Blues in the Schools Evening Show Monday, April 25th

Lucky Peterson Sat. April 2nd at Big Cities Lounge

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The incomparable Lucky Peterson will be making a special appearance at Big Cities Lounge at 905 E State Street in Rockford, IL at 9:30 PM on Saturday, April 2nd, 2011. Big Cities is still open and they are proud to have Lucky coming out for this special show. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Crossroads Blues Society Members can get advanced tickets for $10 and a portion of all ticket sales will go to Crossroads' "Blues in the Schools" Program.

Lucky Peterson plays a unique and interesting blend of contemporary blues, fusing soul, R&B, gospel and rock and roll into his blues. He plays both guitar and keyboards. Music journalist Tony Russell, in his book The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray has said, "he may be the only blues musician to have had national television exposure in short pants." He was discovered by blues legend Willie Dixon when he was three years old, released his first record at five and soon after appeared on The Tonight Show.

His new album "You Can Always Turn Around" on the Dreyfus label has received rave reviews and has gotten extensive national airplay on blues radio programs. This is a show blues, soul and gospel fans will ot want to miss- Lucky plays with his heart and soul bared. Come out and hear this great musician and his band and help support keeping the blues alive! Tickets are available at Big Cities (call 815-965-6026) or through Crossroads Blues Society (sub_insignia@yahoo.com).

Candye Kane April 17th Mary's Place

Cruisin' Blues

We are pleased to announce America's newest and most exciting ride for music lovers and bike enthusiasts alike in support of The Blues Foundation www.blues.org .


Join us online and anywhere along the route April 30th through May 8th for Cruisin the Blues Highway! Yes, cars are welcome too.

Nothing goes together better than cruisin the highways of America while listening to some great blues! So get ready to take a trip of a lifetime and join us for “Cruisin the Blues Highway!” Designed to raise awareness of the Blues Music Awards held each year in Memphis, the inaugural tour will follow the trail forged as Blues made it’s way along the Mississippi. There will be five stops on the tour in cities that played a significant role in the development of the Blues and modern music as we know it today. The mission is to spread the word of the Blues Foundation, educate and entertain those that join us for the experience and to build upon a community based on loyalty and passion.

Each major city stop will offer an afternoon shuttle to Blues related attractions and the evenings will be filled with great Blues music at our participating venues. From Chicago, Illinois to Clarksdale, Mississippi, riders will experience the thrill of the open road, action packed stops in the greatest Blues cities throughout the country and endless memories for a lifetime.

There's too much to explain in this email, so click below to visit our website and join us for the journey.

http://www.cruisinblues.com

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - JOIN CBH FOR THE KICK OFF PHOTO SHOOT SUNDAY MAY 1ST AT BUDDY GUY'S LEGENDS. WE'LL BE PARKING BIKES IN FRONT OF THE VENUE STARTING AT

12 NOON AND TAKING THE OFFICIAL PROMO PHOTO FOR THE TOUR. THE PHOTO WILL BE TAKEN NO LATER THAN 1:00 PM SO GET THERE EARLY AND BE A PART OF HISTORY!

Hope to see you on the Cruise.....and best Bluesin!

Stefan Levy
Cruisin the Blues Highway

Blues In The Schools March 21, 2011

It's time for our first set of Spring BITS programs!  After two school events in Freeport and two more in Rockford, our BITS artists will join forces for an evening evet at Big Cities Lounge at 905 E State in Rockford.  Barrelhouse Chuck Goering and Gerry Hundt will blend their keyboards and guitars to serve up some great blues music.  $5 cover, free to student accompanied by their parents and for Crossraods Blues Society Members.  Call 779-537-4006 for more info.

BITS Fundraiser

Gary Phillips/Paradise Guitars Shows

Crossroads Wine Tasting Benefit for BITS Friday, March 18,2011 at Artale Wines

Friday March 18th is the final revised date for the Crossroads Blues Society Blues in the Schools Wine Tasting Benefit at Artale Wine Company.  Located at 6876 Springcreek Road, Ste. 128, Rockford, IL, 1114, Artale Wines hosts benefits to raise money for local non-profits.  Our benefit (note that the date is changed from the newsletter announcement) will run from 5:30 to 8:30 PM.  Tickets are $15, with $10 going to Crossroads from each ticket sale.  Call Artales for tickets and information at (815) 877-9463.  Steve Ditzell will be playing acoustic blues during the event for your listening pleasure. Come on out and support the blues, have some great wine and taste great foods.  The events are catered by Josef Barbados and Pearl Restaurants.

Crossroads sponsors scholarship fund blues benefit show January 15, 2011

All proceeds benefit the Alec Catherwood scholarship fund, which will be awarded each year to a graduatimg HS student at both Stillman Valley and Byron High Schools. 

JB Ritchie and the Power Blues Band will be featured with their hot rocking slide guitar blues sound!  $10 suggested donation at the door.

Please help the cause, donate items for the auctions and raffles!  Contact Steve Jones at sub_insignia@yahoo.com or at 779-537-4006.  You can also drop off items for auction or raffle at Leombuni's Italian Village in Byron at any time prior to the event.

Good-Bye Party for Big Cities Lounge!

Featuring many Rockford blues guitar legends!