NEWS RELEASE
DATE: April 7, 2011
CONTACT: Mark Demko, 610-332-1342 or mdemko@artsquest.org
INAUGURAL BLAST FURNACE BLUES FESTIVAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED
Buckwheat Zydeco and JJ Grey & Mofro Highlight List of 35-plus Acts
Performing at New Blues Festival at SteelStacks in Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM, PA—Grammy Award winner Buckwheat Zydeco and internationally-acclaimed artist JJ Grey & Mofro highlight the lineup of more than 35 international, national and local blues acts performing at ArtsQuest’s inaugural Blast Furnace Blues Festival at the new SteelStacks arts and cultural campus in Bethlehem Sept. 16-18. Festival passes and single-day passes for the event will go on sale starting Tues., April 12, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest Members and Fri., April 15, 10 a.m., to the public. They will be available at www.artsquest.org and 610-332-3378.
For Blast Furnace Blues, ArtsQuest has partnered with Michael Cloeren Productions to present a dynamic and eclectic lineup of blues legends and up-and coming artists. During the festival, audiences will enjoy music on four different stages including performances by harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite, acclaimed blues guitarist Bernard Allison, 2010 Grammy Award nominee Ruthie Foster, former Howlin’ Wolf band leader and 7-time W.C. Handy Award nominee Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang, and Dana Fuchs, musical star of the Sony Pictures hit "Across The Universe."
"The Blast Furnace Blues Festival will showcase the best in contemporary and traditional, acoustic and electric blues, soul, zydeco and gospel music," says Cloeren, founder and producer of the award-winning Pocono Blues Festival, which took place annually from 1992-2010. "Our goal with this festival is to cater to the hardcore blues fan, as well as the casual music listener. We spent a great deal of time developing a world-class lineup. Blast Furnace Blues is a ‘must attend’ event for music fans from far and wide, and I’m proud to be a part of it."
Patrick Brogan, Vice President of Performing Arts for ArtsQuest, says partnering with Michael Cloeren Productions to curate the lineup is a win-win for everyone.
"Michael Cloeren has such a tremendous knowledge and history with the blues. It has been a thrill to work with him on this event," Brogan says. "The Blast Furnace Blues Festival lineup has been designed to be as diverse as possible; we want the music to be unique and interesting to the blues faithful, but also accessible and inviting to a mainstream audience. Hence, we have mixed in healthy doses of rock, soul, gospel, Zydeco and funk alongside blues legends from across the landscape of this great American genre."
Headlining Blast Furnace Blues on Sept. 17 at 8:45 p.m. is Buckwheat Zydeco, who, The New York Times, said, "leads one of the best party bands in America."
The winner of the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Cajun and Zydeco Album, Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural Jr. has been performing soul-filled zydeco and Cajun music for more than three decades. Over the years, he has gigged with everyone from Eric Clapton and U2 to The Boston Pops. His band performed to a worldwide audience of three billion people at the 1996 Summer Olympics’ closing ceremonies, as well as to packed houses at both inaugurations for President Bill Clinton.
On Sept. 18, 7:45 p.m., the Blast Furnace Blues Festival comes to a thunderous close with a scorchin’ set by JJ Grey & Mofro. Known for his unique blend of R&B, soul, blues and rock, Grey has performed at festivals around the globe, including the Austin City Limits Festival, Bonnaroo, Montreal Jazz Festival and Fuji Rock in Japan. Over the course of his 15-plus year career, this talented multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter has shared the stage with the likes of the B.B. King, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Jeff Beck and many others.
Additional highlights of the Blast Furnace Blues Festival include a tribute to Chicago Style Blues on Sept. 18 featuring music by legendary guitarist Hubert Sumlin with the Chicago Blues All Stars featuring Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Bob Stroger and Bob Margolin; late-night jams in the Musikfest Café and a special Blues Brunch with soulful singer Teeny Tucker Sept. 18 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (separate brunch ticket required, but ticket is included free as part of special VIP Festival Package). During the festival, audiences will also have the opportunity to enjoy a more intimate experience with select Blast Furnace Blues Festival artists during the "Blues Banter Series" in the Musikfest Café. Each Blues Banter show will feature the artist performing, as well as taking part in a Q&A session moderated by Cloeren.
