Festival Preview - R & B

Briggs Farm puts out two-stage schedule for fourth annual blues fest

fpadmin2 — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:03:15 +0000

The complete two-stage schedule for Briggs Farm Blues Festival with Andrew Jr. Boy Jones, Eddie Shaw & The Wolfgang and others has been posted. The fourth annual festival runs July 8-9 Briggsville, Nescopeck Township, PA. Camping and single-day tickets are now on sale at the festival website.

Bad news leads to surplus of opportunities for festival producer

fpadmin2 — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:50:25 +0000

After Peak Resorts unexpectedly pulled the plug on the blues festival he had run for 19 years, Michael Cloeren knew that he had a short window of opportunity to put together a replacement event.

“The important thing was to keep it going without letting a year lapse,” said the former producer of the Pocono Blues Festival in an interview with Festival Preview. “Also, it was key to keep the traditional dates on the last full weekend in July.”

Cloeren emcees at Pocono Blues Festival 2006
Credit: Bluessource.com

Tampa Bay Blues to celebrate New Orleans next April

fpadmin2 — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:07:48 +0000

Tampa Bay Blues Festival is so excited about its 2011 program that it put out word about the lineup earlier than in recent years. The three-day schedule includes "best of the fest" performers from prior years on Friday and Saturday, and salute to New Orleans blues on Sunday.

The closers for Friday and Saturday are The Robert Cray Band and Jonny Lang, respectively. Other notable names include The Lee Boys, James Hunter, Curtis Salgado, Janiva Magness and more.

The "Celebrate New Orleans" program includes Irma Thomas, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Jon Cleary, Eric Lindell and closes with and all-star revue with Tab Benoit and many special guests.

The festival goes down April 8-10, 2011, in Vinoy Waterfront Park in downtown St. Petersburg FL, as it has every year since 1995. Tickets are on sale now at the festival website. Single days passes run $25, or $70 for a three-day pass. VIP passes with special seating and amenities are $125 per day or $300 for the weekend.

Late night shows featuring festival artists will run Friday and Saturday night at the nearby Palladium Theater.

Savannah Music Festival wows again with its eclectic 2011 program

fpadmin2 — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 02:01:02 +0000

The Savannah Music Festival showed what makes it one of the most interesting North American music festivals when it announced the bulk of its schedule and lineup for the 2011 festival, running March 24-April 9 in multiple venues around Savannah GA.

As it is each year, the program is strong in a wide range of genres, including classical, acoustic, blues, R&B, jazz and world music. About the only major festival genres not included are mainstream rock and country. The offerings in each musical category, while not as deep as at festivals dedicated to a single style, are generally very appealing.

In bluegrass/Americana, the offerings include Punch Brothers with Chris Thile, The Infamous Stringdusters, Tim O'Brien, and Doyle Alexander & Quicksilver.

Among jazz artists, Bela Fleck with The Marcus Roberts Trio, Dianne Reeves, John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, and The Ike Stubblefield Trio stand out.

The R&B and blues categories bring in Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Allen Toussaint, Maceo Parker, James Hunter and James Cotton, among others.

New Bluestock festival to debut at Hunter Mountain next August 26-28

fpadmin2 — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 03:47:39 +0000

The first big new festival debut of the season is Bluestock 2011, a three-day blues rock extravaganza at Hunter Mountain in New York August 26-28, 2011. While no performers have been announced, the promoters promise a "lineup of talent [that] will read like a veritable 'who's who' of blues and blues rock legends and up-and-coming stars."

The Hunter Mountain property is the home of the very successful Mountain Jam Festival, which has run at the ski resort every June since 2005. Radio Woodstock, one of the Mountain Jam producers, is the co-producer of Bluestock, along with Steve & Jeff Simon Presents, a regional blues promoter in the Caribbean and Southeast.

The festival will feature two main stages of non-stop musical acts and a late night club venue. The promoters promise two all-star jams on Friday and Saturday night.

The ski resort offers great amenities including the nation's longest zipline, as well as a range of lodging options including onsite camping. Hunter Mountain is easily accessible from New York City and anywhere in the Northeast.

Fans get happy when Telluride gets the blues

fpadmin2 — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:18:52 +0000

Well, it’s one of my favorite times of the year and one of my favorite festivals, too. Telluride Blues & Blues happens every September and what a beautiful time of year in the Rockies. As usual, the line up this year is great. Here’s a bit of what we’ll see on stage September 17-19.

With headliner George Thorogood & The Destroyers playing all the fan favorites and some new stuff off last years release” The Dirty Dozen” and Jimmy Vaughan up first with some great Texas-style blues and rock, Friday night maps out as more of the rock night at this year's festival.

