Line-Up for 17th Annual Pittsburgh Blues Festival Announced
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has completed the 2011 musical line-up for the Pittsburgh Blues Festival, presented by First Commonwealth. The 17th Annual Festival is scheduled for July 22-24, 2011, once again at Hartwood Acres.
Since Saturday night’s headliner, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, was announced April 14th, their tour has been garnering rave reviews at every stop. Also playing on Saturday will be the 2011 Blues Caravan “Girls With Guitars” tour, this year composed of hot new blues talents Dani Wilder, Samantha Fish and Cassie Taylor. Lionel Young is known for a “blues boogie-woogie” sound made unique by his virtuoso blues violin. John Nemeth, Blues Festival Guide’s 2011 cover artist, is another blues up-and-comer, who one critic says is “Hands down the toughest young harp player I’ve ever heard.”
On Sunday the Blues Festival welcomes the legendary Tommy Castro, making a return appearance at the Blues Festival fresh from winning 2010 Blues Music Awards for Band of the Year, Best Contemporary Blues Artist, Best Contemporary Blues Album (Hard Believer), and being named B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. One more act on Sunday is in final negotiation and will be posted on the website as soon as possible.
Finally, the one and only Johnny Winter will close the Festival on Sunday night. Since his first self-titled album in 1969, Winter has made “blues rock music for the angels.” He has just finished his newest studio CD, is touring in Japan and headlining Blues Festivals from coast to coast.
The Blues Festival also retains its free* Friday opening night. This year’s theme is “Girl’s Night Out,” featuring Janiva Magness, Kelly Richey, and a collection of some of Pittsburgh’s favorite women of the blues. Magness was just nominated for 4 awards at the 2011 Blues Music Awards, including Best Album, which was also Living Blues magazine’s #1 title on the chart of blues albums of the year. Richey is a songwriter and powerful, provocative guitar player whose music is “a thrilling mix of blues-powered rock.”
Pittsburgh Blues Festival also features a host of local blues talent, an active and creative KidZone, and food and merchandise vendors. Fans used to attending the regular Hartwood Sunday night free concerts with their coolers are asked to remember that the Pittsburgh Blues Festival is a fundraiser for Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and all proceeds go to providing food assistance for those in need.
Pittsburgh Blues Festival takes place July 22-24 at Hartwood Acres. Visit the Blues website at www.pghblues.comfor ticket information; tickets are on sale now.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is indebted to Blues Festival sponsors First Commonwealth, David A Tepper Family Foundation, Allegheny County, FedEx Ground, Direct Energy, Del Monte Foods, Children’s Hospital, UPMC Health Plan, Giant Eagle, Bay Valley Foods, WDVE, WPXI-11, Comcast, Chemistry Communications, Sodexo, Armstrong Cable, Moondog’s, White Diamond Vodka, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and WYEP.
* Friday, July 22 admission to the Pittsburgh Blues Festival is free with the donation of a bag of non-perishable groceries for the Food Bank. ###
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