bayfront blues festival

Renee Austin just finished her latest album "Right About Love" and was getting ready to support the collection, when tragedy struck her. January 2006 her career was finished. Following thyroid surgery, she was left with a paralyzed vocal nerve that made further singing impossible.

I recently had a chance to do a short interview with the owner of Bayfront Blues Festival, Chris Mackey. I always get pretty excited around this time of year because of Bluesfest, and I sure hope to see some of your there. It's a great lineup this year, so come down and enjoy the Blues with your friends and family...

The 26th Annual Bayfront Blues Festival will have legendary Canned Heat headlining Saturday, August 9th, from 9:15-10:30. I interviewed the band historian and drummer since 1967, and he's the author of the best music book I've ever read, 'Living The Blues', Fito de la Parra. He tells us not only the story of Canned Heat, but also about the bands they played with, the historic Woodstock story, his

Most everybody loves zydeco. It's happy music and the crowd loves it. Enter Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers who are not by any stretch your typical band. With their combination of zydeco, r&b, blues, funk r&r and pop, Bayfront Blues Festival goers will enjoy a well rounded show with this band.

Selwyn Birchwood has been called "a shooting star in the blues world," a "blues fireball" and Selwyn is "making waves, surprising people and defying expectations." Having interviewed him, and listening to his first album, 'Don't Call No Ambulance', I agree.

Bayfront Blues Festival favorite Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin Altar Boys will be burnin up the Acoustic Tent at the 26th Annual Bayfront Blues Festival Saturday August 9th from 8:35 to 9 p.m. You'll hear your favorites as well as songs from their acclaimed "Shake Your Boogie" album

Beverly McClellan stopped by my show Friday, on her way to the 24th Annual Bayfront Blues Festival. Beverly gave me a great interview (hope you heard it live), and after the interview decided she'd sing a little, and we captured it on video for you.

They don't call them a Dynasty for nothing. The Brooks Family Blues Dynasty is Chicago's first family of Blues.  The head of the family is Lonnie Brooks whose been playing, recording, and writing for close to sixty years.

For all those attending the 24th Annual Bayfront Blues Festival  this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we're asking you to sign the Big Walter Smith Tribute Banner located close to the Kool 101.7 tent, by the main entrance.  All we need is a signature, and the  goal is to have the entire banner fully signed from Bluesfest attendees who enjoyed and were entertained by Walter over the past 23 years.  R

Ana Popović's father first introduced her to the blues through an extensive record collection. Popović founded her first band at age nineteen and within a year she was playing outside of her home country Yugoslavia, and opening shows for American blues musicians.

Royal Southern Brotherhood came together in New Orleans during the summer of 2011. Reuben Williams, manager to both Cyril Neville and Mike Zito, had the idea for the band. Zito mentioned Devon Allman, and then, as described by Allman, “we went from talking about the idea, to me and Cyril writing a tune over email, to being in rehearsals, all in two months.”

I have a lot of respect for Chris the owner of Bayfront Blues Festival. Lord knows it's a difficult task putting together an event with one or two bands. Can you imagine hosting an event with 31? He's been doing it for 23 years, and starting next week he'll do it all over again for the 24th Annual Bayfront Blues Festival kicking off Friday August 10th.