Check
out these gigs
Page updated in July-2008.
Fun Filled Parties 2008-2009
What's life if you don't dance?
"We don't know where
we're going,
Somewhere is for squares"
Big Muddy Blues Fest-St Louis, MO
Burning Man Fest-Black Rock City, NV
Deep Blues Festival-Wash CO Fairgrounds-Lake Elmo,
MN
Early Wright Blues Heritage Award-Clarksdale, MS
Fantasy Fest-Key West, FL
Four
Mounds Blues-Dubuque, IA
Hobo Convention-Britt, IA
Juke
Joint Festival-Clarksdale, MS
KC
Blues Festival-Kansas City, MO
King Biscuit Blues-Helena, AR
Mardi
Gras-St Louis, MO
Memphis In May-Memphis, TN
Mushroom Festival-Muscoda, WI
Mystic Knights Blues-New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Jazz-New Orleans, LA
North MS Hill Blues-Potts Camp, MS
Othar Turner Blues-Senatobia, MS
PT Cruiser Meet Me in St Louis
Robert Johnson Gravesite Tribute - Greenwood, MS March
20, 2004
Red Lion Casino-Elko, NV
Route 66 Festival-Springfield, IL
Riverwalk Blues-Ft Lauderdale, FL
Strassenfest-St Louis, MO
Sunflower Blues Festival-Clarksdale, MS
Superman Days-Metropolis, IL
Threshers Reunion-Mt Pleasant, IA
Times Square New Years-New York, NY
Toodle-oo Stew-East St Louis, IL Willie King Freedom
Festival-Aliceville, AL
Winter Dance Party-Buddy Holly-Clear Lake, IA
click on RED link to see more.......
Jan
28 to Feb 2, 2009 Buddy
Holly Winter Dance Party at The Surf
Ballroom 460 North Lake Shore Dr - Clear Lake, IA 641 357-6151 In 2008, it
was The Nelson Brothers, The Crickets, Tommy Allsup, Bobby Vee, Cleftones,
Dale Hawkins, Barbara Lewis, and the Shack Shakers. In 2009, this annual
event will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Feb 2, 1959 concert that featured Buddy Holly, Richie
Valens, and The Big Bopper. It's also known as, "The Day the Music
Died," as these three Rock-n-Roll Stars died outside of town in a plane
crash after finishing the show. www.surfballroom.com
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link to
Mardi Gras pages - click here
Feb 21, 2009 Soulard Mardi Gras Grand Parade & Rat Pack Mardi Party
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Feb
27 thru Mar 1, 2009 21st Annual Riverwalk Blues & Music Festival-Ft Lauderdale, FL One of the premier Blues Festivals in the South. Look for
Hubert Sumlin, Shemekia Copeland, Alvin Jett, Michael Pickett, Bob Margolin, and Tinsley Ellis among others. Great Lineup. Great City. www.RiverwalkBluesFestival.com
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2008 Juke Joint photos CLICK HERE....
click here for 2007
photos
click here for 2006
photos
click here for 2005
photos
Apr
17-19, 2009 Annual Juke
Joint Festival in Clarksdale, MS 662
624-5992 Jukin' in The Land of The Blues. Down home B
lues at Red's
Lounge, Messenger's Pool Hall, and other joints Boys & Girls. It don't get much better than
this for Southern hospitality, good food, and great music. www.jukejointfestival.com for
more info
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Apr 25 thru May 3, 2009 New Orleans, LA Jazz Fest www.nojazzfest.com
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index
May 3, 2009 Poderosa Stomp back in action in Louisana at the New
Orleans House of Blues. The Annual Down in the Bottom Blues was held in Memphis, TN in 2006 due to
Katrina flooding in New Orleans, LA. Mystic Knights of Mau
Mau always have a great lineup including Kenny Brown, Eddie Kirkland, Roky
Erickson, Buckwheat Zydeco, Dale Hawkins, Bobby Rush, Lazy Lester, Dave
Batholomew, and many, many more. www.knights-maumau.com
also www.ponderosastomp.com
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click on RED link to see more.......
May
2-4, 2009 Memphis in May - Memphis, TN
180,000
people will gather at the end of Beale Street in Tom Lee Park. Four stages
of music greats on the Mississippi River. I don't know if you'll see
Elvis, but you will see Blind Mississippi Morris, Fergie, Santana, Aretha
Franklin, Pinetop Perkins, Sheryl Crow, Robert Belfour, and Hubert Sumlin along with
60 other music acts. www.memphisinmay.org
for more info.
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May 16-17,
2009 Annual Morel Mushroom Festival - Muscoda, WI 608 739-3182
Always the week end after Mother's Day. Now Boys, these be the eatin'
kind, don't be trying to smoke these mushrooms. Butter and garlic in the
frying pan and you got yourself a treat like nothing else in this world! www.muscoda.com
for more info.
