Battle Of The Blues Harps XX
20th Annual Harpfest Boasts Strongest Talent Lineup Ever

The 20th annualBattle of the Blues Harps is set for Wednesday, November 26th, Thanksgiving Eve. Making their 20th straight appearance will be 3-time W.C. Handy Award winners for "Best Blues Band," Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers. Also returning will be longtime Southern California blues favorites, The James Harman Band.

Joining Rod and James this year will be a special Delta Groove Blues Harp Revue featuring Mitch Kashmar, Lynwood Slim, Johnny Dyer and Randy Chortkoff. Chortkoff is the owner of Delta Groove Productions, one of the top blues record labels in the country.

If that lineup were not enough Randy has also arranged to provide an all star Delta Groove backline including Kirk "Eli" Fletcher on guitar, Johnny Bazz on bass, and Richard Innes on drums.

Held each year in the Golden Sails/Best Western Hotels Crystal Ballroom in Long Beach, the "Harp Battle," as it is called by devotees, brings in hundreds of blues harmonica fans from all over California and out-of-state. Over the past two decades the Harp Battle has featured such great harp players as Billy Boy Arnold, William Clarke, Carey Bell, Gary Primich, Raful Neal, Red Archibald, Jerry Portnoy, Paul Delay, Rick Estrin, R.J. Mischo, Paul Oscher, Al Blake, Sugar Ray Norcia, Bill Tarsha and Mark Hummel. Battle of the Blues Harps XX starts at 7pm and a full bar and food will be available. The Crystal Ballroom features a large dance floor for dan enthusiasts. The Golden Sails/Best Western Hotal is located at 6285 E. Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach, CA. The 20th anniversary commemorative Battle of the Blues Harps merchandise will be available for sale at the event.

Ticket prices: V.I.P. (reserved) seating $45.00; Loge seating (reserved) $40.00; and General Admission $30.00. Current Southland Blues subscribers will receive a $2.50 discount on each ticket ordered.

Special "Battle of the Blues Harps" hotel room rates are also available at the Golden Sails/Best Western Hotel.
This could well be the greatest lineup of West Coast blues harp players ever assembled on one stage. Add to that the incredible array of backline musicians and you have the makings of West Coast blues history this year.
Do not miss this 20th anniversary show! Get your tickets early because it will sell out for sure. Go to www.southlandblues.com or call 562-498-6942.

Click HERE To Buy Tickets!

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Mannish Boys Coming To SF Blues Festival

This year the 36th annual San Francisco Blues Festival returns to the Great Meadow at Fort Mason on September 27 & 28. On Saturday the 27th, the Delta Groove All-Star Blues Revue featuring The Mannish Boys, Elvin Bishop & Mike Zito will join Hot Tuna, Barbara Lynn, Michael Burks, Ruthie Foster, Elmore James Jr. and the Delta Wires. On Sunday, the 28th, the fest will feature Johnny Winter, Buckwheat Zydeco, Denise LaSalle, Custis Salgado Big Band, David Honeyboy Edwards, Rick Estrin & the Nighcats and the Gospel Hummingbirds.

The Manish Boys features Delta Groove Record's finest recording artists. This all-star group consists of Johnny Dyer, Richard Innes, Kid Ramos, Kirk Fletcher, Finis Tasby, Bobby Jones, Randy Chortkoff, Frank Goldwasser and Ronnie James