The Blues Show with Jonny Meister airs Saturday nights

                       from 7PM to Midnight on WXPN.

Coming Up On  The Blues Show  December 8, 2018:

The Blues Show on Saturday, December 8th, will be pre-empted while the "80s A-Z" is running. The show will return on December 15th. Recent Blues Show programs are archived at the drop-down menu above.

Blue Dimensions is also on hold, though you can "tune in" online:
Blue Dimensions G49 — In this hour of Blue Dimensions, a new album The Quest from guitarist Andreas Varady. At age 20, Varady is a veteran of the music biz, with years of performing experience behind him, and a magical touch on the guitar, who composes and arranges all of his music and works with his father and brother in the band. His career has been promoted by Quincy Jones. A native of Slovakia of Hungarian Roma descent, Varady at times seems to tap into the restless magic of Django Reinhardt. The Quest is Varady's second US release. Also in this hour, a song from 3's A Crowd, the duet album of drummer Billy Jones; we'll hear a drum-saxophone duet - - plus, twenty-three years after it was recorded, the release of Eliane Elias's album Music From Man Of La Mancha, co-produced with the late Mitch Leigh, composer of the music for the hit Broadway musical about Don Quixote, and Hart Scone & Albin Leading the British Invasion, a new album of jazzified British pop music, with a song that was a hit for Sade in 1984.

Check out a preview of the song "Insurance" from next year's forthcoming album from Toronzo Cannon! The Reading Blues Fest for 2018 is now behind us, but there are a few clips from it that are worth watching.

News about local blues artists: Philadelphia-area blues singer Frank Bey is dealing with some health problems; Find out more. Frank's new album Back In Business is being played on The Blues Show. Check out a song from Frank's recent CD-release party and concert in West Chester.

Now available: The Blues Images 2019 Blues Calendar which comes with a CD with 23 old blues songs on it, including a never-before-issued song from The Beale Street Sheiks and both sides of Papa Lightfoot's rarest record, plus music from Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton, Memphis Minnie, Big Joe Williams, Leola B. Wilson, William Harris (two newly discovered songs from 1928), and more!

Shemekia Copeland put on a great performance on October 3rd at the
World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, including these songs from her
new album America's Child:
"In The Blood Of The Blues"
"The Wrong Idea"
"Would You Take My Blood?"

Links for   Local Artists  |  Venues  |  Blues Events

       • • • Area Blues Concerts & Events • • •

For blues event listings visit:
Delta Blue's Calendar
The Blues Collaborative
Bucks County Blues Society
Diamond State Blues Society
Baltimore Blues Society
Blues Society of Central PA
Lehigh Valley Blues Network
Central Delaware Blues Society

[Return To Top Of Blues Events]

• • • December • • •

Friday, December 7, 2018

Mavis Staples @ World Cafe Live
Philadelphia PA 19104 (8PM) $75-$85 advance; $78-$88 day of show, plus fees

Eliza Neals @ Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton NJ 08087 (7:30PM) $20 advance; $25 at door

Johnny Never Roots Blues @ Media Arts Council Gallery Space
Media PA 19063 (8PM) $10

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Mavis Staples @ World Cafe Live
Philadelphia PA 19104 (8PM) $75-$85 advance; $78-$88 day of show, plus fees

Lisa Chavous & The Philadelphia Blues Messengers & The Philly Blues Kings
@ Jamey's House Of Music
Lansdowne PA 19050 (8PM - dinner available at 6PM) $15 advance sale — $18 at door

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Lazer Lloyd @ Saint Georges Country Store
Saint Georges DE 19733 (7:30PM-10:30PM)

Stevie and the Bluescasters @ The Mermaid Inn
Philadelphia (Chestnut Hill) PA 19118 (8PM) $10

Friday, December 14, 2018

Judy Sings The Blues @ Bethany Blues
Lewes DE 19958 (8:30PM-11:00PM) no cover

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Dukes Of Destiny @ World Cafe Live "Pre-New Years Eve show"
Philadelphia PA 19104 (8PM) $12 advance; $14 day of show

Thursday, December 20, 2018

The Nighthawks & guest Shakey Lee
Bucks County Blues Society Christmas Party
@ Terchon VFW Post 5542 in Edgely PA 19057 (8PM-Midnight)