First Gaia Festival will run August 5-7, 2011 in Laytonville CA

fpadmin2 — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:58:59 +0000

The first details have come out about the new environmentally themed Gaia Festival, which will debut August 5-7, 2011, at Black Oak Ranch near Laytonville CA in northern Mendocino County. The festival announcement lists world-class music as one of its facets, but it is also about sustainable living, social and environmental activism, alternative energy, healing arts, theater and more.

The event is being organized by Back Roads Productions, the outfit that produces the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival on the same site every June. Another festival with an environmental theme, Earthdance, has also run on the site each September but will be moving after this year's event September 17-19.

It had been said that Earthdance was relocating because it had outgrown the site. However, Gaia has the potential to draw as many or more attendees as Earthdance, especially once it becomes well established after a couple of years.

George Thorogood and guests fill vacated slot at Telluride Blues

fpadmin2 — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:34:21 +0000

Telluride Blues & Brews added George Thorogood & The Destroyers with guests Elvin Bishop and Eddie Shaw to replace the cancelled ZZ Top, nearly finishing the lineup for the Sept. 17-19 festival. Thorogood and friends will close the festival's first night on Friday with what will surely be a raucous blues-rock jam.

Saturday's headliner has been booked but will not be named until August 16. For clues, you might scan the roster of notable acts at Mile High Music Festival, which runs August 14-15 near Denver, considered in the same local market. I see at least three likely prospects on that list.

The great B.B. King closes out the festival on Sunday. Other notables are Alberta Cross, Allen Toussaint, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm, Galactic with Cyril Neville, JJ Grey & Mofro, Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience, The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, and The Otis Taylor Band.

Another late add was Delta bluesman T-Model Ford.

Russian River names jazz and blues headliners

fpadmin2 — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:58:50 +0000

Omega Events used to run two festivals—a jazz and a blues festival—at Johnson's Beach on the Russian River in Guerneville CA. Beginning last year, they're now combined into one big weekend, running this year September 11-12 at the popular vacation spot north of San Francisco in Sonoma County.

As per its custom, Omega will roll out its lineup a few artists at a time, having started off with the headline acts for the two days. Saturday is jazz day, and the program will be anchored by smooth saxaphone favorite David Sanborn with special guest organist Joey DeFrancesco.

For blues day on Sunday, attendees will enjoy the ever-popular Doobie Brothers as the festival closer. After many years, the Doobies are about to release an all-new studio CD, which will be featured along with the band's repertoire of hits from the 70s and 80s.

FP Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival page | RRJBF website

Final tour schedule set for Lilith 2010

fpadmin2 — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:11:17 +0000

Lilith Tour announced its final list of cities and dates (shown below), and it added R&B superstar Rihanna to its Salt Lake City stop. Each date will feature 11 of the acts on the full artist list, one of which will be Sarah McLachlan and another the winner of the local talent search competition. Visit Lilith's Tour page for the lineup for each date.

Jimmy Cliff in 2010—you can get it if you really want

fpadmin2 — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:17:22 +0000

When I got the announcement this morning that Winnipeg Folk Festival had added reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff to its outstanding lineup, it made me realize I'd been seeing his name a great deal in the last two weeks.

Sure enough, Cliff has been announced at no fewer than six major festivals, beginning with Bonnaroo in early June and ending with Mile HIgh in mid August. In between is the date at Winnipeg plus appearances at Osheaga, Gathering of the Vibes and Lollapalooza.

That's an busy schedule for an artist who has not be active on the festival circuit in recent years. But it hasn't been an ordinary year for the man whose soundtrack for the movie The Harder They Fall is credited with bringing reggae music to an international audience.

In January, the 62-year-old Cliff released "Existence," his first new studio album since 2003. Last month, he was one of five new inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His official website does not provide tour information, so we don't know if he is playing concert dates as well as festival gigs this summer.

Janet Jackson tops off diva headliner trio at Essence

fpadmin2 — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:07:26 +0000

Janet Jackson will play a rare concert date as the Friday night closer for Essence Music Festival, joining two other female vocal stars as headliners of the festival, which runs July 2-4 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Jackson has not performed publicly since 2008. It will also mark her first Essence appearance. The closers for the other nights of the festival are Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige.

For details, see FP's Essence Music Festival page and the festival website.

