Many thanks to all the musicians who have shown interest in performing at the New River Blues Festival, a DAY OF BLUES IN PARADISE The King Bees/ MellowDown Productions produce this event and others in the NC high country and other locales.
BACKGROUND
The New River Blues Festival will be held on Sun. Sept. 6 Labor Day weekend. This event started small 7 years ago and is really growing. We had a fantastic turnout in 2008, but the essence of the Fest resides in it remaining intimate. The location is glorious—a mountain meadow on the banks of the New River. We are in rural Appalachia so we keep the ticket price low in order to be as inclusive as possible. In these days of a tough economy our budget is REALLY tight!
CRITERIA
We have a general commitment to presenting real-deal African-American artists of historical and cultural significance in the blues.It is our mission to provide musical diversity to a region that here-to-fore had no access to authentic, world-class blues performances. This goal has meshed beautifully with what our audience enjoys...We have presented such distinguished artists as NAPPY BROWN, ETTA BAKER, CHICAGO BOB NELSON, JOHNNY RAWLS, CHICK WILLIS, LITTLE PINK ANDERSON, JERRY MCCAIN, DRINK SMALL...just to name a few.
SUBMISSION
Please check out our MySpace page to get a flavor of “our day in paradise” --www.myspace.com/newriverbluesfestival
We ask interested artists to prepare promo kits including:
~PRESS: abundant reviews, quotes and articles from respected newspapers and blues journals from the US and abroad.
~TOUR ITINERARY: especially international, including major festivals.
~CREDENTIALS: If you are not an artist who can be described as above in CRITERIA please include a bio consisting of eminent, historically significant blues artists you have recorded and toured with.
~Good Quality CD
SEND TO: KING BEES/MELLOWDOWN
PO BOX 200 TODD, NC 28684 USA
***FESTIVAL OPENERS
We also present talented performers who might not meet all the criteria, but are dedicated to old-school blues and have notable Credentials (see above). They waive a direct performance fee. Compensation consists of being on the roster of this one-of-a-kind blues celebration, making friends in the larger blues community, enjoying delicious complimentary food and drink, and benefiting from CD sales. A day in our stunning mountains also has a mighty appeal!
JOIN THE FUN SUPPORT THE MISSION
We regret that we can’t provide slots for all interested, gifted blues performers. Many musicians come to enjoy the world-class entertainment on an awesome summer afternoon in the cool Blue Ridge...Folks have told us the music and vibe are life changing!... So, if this wasn’t your year for selection, remember: it’s on a Sunday and we are only 2 hours from Greensboro, Charlotte, Asheville and Johnson City. If you resonate to our mission, we hope you will join us, become friends, enjoy.
We appreciate and commend each one of you for dedicating yourselves to bringing joy to others through music. Again, many thanks for keeping the blues alive!
Queen Bee Zamagni & The King Bees
MellowDown Productions