Madison Blues Society, Madison, Wisconsin Madison Blues Society, Madison, Wisconsin
Our next meeting is MONDAY, July 13, 6:30 PM
at the Argus Bar and Grille
Everyone is welcome!
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BLUES NEWS IN THE MADISON AREA
BLUES NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
FANTASTIC BLUES JAM AT THE FREQUENCY
CHICAGO BLUES TUESDAYS
features great Blues artists from Chicago!
Billy Branch at Blues Tuesdays
Photo courtesy of Maurice Thaler
Check out all the great pictures here.

Chicago Blues Tuesdays is a really great Blues Showcase at the Frequency at 121 W. Main Street in downtown Madison. This is making a real difference in the Blues Scene in town. A.J. Love has put together a fine house band including Queenie McCarter on vocals, Chris "CB" Boeger on bass, Joe Nosek on harp, Joey B. Banks on drums and A.J. Love on guitar. The show features great Blues musicians from Chicago (including John Primer, Billy Branch, Linsey Alexander, Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith, and more).

Starting at 6:00PM means that you can get your boogie on right after work and still have lots of the evening left.

And be sure to check out Madison's own Blues Mojo Magazine for the latest Blues Tuesdays schedule and all the Madison Blues news. To get yours, just go to ajlove.com and click on Blues Mojo Magazine.

Check out the Blues Tuesdays schedule on our Weekly Calendar Page.

25th INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE
The Blues Foundation holds its 2009 IBC
25th International Blues Challenge



The International Blues Challenge, in its 25th year, held 164 acts, comprised of 100 bands and 64 solo/duos. This is the world's largest gathering of unsigned blues artists.

J.P. Soars and the Red Hots

Winning first place for best Blues band was J.P. Soars and the Red Hots from southern Florida. J.P. Soars' guitar is not something to be missed. His melodic riffs in "Gypsy Woman," a song for which he may have achieved the most acclaim this year, bring new meaning to the song brought to us first by Muddy Waters. J.P. Soars, as a lead guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, has begun to etch his career into the blues lodestone, and has a growing fan base eagerly looking to what direction he will turn to.

The IBC is a non-profit event that works to uphold blues history and education. The Blues Foundation, with the help of member Blues Societies from all over the world, created the IBC as an international lighthouse to illuminate Blues talent. Many of these organizations have had events to choose who will go on to the IBC and be judged by a panel to represent their area. The winners of these regional competitions go on to compete on Beale Street, the home of the Blues.

Little Joe McLerran

Coming in first in the solo and duet category was Little Joe McLerran, from Oklahoma. His sound hearkens back to an older blues. Without a doubt, his acoustic sound is not something that can easily be forgotten. His soft voice and deft fingers bring us back to the time of Robert Johnson.

The locale also is home to many other musical experiences, such as Al Green's Full Gospel Tabernacle, where the Reverend will serenade you. Two electric guitars, bass and drums accompany his sweet, fierce gospel.

- Zaher Karp

NEW BLUES SERIES
THE YOUNG GUNS OF GUITAR
a Beau Geste Production

Beau Geste Productions has just lined up a Blues Series at the East Side Club at 3735 Monona Drive - only $6.00 cover at the door. Check out all the details at the Wisconsin Blues Network.

April 3rd April 17th June 5th

Beau Geste Productions has also secured dates for May 8th and May 22nd. This is getting to be a great series so get on down to the East Side Club and get in on some great Blues.

BLUES AT PABST TURNER HALL BALLROOM
Prairie Dog Blues Fest wants you to know about Blues shows and ticket giveaway
Prairie Dog Blues Festival



HELLO FELLOW BLUES LOVERS!

The Prairie Dog Blues Fest would like to forward this information on to everyone and let them know that there are some great Blues shows coming up at the Pabst Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee, WI.

The Pabst is giving Prairie Dogger's a chance to win free tickets to one of these shows:

Just email contests@pabsttheater.org with your preferred show for a chance to win. That's it.

Long live the Blues!
      Todd Yeomans, President
      Prairie Dog Blues Festival

BLUES THEATER!
Milwaukee theaters offer productions about the Blues!

The Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the Skylight Theater are offering productions that highlight the music and history of the Blues. The flavor of N'Awlins and the Delta are waiting for you! A short trip down the interstate will find some great entertainment. Check out the links below for ticket information.

BLUES BLAST MUSIC AWARDS
Illinois Blues holds first award show at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago

On November 2nd, 2008, our friends at Illinois Blues who put out the great Blues newsletter Blues Blast have held their first annual Blues Blast Music Awards. The gala event, held at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago, featured great performances by Magic Slim & the Teardrops, Lurrie Bell, Nick Moss, John Németh, The Kilborn Alley Blues Band, and many more.

