Sorry for the delayed edition. Today was day one of family garage sale and my busy like a bee activities kept me away from my computer until now. One new article this week. Read on below to find out more about a Jam/Fundraiser being held for a local favorite blues harp player, "Porkchop." Many thanks to his friends and fans for coming to support him in his time of need.
Returning this week is the very important reviewing how to participate in Best Self-Produced CD Competition as well as a reminder to get your entries in for our October 14th Blues Challenge. Want to know more? Check out the articles below!
Also returning this week, we congratulate winners of of the Walton Arts Center ticket giveaways, and enjoy a review of the Sam Cooke - King of Soul show submitted by one of our ticket winners.
Also below you will find the weekly Blues History feature from Big Train and the Loco Motives. Read on below for more information and to access these great blues history presentations. So much news!
Perhaps you are not seeing your favorite blues artist or venue listed in our calendar? We compile listings from local community calendars for our partner artists and venues throughout the area. Remember, artists and fans alike may send us blues event listings that may not appear in the community calendars. Just email SANDY to share
listings that include performances occurring from next weekend through the following weekend.
It's always important to say, this is YOUR newsletter! Please send questions, information, feedback, and suggestions our way. Just click below to email Sandy.
We appreciate our readers and want
to see your ideas included!
~Sandy McCann
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Enter NOW!
2023 Best Self-Produced
CD Competition
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Time is running out to enter your CD for consideration. We are extending the entry deadline to match the deadline for our Challenge, September 30, 2023. The winner of our regional competition will be announced at our Blues Challenge on October 14, 2023. The winning artist will be awarded a $100 cash prize by OBS and their CD will be submitted to the Blues Foundation's 2024 Best Self-Produced CD competition. Please read on for rules and information on how to submit your entry or visit our website:
Submission Process:
To enter the 2023/2024 Best Self-Produced CD competition, artists need to submit 5 copies of their CD. At least one member of each entering act, must be an active member of Ozark Blues Society. Please review the rules above to make sure your entry qualifies for the Blues Foundation competition. Submissions not meeting eligibility will not be returned. Submissions may be mailed or dropped off in Bentonville or Fayetteville. Please email Sandy at: SMCCANN1680@GMAIL.COM to make arrangements for drop off.
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From the Blues Foundation....
Best Self-Produced Official Rules:
- Entries for the Best Self-Produced CD are permitted by Blues Foundation Affiliated Organizations only.
- Each Affiliate is permitted one entry.
- The CD entered may be recorded and performed by an act other than is entered in the current year’s International Blues Challenge.
- Compilations are not eligible.
- Only CDs released between November 1, 2022 and October 31, 2023 are eligible for consideration as The 2024 Best Self-Produced CD.
- While we encourage a competition at the Affiliate level to determine the CD it will sponsor for Best Self-Produced CD, we do not require one. If an Affiliate does not conduct a competition to determine who it will sponsor but instead appoints a CD, that CD may not include a board member or officer of the sponsoring Affiliated organization.
- A performer who has previously been nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Award) shall not be eligible for this competition. A CD issued in the name of an otherwise eligible performer which also includes the contributions of a Blues Music Award nominee may be ineligible, depending on the extent of the contribution. Please contact The Blues Foundation directly to confirm eligibility.
- A CD on a record label that has been previously nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Award) shall not be eligible for this competition.
- Judging for the Blues Foundation competition will take place in three rounds. Judges will remain anonymous in order to protect them from outside influences and represent a cross-section of professionals from the blues radio and print industry. The final results will be announced at the finals of the International Blues Challenge on Saturday, January 20, 2024 held at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN. Finalists do NOT need to attend the IBC.
Evaluation Criteria*:
Judges will evaluate each submitted CD on the following characteristics. The criteria considered are listed in order of importance.
(1) Blues Content
(2) Musical Performance
(3) Audio Quality and Production Value of the Recording
(4) Professionalism and Visual Appearance of Cover Art and Design
(5) Credits and Liner Note Information.
* These same criteria are used by OBS for judging
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Spread the Word!
Calling All Blues Musicians
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Registration continues for our 2023 Blues Challenge. You can find all the information you need as well as the link to enter the registration process on our website. Please remember, at least one member of each act must be a member of Ozark Blues Society as an active membership is required to register. Registration runs through September 30, 2023. To access the information about the challenge and to register, visit our website: www.ozarkbluessociety.org
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Porkchop's JAMboree
Fundraiser and Jam
in Bentonville
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Come one, come all! The friends of local bluesman Brian "Porkchop Slim" Schooley are hosting a LIVE MUSIC fundraising event at the Meteor Guitar Gallery in Downtown Bentonville  (THANK YOU, LES!)! Porkchop went through a medical setback in early August that created unexpected medical bills and took him way from work for 2 months.