Lineup added: Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival

fpadmin2 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:31:26 +0000

Festival: Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival

Lineup announced: March 21

Headliners: Gladys Knight, Al Jarreau and The George Duke Trio

Notables: Ahmad Jamal, Al Di Meola's World Sinfonia, Ann Hampton Callaway, Juan De Marcos & The Afro Cuban All Stars, Ramsey Lewis, Sax for Stax, Stefon Harris & Blackout, Taj Mahal

Lilith Tour dates announced; kickoff in Calgary June 27

fpadmin2 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:44:29 +0000

The highly anticipated Lilith Tour 2010 rolled out dates for 14 stops in the U.S. and Canada, with more to be announced. The tour, which features a galaxy of female recording artists from every genre of popular music, kicks of June 27 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary AB, followed by dates in Edmonton, Vancouver, Portland, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Indianapolis, Toronto, Cleveland, Atlanta and West Palm Beach.

The tour added two new artists, teen sensation Selena Gomez and Mexican singer-songwriter Jenni Rivera, to the long list of artists attached to the tour. Two of the tour's top attractions, Sarah McLaughlin and Emmylou Harris, will appear together on Jimmy Kimmel Live March 25 to promote the show. Tickets go on sale at the tour website Saturday, March 27.

See the FP Lilith Tour page for the complete lineup and interactive artist pages.

Robert Cray Band tops last six for Doheny Blues

fpadmin2 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:02:53 +0000

Doheny Blues Festival finished off its lineup of national acts with a half dozen solid additional bookings, led by five time Grammy winning blues guitarist Robert Cray and his band. Jackie Greene, a favorite of Americana fans, brings a different mix to the festival, while Duke Robillard Band, Eric Lindell, and The John Nemeth Revue are standbys on the blues-fest circuit. James Intveld has a rockabilly flavor and is known for his acting credits.

A handful of regional acts are yet to be named. Visit FP's Doheny Blues Festival page and the festival website.

Early bird ticketing opens for Earthdance's last year at Black Oak

fpadmin2 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:11:57 +0000

Earthdance Northern California announced its 2010 festival running Sept. 17-19 will be its last year at Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville CA, after which it will move to a larger venue. Early bird ticketing opened for an allocation of 500 tickets at the discount price of $140. The festival plans a "grand farewell" to the grounds that have hosted the event for eight seasons.

For more information

Ravinia releases monster summer lineup of popular and classical music

fpadmin2 — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:56:43 +0000

Ravinia Festival, the Chicago area concert series that claims to be America's longest running music festival, announced its popular music schedule, supplementing the previously released Chicago Symphony Orchestra repertory season schedule.

The most in-demand tickets could be for two performances by Sting backed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra as well as shows by Crosby, Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, and Carrie Underwood.

But there are a huge number of major stars in every popular music genre, including Backstreet Boys, Big Head Todd And The Monsters, Bobby McFerrin, Buddy Guy, Cheap Trick, Colbie Caillat, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Earth, Wind & Fire, Garrison Keillor, George Benson, Jethro Tull, John Hiatt & The Combo, Nancy Wilson, Nelly Furtado, Peter and Paul, Poi Dog Pondering, Procol Harum, Sheryl Crow, Soulive, Squeeze, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, The B-52s, The Beach Boys, The Bodeans, The Cat Empire, The Four Tops, The Levon Helm Band, The Moody Blues, The Ramsey Lewis Trio, The Swell Season, The Temptations, Train, and Vince Gill.

Booker T. and four more bolster list for Doheny Blues

fpadmin2 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:31:51 +0000

Doheny Blues Festival added blues organ legend Booker T. Jones and four others to its 2010 lineup, bolstering a bill headed by Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Black Crowes for the May 22-23 event at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point CA.

Booker T. took home his first Grammy Award as a solo artist last month, winning the trophy for best pop instrumental album for his 2009 release Potato Hole, which he recorded with the Drive-By Truckers. The artist is best known for his decades of work with his former band The MGs.

He appeared at numerous festivals in 2009 with the DBTs, but is booked at fewer festivals in 2010 with solo billing. At Doheny, he'll be a featured act on Sunday, May 23, playing before Crosby, Stills & Nash close out the festival.

Also named for the upcoming festival are long-time blues-rock favorites The Fabulous Thunderbirds, acoustic blues guitarist Otis Taylor, Euro bluesman Igor Prado with Lynwood Slim and New Orleans funksters Big Sam's Funky Nation.

Lineup posted for Miami's Jazz in the Gardens

fpadmin2 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:08:38 +0000

Headliners: Mary J. Blige, John Legend

Notables: Robin Thicke, Teena Marie, Joe Sample, Boyz II Men, Cassandra Wilson, David Sanborn

Comment: Only in its fifth year, Miami's Jazz in the Gardens has followed the model of Jazz-Aspen or Jazz + Sonoma in programming for a well-heeled corporate audience with two nights of big-name light jazz and R&B performers. It runs March 20-21 at Sun Life Stadium (formerly Dolphins Stadium) in Miami.