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Philly Gumbo @ Jamey's House Of Music
Lansdowne PA 19050 (8PM - dinner available at 6PM) $15 advance sale — $18 at door

Dave Keller Band @ Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton NJ 08087 (7:30PM) $20 advance, $25 door

Monday, December 31, 2018

Dr. K's Motown Revue @ Sellersville Theatre
Sellersville PA 18960 7:30PM show: $40 — 10:30PM show: $50

• • • January • • •

Friday, January 4, 2019

Mitch Woods @ Saint Georges Country Store
Saint Georges DE 19733 (7:30PM-10:30PM)

Friday, January 11, 2019

Scott Sharrard @ Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton NJ 08087 (7:30PM) $28 advance — $33 door

Friday, January 18, 2019

Dukes Of Destiny, Greg Sover, & Deb Callahan @ Sellersville Theatre
Sellersville PA 18960 (7:30PM) $21.50 advance; $30 at door

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Big Bill Morganfield @ Capitol Theatre
Chambersburg PA 17201 (7:30PM)

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Lehigh River Blues Jam @ Allentown Days Hotel (Jetport Ballroom)
Allentown PA 18109
3:00PM-3:40PM Mikey Jr.
4:00PM-4:40PM A Few Good Men
5:00PM-5:40PM Skyla Burrell
6:00PM-6:40PM BC Combo Jam Allstars
7:00PM-8:25PM Mike Farris
8:45PM-10:00PM Georgie Bonds
$20 advance; $25 after 1/20/2019; group table rate available until 1/20/2019

Gooch & The Motion @ World Cafe Live
Philadelphia PA 19104 (8PM) $10 advance; $12 day of show (plus fees)

Junior Watson @ Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton NJ 08087 (7:30PM) $30 advance; $35 at door

• • • February • • •

Friday, February 22, 2019

Shemekia Copeland and The Commonheart @ Penn's Peak
Jim Thorpe PA 18229 (8PM) $23 advance (day of show $28)

Lancaster Roots and Blues: A Festival Of Music
Lancaster PA 17603 advance tickets now on sale

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Lancaster Roots and Blues: A Festival Of Music
Lancaster PA 17603 advance tickets now on sale

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Lancaster Roots and Blues: A Festival Of Music
Lancaster PA 17603 advance tickets now on sale

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Tedeschi Trucks Band @ The Met Philadelphia
Philadelphia PA 19130

• • • March • • •

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Danielle Nicole Band @ Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton NJ 08087 (7:30PM ) $25 advance — $30 door

Thursday, March 7, 2019

CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band @ World Cafe Live
Philadelphia PA 19104 (8PM) $20 advance; $22 day of show (plus fees)

Saturday. March 9, 2019

Paul Rishell & Annie Raines @ Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton NJ 08087 (7:30PM) $25 advance — $30 door

Friday. March 22, 2019

Selwyn Birchwood @ Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton NJ 08087 (7:30PM) $27 advance — $35 door

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Blast Furnace Blues Festival 2018 Day 2

      Fowler Blast Furnace Room
12Noon  TBA
1:00PM  TBA
2:30PM  TBA
4:15PM  TBA
6:00PM  TBA
7:45PM  TBA

      Musikfest Café
12:30PM  TBA
 1:45PM  TBA
 3:15PM  TBA
 5:00PM  TBA
 6:45PM  TBA
 8:30PM  TBA

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Blast Furnace Blues Festival 2018 Day 3

      Fowler Blast Furnace Room
12:30PM  TBA
 2:15PM  TBA
 3:45PM  TBA
 5:15PM  TBA

      Musikfest Café
 Noon  TBA
1:15PM  TBA
2:30PM  TBA
4:15PM  TBA
6:00PM  TBA

Friday, March 29, 2019

Gary Clark Jr. @ The Met Philadelphia
Philadelphia PA 19130

• • • April • • •

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Berks Jazz Fest
I Got Life The Music Of Nina Simone:
featuring Carol Riddick & Gerald Veasley @ Club ECP at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, Reading PA 19601
(shows at 1:30PM and 7:30PM) $35 (General Admission)

Berks Jazz Fest
Walter Trout plus Bruce Katz Band
The Inn at Reading, Wyomissing PA 19610
(2PM) $49 (General Admission)

