Helping the Mississippi John Hurt Museum Helping the Mississippi John Hurt Museum In late February, the Mississippi John Hurt Museum in Avalon, Mississippi suffered a devastating fire, one that destroyed the museum and the historical artifacts within. To help with the reconstruction and to continue our mission of preserving the Blues and its traditions, the Suncoast Blues Society Board of Directors has donated to the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation on behalf of our membership. Mississippi John Hurt is one of the more influential Blues and folk artists of all time. So important an artist w ..read more

Youth Day at Tampa Bay Blues Festival 2024 Youth Day at Tampa Bay Blues Festival Sunday, April 14th, 2024 The Tampa Bay Blues Festival (TBBF) is a 3-Day event held in beautiful Vinoy Waterfront Park, St Petersburg, Florida, April 12-14, 2024. Some of the world’s preeminent Blues Music artists will perform. Blues is the foundation of American Music, from Gospel to Jazz, from Rock-n-Roll to Hip Hop. Blues music is the springboard that launched it all. Suncoast Blues Society and TBBF are committed to introducing youth to this historic form. We are making a special offer to our next generation ..read more

BLUES BASH AT THE RANCH – PART TWO – SATURDAY BLUES BASH AT THE RANCH – PART TWO – SATURDAY        Blues Bash at the Ranch runs Friday, March 15, 2024 through March 17, 2024 with three days of incredible blues.  Camping is optional.  Single day and weekend passes are on sale online through 3/11/24; after that tickets are available only at the fest. Always family and pet friendly.  On Saturday, a full day of activities for children 12 and under; ie, painting, tie dye, piñata, hay ride and more!  Parents meet at the ranch playground to s ..read more

Sarasota Cigar Box Fest Weekend Sarasota Cigar Box Fest Weekend March 8-9, 2024 Cigar box guitar fans and blues fans have much to look forward to as Big Top Brewery in Sarasota will be the focal point for a full day of music celebrating home-made instruments. Hand-crafted string instruments found their start in the blues. Artists like Bo Diddley popularized instruments made from cigar boxes, borrowing a custom created by the sharecroppers who started blues music. The history of blues  is linked to homemade instruments. And this weekend is a musical celebration of this legacy. Our area ..read more

BLUES BASH AT THE RANCH – PART ONE/FRIDAY BLUES BASH AT THE RANCH – PART ONE/FRIDAY Camping is optional. Single day and weekend passes are on sale online through 3/11/24; after that tickets are available only at the Fest. A full day of activities for children 12 and under on Saturday. Friday night kicks off the festival at 5pm with our legendary Campers Acoustic Jam.  All attendees are invited to meet at the main pavilion with their music instruments to jam together.  You never know if one of our artists will be there leading it! At 6pm, Calvin Duncan Jr. kicks off the ..read more

4th Annual Bradenton Cigar Box Fest 4th Annual Bradenton Cigar Box Fest A spectacular weather day greeted fans for the 4th edition of Bradenton’s Cigar box Guitar Festival. The fest is becoming a “must attend” annual event. Noticeable was the large increase in attendance throughout the four venues hosting the event in Bradenton’s Village of The Arts. Vendor booths selling Cigar box guitars and merchandise experienced a busy sales day, and many of the fans attended the fest with their newly purchased cigar box guitars. This review will focus on acts at the largest venue of the fo ..read more

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10th Anniversary Camping With the Blues October 20-22, 2023 10th Anniversary Camping With the Blues October 20-22, 2023 The venue is now the Florida Sand Music Ranch managed by the Will McLean Foundation.  It was previously the Sertoma Youth Ranch, and its emphasis on music is now even stronger. Day 1 Friday – Soulful Femme hit the stage at 5:20pm. Lead singer Stevee Wellons announced she has been working with SBS favorite Kevin Burt and that her new CD contains a duo with her and Kevin. She and guitarist Cheryl Rinovato traveled from Pennsylvania. Great vocals – big sound. Very sou ..read more

TGRN True Grit Roots Network, LLC. Launches TGRN BLUES TGRN True Grit Roots Network, LLC. Launches TGRN BLUES Austin, TX, September 1, 2023 – TGRN True Grit Roots Network (TGRN), a Digital Radio Network dedicated to roots music, is pleased to announce the launch of TGRN BLUES, a 24×7, Digital Radio Channel dedicated to keeping the Blues alive and thriving as of September 5, 2023. TGRN BLUES is readily available through any streaming device in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom through our Mobile App, Live365 Player, Alexa, Roku, Samsung TV, Apple TV, and other popular stream ..read more

EG Kight “Sticks & Strings” – CD Review Sticks & Strings In September 2023, Kight released her 10th blues album, STICKS & STRINGS which again features the EG Kight Trio in a simple, acoustic setting. EG and her “boys,” as she affectionately calls them – Gary Porter and Ken Wynn – offer a wide variety of blues/roots music with these songs, nine of which were written or co-written by Kight. EG and the “boys” put on a great show for your Suncoast Blues Society at the Palladium Side Door in June – after listening to her new CD (several times!), we hope to have them back for a CD re ..read more