Sizzling lineup confirms Beale Streets's place among top city festivals

fpadmin2 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:25:26 +0000

Among the most prominent city festivals—which we define as supersized, cross-genre affairs that celebrate the cultural experience of the locality in which they are based—New Orleans has Jazzfest, Seattle has Bumbershoot and Milwaukee has Summerfest.

Coming up in the ranks in this category in recent years, Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis TN (which is part of the bigger Memphis In May celebration) now makes its claim to counted among the biggest and best city fests in the country. And more than many of those cities (New Orleans excepted), Memphis boasts a proud history as a music city that was a birthplace of "the blues."

After a fair amount of rumor-mongering, the lineup for the April 30-May 2 event, which takes place in the city's Mississippi riverfront Tom Lee Park, was announced yesterday, and it would be hard to say anyone could be disappointed by the caliber and mix of artists.

Round 2 for Lilith Tour adds Kelly Clarkson and 12 more

fpadmin2 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:37:28 +0000

Kelly Clarkson, The Bangles, The Go-Go’s, Courtyard Hounds (Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks), Martina McBride, Suzanne Vega, Anjulie, Anya Marina, Jesca Hoop, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lucy Schwartz, Miranda Lee Richards, Nikki Jean and The Rescues

The returning Lilith Tour, already boasting an eye-popping, genre-busting lineup of top female artists, added a bakers dozen new acts, including some major names.

Kelly Clarkson, The Bangles, The Go-Gos, Martina McBride, Suzanne Vega and the newly formed Court Yard Hounds with Dixie Chicks sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire top the second round list.

Also named wer Anjulie, Anya Marina, Jesca Hoop, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lucy Schwartz, Miranda Lee Richards and Nikki Jean and The Rescues.

The total lineup now numbers 63 and includes other star names like tour founder Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, Miranda Lambert, Colbie Caillat, Ke$ha, Emmylou Harris, Sugarland and Sara Bareilles.

SunFest bids for national exposure with impressive cross-genre lineup

fpadmin2 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:42:16 +0000

With all the attention paid to the big national festivals, some events that are local institutions seem to fly under the radar on the national scene.

SunFest in West Palm Beach FL is such a case. The festival has run since 1982 on the waterfront in the South Florida city, bringing in top name entertainment and more than 275,000 attendees to what is billed as "Florida's largest music, art and waterfront festival." Yet it gets relatively little attention outside its region and among spring-season vacationers.

Its lineups are consistently strong and diverse, but the 2010 list announced today is especially impressive, with top names in alternative rock, classic rock, country, R&B, hip-hop and reggae, among other categories. Maybe it is that very diversity that causes it to be overlooked, with strong entries but no critical mass in any one category.

Sublime or ridiculous? Almost 2000 artists set to strut their stuff in SXSW showcases

fpadmin2 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:13:25 +0000

Photo by Ed Verosky

Capleton kicked out of Ragga Muffins due to hate speech claims

jamestaylor2324 — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:47:01 +0000

After LGBT support groups such as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation made petitions to festival co-producer Moss Jacobs, the Ragga Muffins festival, which has shows up and down California, has decided to drop the artist Capleton from its roster. Jacobs cited complaints by the petitioners that the artist's lyrics promote violence against homosexuals in explaining his decision to the San Diego Press-Telegram.

Capleton's manager denies the existence of anti-gay sentiments in the singer's lyrics. In 2007, Capleton, along with Sizzla and other high-profile performers, signed a petition called the "Reggae Compassionate Act," a resolution expressing zero tolerance for anti-gay lyrics.

The festival, now in its 29th year, will still present all concerts as planned, and artists still in the lineup include Cocoa Tea, Barrington Levy and Gregory Isaacs.

For more information about the festival, go to raggamuffinsfestival.com.

CS&N to headline at Doheny Blues in May

fpadmin2 — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:29:43 +0000

Legendary folk-rockers Crosby, Stills & Nash will play a rare music festival date when it headlines at Doheny Blues Festival, which runs May 22-23 at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point CA. The festival's second headline act will be blues-rock favorites The Black Crowes.

Joining them on the bill will be Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band, Bettye LaVette and Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears.

That's a pretty nifty start for the 13th annual Doheny lineup, which runs continuously on three stages at the beachfront state park facility. CS&N is a great get for the festival, and should prove a strong draw for the Southern California audience. During last year's 40th anniversary year of the Woodstock festival at which they starred Crosby Stills & Nash played just one festival date at Gathering of the Vibes 2009.