On Sept. 17 at 7 p.m., Blues Banter features Shaw and his band, who will perform a special set showcasing the music of Howlin’ Wolf. And on Sept. 18, Tucker will take to the stage for a Blues Banter show focusing on the music of Big Mama Thornton and Big Maybelle, the two legendary singers she honored on her 2008 recording, "Two Big M’s," which spent 22 weeks on the international Blues Roots Chart.
During Blast Furnace Blues, the community can also enjoy three days of great, free performances by local and regional blues artists at the Air Products Town Square. Acts scheduled to perform include BC Combo, Craig Thatcher Band, Donavan Roberts, Friar’s Point and more.
Blast Furnace Blues Festival gates open at 4 p.m. Sept. 16 and noon Sept. 17-18; music begins at 5 p.m. Friday, 12:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Three-day festival passes are $55 in advance and $65 at the gate. Single-day passes for Friday are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate; single-day passes for Saturday and Sunday are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate. Special VIP Festival Packages, including access to the Blues Brunch, Artist Meet & Greet Tent, a reserved parking pass and more, are also available.
For complete information on the Blast Furnace Blues Festival, please visit www.artsquest.org.
BLAST FURNACE BLUES 2011 LINEUP
FRIDAY, SEPT.16
Musikfest Café
7-8:30 p.m.: The Cedric Burnside Project (Blues Banter)
10 p.m.: Jam led by Kinsey Report
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
5:30-7 p.m.: James Supra Blues Band
7:30-9 p.m.: Mike Dugan & the Blues Mission
9:30-10:30 p.m.: Sarah Ayers
PNC Plaza
5-6:15 p.m.: The Kinsey Report
6:45-8 p.m.: Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang
8:30-10 p.m.: Mississippi Heat
Air Products Town Square
7-7:30 p.m.: Deb Callahan Band
9-9:30 p.m.: Deb Callahan Band
SATURDAY, SEPT. 17
Musikfest Café
7-8:30 p.m.: The Life & Music of Howlin' Wolf with Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang (Blues Banter)
10 p.m.: Jam led by Johnny Rawls
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
1-2:15 p.m.: Andrew Jr. Boy Jones
2:45-4 p.m.: Johnny Rawls
4:30-5:45 p.m.: Eden Brent
6:15-7:30 p.m.: Homemade Jamz
8-9 p.m.: Dana Fuchs
PNC Plaza
12:30-1:30 p.m.: Eden Brent
2-3 p.m.: Homemade Jamz
3:30-4:30 p.m.: Dana Fuchs
5-6:15 p.m.: Charlie Musselwhite
6:45-8 p.m.: Ruthie Foster
8:30-10 p.m.: Buckwheat Zydeco
Air Products Town Square
2:15-2:45 p.m.: TBA
4-4:30 p.m.: Donovan Roberts
5:45-6:15 p.m.: BC Combo
7:30-8 p.m.: BC Combo
9:30-10:30 p.m.: Craig Thatcher Band
SUNDAY, SEPT. 18
Musikfest Café
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: The Life & Music of Big Mama Thornton & Big Maybelle with Teeny Tucker (Blues Banter/Blues Brunch)
6:30-8 p.m.: The Holmes Brothers
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
1:30-2:45 p.m.: Sharrie Williams
3:15-4:30 p.m.: Chubby Carrier
5-6:30 p.m.: Guy Davis
7-8:30 p.m.: Chicago All Stars featuring Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Bob Stroger & Bob Margolin
PNC Plaza
1-2 p.m.: The Holmes Brothers
2:30-3:45 p.m.: Guy Davis
4:15-5:30 p.m.: Teeny Tucker
6-7:15 p.m.: Bernard Allison
7:45-9 p.m.: JJ Grey & Mofro
Air Products Town Square
12:30-1:30 p.m.: Friar's Point
2:45-3:15 p.m.: The Lesson Center Students
4:30-5 p.m.: Phil Minisale
6:30-7 p.m.: Phil Minisale
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