Sunday, April 7, 2019

Berks Jazz Fest

Allman Betts Band (Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Berry Oakley Jr. & more)
@ DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, Reading PA 19601
(7PM) $49 (General Admission); $53 (reserved seating)

Friday, April 12, 2019

Berks Jazz Fest
Tommy Katona & Texas Flood (music of Stevie Ray Vaughan) The Inn at Reading, Wyomissing PA 19610
(7:30PM) $30 (General Admission)

Friday, April 12, 2019

Berks Jazz Fest
Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Midnight Jam:
Nick Colionne, Kim Waters, Slam Allen, Kenny Blake and many more
The Inn at Reading, Wyomissing PA 19610
(11:50PM) $30 (General Admission)

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Berks Jazz Fest
Big Sam's Funky Nation plus
Slam Allen's tribute to James Cotton
featuring Steve Guyger, Rene Carlson, Mikey Junior @ DoubleTree by Hilton (Grand Ballroom) Reading PA 19601
(2PM) $49 (General Admission)

Berks Jazz Fest
Lean On Me: Jose James celebrates Bill Withers
plus Lizz Wright @ Miller Center for the Arts, Reading PA 19601
(7PM) $59 (General Admission)

Berks Jazz Fest
Carl Filipiak & The Jimi Jazz Band @ Crowne Plaza Reading (Goodnites Lounge), Reading PA 19610
(8PM) $10 at door

Berks Jazz Fest
Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Midnight Jam:
Nick Colionne, Kim Waters, Slam Allen, Kenny Blake and many more
The Inn at Reading, Wyomissing PA 19610
(11:50PM) $30 (General Admission)

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Berks Jazz Fest
Kirk Whalum’s Gospel According To Jazz Celebration
with guest Take 6, and Kevin Whalum, John Stoddart, Doxa Gospel Ensemble
Scottish Rite Cathedral, Reading PA 19611
(6PM) $55 (Reserved Seating)

• • • May • • •

Saturday, May 4, 2019

Blues, Brews, & Barbecue @ Capitol Theatre
Chambersburg PA 17201 (1PM-7PM)

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Black Walnut Winery Blues Fest
Sadsburyville PA 19369

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Black Walnut Winery Blues Fest
Sadsburyville PA 19369

Friday, May 31, 2019

Western Maryland Bluesfest Day 1
Central Lot, North Potomac Street
Hagerstown MD 21740

• • • June • • •

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Chester County Blues Barbecue @ Wyndsor Farm
Elverson PA (2PM-7PM) rain or shine

Western Maryland Bluesfest Day 2
Central Lot, North Potomac Street
Hagerstown MD 21740

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Saint Georges Blues Festival
Fort DuPont Parade Grounds
Delaware City DE 19706

Blues, Brews & Barbecue
Allentown PA 18101 (Noon-10PM)

Sunday, June 9, 2019

Saint Georges Blues Festival
Fort DuPont Parade Grounds
Delaware City DE 19706

Billtown Blues Festival
Lycoming County Fairgrounds
Hughesville PA 17737

Saturday, June 15, 2019

State Street Blues Stroll
Business district in Media PA 19063
headline act at Media Theatre 8:15PM-10PM
Many other acts throughout the area within walking distance of
the Media Theatre, throughout the evening

• • • July • • •

Briggs Farm Blues Festival early-bird pricing:
Thursday, July 11th through Sunday, July 15th
1-day (Friday or Saturday): $30
1-day (Thursday or Sunday): $20
2-day (Friday & Saturday): $55
4-day (Thursday thru Sunday): $85
3-day (Friday thru Sunday) plus camping: $95
4-day (Thursday thru Sunday) plus camping: $120

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Briggs Farm Blues Festival Pre-Festival Night Back Porch Party
88 Old Berwick Highway, Nescopeck PA 18635
570-379-3342
performers TBA

Friday, July 12, 2019

Briggs Farm Blues Festival Day 1
88 Old Berwick Highway, Nescopeck PA 18635
570-379-3342
performers TBA, Southern Avenue, Donna The Buffalo booked so far.

