Carnival of Soul

Saturday and Sunday the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance is going virtual with its ArtWalk 2020. For information go to www.westvilleartwalk.org. One of the featured artists is Rocky Lawrence. He will be playing the blues on his front porch for a socially-distanced group of neighbors in New Haven.

Other parts of this event include Thabisa, Chrissy Gardner from the Moose Louge, Alisa Bowens Mercado, and DJ Dooley-O. They are also planning activities such as live screen printing origial T’s , a virtual rubber duckie race, and studio tours. All proceeds and donations go to the Westville Small Business Fund to assist with small grants for businesses and self employed artists hit hard by Covid 19.

Many clubs are putting together a virtual schedule. Live at the Falcon hosts a weekly Saturday evening show. They are encouraging donations which will benefit Falcon musicians and staff affected by COVID-19.

Artists are also working on albums and new releases are coming. One such release is a new single from Gina Sicilia, “Hey Love” from her new album, “Love Me Madly,” produced by Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars. The album will be released on May 29.

Since nabbing a Blues Music Award nomination for Best New Artist in 2008, Gina has enjoyed great chart and radio success in the genre. Her last album, Heard the Lie, debuted at #10 on the Billboard Blues chart while Tug Of War reached #3 on the Contemporary Blues Album chart and was the #1 roots album in Tennessee. Over the same period, Sicilia has opened for Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joan Osborne and Beth Hart, among others.

A couple of other new albums that crossed the desk include John Primer and Bob Corritore’s The Gypsy Woman Told Me released last week. Also, Georgia Randall a blues soul rock songwriter/ guitarist out of Florida, on her latest album “Help Wanted.” She has a voice similar to that of Tina Turner with a rock- blues vibe.

Middle Tennessee State University is promoting Learn the Music Business from Industry Leaders. Whether you want to break into the industry, move up in your career, or run your own business, their Online Flex M.B.A. with a concentration in music business can help you achieve your goals. All artists, producers, managers, and anyone who wants to shape the future of the music industry are welcome.

You can download a brochure to learn how the curriculum blends business and music at https://onlinemba.mtsu.edu/online-mba-music/?cid=2424&utm_source=livingblues&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=livingbluesemail

The program helps advance careers with an M.B.A. rooted in the music business, build a foundation of business knowledge at the same time you are expanding your industry expertise. Middle Tennessee State University’s Jones College emphasizes a data-driven education combined with soft skills, which are vital in a field built on collaboration and connections.

With the Online Flex M.B.A., most classes are online with some on-campus sessions. MTSU has affiliations with Nashville and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Students will receive individual attention from faculty, opportunities for networking, and professional development services.

This is the hard part — talking about canceled festivals. One of Blues Beat’s favorites, The North Atlantic Blues Festival has been canceled. Promoter Paul Benjamin has said he will bring the 2020 lineup next year.

The 2020 Chicago Blues Festival has also been cancelled, and there will be no 2020 Chicago Blues Bootcamp. But there is a chance to study with Chicago Blues Masters Johnny Burgin, Joanna Connor, Billy Flynn, Brother John Kattke, Dave Specter, and Harlan Terson. It is a chance to learn Chicago Blues Standards for guitar, bass, harp, keyboards, vocals and comping from the Faculty of Chicago Blues Bootcamp. The lessons are online with documentation.

You will receive four video lessons of Chicago Blues Standards taught by the Chicago Blues Master of your choice. Every lesson shows techniques, riffs, chord changes and other insights which each Faculty member uses in Blues clubs around the country and in recordings for more than 30 years. You will learn to play Chicago Blues with a feeling.

Finally, as so much is owed to those who have developed this art form over the past century, a portion of each order will be sent directly to the Blues Foundation COVID-19 Blues Musicians Emergency Relief Fund. To pre-register or get more information, email scott@chicagobluescamp.com.

From the White Mountain Boogie N’ Blues Festival. “Mike and I have had to make the very difficult choice to postpone this years festival to Aug. 20-22, 2021 due to COVID-19. For the safety of all involved we do not believe it would be the right choice to continue at this point. We are sad that we will not see our boogie family this year. Thank you all for your support over the years. Please take care of yourselves and your families and we will see you all next year. Brad & Mike Benton.”

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