EUROPAfest is an international music festival held each spring in May, in Bucharest and Sibiu ( European Capital of Culture 2007 ), Romania. The festival is considered a country brand being the only one in Europe which presents four music genres in a single event: jazz, blues, pop and classical music, bringing together over 300 musicians from around the globe, 45-50 countries.

During festival, numerous events take place, including concerts, competitions, workshops, master-classes, jam sessions, cafe festival and gala concert.

Agenda
12 May - Opening Concert
13 - 15 May - Concerts of jazz, blues, pop
12 - 21 May - Caffe festival & Jam sessions
14 - 21 May - Jazz competition
14 - 21 May - Piano competition
18 - 20 May - Master-classes & workshops
21 May - Gala

The festival’s aim is to offer a distinct event in Europe, an enriching experience for the audience. In 2016 EUROPAfest celebrates 23 years of music excellence. Starting 2005 the international festival EUROPAfest is organized under the High Patronage of Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Margarita and Prince Radu.

major concert halls, jazz clubs, coffee shops, outdoor

Bucharest, Sibiu
Romania

http://www.jmevents.ro, http://www.europafest.ro

EUSTON HALL, SUFFOLK

"The Wallingford Blues and Beer Festival is an independently run charity festival and the money raised from it goes towards promoting live music in Wallingford and helping to promote youth development projects in the town and surrounding areas. Since becoming an independent festival in 2000 we have raised, thanks to your generosity, over £29,000 which has gone to local organisations and charities".

----------------------------------------------------

Full details on the event, including how to purchase tickets, are on the Lol Goodman Band website:
http://www.lolgoodmanband.com/middleton-rock-and-blues-festival/

Full details and news as it happens on our Facebook page;
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Middleton-Rock-n-Blues-Festival/1593479867571415?fref=ts

The event is being organised by Jon Firth.
Email;- jon@lolgoodmanband.com phone;- 07934 636179
 

Mes Amis, bénévoles, aficionados, passionnés, amoureux du blues et de la convivialité bleue, photographes, musiciens, élus, sponsors, vous tous qui nous suivez depuis 15 ans maintenant, je vous annonce que nous mettons un terme à notre passionnante aventure. Il n'y aura pas de 16è édition. Les raisons sont multiples et sont à la fois rationnelles ou irrationnelles. Concernant les premières, celles que je qualifie de rationnelles, il y en a 2 majeures : Tout d'abord, le site de Villerupt, que nous n' aurons plus pour des motifs administratifs et d' exigences normatives et ensuite pour des raisons purement financières. Nous ne retrouvons pas l 'aisance budgétaire nécéssaire pour maintenir un niveau de programmation en droite ligne avec notre ligne artistique que nous avons développé tout au long de ces 15 ans. Confrontés à une terrible conjoncture en Lorraine, Plusieurs sponsors fidèles se sont retirés, la prise de risque est trop importante et il n' est pas question de se retrouver en difficulté et ne pas assumer, on sait ou cela peut mener... Il nous est apparu difficile en 6 mois de pouvoir trouver un nouveau site, déménager et trouver des financements de substitution.

 Concernant l'irrationnel, c' est souvent comme cela dans une vieille association, comme dans les vieux couples, on fini par ne plus se comprendre et par avoir des intérêts divergents. La sérénité indispensable à l 'organisation de cette manifestation n' y est pas et les querelles de personnes auront eu raison des dernières forces de membres importants de l 'association. Je n 'en dirais pas plus car l' objectif est de ne froisser personne, le cadeau offert par tous tout au long de ces 15 années doit nous faire passer outre les petits règlements de compte qui n' intéressent pas grand monde. Nous allons mettre à profit cette année sabbatique pour réfléchir, nous reposer et peut-être retrouver l 'énergie et les forces nécessaires à la renaissance d'un nouveau projet.

 Oui, c'est triste et je remercie toutes celles et ceux, très nombreux, qui m' écrivent et m' appellent, me demandent de confirmer ou infirmer telle info ou telle rumeur. Je ne peux pas expliquer à tous le pourquoi des choses dans le détail, il me faudrait 10h par jour, et je n' en ai pas le temps. 

Tant qu'il y a de la vie, il y a de l 'espoir ...alors croyons et espérons !