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May
30-31, 2009 10th annual Willie King Freedom Creek Festival - Aliceville, AL 205
554-1795 Always the 3rd Friday-Saturday in May. This is a down-home
blues festival attended by 500 or more fans. Willie & The Liberators
will perform along with area musicians and national stars such as Honeyboy
Edwards, Paul Oscher, T-model Ford, and Hubert Sumlin among others. Always a great time with good friends, music,
and food.
Git yourself to Aliceville, AL and take route 17 South out of Aliceville about 9
miles, then head West on County Rd 32 about a mile, then turn right on County Rd
1 and go past the church and take the next right which should be Old Memphis
Road. Watch for signs posted to take you right on past Willie's digs and
into the festival area. If you're lost, then give a call and ask for
help. www.Willie-King.com
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click on RED link to see more.......
Jun 12-14, 2009 Superman Days - Metropolis, IL 1 800 949-5740
10,000 people roll into this little town for good clean fun on the weekend.
Look for Lou Ferrigno, Ned Beatty, Jackson Bostwick, Noel Neill and
others. Truth - Justice - The American Way www.MetropolisChamber.com
for more info.
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July
3-4, 2009 North Mississippi Hill Country Blues Festival - Potts
Camp, MS 662 801-7272 2,000 people last year for the likes of Kenny Brown,
Alvin Hart, Bobby Rush, Jimbo, the Burnsides, the Kimbroughs, the Dickinsons, Rising Star Fife
& Drum, and more. It's an 1,100 acre site just south of Route 78 off
highway 349. Take Potts Camp exit off highway 78 and go .3 miles to the
stop sign, turn left onto Church Ave and go .4 miles, turn right onto Center Ave
(also hwy 349), cross the RR tracks and go .9 miles and the picnic is on the
left.
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July 18-20, 2008 Deep Blues Festival - County Fairgrounds - Lake Elmo,
MN The 2nd annual festival with something for everybody. 40 acts
over 3 days. You can see
Hezekiah Early & Elmo Williams, T-Model Ford, The BirdDogs, Shack
Shakers, Buffalo Killers, Bob Log III, Black Smokers, Cedric Burnside, and Lightning Boy
Malcolm. At this time of the year, you won't even have to wear snowshoes
according to organizer Chris Johnston. www.DeepBluesFestival.com
for more info.
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click on RED link to see more.......
Aug 4-6, 2008 CANCELLED for 2008! Strassenfest - Memorial Plaza - St. Louis FREE
Celebrate German heritage plus! 636
825-8326
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to index
Click on Red for story and past
award winners.......
Early Wright
Blues Heritage Award The Award is presented each year in
connection with the Sunflower River Blues Festival held during August in
Clarksdale, MS. See following item for Festival details.
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click below to see more.........
Click here for 2006 photos
Click here for 2005 photos
Aug 8-10, 2008 17th Annual Sunflower
River Blues Festival. Purest Blues and
Gospel in The Land Where the Blues Began - Clarksdale, MS. 10,000 people
can't 
be
wrong! You'll probably see Big Jack
Johnson, Jimbo Mathus, Wesly Jefferson, Kenny Brown, Big T, Duwanye Burnside, Sam Carr, Rev Peyton, T-Model Ford, Super Chikan,
North MS Allstars, Latimore, and Tater, among others.
www.sunflowerfest.org
for more info.
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click on RED link to see more.......
Aug
8-11, 2008 - Britt, IA Annual Hobo
Convention
Since 1900, that's right, 108 years ago! Not many real "BO's" left, but this is
where
they'll jungle up for a week
or two and you might catch sight of The Texas
Madman, Iowa Blackie, GrainCar George, Train Dummy, Redbird Express, Empress Vagabond BO
Lump, Milwaukee Mike, King Tuck, or Queen Lady Sonshine, among others.
See HOBO-U63 Button (left side this page) for prior years recaps. Always the 2nd weekend of August. Mulligan stew for everyone.
www.hobo.com for more info.
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click on RED link to see more.......
Aug
9, 2008 14th Annual
Four Mounds Blues Fest-Dubuque, IA 563-557-7292
4,000 people enjoying Blues right next to the Mississippi River and the old
Dubuque Star Brewery. Mark Hummel headlined in 2005 at the outdoor Alliant
Amphitheatre. Hasn't rained yet on this crowd according to event
organizer Mary Gronen. www.fourmounds.org
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Aug 22-23, 2008 Otha Turner b 6-2-1907 d 02-27-2003 Backyard Goat 
Barbecue - Senatobia, MS.
It's about an hour
South of Memphis. Get yourself to Senatobia, MS then take Hwy 4 East 
out
of Senatobia for about 4 miles, turn right on Gravel Springs Road, straight
ahead across Yellowdog Road, and then at the next intersection ask the people on
the corner where the hell is Otha's.
