What’s in a Band Name?

The Feds May Want to Know!

Blues veteran Walter Trout (pictured at left) has been touring and recording with his band “The Radicals” since 2000. Nobody thought much about the name in 2000. It was just a clever band name. In fact, in 1999 they called themselves “The Free Radicals” before shortening it a year later to just “The Radicals”.

But now, calling themselves “The Radicals” may be generating unwarranted attention from The Feds who have recently visited the website of Walter Trout and The Radicals some 81 times.  www.waltertrout.com

Or maybe The Feds are visiting because they heard about Walter Trout’s poignant song “Who’s Listenin’ In” from his 2006 release “Full Circle”. It’s about a man far away from home, calling his baby for a little dirty talk, only to discover that somebody else is listening in.  Walter sings:  

“Somebody’s listening in; I can hear him loud and clear

I can hear him breathing heavy, right there in my ear

I want to talk to my baby anytime I can,

But I feel like I’ve been talking to another man’s man.”

Then again, maybe The Feds are just Walter Trout fans? Who could blame them? Since its release “Full Circle” has sustained a top 10 presence on Billboard’s Blues charts, and is receiving increasing national airplay. 

 Either way, The Feds seem to be on some kind of fishing expedition.

Hilton Surpasses Harmony Piano Goal

 

CHICAGO -- The Hilton Harmony Piano is sporting 101 autographs after collecting signatures Wednesday from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Guy, fellow Grammy Award winner Kenny "Babyface” Edmonds and Shirley King, the "Daughter of the Blues" and scion of the legendary bluesman B.B. King.

Hilton Hotels has spent this year leading up to its sponsorship of the February Grammy Award telecasts by displaying a Gibson/Baldwin piano at its various properties, and donating $1,000 to music education programs for every artist who signs the piano.

Hilton executives presented a $100,000 heck to the Grammy Foundation for their music education program. Additionally they contributed $1,000 and 100 musical instruments to the VanderCook College of Music during a concert at the Hilton Chicago attended by children from local Boys & Girls Club and YMCA chapters.

Ultimately, Hilton stewards hope the Harmony Piano will make an appearance during the next Grammy Awards and raise more money for music education through a Sotheby's auction.

In the meantime, the Harmony Piano has enabled Hilton to convert its event sponsorship into a music platform that creates an emotional connection with consumers and simultaneously touches communities.

Blues supporters want to use Greenville center for education program

GREENVILLE — A group called Friends of the Delta Blues Festival is seeking use of the Washington County Convention Center for an educational program.

The program introduces Delta students to the area's blues heritage. It is part of the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival.

"When we originally began in 1991, we took the program to the schools. But that became pretty hard, a job in itself," said Richard Lovings, who's with the festival's support group.

He appeared Monday before the Washington County Board of Supervisors.

Lovings said the group decided four years ago to use the convention center as a central location. The program has taught more than 50,000 students about the blues over the past 15 years.

The educational event is Sept. 7-8, and the blues festival is Sept. 16.
 

New Self-service E-ticketing System For Event Promoters coming to America

eTickets.to in Great Britain have launched the first totally self-service e-ticketing system for event promoters. Ticketing is crucial and usually frustrating element of any event promotion. Event promoters generally face the option of turning to a ticketing agent to provide their solution, landing their customers with a hefty booking fee.

Now there’s an alternative solution. Using the simple web-based eTickets.to service any event promoter can set up an account and be selling e-tickets for their event within 5 minutes.

The entire process is electronic, with tickets delivered instantly by email, so there’s no expensive postage and nothing to get lost (eTickets can be reissued securely in seconds).

eTickets.to does not impose any minimum fees so it’s suitable for any size of event. Clients during the test phase ranged from small club nights to the 45,000 capacity Exit Festival in Serbia.

Rights To The Entire Jimi Hendrix Catalog to be Auctioned

Ocean Tomo Auctions, LLC, announced it has been retained by the Administrator of the Estate of Michael Frank Jeffery to sell their rights, title and interest in the entire Jimi Hendrix music catalog. The catalog will be sold at auction on October 26, 2006 in New York City.

The catalog includes rights to all of Jimi Hendrix's recordings as owned by the Michael Frank Jeffery's Estate, including well-known songs such as "Hey Joe," "Purple Haze," "Voodoo Child," and "Foxy Lady". Fourteen charities, based in the United Kingdom, are the beneficiaries of the Michael Frank Jeffery's Estate. They are Asthma Research Council, British Heart Foundation, Brook Hospital, Kings College Hospital, Leukaemia Research Fund, Lewisham Hospital, Maudlsey Hospital, Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Association for Mental Health, National Deaf Blind and Rubella Association, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Royal National Lifeboat, The Salvation Army and The Samaritans.

2007 International Blues Challenge

The Blues Foundation reports that they are very busy with planning for the23rd International Blues Challenge set for February 1-3, 2007. 

"In recent years, we have generally had all hotel, ticket and registration information on the website by October 1.  We will certainly make that deadline but will make the information available when ready—perhaps shortly after Labor Day.  Are you wondering about any big changes for 2007?  How about band finals in the afternoon at the Orpheum Theater and Solo/Duo finals at the New Daisy Saturday night?  Just may happen.  Beale Street Clubs filled with IBC bands Saturday night?  Just may happen.  Two host hotels—just may happen.  As always, check www.blues.org for all the latest information."

Thanks Jay, Percy and Joe.  You always do a great job.  The Blues Festival Guide staff will see you in Memphis!