______________________________________ 

Google translation:

My friends, volunteers, fans, enthusiasts, lovers of blues and blue friendliness, photographers, musicians, politicians, sponsors, all who follow us for 15 years now, I announce that we end our exciting adventure. There will be no 16th edition. The reasons are many and are both rational or irrational. Regarding the first, the ones I call rational, there are 2 major: First, the site of Villerupt, we don 'have more for administrative reasons and normative requirements and then for purely financial reasons . We can not find the necessary budget to maintain comfort level programming in line with our artistic line that we developed throughout these 15 years. Facing a terrible situation in Lorraine, several loyal sponsors pulled out, risk-taking is too high and it does not matter to become distressed and not assume we know or it can lead ... We appeared difficult 6 months to find a new site, relocating and finding alternative funding.
On the irrational, it's often like that in an old association, as in older couples, we ended up not understanding and have divergent interests. The serenity essential to the organization of this event does is not and quarrels people have been right the last forces of important members of the association. I does not say more because the goal is not to offend anyone, the gift from all throughout these 15 years should make us ignore account of the small settlements that do not interest many people. We will build on this year off to reflect, rest and perhaps regain energy and the forces necessary for the rebirth of a new project.
 Yes, it is sad and I thank all those, many who I'm writing and call him, ask me to confirm or deny such information or such rumor. I can not explain at all why things in detail, it would 10am me daily, and I haven 'in no time.
 As long as there is life, there is hope ... then believe and hope!

Dereham Blues Festival, Norfolk - 2018 

12th - 15th July 2018

Click here for details

http://www.derehambluesfestival.org.uk/

This is truly a year to celebrate the Big Wheel Blues Festival as it will be the 20^th consecutive annual blues event: quite an achievement we think. We are returning to the Villa Marina over Friday 13^th and Saturday 14^th of July, hoping for some warmer weather. There will be two ticketed concerts in the Promenade Suite, doors open from 7.30pm, each night featuring three excellent acts covering, as always, a wide range of styles.

In addition on the Saturday afternoon there will be a free outdoor stage in the Villa Marina gardens, showcasing some of the cream of local talent. If by any chance the weather is unkind the stage will transfer indoors to the Colonnade Suite.

Do come along and support the festival and help us mark this anniversary.

Huge thanks are in order to sponsor James Osborne Financial Services and Isle of Man Arts Council.

Friday night opens with local band Loose Crew, a 5 piece good time band playing swing jump and boogie from the 1920s onwards, right up to more modern soulful blues classics. Next we have a very welcome return for acoustic roots and Americana masters Rob Heron and the Teapad Orchestra, great crowd pleasers. Headlining the night will be the Laurence Jones band, a real must-see for lovers of stellar guitar playing, Laurence being one of the very few top British exponents.

Saturday night opens with New Orleans style piano maestro Dale Storr, arguably the foremost British artist of his genre, followed by the Elles Bailey Band, rootsy blues country and soulful rock crossover. Summed up by BBC 6Music simply as 'the most incredible voice'. Bringing the festival to a climax will be the Marcus Malone Band, Marcus being hailed as Detroit's finest rock/blues export, a supreme vocal stylist.

MAIN STAGE BANDS

The Stumble

The Mentulls

Swampgrass

The Quireboys

Jo Harman

Birmingham Community Gospel Choir

Ma Polaine's Great Decline

Bex Marshall Trio

Big Mac's Wholly Soul Band

Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla

The Black Feathers

Clare Free Band

Simon Honeyboy Hickling

Trevor Babajack Steger

Jenny Wren & Her Borrowed Wings 

Kris Barras

Robbie McIntosh

Rebecca Downes

Big Wolf Band

Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective

The Whiskey Rebellion

Brilleux

Adam Sweet Band

Stone Mountain Sinners

Dave Arcari

Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra 

Robert J Hunter

Reverend Robert

Tom C Walker

Kingsize Slim
 

Set in the beautiful Worcestershire riverside town of Upton upon Severn (where the flood defences are robust!), this is a festival where every band is free to see, with no external funding, government or local authority support and with no major sponsorship, they are able to be as independent, flexible and unique a festival as ever.

