimed drummer, writer and producer Twist Turner completely floors the competition with the horn-drenched, groovtastic album that recallls the golden days of Malaco Records. With special guest guitarists Melvin Taylor, Maurice John Vaughn, and Joe Moss reminding us all of the days that classic R&B had wah-wah pedals, horn sections, beautifully penned songs, and even a Top 40 appeal.

With homage to the later Luther Ingram on the record on "It Ain't Easy" a Turner-penned track that has lead guitar by Melvin Taylor reminiscent of the wah-wah lines of "If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right" and the Ingram penned cover of "Lookin' For a New Love Tonight," Hill is definitely bringing back great old school sounds. Hill pays homage to his father to the "Downhome Blues" esque "Down Home Girl" on the eleventh track on the album. Recorded over a period of twelve years. The album leaves you wanting for more. I can't put into words how thrilled and exciting it was to hear this album and I consider essential to any blues, soul, and classic R&B fans out there.

You can purchase the CD by visiting CD Baby, although quantities are limited as the disc sold out in over a half hour upon it's initial release.

To Purchase this CD on CD Baby- CLICK HERE. You can also pick up the disc by visiting http://deltaroots.com/  

Click HERE for More reviews and interviews

 Chicago Blues Update

Live Blues reviews by Chicago Blues editor Lordy

Blues Beat: Chicago, Thursday August 3, 2007 (Photos by August Lord)

The Pat Smillie Band has a regular Thursday night gig at the Voodoo Lounge, so I made the trek to downtown Chicago, to hear his great, seven piece R&B revue. The Voodoo Lounge is located in a Cajun restaurant known as Redfish on the Northwest corner of Kinzie and State Street.  I am old and fat, so I opted for the valet parking option which is curbside at the front door.  The tasty Cajun fare has downtown prices, but hey, they give you Mardi Gras style bead necklaces, they’re friendly and they feature live blues.  The bar area was not really designed for live music and so the acoustics aren’t great, but that doesn’t seem to effect the energy in the room.    

Smillie, a Detroit native has a voice that may remind you of Joe Cocker or Mitch Ryder, and mixes some well accepted original tunes into his set. He has two compact discs under his belt, which are available at his gigs. 

Tonight’s ensemble included Tina Howell on vocals, and the tall guy, Duke Harris on keyboards.  On the synth keys, Duke provided some great R&B horn lines which go well with Smillie’s gritty vocals.  Pat’s regular guitar player Al Wittek brings both his lap steel and his trusty Les Paul.  The six string bass was played by John Merideth and the rhythm section was completed with Sambo the drummer and vocalist.  The hyperkinetic Sambo is just an all-around showman.  He is an excellent vocalist, and as an added bonus, he can simulate a great Chicago harp sound without a harmonica.  I want to laugh at the people in the bar looking for the harpist, but I can’t laugh because a while back he had me fooled as well. 

Joining the band for the entire evening was Chicago singer, guitarist and bluesman, Toronzo Cannon.  Toronzo plays his right-handed strat upside down, but still strung with low E on top.  Lefty Toronzo is also a fine vocalist and bandleader in his own right.  Between Toronzo playing his strat with his mouth, and Sambo behind the kit, standing on his drum stool, there was always something to see and hear.

Two guest vocalists came up to the mic as well.  Ramblin’ Rose, the Chicago blues singer and Cat Braaten formerly of Chicago each contributed a few songs.  This was a very mixed crowd with after work suits, tourists and Lollapalooza visitors.  I knew the music was kickin’ when I saw several white boys with air guitars.  As usual for me, I was ready for a fourth set. 

 Lordy

For more Chicago live Blues information  Click HERE to visit Lordy's website at ChicagoBluesBeat.com

If you know of a Chicago Blues event or news, please send it to

Featured Blues Events

Saturday August 11th, 2007
Riverfront Park, East Peoria, Illinois

Gate opens at Noon

Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Bob Stroger

5:40 pm Judy Page with Preston Jackson & friends

3:50 pm Rooster Alley

2:30 pm The Greg Glick Band

1:30 pm Low Down Blues Band

CLICK HERE for more information

Presented by:

Quad-Cities "only Blues" venue!

3303 Brady St. Davenport, Iowa  * MAP *  (563) 324-4619

Reverend Raven & the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys

Wednesday, August 16, 2007 - 8:30 - FREE Show!

Jack Wessels & Buddy Olsen Thursday 8/2/07 8:30pm  -  Jack Wessels Band Friday 8/3/07 5:00 PM  -  The Mercury Brothers 8/3/07 9:00pm

7th Annual

August 23-25, 2007

The Longbranch, Winton, MN - DIRECTIONS

Thursday, August 23

7:00 Both Barrels

9:00 PM Scottie Miller and the Re-Uptake Inhibitors

Friday, August 24

3:00 PM  Scottie Miller and the Re-Uptake Inhibitors

5:00 PM Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin' Alter Boys

7:00 PM Jason Ricci & New Blood

9:00 PM Shawn Kellerman

Saturday, August 25

1:00 PM Lisa Wenger

3:00 PM  Johnny Rawls

5:00 PM  Diunna Greenleaf and Blue Mercy

7:00 PM Paul Mayasich With Benderheads

9:00 PM Anthony Gomes

For more information call 218 365-2440     www.elyblues.com

Downtown Springfield & The Illinois Central Blues Club presents
Old Capitol Blues & BBQ

