2008 Eureka Springs Blues Weekend Line-up Announced

The “Queen of the Blues,” Koko Taylor, and Native American blues band Indigenous will headline shows at THE Auditorium May 29 and 30, respectively, as part of the 2008 Eureka Springs Blues Weekend, presented by The historic 1905 Basin Park Hotel. The complete weekend lineup, including 70 shows at 15 venues in 4 days, was announced recently by city Special Events Coordinator, Janet Alexander, and event organizer, Charles Ragsdell.

“Earlier this year, Eureka was proud to host the King of the Blues, B.B. King,” commented Ragsdell. “And now we’re bringing the Queen of the Blues to town in the same year—fantastic!”

Blues Weekend begins May 29 and runs through June 1. Major acts are also scheduled for The Barefoot Ballroom and Ozark Room in the Basin Park Hotel. Friday blues diva LZ Love and Baton Rouge bluesman Larry Garner perform. On Saturday the venue features Ruf Records artist Deborah Coleman, and Arkansas' own Michael Burks.

Blues concerts are also planned at numerous clubs around town. Venues include the Cat House Pub, Center Street, Chelsea’s, Eureka Live, Henri’s, Jack’s Place, Lumberyard, Pied Piper, Rowdy Beaver, Shawbee’s, and Tiki Torch.

The city’s lineup of free Blues Weekend shows is the most extensive in recent years. Eighteen free shows are scheduled at Basin Park. They run hourly from Noon to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and from Noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday. “It could be our most ambitious schedule ever,” commented city Special Events Coordinator, Janet Alexander. “One of our goals this year was to give people lots of quality choices, and I think we’ve accomplished that!”

Acts appearing at the various clubs around town and in Basin Park are Michael "Hawkeye" Herman, The Ariels, Rich Berry, Geri 'Black and Blues', Delta Highway, The Eureka Street Buskers, Full House, Joe Giles and The Homewreckers, Scott Holt, Anna Horton, Gary Hutchinson Duo, Jones Van Jones, The Jug Band, Karian, Kosmik Debris, Jeff Lee, Brian Martin, Oreo Blue, Oysters Rockefeller, Joe Pitts Band, Patrick Sweany Band, Penelope and The Unusual Suspects, Pope County Bootleggers, Rockin' Jake, Spent, Stella Blue & Maddog, The Tablerockers, Lil' Dave Thompson, Underground Mafia, Vance Orange Project, and Dayton Waters. Other acts are still to be announced.

Trampled Under Foot, 2008 International Blues Challenge (IBC) winners, will open for Koko Taylor on Thursday night. Featuring siblings Danielle, Nick and Kris Schnebelen, the group bested some 100 bands from around the world at The Blues Foundation's annual battle of blues bands in Memphis in February. Danielle was the talk of Beale Street, wowing people with both her bass playing and her amazing vocals, and Nick won a new Gibson guitar and Category 5 amp for the Albert King Award for Most Promising Guitarist.

Opening for Indigenous Friday night will be acoustic guitar virtuoso Rory Block. Her most recent album was a much-lauded tribute to blues granddaddy Robert Johnson. As the second act on the bill that night, Phil Berkowitz and The Sean Carney Band will perform a 100th birthday tribute to Arkansas' own "Jukebox King," Louis Jordan. The Sean Carney Band was the 2007 IBC winner. Louis Jordan was born in Brinkley, Arkansas in 1908, and went on to chart 57 Top-40 hits (54 Top-10), including Let The Good Times Roll, Caledonia, Saturday Night Fish Fry, and Choo Choo Ch' Boogie.

“This year we will be offering VIP ticketing for rows in the center -front at both the auditorium and Basin Park Barefoot Ballroom shows, so we encourage everyone to get their tickets quickly” Ragsdell said. Tickets and information for the 2008 Eureka Springs Blues Weekend are available by calling 888-855-7823 or by going online at eurekaspringsblues.com.

The Eureka Springs Blues Fest is a lot of fun for everyone. The unique features of Eureka Springs combined with talented blues musicians makes for a popular weekend too. Be sure to reserve your Eureka Springs Lodging early.