Click here for full details

Tutors will include Will Wilde (harmonica), Adam Franklin (guitar), and Michael Roach (guitar, vocals)

The 2018 Broom Hill Festival on the Warwickshire / Oxfordshire border is on Saturday 18th August and will feature legendary record producer Mike Vernon and his band The Mighty Combo, Wired, The Buzzin' Hornets, Mumbo-Jumbo, Beth Porter And The Availables, and much more.

Tickets on sale soon.

Latest Update

Upwards of 20,000 music lovers are expected in Colne​, Lancashire​ this summer for The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival 2018.

The festival takes place in numerous town centre venues (from 750 to 50 capacity), Colne and Nelson Rugby Club (which also doubles-up as the festival campsite), plus many more restaurants and bars (also known as the festival 'Roadhouse Venues').

This beautiful town is an ideal location for an event of this kind, with one long ‘main’ street (closed to traffic) which hosts on-street entertainment, busking, pop-up DJs,​ incredible food stalls, a festival market, ​ a kids fun fair,​ real ale bars and more.

Each music venue is within easy reach of the main street, making this event not only Europe’s best contemporary blues festival, but also one-of- a-kind and much-loved festival for people of the local area.

Headliners this year include King King (winners of both Band of the Year and Album of the Year at the recent UK Blues Awards), M​y Baby​, Laurence Jones, Kyla Brox, Simon McBride and Connie ​Lush.

For the latest details about the festival, ​plus​ ticket links, please visit www.bluesfestival.co.uk
Click a band/artist name via the ​handy A-Z band/venue matcher, to see which venue the artist is playing at​, on ​which day… and at what time ​: ​

https://www.bluesfestival.co.uk/lineups/artist-line-up-a-z/​

New Stage for 2018

The Great British Rhythm & Blues festival are thrilled to announce their new stage for 2018. 

The Mini Muni is an intimate 100 capacity Alternative Stage (situated on the lower ground floor of the Muni), where festival goers can expect to catch some of the most exciting, boundary-pushing blues artists on the current scene. 

As Jason Elliot, Artistic Director explains, "Many of the artists playing the Mini Muni Alternative Stage are quite young; we're hoping to help encourage the blues to be handed down from one generation to the next. It's important that blues music isn't 'frozen in time', and it's vital to keep pushing the boundaries of the genre forwards. As long as the music connects with the soul and the musical framework has those key blues notes in it, then the evolution of the blues continues. We hope to have improvised and experimented with the genre, with an aim of bringing the most exciting and left-field acts to this years festival". 

The Mini Muni stage is open to all #festival wristband holders and is in addition to the musical offerings at the Little Theatre, the Muni & the Hippodrome. 

There is a songwriting workshop (open to musicians and non-musicians alike) in this space too, which is free to wristband holders. Further information to follow. 

Artists playing the stage over the course of the weekend include: 
Mad Jack and The Hatters
Blues Boy Kings
The Mojo Preachers
King Size Slim
Tensheds
Richard Townend (+ songwriting workshop)
The Devil’s Jukebox
Calum Ingram
The Washboard Resonators
and more.

More info here:
https://www.bluesfestival.co.uk/lineups/themainstages/minimuni/

Full Festival Line Ups

The 2018 festival headliners are:
King King, My Baby, Simon McBride, Laurence Jones,
Kyla Brox and Connie Lush.

The ticketed line ups - across the four main festival stages at the 2018 event - are listed here (by day): 

Friday 25th August - Main Stages
Laurence Jones                 
Connie Lush 
Catfish                   
Xander & The Pirates 
Slack Alice 
Guy Tortora                                    

Saturday 26th August - Main Stages         
My Baby  
Simon McBride                  
Sam Kelly's Station House 
Rufus Black
The Wolves  
Marcus Malone 
Zoe Green Band    
Lisa Mills Band
Chris Corcoran Trio ft Katie Bradley
Charlotte Marshall & The 45s   
Backwater Roll 
Robert J Hunter 
Dan Burnett Band 
J-Bear & The Giants  

Saturday 26th August - Alternative Stage: Mini Muni
Calum Ingram
Devils Jukebox
Mojo Preachers
Blues Boys Kings
Mad Jack & The Hatters 
Washboard Resonators  

