17th Annual
New River
Blues Festival
2019

• LYNN FODDRELL with DOUGLAS  FODDRELL-TURNER~ The Last of the Mountain Blues  Dynasty
  

New River Blues Festival has yearned for many years  to bring the revered legacy of The Foddrells to our stage, We're honored that  this year The Foddrells, Lynn and his cousin Douglas Turner, will open our  festival. Lynn is the son of Turner Foddrell (1928 – 1995), and the grandson of  Posey Foddrell (1898 –1985) This musical Stuart, Virginia family spans back to  the 1800's. Grandfather Posey was a multi-instrumentalist who trained all his 5  sons, Lynn's father and uncles, to play music, from Piedmont style blues to  bluegrass to gospel. In the early 1980's Lynn performed with his father Turner  and Uncle Marvin at Ferrum College’s Folk Life Festival, but soon their musical  world widened.  The Foddrell's performed at the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tn.,  in Washington D.C. for the Festival of American Folklife sponsored by the  Smithsonian Institute, and both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York  City. They also toured through Europe. When  Marvin died, Turner and Lynn continued as a performing and recording duo until  Turner's death. Although two elderly Foddrell uncles are still living and play  guitars, banjo, and piano, they don’t do public shows. “I’m the last of the  Mohicans," says Lynn Foddrell. 

•  Florida's Premier and Enormously Influential Swamp-Blues  
   

These blues firebrands are the founding members of  Florida's premier and enormously influential swamp-blues gumbo, Packrat's  Smokehouse. "Packrat" Thompson is an untamed and impassioned vocalist/harmonica  player, whose sound conjures up the torrid Louisiana swamp and gives it root in  the steamy Florida lowlands."Top" Thomas's guitar spits incendiary solos bathed  in the deep grooves of the bayous, evoking the pine flatwoods and sultry cypress  bottoms of Central Florida. Smokehouse" recorded  four groundbreaking CDs in the 90's that defined the genre of Florida Swamp  Blues. Living Blues Magazine said:  "The year was a great one for blues recording, but this  irrepressible set of updated swamp blues earns this reviewer's vote as the best  .."

• Octogenarian 6-String Wildman Gets Deep into his Blues Roots! 

Back by popular demand!   

Shorty cut his musical teeth with legends  Sam & Dave, James Brown, and Johnny Guitar Watson. The young Elbert Ferguson began his career in 1958 and was  soon known for his wild acrobatics and extraordinary guitar prowess.Willie Dixon  credits seeing Git Shorty perform as the inspiration behind Buddy Guy's stage  persona. Git Shorty's "trickerations" and antics were like nothing Dixon had  ever seen, and he advised Buddy to follow suit. James Brown was sold on the  pyrotechnic guitarist and brought him into his band, where Shorty learned the  ropes of professional show business, the necessary discipline, and the fact that  even a great player needs to be a dynamite entertainer. A bandleader in his own  right, Git Shorty can rock with the best, can tear into Hendrix licks, or make  his guitar sing B.B. King style..But most importantly he has his own unbridled,  soulful sound and tour de force show!

• Sony Recording Artists!  

Grammy Nominated!  
 

Grammy nominated artists, Ike and Val Woods, have brought their joyously soulful  show throughout the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. Veterans of the  deep-South music scene, their roots are profoundly planted in the bedrock  of gospel and blues. Ike's smoldering guitar, Val's passionate vocals, and their  sparkling showmanship all combine to raise blues to new levels of exuberance.   Living Blues Magazine:  "..uplifting..refreshing and genuine.. ..a remarkable guitarist..  ..top notch..".
 
 

• THE KING BEES~CELEBRATING 32 YEARS OF STINGIN' & SWINGIN'

The King Bees, Rob "Hound Dog" Baskerville and  Penny "Queen Bee" Zamagni call Ashe County home, but travel the world with their  Blues and American Roots music. This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the band  and also the 17th year of New River Blues Festival which they created and produce. 

In the mid-1980's Baskerville and Zamagni began  traveling the deep-South looking for and mentoring under Blues artists of  historical, cultural, and musical significance. Many blues greats took them  under their wing and nurtured and guided The King Bees toward the sound of  authenticity. With Baskerville on guitar and keys and Zamagni on vocals, bass,  and as song smith, The King Bees honed their art with many Blues masters.  By  1990 they had been touring and recording with some of the most culturally  important of Blues artists. In the early 1990's they were signed to a European  label and began touring internationally.

The King Bees have performed on festival stages in  Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, and London as well as taking their show across numerous  countries. Their love of American Roots music has taken them from Mississippi  jukes joints to several performances at Lincoln Center. They collaborated with  Rock n' Roll Hall-of-Fame member Bo Diddley and were featured on The B.B. King  Birthday Tour. Baskerville and Zamagni are also recognized as Blues historians,  represent and book Blues artists of note, and produce Blues festivals across the  South.  Multi-instrumentalist and High Country impresario, David Brewer will again be laying down the big blues beat.

*"Queen Bee Zamagni belts it out with the best,  backed by a superb band highlighted by the burning riffs of Hound Dog  Baskerville." The Charlotte Observer. 
*"Legendary Blues stylists..." The Knoxville  Journal.
*"Excellent...Queen Bee Zamagni has a strong,  swinging, slinky voice used to good effect on every number. Fine straight blues  all the way..Tasty!" Blues & Rhythm,  England

• Donald Ceasar, The Blues  Emperor  

Here comes our blues fans' best-loved Zydeco train! Ceasar is a New River Blues Festival favorite & dear friend! Donald Ceasar is an artist of exceptional versatility, performing on  drums, harmonica, and keyboards while singing lead vocals and laying down  high-spirited dance steps. Ceasar hales from the bayous of Louisiana, in the  heart of Creole and Cajun country where his grandfather, Alphonse “Bois Sec”  Ardoin and other family members were pioneers and founding fathers of Cajun  Zydeco music. Ceasar has been entertaining audiences since childhood with his  Cajun family band and opening for and sharing the stage with legendary artists  such as Rocking Sidney, Fats Domino, Dr. John, The Nevilles, B.B. King, Allen  Toussaint, and James Brown. Ceasar delivers a sizzling musical-gumbo full of the  succulent flavors of Louisiana.  "..possibly the hippest entertainer in the  Carolinas.” Jim Otis, The State, Columbia,SC.