In its twelfth year, the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival continues to be a must-do weekend in Camden featuring legendary international talent. This year's festival boasts 34 performances by 20 different groups at 12 different sites. We'll have blues for all tastes from classic soul to horn-driven funk to blues rock to the best of acoustic blues...and all points in between. Performances take place in a variety of intimate venues--both indoors and out--bringing you the best in blues artistry, up close and personal, the way it was meant to be experienced.
The festival is the first weekend in October in Camden, SC - South Carolina's oldest inland
city, located 25 miles north of Columbia, SC on Interstate
20. Aside from the blues festival, visitors can enjoy antique
shops, historic homes, Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, equestrian
activities, and more. For tourist/hotel info, please visit
www.camden-sc.org.
Camden is easily accessable from Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Camden is also served by
Amtrak and Greyhound.
Accommodations
Stay at our Host Hotel, the Quality Inn & Suites and Plum's Restaurant in Lugoff, offering a Blues Festival weekend rate.
803.438.9441
Programming
Gary Erwin, Erwin Music / Lowcountry Blues Society (same office that books Lowcountry Blues Bash, www.bluesbash.com). emusic@mindspring.com 843-762-9125
Artistic Director
Gary Erwin/Erwin Music
emusic@mindspring.com
http://www.bluesbash.com/
Technical Director
Danny Riddick/Naked Eye Productions
rideye@bellsouth.net
http://www.neyeproductions.com
Executive Director
Kristin Cobb/Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County
kcobb@fineartscenter.org
Marketing Director
Jim Litzinger/Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County
jlitzinger@fineartscenter.org
Sponsors
South Carolina ENT, Flowers Heating and Cooling, Alpine Agency, Wach Fox 57, Kiss 103.1 FM, and Budwieser of Columbia.
Artists
BIG JAMES & THE CHICAGO PLAYBOYS (Chicago)
www.bigjames.com
Heavy horn-driven funk/blues from the Windy City guaranteed to pack the dance floor. The tittle song from Big James' new CD, "Thank God I Got The Blues" is featured in the new movie "Cleaner" staring Samuel Jackson and Eva Mendes.
MOOKIE BRILL (North Carolina)
www.myspace.com/mookiebrill
Award-winning multi-instrumentalist last seen in Camden backing the legendary Hubert Sumlin.
FLOYD CALLEN (Texas)
Ace picker/singer returns by popular demand.
CONGAREE (South Carolina)
www.marvward.com
Sparkling blues duo specializes in Delta blues, Piedmont rags, and great originals.
RUSTY DAVIS (Camden)
Local music mainstay blazes on electric guitar.
DOUG DEMING & THE JEWEL TONES (Detroit)
www.dougdeming.com
Swinging jump blues guitar with a Motor City flair.
DR. PICKUP (France)
www.drpickup.com
Paris-based blues guitarist/singer makes his Camden debut!
PAUL GEREMIA (Rhode Island)
www.paulgeremia.org
One of the world's most-respected country bluesmen...on the scene since the 1960s.
JOEY GILMORE (Florida)
www.joeygilmore.net
Veteran soul/bluesman and his smokin' band from the jungles of Miami.
DENNIS GRUENLING (New Jersey)
www.dennisgruenling.com
Blues harmonica virtuoso presents his "Tribute to Little Walter".
STEVE GUYGER (Philadelphia)
www.steveguyger.com
Former sideman with Jimmy Rogers and admired by all who know real blues harp.
WANDA JOHNSON (South Carolina)
www.wandaj.com
"The New Voice of South Carolins soul & blues"...last shows before China tour.
PETER LANG (Minnesota)
www.peterlang.org
One of the world's preeminent 6 and 12 string finger-picking guitarist. During the 1970's he was in good company, having recorded or performed with Jerry Garcia, Ry Cooder, Chet Atkins, Emmylou Harris, Maria Muldaur and many others. Including a Grammy Nomination in 1975 for his trio release with Leo Kottke and John Fahey. He is back touring after a twenty year hiatus.THE NOUVEAUX HONKIES (Florida)
www.tnhband.com
Roots-rock/blues quartet with a punk edge and a hot fiddle.
SHRIMP CITY SLIM (Charleston)
www.shrimpcityslim.com
"Blues on the Beach"...this coastal combo is a perennial favorite.
DRINK SMALL (South Carolina)
www.drinksmallblues.com
The legendary South Carolina "Blues Doctor" is "Tryin' to Survive at 75"!
STUDEBAKER JOHN & THE HAWKS (Chicago)
www.studebakerjohn.com
Super-tough South side shuffles and powerhouse slide guitar from this Windy City trio. In the early 90's Studebaker John recorded 2 CD's with the reunited British Blues Rock Legends, The Yardbirds.
MAURICE JOHN VAUGHN-BJ EMERY BAND (Chicago)
www.alligator.com
Versatile and exuberant, Maurice and the crew return to fire up the party!
MATT WALSH DUO (North Carolina)
www.mattwalshblues.com
Bright young talent taking on classic blues from the Chicago and Delta traditions.