Doors open at 6pm Wednesday September 27th. LIVE music starts at 6:30pm! No cover charge. DONATIONS are appreciated at entrance from both fans and players of "Porkchop's JAMboree"! 100% of the donations will go to help Porkchop's family ‘make ends meet’ during this challenging time. As always, go to our Go Fund Me for Porkchop! https://gofund.me/83a374a4
Musicians, Drummers and Singers (ALL GENRES WELCOMED!)- get there early, or drop in later, and get your name on the list to perform LIVE on stage at the Meteor with other NWA musicians! BYOI - Bring Your Own Instrument, and backline amps, house drums, house keys (thanks, TOM at Arkansas Music Works!) and mics will be provided.
Fans and friends of Porkchop - JOIN US and enjoy LIVE music and help Porkchop! Get there early and enjoy both impromptu jam sessions from some of Northwest Arkansas' very best players as well as scheduled band appearances.
Full bar will be provided with a portion of the proceeds going towards Porkchop's JAMboree Fundraiser. We are currently unsure of food but are looking for food vendors in which a portion of the proceeds would go towards this fundraiser.
THANK YOU, and we hope to see you there for a night of GREAT music and community on Wednesday, September 27th!
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Wow! What a week! Our ticket winners not only learned they won, but they have already attended the performances! One more round of applause for the generous donation of these tickets by the Walton Arts Center. Ozark Blues Society appreciates the support from such an amazing community partner.
Our winners:
"See it All" Allman/Frankenreiter concert - Serita Long
The Music of Sam Cooke- The King of Soul - Conan McCann
Congratulations to both winners!
Conan McCann agreed to write a review for the newsletter which you will find below.
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Performance Review
Walton Arts Center Show Sam Cooke-King of Soul
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Submitted by: Conan McCann
Sam Cooke-King of Soul
On Thursday, September 7, 2023,
I enjoyed “The Music of Sam Cooke: The King of Soul,” featuring Bradd Marquis, at the Walton Arts Center.
I liked the show, along with the
rest of the enthusiastic audience,
who hooted, hollered, and
applauded in appreciation.
The show was mostly familiar hits
by Sam Cooke, sung in a similar way by Mr. Marquis, but with his own style, starting off big with a rousing version of “Twistin’ the Night Away.”
Mr. Marquis has a warm and welcoming stage personality, and charmed everyone, easily getting everyone to sing “I love you” as backup to a very extended “You Send Me.” Mr. Marquis also looked very classy in his shiny red suit in the first part of the show, and in the second part a shiny black suit. The biggest surprise was a soul version cover
of Bob Dylan’s “Blowing in the Wind,” which Sam Cooke had also done back in the day.
Between the songs, Mr. Marquis wove in the story of Sam Cooke’s life story, from his humble beginnings to his rise to fame and fortune, which Mr. Marquis said was due to his entrepreneurial spirit and ambition, with the second part of the show emphasizing Mr. Cooke’s involvement with the civil rights movement. We also found out how Mr. Marquis found out about Mr. Cooke (via Mr. Marquis’s grandparents). Throughout all of the excellent show, Mr. Marquis was backed up by a band of six musicians, and three backup singers, one of whom was his pregnant wife.
Overall it was a very good two hour show, ending on a positive and upbeat mood. I’d recommend it to all fans of soul music. Keep an eye out for it, because I’m sure it will be be back at the WAC someday!
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Weekly Blues History Presented by
Big Train and the
Loco Motives
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Thank you Big Train Blues for permission to access and share these presentations! Find these weekly videos and more when you visit, like and follow Big Train and the Loco Motives at BIGTRAINBLUES.COM
HEY BLUES FANS - Here's the latest episode of "This Week In The Blues" for the week of September 10 through September 16, 2023.  Some of the highlights include blues guitarist Alger "Texas" Alexander, Chicago blues harmonica player Snooky Pryor, "The King of the Blues", B.B. King.
Watch this week's YouTube episode HERE
If you like blues history, Jimbo "Big Train" Madsen does a daily blues history post on the Big Train and the Loco Motives Facebook Page. You can follow their page HERE
They post a new episode each week. Jimbo says, "we’ll see you then!"