August 25, 2007 Noon to Midnight
Fifth & Washington Streets - Downtown Springfield, IL
Admission is just $5

Featuring
Sonny Landreth

Cephas & Wiggins

Little Rachel & the Rhythm Busters

Zac Harmon

Bill Lupkin & the Chicago Blues Coalition
 w/ Willie "Big Eyes" Smith

Illinois Central Blues Challenge - 9 Bands competing

Glenn Kaiser

Christian Blues
August 31st, 2007 7:00p.m
Glen Oak Park Pavilion - 2200 Prospect Peoria, IL
Sponsored by Peoria Outreach Center Church

To see what Christian Blues sounds like, CLICK HERE

For more information call 309 676-1100

All roads lead to Sun Prairie for the 1st Annual

Sun Prairie Blues Fest

Angell Park, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Saturday, September 8, 2007 Noon to 10:00 p.m.

Featuring

Wayne Baker Brooks

Shari Davis & the Hootchy-Kootchy Band

Tate’s and the 008 Blues Band

Queenie and the Blue Cats

The Cashbox Kings

Paul Flipowicz Blues Band

Tickets: $10.00 in advance / $15.00 at the gate

For Complete Information and schedule CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE to visit Festival website!

500 N Campbell Ave  Springfield, MO

Friday, September 7, 2007

6:30PM  Aunt Kizzy'z Boyz

8:00PM  Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials

9:30PM Joe Bonamassa

Saturday, September 8, 2007

1:00PM The Cate Brothers (Reunion)

3:00PM Lara Price Band

5:00PM Anthony Gomes

7:00PM Leon Russell

9:00PM  North Mississippi All Stars

CLICK HERE for Ticket Info   * Map *

 Festival Website: http://www.greaterozarksbluesfest.com

 Featured Blues Advertisers

 Blues Society News

River City Blues Society - Volunteers for the Blues!

The River City Blues Society in Peoria, IL needs volunteers for the 2007 Luther Allison Memorial Blues Fest August 11, 2007 from 8:00am to 12 Midnight at East Peoria Riverfront Park in East Peoria, IL.

Volunteers are needed in all areas and for all shifts. Volunteer times and positions are filled on a first come, first served basis. VOLUNTEER EARLY!   Your 4 hour Blues shift will get you free festival admission and a festival t-shirt .      Please contact Nancy at vp@rivercityblues.com

Send your Society's BIG news or Press Release to: 

 Blues Fans & Friends Submissions

August 8 - December
Special exhibit in honor of the Sunflower Festival - Photos of contemporary Blues artists from around the USA by photographer/Blues writer: Gary Eckart.

A limited edition of these photographed, numbered and signed by the photographer will be for sale at:

Rock 'n Roll and Blues Museum
113 East 2nd St. Clarksdale Ms. 38104
901-605-8662
www.rockmuseum.biz

 Blues Want Ads

Blues writers, journalists and photographers wanted in most major markets

Write, edit or produce for a national music company. Recent grads and college students welcome. Low/no pay, long hours! (This is the Blues after all!) Advanced experience opportunities. Internship possibilities for for college students in media, radio & television, communication, marketing, public relations or music degree programs. Contact: 
 

 Place Your Blues Want Ad for Free

Place your WANT AD here for FREE. Buy or sell, musicians wanted, gigs wanted etc. Limit 500 words. One ad per week will be randomly selected to appear in the Blues Blast.

 Send your ad submission to

 Mojo Street Teams

Do you enjoy listening to Blues CD's and telling others about how great they were? Do you go to live Blues shows and want to share the great music you hear? Want to help "Keep The Blues Alive" in YOUR backyard?

IllinoisBlues.com is looking to find a few good Blues folk for our new Mojo Street Teams. We are seeking Blues news, reviews, photos, interviews, videos and commentary to share on our site with other Blues fans everywhere. Our  street teams will help promote Blues in YOUR backyard by letting the world know about events in YOUR area.

If you are a Blues fan, photo journalist, writer, musician or just a plain ole Joe, please email us today at  

Live Blues Calendar
 

 Performance dates were submitted by Musicians, Club Owners, Blues Societies and Blues festivals.

IllinoisBlues.com is not responsible for errors or omissions.

or click a state to see Blues shows by State

Alabama  Arkansas  Indiana  Illinois  Iowa  Kansas  Kentucky  Michigan 
Minnesota  Mississippi   Missouri  Okalahoma  Ohio  Pennsylvania  Tennessee  Texas  Wisconsin  Other

 Submit your blues performances for FREE at: http://www.illinoisblues.com/submitnews.htm

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llinoisBlues.com covers Blues all over the US - NOT just in Illinois!

You can post your festivals and performance dates on our website for FREE at:

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If you list your performance dates they will go to thousands of Blues fans in the next Blues Blast emails. They will also be listed on the Blues Shows page at http://www.illinoisblues.com/bluesshows.htm 

IllinoisBlues.com also offers paid/sponsored advertising for Festivals and Club Owners, Recording Companies and Performers selling their own music or performances. We can put your Blues advertisement on our homepage at: http://www.illinoisblues.com  either as a sponsored event or as a featured event, product, recording or merchandise .

We have a very large and growing email list of Blues Fans, Musicians, Club Owners, Blues Societies and Festival Promoters all over the Central US. We send out weekly Blues Blasts of Blues events and news. With paid advertising we can feature your event or product in these emails. Our website is new and is growing fast. We are getting an enormous amount of visitors and hits. Our rates are very reasonable.

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