Saturday 26th August - Little Theatre
Half Deaf Clatch 
Jack J Hutchinson 
Tom Doughty
Ged Wilson
Niall Kelly
Fran McGillvray & Mike Burke                                     

Sunday 27th August - Main Stages  
King King   
Kyla Brox   
Mike Vernon's Mighty Combo
Lisa Mann        
Elles Bailey
The Johnny Max Band   
Adrian Gautrey                 
Southbound
Red Butler              
Delta Ladies
Trevor Sewell                   
Michael Messer's Mitra
Mike Ross Band                
Ruby & The Revelators 

Sunday 27th August - Alternative Stage: Mini Muni
Richard Townend (songwriting workshop)   
King Size Slim 
The Savages
TenSheds 
Welter 

Sunday 27th August - Little Theatre 
Becca Langsford 
Michael Woods 
Bella Collins 
Benjamin Bassford 
Trevor Babajack Steger

Roadhouse Venues

The festival ‘Roadhouses’ are 11 official venues situated across the town of Colne and are home to a myriad of free-to-enjoy events during the festival bank holiday weekend of 24th – 26th August.

The venues – The 12 Bar Cafe * Carlo’s Italian Restaurant * The Crown Hotel * The Dressers * Duke of Lancaster * Colne Royal British Legion * The Admiral Lord Rodney * Colne and Nelson Rugby Club * The Union Exchange * The Venue * Tubbs – are host to LOADS of fabulous live shows…

Full line ups (and on-stage times) can be viewed via each venue, click here:
Roadhouse Venues

Tickets are available via this link:
https://www.bluesfestival.co.uk/tickets/
 

Get to the festival with VAMOOZ! 
VAMOOZ can offer pop-up trips in response to customer demand, and crowdfund their journeys offering a lower price as more people sign up. So if you’re looking for transport to and from the festival, either as a group or individuals, download the app and suggest your trip.
More info is just a click away

Unsigned Artist Competition - Winners Announced
The Jessica Foxley Project requested unsigned acts... and received them by the bucket-load! (many thanks, press friends, for helping to spread the word).  Following an overwhelming response,  The  Jessica  Foxley  Unsigned judging panel had the difficult task of choosing 4 finalists from over 80 entries to open the Great British Rhythm & Blues festival main stages this summer.

In alphabetical order the finalists are:
Carl North & The Lonely Hearts 
Catfish Blues Orchestra
Chris King Robinson
Katy Hurt  

The Jessica Foxley​ judges were seeking outstanding, unsigned, young talent (solo artists or bands) to complement the line-up of main artists playing at this year's festival. Their criteria was originality, creativity, technical ability, musical compatibility (with the contemporary Blues festival), plus entertainment value.

Margaret Foxley (chair of the Jessica Foxley Unsigned judges panel) explains further. "Bringing together young talent from across the UK and giving them a high profile performance opportunity is what our project is all about. Our aim is to create an experience which will not only give our young musicians unrivalled exposure but will hopefully lead to other great opportunities. Three of the four contestants (Catfish, Greg Coulson and Tom C Walker) taking part in this year's UK Blues Challenge are former  Jessica Foxley Unsigned bands. Need I say more?!" 

Paul Foxley, who administers the project for Jessica Foxley Music Projects, added "The Jessica Foxley Unsigned project has blossomed from very tentative and uncertain beginnings, to become an important and vibrant part of one of the UK's finest blues festivals. Our message to young musicians is that, in the same way that our project has succeeded, with hard work and determination on their part and a little support and encouragement from elsewhere, there may be exciting new horizons for them to explore."

Robert J Hunter, who played the 2017 festival, explains how  Jessica  Foxley Unsigned helped him... "JFU (Jessica Foxley Unsigned) kick-started our career. We had been under the radar on the blues scene until we were offered the chance to perform at The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival 2017. We have achieved so much since then thanks to JFU. Young,​ exciting bands deserve to be discovered".