THE WIYOS (New York)
www.thewiyos.com
Delightful trio (guitar,bass,harmonica/washboard/kazoo) deep into ragtime, vaudeville, blues
Sites
(all telephones: area code 803)
No Smoking:
In compliance with the City of Camden's Smokefree Workplace Ordinance (effective September 27, 2008), the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival is proud to enforce a no smoking policy at all performance venues.
- 1. Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, York & Lyttleton St., 425-7676
Festival office and headquarters - 2. Wood Auditorium (in Fine Arts Center), 425-7676
Acoustically-delightful 300-seat theatre. - 3. Carolina Cafe, 1011 Broad St., 713-9977
Intimate cafe offers a casual atmosphere in which to enjoy up-close-and-personal performances. - 4. Ten Eleven Galleria (Bar sponsored by
Carolina Cafe), 1011 Broad St., 803-713-9977
This big, rockin' second-floor loft is a great place to dance the night away. - 5. The Venue on Broad, 1020 Broad St., 713-8333
Camdens premiere home for live entertainment. - 6. Clock Tower Stage, Under King Haigler Clock Tower on the corner of Rutledge & Broad St.
Outdoor Stage in the heart of the festival.. - 7. Gadgets of Camden, 110 East DeKalb St., 425-0000
Hot wings, cold beers, and smokin' blues promises a real-deal roadhouse experience. - 8. Old Armory Steak House, 514 Rutledge St., 432-3222
Fine-dining and vintage blues find superb balance in this sophisticated restaurant. - 9. Davis & Sons Guitar Shop, 953 Broad St., 713-1000
A fabulous guitar shop AND performance space. - 10. La Fiesta, 29 E. DeKalb, 425-7137
Local favorite - family-run Mexican restaurant offering booze, food, and blues on the deck rain or shine. - 11. Blues Kiosk, Across from Clock Tower Stage
Place to purchase blues arm band and blues merchandise. - 12. Sam Kendall's, 1043 Broad Street, 424-2005
Enjoy excellent cuisine and exhilarating blues in this welcome new addition to Camden's restaurant scene.
Performance Calendar
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
Carolina Cafe, 5:30-8 pm: Wanda Johnson & the Shrimp City Slim Blues Revue with Dr. Pickup.
The Venue on Broad, 8-11 pm: The Nouveaux Honkies
Old Armory Steakhouse, 8-11 pm: The Wiyos
Clock Tower Stage, 8-11 pm: Maurice John Vaughan-BJ Emery Band
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
Wood Auditorium, 7-7:40 pm: Peter Lang
Wood Auditorium, 7:40-8:30 pm: The Wiyos
Old Armory Steakhouse, 7-9 pm: Paul Geremia
La Fiesta, 7-10 pm: Wanda Johnson & the Shrimp City Slim Blues Revue with Dr. Pickup
Gadgets, 7-10 pm: “A Tribute to Little Walter” with Dennis Gruenling, Steve Guyger, Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones, featuring Mookie Brill
Sam Kendall’s, 7:30-9 pm: Tad Walters
Clock Tower Stage, 9 pm-12 am: Studebaker John & the Hawks
Davis & Sons, 9 pm-12 am: Rusty Davis & Friends
The Venue on Broad, 9 pm-1 am: Joey Gillmore
TenEleven Galleria, 9 pm-1 am: Big James & the Chicago Playboys
Sam Kendall’s, 10pm-12 am: Tad Walters
Old Armory Steakhouse, 10:30 pm -12:30 am: Drink Small
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
Carolina Cafe, 11am-2pm: Rusty Davis & Floyd Callen
Old Armory Steakhouse, 12-2pm: Peter Lang
Fine Arts Center Music Studio, 1-2:30pm: Blues harp master class with Dennis Gruenling and Steve Guyger (separate ticket required: $25 at the door)
The Venue on Broad, 4-6pm: “A Tribute to Little Walter” with Dennis Gruenling, Steve Guyger, Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones, featuring Mookie Brill
Wood Auditorium, 7-7:30pm: Tad Walters
Old Armory Steakhouse, 7-9pm: Drink Small
La Fiesta, 7-10pm: Matt Walsh Duo
Gadgets, 7-10pm: Congaree
Wood Auditorium, 7:30-8:30pm: Paul Geremia
Sam Kendall's, 7:30-9pm: The Wiyos
Clock Tower Stage, 8-11pm: Joey Gilmore
Davis & Sons, 9-11:45pm: Rusty Davis & Friends
Ten Eleven Galleria, 9-11:45pm: Big James & the Chicago Playboys
The Venue on Broad, 9-11:45pm: Studebaker John & the Hawks
Sam Kendall's, 10-11:45pm: The Wiyos
Old Armory Steakhouse, 10-11:30pm: Tad Walters
* Most of the venues are located in a two block radius of Broad Street (Hwy 521) and Dekalb Street (Route 1) in downtown Camden, South Carolina.