The winners, chosen by 11,000 Blues Blast readers from all 50 states, represent the people's choice of the finest Blues artists of 2008. Prestigious award presenters included many area Blues artists and organizations including Chicago Blues Guide and Chicago Blues Beat.

And the winners are:

In addition, David "Honeyboy" Edwards won their Lifetime Achievement Award.

See all the details in their Press Release
Chicago Blues Guide has put out a great review.
And check out Blues Blast's great photos of the performances at the ceremony.

THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE'RE KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE IN MADISON
Thanks again for all your great work!

The Madison Blues Society wants to thank our GREAT VOLUNTEERS for all the help they have given us in the past. Without you, we couldn't do what we do! Your tireless help with our events and programs is really appreciated! For those who can keep on going, we have more events lined up that will have lots of fun mixed in to make your contribution work for you as well as for the Blues in Madison.

Thank-you's and surveys that went out the the 2008 picnic volunteers have been coming in with good suggestions and comments that really help us plan the next picnic. The feedback we've been getting really helps us do things better each year.

We hope that you have been able to pick up your thank-you gifts and look forward to working with you again soon. If you haven't been able to pick them up, drop us a line at info@madisonbluessociety.com and we'll arrange something for you. Next event coming up is Wild Women of the Blues 2009 at the Harmony Bar on January 17. We look forward to seeing you there.

ARKANSAS BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2008
The drive down to Helena, Arkansas was really worth it!
Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival

Held this year on October 9, 10 & 11, for many, the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (ABHF), formerly the King Biscuit Blues Fest, is the grandaddy of 'em all. Not only does it have three days of fantastic Blues, it really offers the flavor of the Delta where downtown Helena, AK transforms into "Blues City" with Blues musicians playing on every block, hoards of enthusiastic Blues Fans, CD's, sights and souvenirs as well as great Southern food from all over the surrounding countryside. Blues fans from all over the world migrate to this spot the first weekend in October. Well worth the trip!

You can make the trip even more fun by checking out the regional music and history. Within less than an hour, you can get over to Clarksdale, Mississippi, home of the Delta Blues Museum where you can see the history of the Blues along with famous musicians' guitars, harps, clothes from great shows and all the great music born in the Delta. And be sure to stop over at Clarksdale's Ground Zero Blues Club and sign your name along with the many thousands who have come for the tasty southern food and great Blues.

You can also easily cruise up to Memphis - Blues City USA, the home of the Blues Foundation, that holds the International Blues Challenge each winter (this year February 4-7), as well as all the great clubs up and down Beale Street, and even stop in at the Stax Records Museum, America's home of soul music.

And in Helena, right at the festival grounds is the famous Delta Cultural Center where the legendary "Sunshine" Sonny Payne broadcasts "King Biscuit Time" as well as Bubba's Blues Corner where you'll find all the Blues music you've ever had trouble finding and so much more!

Pinetop Perkins courtesy Blues Blast
Pinetop Perkins courtesy of Blues Blast

There were so many great musician's at the fest, it's hard to really focus on any one in particular, but no list would be complete without one of the "Last of the Great Delta Bluesmen," Pinetop Perkins who laid down some great piano Blues. Seeing this 95-year old Bluesman get up there and play the Blues was really a special treat. Other highlights included a truly incendiary performance by Michael Burks who really rocked the crowd coming back to his Arkansas home.

Our friends at Illinois Blues are also covering the fest in their great internet newsletter Blues Blast. Check out all the great ABHF pictures Bob Kieser took!

Be sure to look them up in the coming weeks as their coverage goes on. You can subscribe to their newsletter for free here.

Pinetop Perkins courtesy Blues Blast
Trampled Under Foot

The younger generation included Trampled Under Foot, the 2008 International Blues Challenge winners from Kansas City who showed that there are plenty of young people who've really got the spirit of the Blues.

Another legend, the very energetic 75-year old Howlin' Wolf side man, Hubert Sumlin, played along with Muddy Waters band mates "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin and Willie "Big-Eyes" Smith. The final night wrapped up with an incredible performance by the winner of this year's Delta Cultural Center "Sunny" award Bobby Rush, also 75 but you'd never believe it seeing him.

The list just goes on and on from the best known across the country to acts that you just won't see unless get down South. Check out the incredile lineup at bluesandheritagefest.com and you'll never want to miss it. If there's any chance you can make it next year, don't delay! Hotels start being all booked up my March and you can see why!