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LIVE MUSIC
Music Calendar
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Please enjoy the following listings comprised
of bands, venues, and/or organizations that support Ozark Blues Society. Always check
with individual venues for event details
and schedule changes. Submit weekly listings by emailing: SANDY
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9.15
- Full House for Happy Hour at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville
- Jake Hertzog Trio at the LOwer Ramble in Fayetteville
- Elizabeth Bainbridge Jazz Duo at Sassafras Winery in Springdale
- Keith Nicholson at JJ's Grill and Chill in Springdale
- Oreo Blue at the Music Depot in Rogers
- Sabor Kolombia - Espiritu Libre at Railyard Live in Rogers
- Taj Farrant with Nathan Bryce and Loaded Dice at the Meteor Guitar Gallery in Bentonville
9.16
- Buddy Shute Trio at Jammin' Java in Fayetteville
- Shawn Holt at the Music Depot in Rogers
- Ultra Suede for Railyard Live in Rogers
- Bellwether Sirens at the Meteor Guitar Gallery in Bentonville
9.17
- Tauk Moore at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville
9.19
- Blew Reed and the Flatheads at the Boar's Nest in Rogers
- Forte Quintet for Jazz at the Undercroft at the Undercroft Bar in Bentonville
9.20
- Brick Fields Blues Therapy at Moranos in Fayetteville
- Ben Harris at Six-Twelve Coffeehouse and Bar in Fayetteville
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9.21
- Blew Reed and the Flatheads at Pigtrail Harley Davidson in Rogers
9.22
- Divas on Fire for Happy Hour at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville
- Monte Montgomery at the WAC in Fayetteville
- Brandon Santini at the Music Depot in Rogers
- Metal Night at the Meteor Guitar Gallery in Bentonville
- Format Festival at the Momentary in Bentonville
9.23
- SoNA's Greart Romantics at the WAC in Fayetteville
- Valarie and Wallstreet at the Music Depot
- Format Festival at the Momentary in Bentonville
- Blew Reed and the Flatheads at Ruckers in Jane MO
Mark Your Calendar
9/24 Gospel Celebration Concert at Christian Life Cathedral in Fayetteville
9/24 Bikes Blues and BBQ After Party at Music Depot in Rogers
9/26 Queens of the Stone Age/Viagra Boys/Jenny Beth at the AMP in Rogers
9/27 Porkchop's JAMboree Fundraiser at Meteor Guitar Gallery in Bentonville
9/27 SOLD OUT The Beach Boys at the WAC in Bentonville
9/29 Blew Reed and the Flatheads at The Music Depot in Rogers
9/29 Koe Wetzel/Tanner Usrey/Wade Brown at the AMP in Rogers
9/30 Tim Armacost Quintet at WAC in Fayetteville
10/1 Jeff Denson Trio at the Music Depot in Rogers
10/4 Tanya Tucker at WAC in Fayetteville
10/4 Shane Dwight at the Meteor Guitar Gallery in Bentonville
10/5 Shinedown with Papa Roach and Spiritbox at the AMP in Rogers
10/6 Reggae Night Butterfly Ft. Irie Soul at the Music Depot in Rogers
10/6 Rina Sawayama at the Momentary in Bentonville
10/6 ODESZA/TOKiMONSTA/QRTR/OLAN at the AMP in Rogers
10/7 Hayward King at Music Depot in Rogers
10/7 Higher Arkies with Dr Choice and the Bad Decisions at the Meteor GUitar Gallery in Bentonville
Please Submit Dates for Regional Blues Artists and Group Events HERE |
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On this day
in Blues
History
September 15
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Today’s show features music performed by Sonny Boy Williamson II and Booker T & The MGs
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"I was extremely fortunate to live around the corner from a recording studio and to be chosen to have a paper route to make enough money to pay for the music lessons. I was one of the chosen few to have a job and to walk through the curtain at Stax Records was just an amazing thing for me to do at age 14."
Booker T Jones
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Listen and enjoy these weekly radio and streaming blues shows
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Get Involved with the Ozark Blues Society
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Annual membership levels begin at $15 and give you so much in return, including meeting new friends while enjoying the best blues artists in the area.
Your membership support of Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas helps us pursue our mission to preserve the Original American Art Form known as The Blues, supports live blues performances, and provides educational programs for all ages.
Thank You!
Membership Benefits Include:
Weekly E-newsletter
Opportunities to win tickets to events
VIP seating at events (when available)
Social networking – meeting other people who also love the blues
Opportunities to volunteer on OBS committees and at events
Ability to attend board meetings and vote on upcoming organizational issues and elections
Visit our Website to renew or join! Ozarkbluessociety.org
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Thanks to the following for their support of blues education.
Please check back for updates
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