NEW RIVER BLUES FESTIVAL 2021 INFO
ALL INFO HERE! ~LIMITED ADVANCED TICKETS AVAILABLE!
- SUNDAY SEPT. 5, 2021
- Gates Open at noon
- Music 1:00-6:00 PM
- Bring lawn chairs, blankets, canopies, etc
- RAIN OR SHINE
- DUE TO HEALTH & SAFETY CONCERNS, LIMITED TICKETS AND THE EVENT IS SOLD OUT.
We're keeping the Blues alive in the High Country!
*SUNDAY SEPT 5, 1-6 pm River House Inn, Grassy Creek NC, near West Jefferson
*In the meadow by the beautiful New River with plenty of room for social distancing.
*Please, no coolers and no pets. Food and beverages available for purchase.
ACCOMMODATIONS
ACCOMMODATIONS: Many of you have requested info: High Country accommodations for the festival... Our venue, River House Inn, is a bed & breakfast with wonderful rooms!
VISIT US ON FACEBOOK! PLEASE LIKE US & HELP US KEEP OUR BLUES MISSION ALIVE!
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***We thank WETS FM Johnson City Tennessee for Media sponsorship!***
ARTISTS ROSTER 2021
DARYL DAVIS
DONALD CEASAR BLUES EMPEROR!
THE KING BEES
DARYL DAVIS
Chicago native Daryl Davis was mentored by legendary Blues, Boogie Woogie, and Rock n' Roll pianists Pinetop Perkins and Johnnie Johnson, who praised his extraordinary command of those vintage piano styles. The rollicking and rambunctious master of the 88's tours nationwide and internationally, and has worked with Elvis Presley’s Jordanaires, Chuck Berry, The Legendary Blues Band, Percy Sledge, Sam Moore, Nappy Brown and many other greats. Daryl reaches across immense cultural gaps with his Roots Music to create dialogue with members of the Ku Klux Klan. Daryl is the first black author to travel the country interviewing KKK leaders and members. His experiences are detailed in his critically acclaimed book, Klan-Destine Relationships, and the award-winning documentary, Accidental Courtesy. The recipient of numerous awards for his music and work in race relations, Mr. Davis appears often on television, radio, and in print media as a race relations expert.
“The best Boogie Woogie piano playing I’ve ever heard.”
– Arch Campbell, NBC News
"Daryl Davis was pumping the keys like a reborn Jerry Lee Lewis, rattling Boogie Woogie rolls out of all 88 keys!”
– Geoffrey Himes, The Washington Post
--"..his winning combination of technique and abandon ..his vocals are strong and assured – black rock’n’roll lives!"
– Living Blues Magazine
THE KING BEES
DONALD CEASAR BLUES EMPEROR!
THE KING BEES
THE KING BEES
The King Bees, Rob "Hound Dog" Baskerville and Penny "Queen Bee" Zamagni produce NEW RIVER BLUES FESTIVAL. They call Ashe County home, but travel the world with their Blues and American Roots music. This year marks the 34th anniversary of the band and also the 19th 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 juke 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. Veteran drummer extraordinaire, Jim "Jimmy Groove" Gillon will 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 BLUES EMPEROR!
DONALD CEASAR BLUES EMPEROR!
DONALD CEASAR BLUES EMPEROR!
- 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.
LYNN FODDRELL
BOBBY BLACKHAT
DONALD CEASAR BLUES EMPEROR!
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LYNN FODDRELL THE LAST OF THE MOUNTAIN BLUES DYNASTY. Lynn Foddrell enchanted the blues lovers at New River Blues Festival 2019 with his set of lively folk-blues and left them yearning for more. 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 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.
BOBBY BLACKHAT
BOBBY BLACKHAT
BOBBY BLACKHAT
Bobby "BlackHat", Coastal Virginia Bluesman, award winning recording artist, harmonica player, vocalist, songwriter, comedian, producer, and actor hails from Cleveland, Ohio and currently resides in Newport News, VA. He has been playing harp for over 45 years. Bobby is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander with 27 years of distinguished service, which included serving as Military Aide to the President and being awarded the Coast Guard Medal for Heroism.
Bobby BlackHat blends the influences of Chicago, Memphis, Piedmont, and Delta style blues along with a little Gospel into a toe tappin’, finger poppin’, hip shakin’ blues experience.
"Humorous and funky originals.. a swinging stew fit to party over." -Goldmine
"Blackhat gives the listener a taste of magic and proves that he belongs in the Blues Hall of Fame... Standout vocals, great songwriting, and harmonica that is unforgettable." -Indie Voice
WANDA JOHNSON
BOBBY BLACKHAT
BOBBY BLACKHAT