Saturday, July 13, 2019

Briggs Farm Blues Festival Day 2
88 Old Berwick Highway, Nescopeck PA 18635
570-379-3342
performers TBA

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Briggs Farm Blues Festival Day 3
88 Old Berwick Highway, Nescopeck PA 18635
570-379-3342
performers TBA, Alexis P. Suter Ministers Of Sound booked so far.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Bucks County Blues Society R & B Picnic
@ Snipes Farm, in Morrisville PA 19067

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Susquehanna Folk Festival
Roundtop Mountain Resort
Lewisberry PA 17339

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Susquehanna Folk Festival
Roundtop Mountain Resort
Lewisberry PA 17339

• • • August • • •

• • • September • • •

• • • October • • •

• • • November • • •

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Regularly occurring (weekly, monthly) blues jams and events

           Weekly

• • • every Tuesday • • •

Ursula Ricks hosts "Cats Eye Blues Jam" @ The Cats Eye Pub
Baltimore (Fells Point) MD 21231 (9PM)

Nate Myers and The Aces @ Grotto Pub
Enola PA

• • • every Wednesday • • •

Mikey Jr. @ The Twisted Tail 8PM
Philadelphia PA

• • • every Sunday • • •

Blues Brunch and Jam with The Philly Blues Kings
@ Jamey's House Of Music
Lansdowne PA 19050 (11:30AM-4:30PM) $4

Mikey Jr. leads blues jam 5PM-9PM @ The Twisted Tail
Philadelphia PA

           Monthly

Fred Miller Blues Band @ The Rusty Nail
Blues Jam 8PM last Sunday of each month
Ardmore PA

    Jonny's Top Twenty-Five Blues Songs 2017

Vanessa Collier "Cry Out"
Eight O'Five Jive "Never"
David Brinston "I Drinks My Whiskey"
Linsey Alexander "Starting Monday"
Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers "Pretty Good For A Girl"
Eric Bibb "We Had To Move"
Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' "Ain't Nobody Talkin'"
Karen Lovely "Next Time"
Chuck Berry "Eyes Of Man"
Cecile McLorin Salvant "Wild Women Don't Have The Blues"
Big Bill Morganfield "Help Someone"
Southern Avenue "80 Miles From Memphis"
Mr. Sipp "Juke Joint"
Polly O'Keary "Hard Hearted World"
Robert Cray "You Must Believe In Yourself"
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats "Dissed Again"
Reverend Sekou "In Times Like These"
Willa Vincitore "Love Looks Good On Me"
Stew Cutler & Friends "Gumbo Trane"
Ms. Jody "Where I Come From"
Alabama Mike "Meet Me In The Bottom"
James Armstrong "Old Man In The Morning (Young Man At Night)"
Eric Gales "Boogie Man"
Harrison Kennedy "Afraid To Fail"
Selwyn Birchwood "My Whiskey Loves My Ex"

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[Return To Top Of Blues Events]

The ten-album series Worried Blues from Fat Possum Records reissues some
music from some wonderful albums recorded by Gene Rosenthal,
some issued on LP in the 1960s and 1970s, and all issued on CDs in the 1990s
in the "Blue Vault" series on the Genes label.
The albums in this series did not enjoy wide promotion and distribution
at the time of issue. Now in the Worried Blues series, they do.

Some of these draw from two originally issued albums, and as such, have
to omit some songs from the original releases. Others are straight reissues of original
albums in the series, and some of those lack a few tracks from those originals.
Possibly this is the result of issues around the publishing of those songs,
though it is unfortunate.
The liner notes in the series are almost all "adapted"
(significantly abridged versions of the excellent notes in the original releases).
Some of the original releases are still around, available as used discs
or ocassionally new, still wrapped. The reissues are
generally much less expensive, can be downloaded as mp3s, and will
come out on LPs for those who want that format in September.

I have found the Discogs website useful, not only for checking info on these particular albums, but also usually a good source of info about the personnel on albums, the dates and places where they were recorded, and the different editions in which they have been issued.

