Carolina Downhome Blues Festival
This October marks the 24th year for the award-winning Carolina Downhome Blues Festival in Camden, SC. This year’s event is scheduled for October 7-10.
Venues:
Arts Center of Kershaw County - Including the Bassett Gallery Opening of "Blues Chapel" by Susan Lenz and a SATURDAY OUTDOOR FESTIVAL at the Center from 12-7pm!
Baron's
Steeplechase Sports Bar & Grill
Books on Broad
Sam Kendall’s
¡Salud! Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Lounge
La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
Broad & Vine
Kershaw County Farmers Market
Grace Episcopal Church
24th Annual Carolina Downhome Blues Festival Sponsors:
BlueCrossBlueShield of South Carolina Kathy & Cab Stitt
Linda and John Shaylor
Louise and Jim Burns
Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union First Citizens Bank.
24th Annual Carolina Downhome Blues Festival Media Partners:
Grace Outdoor
Chronicle – Independent
KOOL 102.7 and Carolina Country Classics 98.7 and 1590
Camden Living Magazine
Community Broadcasters, LLC
Host hotel:
Hampton Inn Camden
About the 24th Annual Carolina Downhome Blues Festival Weekend:
For 24 years, the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival has been known for its legendary blues artists from around the globe, performing in multiple venues in an “up-close and personal” atmosphere, as well as its “blues crawl” format. Deemed by Southern Living as a “destination weekend,” the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival attracts both blues aficionados as well as fans new to the blues music genre. All access armbands are $15 for Thursday, $20 for Friday and Saturday and will be available for purchase along with commemorative t-shirts and limited edition 24th Annual Carolina Downhome Blues posters featuring a portrait of late Blues legend, Beverly "Guitar" Watkins by artist Susan Lenz.
Lineup:
BLUES DELUXE (SC)
www.bluesdeluxesouthcarolina.com
Distinctive Midlands blues quartet riding on the success of their latest album “Bad Women, Good Whiskey”.
*JIM “WALLSTREET” COUILLARD (SC)
Top-notch blues harmonica man stays in demand.
*BBQ BOB DONNAN (SC)
Versatile guitarist on loan from his popular Upstate country/Americana trio Fernwood Rising.
ELLIOTT & THE UNTOUCHABLES (SC)
www.elliottandtheuntouchables.com
A Palmetto State blues institution, this swingin’ ensemble has taken their music worldwide and always puts on a great show. They back up Juke Joint Johnny on his new CD.
THE HERMOSA PRAIRIE DOGS (TX/SD)
www.randymcallister.com / www.jamesvannuysgallery.blogspot.com
The new acoustic duo project of renowned singer/harmonicist/drummer (and festival favorite) Randy McAllister with James Van Nuys (also a noted visual artist) on fingerstyle guitar.
JUKE JOINT JOHNNY (SC)
www.reverbnation.com/jukejointjohnny4
“The Harmonica High Priest of the Southeast” unleashes his hot new CD entitled “Juke’s Blues”, produced by Elliott New.
ROBERT LIGHTHOUSE (Sweden)
www.robertlighthouse.com
The globe-trotting roots bluesman returns to Camden, having just had his first two albums re-released by the Smithsonian Institution on the revitalized Folkways Records label.
JOHN LONG (MO)
www.johnlongblues.com
Mentored by no one less than Homesick James Williamson, Long is one of the nation’s most authentic traditional solo blues artists.
STEADY ROLLIN’ BOB MARGOLIN (NC)
www.bobmargolin.com
Guitar legend played with Muddy Waters for seven years, performed in “The Last Waltz”, and continues to travel Planet Earth with his slashing slide guitar and understanding of the deep blues. “Real deal”? You got that right!
MILL STREET BLUES (OH)
Brian Peters, John Henry Hill, and Andre Scott weave a spell with a feast of cool covers and intelligent originals. Their exceptionally musical shows at the recent Greenwood Blues Cruise are still the subject of conversation.
*JAY “BOOM BOOM” NIVER (NC)
Drummer to the stars (Otis Rush, The Griswolds, Billy Branch, more) and original stixmaster of ground-breaking Charleston unit Blue Light Special (1990s), Niver’s cred in blues/jazz/swing goes back to his school days (see pic).
THE NIGHTHAWKS (MD)
www.thenighthawks.com
No need for introduction for this legendary East Coast band…these road warriors have been burning down stages and pumping out albums since the 1970s. Expect some of the best electric blues you’ll ever hear.
TIFFANY POLLACK & CO. (LA)
www.tiffanypollackandco.com
Feisty New Orleans blues siren and her seasoned band put a spin on the Crescent City sound. Latest CD is the smoldering “Bayou Liberty” on NOLA Blue Records.
LAURA RAIN & THE CAESARS (MI)
www.laurarain.net
We’re lucky to get a rare Southern appearance from this top vocalist and her gritty Detroit band, featuring George Friend on guitar. Torchy soul, deep-dish funk, and the sound of the Motor City.
JON SHAIN & F.J. VENTRE (NC)
www.jonshain.com
Stylish acoustic duo (guitar/bass/vocals) from the Tarheel State plays rough-hewn Piedmont blues and beguiling originals. Jon is also a recent winner of the national blues music competition in the solo category.
SHRIMP CITY SLIM & FRIENDS* (SC)
www.shrimpcityslim.com
Charleston purveyor of ‘world piano blues’ arrives with a gang of friends (in various combinations) to rock the nooks and crannies of our festival weekend (*friends denoted in this list of artists).
*LAVERNE SMITH (GA)
A regular performer with the legendary Robert Lee Coleman (ex-James Brown), this singer has one foot in the church and the other in the juke joint. Blues, soul, vintage R&B, and more.
GAIL STORM (NY)
www.gailstormmusic.com
Good-time music from the wilds of Long Island…effervescent blues/jazz/honky-tonk piano and vocals, back by popular demand.
*REV. MARV WARD (SC)
www.marvward.com
Musician and bard who has released both a new CD (“Sparkling Isolation”) and a new poetry book (“Healing Time”…available at Books on Broad)
Location
Various Locations
Contact Phone Number
803-425-7676