BIG CITY BLUES June-July 2002 Issue The Hayward-Russell City Blues Festival By Johnny Ace The Bay Area Blues Society will bring the Blues of Russell City back to the public in the form of a festival, lectures and archival musical showings. This is a historical event. This little town of African-American's who migrated here from the deep south was one of the proving grounds for many blues musicians. Russell City, an unincorporated area of Hayward, California is about 12 minutes from the City of Oakland. This community of modest houses and small farms along the bay is now gone. During it's heyday, Russell City was a down home community, known for it's clubs with dirt floors, bootleg electricity and a steady stream of musicians playing a style of Delta Blues. During the early part of their careers, artists such as Big Joe Turner and Big Mama Thorton played Texas, Arkansas and Lousiana style blues in Russell City. West Coast Blues music eventually influenced the traditional sound when horns replaced the harmonica and West Coast Blues was born. Russell City is a landmark on the map of American's contributions to world culture giving Hayward a unique musical leg reflecting the African-American experience. We are pleased to bring those sounds back through the Hayward-Russell City Blues Festival. The Hayward-Russell City Blues Festival celebrates the rich history, musical and cultural art form found in Russell City and Hayward during the post war years from the 1940's thru the 1960's. Hayward-Russell City Blues Festival July 6 & 7, 2002 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hayward City Hall Plaza 777 "B" Street Hayward, California Sponsorship/General Information Bay Area Blues Society 510-836-2227 Vendor Information 510-430-0653 Ticket Information $20.00 - door $15.00 - in advance $10.00 - senior/student FREE - Children under 12 $28.00 two day ticket in advance Music All Day on Two Stages Main Stage Car Show Stage Special Attractions Hayward Historical Society Display Antique Car Show Kids Area Ethnic Food Beverage Area Arts & Craft Vendors MAIN STAGE SATURDAY-JULY 6, 2002 Little Jimmy King John Primer David Thompson Zakiya Hooker and Blues 4U Caravan of Allstars featuring: Wylie Trass, Teddy "Blues Master" Watson, Willie G Shane Dwight Puro Bandido June Evans & The Brickhouse Band Stars of Glory SUNDAY-JULY 7, 2002 Eddie Kirkland Little Charlie & The Nightcats Chris Cain Phil Guy Chocolate Thunder Russell City Memorial Blues Band featuring: Big Bob Deance, Jimmy Mamou, Billy Dunn & Country Pete Red Archibald & The Internatiionals Endurance CAR SHOW STAGE SATURDAY - July 6, 2002 LeRoy Jones Greg Barker & The Highway 66 Horns Collette Brothers Featuring Count Bernard Martin Franco SUNDAY - July 7, 2002 Dave Harris & The Voltones Black Diamond Blues Band Slade Rivers Featuring Wylie Trass Billy Pigrum & The Original Thrillers Bay Area Blues Society BAY AREA BLUES SOCIETY, INC. MISSION STATEMENT The Bay Area Blues Society is a non-profit, 501 © (3) organization dedicated to the perpetuation of blues, jazz and gospel as an art form indigenous to America as an art form. We are dedicated to the preservation ,promotion and representation of this American folk music and cultural forms of blues, jazz and gospel as they took root in African-American communities. The communities of Vallejo, Richmond, Oakland and Russell City all have deep roots in the music idiom. For the past 17 years, the Bay Area Blues Society has surpassed all other blues society's who focus on just blues festivals and membership. We have reached out within our community, as well as expanded to other communities, to present the rich musical heritage of the Blues, American's only true home-grown art form. Bob Geddins Godfather of Oakland Blues Information & Programs Board of Directors and Subscriber Opportunities The Music They Played on 7th Street Project(in progress) Russell City - The Town That Lost the Blues Project(in progress) Swan Song & Home Grown Blues Series Every Wednesday, June thru August 2002 Alameda County Fair Festivals June 22 & 29, 2002 Hayward-Russell City Blues Festival July 6 & 7, 2002 Siskiyou Blues & Heritage Festival IX July 20 & 21, 2002 Vallejo Blues & Heritage Festival September 14 & 15, 2002 Caravan of Allstars Bios Executive Director Caravan of Allstars Calendar 2002 Ronnie K. Stewart Caravan of Allstars Picture Gallery hipwayblues@hotmail.com VALLEJO BLUES & HERITAGE FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 14 & 15, 2002 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Vallejo Marina on Mare Island Way MAIN STAGE Sonny Rhodes - Headliner Beverly Watson Red Archibald & the Internationals Carl Good Rockin Robinson & Lil Frances Billy Dunn & Blues Review Caravan of Allstars featuring: James Brown Jr. Henry Willie G Black Diamond Blues Band Oakland Silvertones Headliner to be announced Alvon Craig Horton & Hotlinks Band Michael John & the Bottomline Blues Band Little Willie John Jr., Caravan of Allstars featuring: Wylie Trass Ella Pennewell Teddy "Blues Master" Watson Country Pete & Cottonfield Blues Band featuring Big Bob Deance Stars of Glory Sep 14, 2002 Delta Blues Festival Antioch, California - Waldie Plaza - on the river at 2nd & G Streets, Antioch, CA The City of Antioch and Rivertown Business Assoc. Contact: Son & Son Media 800 West 3rd Street, Antioch, CA 94509 USA Send Mail! David Williamson Phone: 925-706-4270 Ticket Price: FREE - No alcohol This year's line up features 4 great bands and a special "All-Star" blues revue covering a variety of styles. Bands confirmed as of 1/15 include: Reverend Ravia with Virgil Thrasher, The Delta Dogs, Craig Horton, The Shane Dwight Blues Band (winner of 2001 Montery Blues Festival - Best Blues Band), and San Francisco guitar great Johnny Nitro and an All-Star Bay Area Blues Revue (see www.deltabluesfestival.com for guest artist announcements). Last year's roster included Junior Watson with Mark Hummel, The Dynatones, Kenny Blue Ray, and others. Artists, agents and labels: We are now accepting promo packs for one more possible slot at this year's festival. If you would like to be considered for this event, please forward materials (with 2 copies of most current recording, photo of current band, and bio) to The Delta Blues Festival, C/O Son & Son Media at the above address. Please include the number of people in the band that would be performing and all instruments being represented. If you have questions regarding this event, feel free to call or email David Williamson. Comments: This is our 4th annual festival. Admission is free. Alcohol is not allowed. Food, beverage and other vendors are available. A great event featuring good-time, family style blues. Presented by Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch and the Antioch Rivertown Business Association Saturday, September 14th, 2002 12:30 to 7:00 pm Downtown Antioch Take A Street from Highway 4 toward Downtown. Turn Left on 6th, Right on G, and Left on 2nd. It's in that cool grassy area on the right between G and I Streets, by the river across from City Hall. For booking information email David Williamson or call 925-706-4270 Last Year’s Schedule 12:00 to 1:15 PM Felonius Smith - Acoustic Blues Combo 1:30 to 2:30 PM Lara Price 2:45-3:45 PM Kenny "Blue" Ray 4:00 to 5:30 PM The Dynatones 6:00 to 7:00 PM Junior Watson 7:00 to 8:00 PM Mark Hummel with Junior Watson ------------------------------------------------------------------------