​UK Blues Challenge​ & International Blues Challenge
​In addition to being chosen to play the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, there's a chance for o​ne of the chosen four artists to represent the UK at the 2019 European and International Blues Challenges. Many thanks to the UKBlues Federation for enabling this to happen. The UK Blues Challenge is organised by the UKBlues Federation and will take place on Saturday 8th September 2018 at Worthing Pier's Southern Pavilion. (Tickets are now available).​ The winner of the 5th UK Blues Challenge will be invited to represent the UK at the 35th International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January 2019, plus the​ 9th European Blues Challenge in Ponta Delgada in the Azores in April 2019.

​Ashwyn Smyth - Chair of the UKBlues Federation said: 'This year's contestants are, perhaps, more varied that ever before with young bands competing with artists who have been on the blues scene for many years. The four bands truly reflect what a broad church the blues is in the UK and I am really looking forward to September to see who the judges choose as the winner!'

Four UK blues acts have been chosen by a panel of over 600 people, with the fifth act being chosen by the Jessica Foxley Unsigned project panel, from those acts appearing under the project's banner at this year's Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival at Colne. In alphabetical order, the acts currently ​selected are: ​Kyla Brox, Catfish, Greg​ Coulson Band, Tom C Walker Band plus one act from the Jessica Foxley Unsigned project.

More on Jessica Foxley Unsigned 
Jessica Foxley Unsigned was set up in 2010 in Jessica's memory, to provide high profile performance opportunities for young musicians. Now in its 10​th year, the project has gone from strength-to-strength and attracts young musicians of a very high standard from across the UK. This year, they've invited​ four outstanding, but as yet unsigned, young acts to play sets on the two main festival stages on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival.  The 'emerging' young talent will rub shoulders with the superb line-up of professional acts in a truly exciting musical melting pot.
www.jessicafoxley.com

More news from the festival:
Facebook: /thegreatbritishrandbfestival
Instagram: @greatbritishrnbfestivalcolne
Twitter:  @RandBFestival
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCynO3pUv-zyghzS-8NYuwcA 

Join the 4th European Blues Cruise !

Welcome aboard to experience beautiful holidays and blues passion, with best American Artists: Rip Lee Pryor, Carl Weathersby, Wayne Baker Brooks, Nora Jean Bruso, Liz Mandeville, Toronzo Cannon and the Italian Grammy Nominee Fabrizio Poggi with Enrico Polverari.

Choose your departure ! From Nice and Genoa Sept 10 to 14, 2018 or from Marseilles : Sept 11 to 15, 2018

Click here for Press Release

Info and booking : www.europeanbluescruise.com

The Edinburgh Blues ‘N’ Rock Festival returns this year on Saturday 22 September at The Corn Exchange. This year the festival will be promoted and programmed by the Edinburgh Blues Club who have shaped a fantastic contemporary lineup for 2018. The event features headliners Ten Years After and Dana Fuchs, plus The Rising Souls, Mitch Laddie Band, The Jensen Interceptors and Charlotte Marshall & The 45s. 
Tickets are available for £30 at 
https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/edinburgh-blues-n-rock-festival-edinburgh-corn-exchange-tickets/8006115

Saturday 24th November 2018

Ageas Bowl

Southampton

Get the blues at the Ageas Bowl

On the evening of Saturday 24th November, Blues @ the Bowl sees three fantastic acts take to the stage at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl for the venue’s first ever blues night.

Hailing from Bristol, 2017 European Blues Awards nominee Elles Bailey is known for her 'smoky vocals' seamlessly weaving rootsy blues, country and soulful rock with a contemporary edge.

Crossfire, featuring Marcus Praestgaard-Stevens is a four-piece consisting of vocalist Alice Armstrong, drummer Stuart James, Martin Potter on bass, and 14-year old guitar prodigy Marcus. 

The Dan Sowerby Band plays original songs written by frontman Dan, as well as classic blues covers. Matt Paull on double bass and Ben Coley on drums complete the trio.

Blues themed food will be available, including for one night only, a special Blues Ale brewed by Downton Brewery near Salisbury.

Tickets are £15 and Blues @ the Bowl takes place in the Rod Bransgrove Pavilion at Hampshire County Cricket’s Ageas Bowl on Botley Road, Southampton. Doors open at 6pm with the first act from 6:30pm. Free parking is available.

Call 02380 472002 (option 2) to reserve tickets.

Details of the event can be found at 
www.ageasbowl.com/ageas-bowl-live/blues-at-the-bowl/