Everyone around there knew this 95 year old fife player. They'll be
headin' to the fife & drum picnic also. If you're a little late, just
open your car window and listen for the drums or look for cars parked all over
the road. That'll be Otha's place. The picnic starts on Friday
and will probably end by Sunday.
Click here for 2007 picnic photos
Click here for 2006 picnic photos
Click here for 2005 and 2004
photos
Click here
for the 2003 SUMMARY of the picnic held in memory of Otha Turner &
Bernice Pratcher.
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Aug
25-Sep 1, 2008 Burning Man Festival - Black Rock City in the Black Rock
Desert 120 miles North of Reno, NV www.burningman.com
Celebrating self expression since 1986 at this counterculture festival of arts
and music in the Nevada desert. 39,000 people demonstrate "radical
self-expression".
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click on RED link to see more.......
Aug
28-Sep 1, 2008 Old Threshers Reunion - Mt Pleasant, IA
319 385-8937 You can ride trolleys, trains, and a 108 year old steam
powered carousel for this journey into the past. 20,000 RV's and 50,000
people will pull into this small town to see what life was like back in Grampa's
"Good Ole Days." www.oldthreshers.org
for more info.
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Aug
30-31, 2008 Big Muddy Blues Festival - St Louis, MO 314 241-5875 www.bigmuddyblues.com
Labor Day Weekend with blues at Laclede's Landing with Big Daddy, Big T, Wesley
Jefferson, and Bettye LaVette.
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click on RED link to see the 2006 Event
Summary and photos.......
A really fun event that used to be held in September each year, however no event
planned for Sep
- 2008. PT Cruiser Meet Me in St
Louis on Route 66 - St Louis Holiday Inn-Earth City 3400
Rider Trail South - St Louis,
MO 63045 This 3-day event has over 150 fun loving people from the USA &
Canada celebrating their Chrysler PT Cruiser ownership. Activities
Include a popular Hawaiian Luau Banquet with Limbo, Hula, Scavenger hunt, games
and prizes. PT Cruiser autos are displayed throughout the three days along with
parts dealers, detailing, and food concessions. Neon light show plus family events all weekend.
www.StLouisPTcruise.com
or call John at 636 332-8065
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to index
Sep
26-28, 2008 Route 66 Festival - Springfield, IL 1-866-783-6645 www.route66fest.com
This will be the 3rd Annual Mother Road Festival. You can see classic
cars, motorcycles, Martin Milner, several rock bands, and a parade. Also attend the
"Sock Hop" and look for Joey Dee and for Gary Puckett. A great Time on The
Great Road.
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click on RED link to see more.......
TOODLE-oo
NO MORE! East St Louis Toodle-oo
Due to the death of Bruce Goodrich in December of 2005, it appears that the
Toodle-oo series has run it's course. Starting in 1997 on the fourth
weekend of September the annual Toodle-oo held at the Fountain of Youth Park at 4th Street and Riverpark Dr.
was inspired by a 1927 Duke Ellington tune. This festival was Bruce Goodrich's idea of helping out.
No small task as Bruce lived in Biddeford, Maine 1,300 miles away. Due to
Bruce's hard work and the help of volunteers, there was free
Toodle-oo Stew and live Jazz and Blues music. Bruce and his efforts will
be remembered by all who knew him. May our friend rest in the peace he so
deserved.
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Oct
9-11 2008 Blues and Heritage - Helena, AR www.bluesandheritage.com
This festival in the heart of Blues Country is a must. The likes of
T-Model Ford, Big Jack Johnson, K M Williams, Pinetop Perkins, Otis Rush, Willie
King, and Sam Carr are usually playing
here.
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click on RED link to see more.......
October 17-29, 2008
Oct
21-30, 2005 OOPS Hurricane Wilma washed it out! Fantasy Fest-Key West, FL
This is not for the faint of heart. After 28 years these Freaks,
Goddesses, & Geeks know how to party. A really BIG fruitcake romp on
Duval Street. You'll see Gnomes, Toads, and White Rabbits! They usually let it all hang out at
this festival in The Conch Republic. www.fantasyfest.net
for more info.
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click on RED link to see more.......
Feb
1, 2006 FLIGHTS ENDED Red Lion Casino
Casino Express/Xtra Airways trips to Elko, NV
3 nights/4 days $100
total ea person included flight & Lodging. This Northern Nevada Casino
used to fly from 200 cities to bring in the gamblers before casinos were readily
available in your home state. High fuel prices and proliferation of
casinos led to the termination of these cheap trips after 25 years of
service. The casino is still open, however you gotta get there by
yourself! www.redlioncasino.com
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click on RED link to see more.......
Dec 31 Where else? - Times Square-NY
It's The Big Apple, Gotham City, call it what you want, but it's the right place
to bring in the New Year. Rat Pack member Short Hair Davey lives here in the Bronx! www.nyctourist.com
for more info.
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