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Those Summertime Blues....Fests! by Monica Yasher

Posted on 7/17/2009 by Monica Yasher



The 15th annual Pittsburgh Blues Festival is just around the corner. The event this year takes place over 3 days from July 24 to July 26 and is held at Hartwood Acres, Pittsburgh, PA 15238. The Pittsburgh blues festival is not just a Mecca for blues fans to convene; it is an event with a purpose, as all proceeds benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank with this event raising more than 1 million dollars in it's 15 year history.Tickets purchased in advance are $22.00 and offers a raffle to be backstage that will go off daily between 8 and 8:30 every night. The winner of the raffle may take one person back stage with them. You can obtain tickets online through here. A gate purchased ticket requires $25.00 of your hard earned cash.

Last year the free food Friday raised 13.5 tons of food. They will offer free food Friday again this year! For every person that brings a bag of food, admission is free into the blues festival. Please bring a generous bag. It is for a worthwhile cause! Remember, this offer is for Friday only! The festival accepts food all weekend long!

If you can't attend the festival and would like to help the food bank, think about purchasing this great cookbook. Recipes are penned by the wives of our own Stanley Cup Champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Gates open at 4 pm on Friday. Acts that will perform on Friday are:

Eric Lindell
Cyril Neville and Tribe 13

Saturday has gates opening at 1 pm and going to dusk. The lineup is:

Shannon Curfman
Shawn KellermanCurtis Salgado
Los Lobos

On Sunday they change it up a bit with an opening time of 1:30 pm.
Blues guests are:

Deb Callahan
JJ Grey and Mofro
Robert Cray Band

Typically between the main stage acts, everyone can turn their lawn chairs around and view the back stage where Pittsburgh Blues bands perform. This year’s lineup for the ‘burg consists of: Glenn Pavone and the Cyclones, Jill West and Blues Attack, Felix & the Hurricanes, Ron Yarosz & the Vehicle, Eugene Morgan , and Jimmy Adler .

Special things to note:
Festival goes on rain or shine
If it rains-you are out in the rain! There isn’t any cover.
No outside alcohol permitted
If you wish to purchase alcohol, please bring your photo id.
Personal coolers require a $5.00 admission fee
Parking is free and it isn’t really far to walk to the stage.
Please bring your blankets and lawn chairs
Food donations are welcome at any time
The park is handicapped accessible, which includes bathrooms
Volunteers are still needed
before and after your shift you can enjoy the show
free food voucher provided for your hard work
Merchandise voucher provided as a way to say thanks for helping!


A Kid Zone is available during the festival, and kids under age 12 enter for free on any day. My friend, Jimmy Adler (on the right), along with June Esser, have created special blues in the tents workshops which are designed with the intention of educating children of all ages (yes-that includes you too!) about the history and importance of Blues music as America’s living legacy to the world. Their schedule of events are as follows:

FRIDAY, July 24, 2009
Jimmy Adler presents “Blues History: From the Delta to Chicago” 5-5:40PM
Bubs McKeg presents “Story Telling in the Blues” 6-6:40PM
Eugene Morgan presents “South Georgia’s Back Porch Blues” 7-7:40PM

SATURDAY, July 25, 2009
Jimmy Adler presents “Blues History: From the Delta to Chicago” 3-3:40PM
Eugene Morgan presents “South Georgia’s Back Porch Blues” 4-4:40PM
Bubs McKeg presents “Story Telling in the Blues” 5-5:40PM
Bill Weiner presents “Folk Blues for Children of all Ages” 6-6:40PM

SUNDAY, July 26, 2009
Jimmy Adler presents “Blues History: From the Delta to Chicago” 2:50-3:30PM
Eugene Morgan presents “South Georgia’s Back Porch Blues” 3:50-4:30PM
Larry Nath presents “ Turn Around and Testify” 4:50-5:30PM
Bob and Andy Gabig present “The Influence of Blues in Appalachian Music” 5:50-6:30PM
Bubs McKeg presents “Story Telling in the Blues” 6:50-7:30PM

For more information contact the blues hotline at 412-460-Blue.

You may enjoy reading the Robert Cray Interview here.
Picture of Jimmy Adler used by permission
http://www.myspace.com/songsbymonicayasher


American Blues News Staff

What makes American Blues News unique is our coverage across America. Here is our lineup:

Mon: Memphis Correspondent - Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms
Nighthawk is our resident globetrotter and man behind the scenes, as he tours with the Reba Russell Band.

Tues: New York Correspondent - J. Blake
Blake is the American Blues News review and interview guru. You may catch him out and about in NY playing the blues.

Wed: National Correspondent - Monica Yasher
Monica is our executive director and artist interview specialist. You can catch Monica singing the blues around Pittsburgh or working on some country music songs in Nashville.

Thurs: Washington, DC Correspondent - Virginiabluesman
Geraldo offers inteviews and reviews. You may have seen him at an Ana Popovic concert or conversed with him on her websites, as he offers administrative support with her music.

Fri: Northeast Photographer - Nelson Onofre
Nelson offers a Friday column of blues photography and pictorial support for the interviews covered by the team.

Jim Stick in Colorado
Jim will be focusing on the Blues Festivals in the beautiful state of Colorado, and the artists that live and visit there.

Maureen Elizabeth, our resident art correspondent, will be focusing on blues art as she explores the creation of CD covers, or speaking with artists who also have a love of creating pictorial art in addition to their music! She may also feature some of her good friends in the Pittsburgh area. In her love of art, you may find Maureen's photography accompanying writer's articles on our pages. Maureen is also our marketing director.

Pittsburgh correspondent and photographer, CR Bennett, will share the Pittsburgh scene with all of you. You may also see CR's pictures accompanying other writer's articles.

We head to the big state of Texas! Abby Owen, our Texas correspondent.

Another big area to cover, the West Coast with Casey Reagan, Casey will feature many artists and events on this ocean's shores.

Lastly, we have our roving blues entertainment writer,
Chef Jimi.

And of course, we will surprise you sometimes!

 
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