R. L. Burnside—Worried Blues—
straight reissue of My Black Name A-Ringin' released on CD in 1991 by
Genes Records through Adelphi label. Original had much more extensive liner notes
and photos. Reissue liner notes lack name of harmonica player Red Ramsey
who plays on several tracks.
originally issued on Genes Records - GCD 9917

Reverend Gary Davis—Worried Blues—
reissue of O, Glory - The Apostolic Studio Sessions which came out on Edsel label
in 1996, missing two cuts from the original CD. Liner notes significantly abridged,
fail to mention the name of harmonica player Larry Johnson
who plays on four songs.
originally issued on CD by Edsel Records - EDCD 482; LP "O, Glory" issued in
1973 by Adelphi Records.

Honeyboy Edwards—Worried Blues—
reissue of Don't Mistreat A Fool album released 1999 Genes label missing three songs from original release (including both that had
Big Walter Horton on harmonica); abridged liner notes
original issue on CD by Genes Records - GCD 9914

Mississippi John Hurt—Worried Blues—
original issue was issued as a double CD, and also apparently
as separate single CDs.
The reissue omits some of the songs and also omits an interview with Hurt
conducted by Pete Seeger on disc two of the original.
Abridged liner notes and art.
both albums/volumes issued together as double CD
Mississippi John Hurt Memorial Anthology
by Genes label - GCD 9906/7 in 1993
Volume 1: released by Edsel Records - EDCD 381 in 1994
Volume 2: released by Edsel Records - EDCD 446 in 1997

Skip James—Worried Blues—
straight reissue of his album She Lyin' which came out in 1993 from Genes Records.
This has all the songs on the original, though abridged liner notes. This is an album of
guitar-based songs. Skip also did a wonderful piano album for Genes, but that is not
reissued in the Worried Blues series, at least not yet.
original issue on Genes Records - GCD 9901 in 1993

Furry Lewis—Worried Blues—
this album draws some songs from two albums in the original Blues Vault series,
On The Road Again (which had come out on LP in 1969) and Take Your Time.
The album "On The Road Again" had some tracks with famed Memphis banjo player Gus Cannon and guitarist Bukka White,
but those songs are among the omitted titles.
On The Road Again originally issued on CD by Genes Records - GCD 9918
Take Your Time originally issued on CD by Genes Records - GCD 9911

Little Brother Montgomery—Worried Blues—
this is a straight reissue of Montgomery's No Special Rider CD album
for the Genes label (issued 1999 on CD; 1969 LP issue had two fewer cuts),
with abridged liner notes. On some songs
Jeanne Carroll is the vocalist. Guitarist Mike Stewart plays on some tracks.

Houston Stackhouse—Worried Blues—
reissue of the album Cryin' Won't Help You minus two of its tracks, originally
released on CD in 1994. The highly abridged liner notes are unfortunate,
as the extensive info in the original liner notes included much about the artist
that was previously unpublished and not known.
original label: Genes Records - GCD 9904.

Bukka White—Worried Blues—
reissue of album 1963 Isn't 1962
issued by Genes Records - GCD 9903 in 1994.

Reverend Robert Wilkins—Worried Blues—
reissue of Remember Me album, abridged liner notes
originally issued 1993 on Genes label (GCD 9902).

[Return To Top Of Blues Calendar]

[Return To Top Of Page]

About The Blues Show and Jonny Meister

The Blues Show airs every Saturday night from 7:00 to Midnight on XPN. Host Jonny Meister explores this music and its history not only because it is the key ingredient in later rock and pop music, but also because of its own special allure and unique power as a style of music and expression of the human soul.

The Blues Show covers the entire history of the blues from 1920 to the present, from the best-known to the most obscure blues, with focus on the present-day blues, but with an eye on the rich history of this music and its large body of timeless recordings.

Host Jonny Meister has been playing the blues on WXPN since March 1977. Meister grew up with old blues records in the house. His father played boogie woogie on the piano, which Jonny learned at about the age of 12. Later he played in rock bands and did a few solo gigs as a singer-songwriter. As his interest in blues grew, he became especially interested in the history of the music, a history not always revealed by the rock musicians and their promoters who drew heavily on the blues.

Jonny spent a week with the family of the late, great blues musician J. B. Lenoir in 1979, and he was one of the consultants for the Wim Wenders film The Soul Of A Man which featured Lenoir, in the PBS film series The Blues. He won the "Keeping The Blues Alive" award for work in Public Radio for The Blues Show in 2000 and a "Best of Philly" award from Philadelphia Magazine in 1996 for "Best Local Radio Show".

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