20TH BILLTOWN BLUES FESTIVAL

SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2009

NOON TO 10pm

LYCOMING CO. FAIRGROUNDS

HUGHESVILLE, PA

This year The Billtown Blues Festival is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. The annual event is a project of the Billtown Blues Association Inc. The Festival is considered one of the premier events in the Susquehanna Valley.

Established in 1990 to celebrate the history and importance of blues music as an American-made art form, the Festival is now an annual gathering place for family and friends, blues enthusiasts and aficionados. The first Billtown Blues Festival was held on private property along the Susquehanna River in Loyalsock. As the Festival grew the Billtown Blues Association began looking at new locations and in 1994 moved to the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville.

The Festival is considered one of the most popular and longest standing blues Festivals in the country. The all day family affair begins at 12 noon and closes at approximately 10pm. Unique to shows presented during the Lycoming County Fair, the organizers of the Billtown Blues Festival chose to reverse the stage format with the artists playing to the center of the large race track, rather than to the grandstand and bleacher area. This set up allows a relaxed and festive environment where attendees bring lawn chairs, coolers, and blankets and relax on the lawn. A large tent is available for those wanting periodic shade.

The event combines performances from up and coming nationally known blues artists, and those of legendary status. The goal is to present the diversity of the blues, including young and veteran performers, men and women, and featured instrumentation from group to group. Various styles of blues music is presented including swing, blues rock, Texas blues, Delta blues, Kansas City blues, west coast blues as examples. Louisiana blues have been featured in past years with various Zydeco acts on the bill. Local and regional talent are always included.

The Acoustic Blues Tent offers intimate solo and duo performances as well as a children’s blues harmonica workshop. Jack and Lilly were the winners of the solo/duo competition at the Blues Challenge and they will be performing in the Acoustic Blues Tent.

Area artisans and craft vendors are featured in Craft Alley. Area food vendors offer a wide range of food and non-alcoholic beverages.

The Billtown Blues Association offers complimentary admission to children with their parents under 16 years of age.

Opening the Festival this year is Irving Street Blues. Selected from the local International Blues Challenge held in March. This act in addition to winning a spot at the 20th Annual Billtown Blues Festival, is now eligible to compete in Memphis, Tennessee in 2010 at the largest gathering of blues bands in the world, the International Blues Challenge sponsored by the Memphis based, Blues Foundation. Sean Carney and his band will follow. Sean won the prestigious International Blues Challenge in 2008, and also won the Albert King best guitarist award. California based harmonica master Gary Allegretto and Houston based Rich Del Grosso will present a unique sound of blues harmonica and blues mandolin with an accompanying band. The duo will present a special acoustic duo set in the Acoustic Blues Tent later in the day. The famous Campbell Brothers from Rochester, New York will offer a rousing set of steel guitar gospel flavored blues. Tenor sax master Greg Piccolo from Connecticut will enhance his usual trio lineup to a full 7 piece band with his unique blend of blues, r&b, swing and jazz. Greg is a 26 year veteran of the renown Roomful of Blues. The legendary and ex Muddy waters sideman, Bob Margolin returns to the Festival bringing with him the powerful blues belter, Diunna Greenleaf – also a former International Blues Competition winner.

Closing the Festival this year is a selected group of students from the Williamsport based Uptown Music Collective offered their interpretation of a blues revue.

Mail order, $18 advance ticket outlets and general festival information is available at www.billtownblues.org. Advance tickets are available in Hughesville at the Lockard Agency, 165 E Water St. Admission day of show at the gate is $23.