Doheny's full lineup will be announced on March 15. Visit the festival website for tickets and complete information.

Bonnaroo mixes in lots of R&B and country

fpadmin2 — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:51:38 +0000

The broadening of the genre mix at Bonnaroo is hardly a story anymore, after several years of growing eclecticism. What has widely been seen as the continent's premiere rock festival clearly wants to be more than that—perhaps the premiere presenter of all kinds of popular music.

This year, the alt-genre story is not so much bluegrass (as it was in 2009) but in straight-ahead country music—as well as the potent shot of rhythm & blues. There is also a substantial selection of classic rock and dance-electronia. Alternative and indie rock fans will find plenty to look forward to, though jam band aficionados might find slimmer pickings.

At the top of the bill, Dave Matthews Band and Kings of Leon are in the festival's sweet spot. The latter are festival darlings who have grown up here year by year and have now graduated to headliner status. The third headliner is unexpected, but who can quibble with Stevie Wonder, one of the great pop-music talents of the last quarter century.

Reggae stars honor elders at 29th Tribute to the Legends—Feb. 15 in San Diego

fpadmin2 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:30:34 +0000

Returning to the San Diego area, the annual Bob Marley Celebration takes shape on President's Day, February 15, 2010. The The 29th Annual Tribute to the Reggae Legends 2010, presented by the World Beat Cultural Center, features reggae stars Barrington Levy, Don Carlos, Gregory Isaacs, Martin Campbell and lots more at the San Diego Sports Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. Doors open at 2pm.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster, World Beat Center, Reggae World, Dream Crystal and Earth Culture.

The Tribute to the Legends concept stems from the intention to recognize the artists that have contributed to the reggae community who have passed in the previous year. This year's tributes are to the following artists: David Isaacs, Vivian Jackson, and Steelie Johnson.

Daily music schedules are out; pick your best day for NO Jazzfest

fpadmin2 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:21:23 +0000

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival announced its daily breakouts for the 2010 festival, making it possible to evaluate which weekend or which days you would most like to attend. Following are the first dozen names listed for each of the festval's seven days.

Friday, April 23: Lionel Richie, Black Crowes, Dr. John, Steel Pulse, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Baaba Maal, Elvin Bishop, Chocolate Milk, Jon Cleary, Frankie Ford, Deacon John, Joe Lovano

Saturday, April 24: Simon & Garfunkel, My Morning Jacket, Drake, Better Than Ezra, Ledisi, Sam Bush, the funky Meters, Campbell Brothers, Smokie Norful, Cowboy Mouth, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Walter “Wolfman” Wahington & the Roadmasters

Sunday, April 25: Allman Brothers Band, Anita Baker, Darius Rucker, Jonny Lang, The Levon Helm Band, Juan Luis Guerra y 440, Imagination Movers, Keely Smith, King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, Blind Boys of Alabama, Marcia Ball, Shawn Colvin

Guerilla Union announces Rock The Bells spin-off tour, Paid Dues Festival Date

jamestaylor2324 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:48:39 +0000

As if the following isn't completely overshadowed by the unveiling of the Coachella lineup, festival producer Guerilla Union has actually set up quite a nice winter season of live music.

First off, they have a reunited Goodie Mob (famous for first giving the world Cee-Lo Green of later Gnarls Barkley fame) tour running from today (at the Gothic Theater in Denver) until February 27, with the final show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. In addition, on February 5, Rock The Bells alum Nas and up-and-coming rapper B.o.B. will join Goodie Mob on the tour in what is billed by Guerilla Union as an "intimate Rock The Bells experience" at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.

To get more info and updates about the tour, go to guerillaunion.com/goodiemob.

Simon and Garfunkel adds luster to Jazzfest first weekend

fpadmin2 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:19:49 +0000

New Orleans Jazzfest scored a coup with its announcement of a rare performance date by legendary vocal duo Simon and Garfunkel for April 24, 2010, the second night of this year's festival. It will be the first appearance for the duo at Jazzfest (though Paul Simon has made notable appearances before), and it will be the only U.S. performance by Simon and Garfunkel in 2010.

Chief festival producer Quint Davis noted Simon's previous history at the festival, which is considered by many to be the most important U.S. music festival. “From his early visit to the Festival to experience the Neville Brothers in the 80’s, to the thrill of his epic performance of Graceland, leading up to his never-to-be-forgotten closing-day set at the first post-Katrina Festival, Paul Simon has woven himself into the fabric of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,” Davis said.