Lineup announced for CQ Bluesfest

The ninth annual Chautauqua Hills Blues Festival announces the 2009 lineup with some changes to the festival to increase the draw to its’ Saturday ‘Acoustic Night’. For the third year in a row, a BMA nominee for Entertainer of the Year will headline the Sunday show (the last two years our guy won). Magic Slim and the Teardrops from Chicago are also nominated for Band of the Year. For the second year in a row, the International Blues Challenge champion will also be on stage, this year it’s Little Joe McLerran. He will be joining the BMA nominee for Acoustic Artist of the Year, Acoustic Album of the Year, Debut Album of the Year and Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year, Eden Brent, for a very special show on Saturday at the Gregg Theater 8:00 Saturday May 23rd.

The Memorial weekend festival is held in downtown Sedan on Saturday, the campgrounds and Sunday show are a mile north of Sedan. Festival promoter, Greg Wilkinson, says “work has been completed on a new road to the north campgrounds, a second transformer has been added for vending, some new signs and banners but I am really excited about the 2009 lineup and our Saturday show, it will be the best blues in the world right here in Southeast Kansas.”

Joining Magic, Eden and Little Joe will be the BMA nominee for Harmonica player of the year, Jason Ricci and last year’s debut artist of the year The Insomniacs with the Wichita and Tulsa Blues Challenge winners Terry Quiett and Odd Sheep Out with Jennifer Marriott. Also new for this year Wilkinson says “the pentagon and FAA have approved a flyover for the Sunday show, we just have to get a local guard unit to do it.”

The Chautauqua Hills Blues Festival is a non-profit organization for more information and tickets call 620 725-3834 or visit cqbluesfest.com

2009 Lineup and schedule
Acoustic Night
Saturday May 23rd at the Kurtis Arts Plaza
Acoustic Scratch - 3:00
Lemuel Shephard - 4:30
Duo Sonics - 6:00

Saturday May 23rd at the Gregg Theater
Little Joe McLerran - 8:00
Eden Brent - 9:30

The Electric Show

Sunday May 24th on the CQ Blues stage
Terry Quiett Band - 2:00
Odd Sheep Out w/ Jennifer Marriott - 3:30
National Anthem/flyover - 4:30
Little Joe McLerran - 4:45
Eden Brent Band - 5:00
The Insomniacs - 6:45
Magic Slim and the Teardrops - 8:45
Jason Ricci and New Blood - 10:30
Jam - 11:40
Bonfire - Midnight

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Jason Ricci and New Blood

I became a fan of harmonica sensation Jason Ricci, who will appear at Uncle Bo’s in Topeka on February 28th, before having heard any of his music. My introduction to the 34-year-old, a nominee for the 2009 Blues Music Award for harmonica player of the year, was through a superb article in the February/March 2008 issue of Blues Revue written by Autumn Long (“Jason Ricci Gets His Rock Off”). Jason’s tale of an identity crisis generated by his struggle to fit into the African-American blues tradition and his subsequent immersion into, and recovery from, substance addiction was compelling.

Jason transcended the dark times and found his own musical voice with his band, New Blood, which expresses itself through jazz and punk-inspired riffs but always comes home to the blues. Blues traditionalists may not know how to take some of Ricci’s music, but considering the journey he’s taken to get here, we can trust Ricci to be our tour guide through new musical territory and to return us home safely, enriched by the experience.

Read Full Article by Stacy A. Jeffress

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Just 'Cuz

The Topeka Blues Society is proud to be sponsoring Just ‘Cuz at the first ever Youth Showcase to be held in conjunction with the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge on February 6th in Memphis.

Just ‘Cuz, who recently did a superb job of opening for 2008 IBC champions Tramped Under Foot at Uncle Bo’s, is composed of brothers Mike Hern, 18, on bass and Nick Hern, 15, on guitar; and their cousin, Drew Hern, 14, on drums. Mike and Nick trade off on lead vocals, and the group has a widely-varied repertoire of blues standards, classic rock, and originals. Read More.

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