The eleventh annual Carolina Downhome Blues Festival is a blues 'club crawl' with performances in the cozy theatre of the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County each night plus gigs in the town's bars & restaurants. Up-close and personal, the way the blues was meant to be. Venues range from capacity 40-300 only. Most venues are in walking distance of each other.
The event happens Thursday - Saturday, October 4-6, 2007 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, Revolutionary War sites, equestrian activities, and more. For tourist/hotel info, please visit www.camden-sc.org. Closest airport: Columbia, SC. Camden is also served by Amtrak and Greyhound.
Tickets
Armbands per night: $15
Weekend Pass: $40
Contact the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, 803-425-7676 ext. 300
PO Box 1498, Camden, SC 29021
http://www.fineartscenter.org/
Host Hotel
Fairfield Inn By Marriott
220 Wall St. (Broad St. ext., I-20 exit 98)
Camden, 803-425-1010
Blues festival weekend rate. Pls call for reservations.
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
Heritage Chevrolet Buick Pontiac GMC, Franklin D Plumbing & Gas, Warren Custom Homes, Carolina First, Clarity Hearing Center, Budweiser of Columbia, The State Newspaper, WACH Fox-57, CBS Outdoor, New 93/Country Legends 94.3
Artists
CHICK WILLIS (Georgia)
Flamboyant guitarist/singer whose incandescent career reaches back into the 1950s...scored an int'l hit in '72 with "Stoop Down, Baby". An amazing blues showman!http://www.chickwillis.com
JOHNNY RAWLS (Mississippi/Wisconsin)
Silky-smooth Southern soul/bluesman & his band have a knack for packing the dancefloor with their slinky rhythms and catchy melodies. Shagalicious!http://www.johnnyrawlsblues.com
IRONING BOARD SAM (South Carolina)
This eccentric keyboardist/singer, originally from Rock Hill, spent decades captivating crowds in New Orleans before returning home to SC.CURLEY TAYLOR & ZYDECO TROUBLE (Louisiana)
One of the most dazzling young bands on the highly-competitive modern zydeco circuit...high-powered dance music driven by accordion & rubboard.http://www.curleytaylor.com
SKEETER BRANDON & THE PRIME RIB BLUES BAND (North Carolina)
Soaring vocals and a skintight band distinguish this veteran who has played in the bands of Clarence Carter, The Chi-Lites, and others.http://www.skeeterbrandon.com
DRINK SMALL (South Carolina)
The illustrious "Blues Doctor" who, at the age of 74, is a walking encyclopedia of blues history performed on guitar, piano, and of course, those basso profundo vocals.http://www.drinksmallblues.com
MISS WANDA JOHNSON (South Carolina)
Recently returned from a smash appearance at the Chicago Blues Festival, vocalist par excellence Wanda continues her ascent on the national scene.http://www.wandaj.com
STUDEBAKER JOHN & THE HAWKS (Chicago)
Triple threat Studebaker John Grimaldi (slide guitar, harp, vocals) and his road-seasoned band represent the Windy City blues.http://www.studebakerjohn.com
SHRIMP CITY SLIM (Chicago/Charleston)
SCS (keys/vocals), Silent Eddie Phillips (guitar/vocals), and LaMont Garner (drums/vocals) are perennial favorites with their Lowcountry blues & original songs.http://www.shrimpcityslim.com
ROBERT LIGHTHOUSE (Sweden/DC)
Channeling Dr. Ross, Robert Johnson, and Muddy Waters comes easy for this superb one-man band. Latest CD: "Deep Down in the Mud".http://www.robertlighthouse.com
HARPER (Australia)
Innovative and rockin' fusion blues from Peter Harper (harmonica, vocals, and didgeridoo) and his energetic band. First time in Camden!http://www.harper.biz
THE KING BEES (North Carolina)
This enduring duo (Queen Bee Zamagni, bass & vocals, and her husband Hound Dog Baskerville, guitar) have been on the Carolina scene for over 20 years.http://www.kingbees.home.mindspring.com
CONGAREE (South Carolina)
Rev. Marv Ward (guitar/vocals) and Mike Fore (harmonica) combine their talents to make sweet music in the Delta and Piedmont blues traditions.http://www.marvward.com
MATT WALSH (North Carolina)
A young slide guitarist & singer who offers new hope for the future of traditional blues.http://www.mattwalshblues.com
THE DELTA SWAGGER (South Carolina)
A bright new act on the scene...this quartet (guitar, harp, bass, percussion) knows how to rock their blues!http://www.deltaswagger.com
FREDDIE VANDERFORD & BRANDON TURNER (South Carolina)
Harmonica & guitar duo with one foot in the tradition of Pink Anderson and Peg Leg Sam and the other in the modern era of the blues.http://www.myspace.com/freddievanderford
RUSTY DAVIS GROUP (Camden)
Smokin' guitar and boogie blues from a local favorite who works year-round to keep the blues and other roots musics alive.FLOYD CALLEN (Texas)
Versatile Lone Star fretman working in a duo setting with Rusty Davis.JEFF NORWOOD (Camden)
This well-regarded guitarist/singer/stompboxer spends as much time in the Delta as he does in the Carolinas.http://www.jeffsblues.com
Venues (all telephones: area code 803)
- 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. Crescent Grill, 1035 Broad St., 713-0631
Great food, full bar, and downhome blues in an upscale setting. - 4. 1011 Galleria (Bar sponsored by
Sam Kendall's), 1011 Broad St., 803-425-7676
This big, rockin' second-floor loft is a great place to dance the night away. - 5. The Venue, 1020 Broad St., 773-9015
One of Camden's premiere blues watering holes. - 6. Southern Contessa, 1040 Broad St., 432-3622
Intimate cafe offers a casual atmosphere in which to enjoy up-close-and-personal performances. - 7. Courtyard Stage (beyond Southern
Contessa)
Open-air patio bar is always a fun place to boogie to rockin' electric blues. - 8. Gadgets of Camden, 110 East DeKalb St., 425-0000
Hot wings, cold beers, and smokin' blues promises a real-deal roadhouse experience. - 9. Old Armory Steak House, 514 Rutledge St., 432-3222
Fine-dining and vintage blues find superb balance in this sophisticated restaurant. - 10. Davis & Sons Guitar Shop, 953 Broad St., 713-1000
A fabulous guitar shop AND performance space. - 11. La Fiesta, 29 E. DeKalb, 425-7137
Local favorite - family-run Mexican restaurant offering booze, food, and blues on the deck rain or shine. - 12. Blues Kiosk Stage, Central Broad Street
Hear great live blues where you purchase your festival tickets and merchandise. - 13. 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 4
Opening party at 1011 Galleria, 5:30-7 pm: Shrimp City Slim Blues Revue, featuring Chick Willis and Miss Wanda Johnson
Blues Kiosk, 7-10 pm: Congaree
1011 Galleria, 8-11 pm: Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble
The Venue, 8-11 pm: Harper
Southern Contessa, 8-11 pm: Jeff Norwood
Davis & Sons, 8-11 pm: Rusty Davis Group
Courtyard Stage, 8-11 pm: Studebaker John & the Hawks
Old Armory Steakhouse, 8-11 pm: Drink Small
The Crescent Grill, 8-11 pm: Robert Lighthouse
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5
Old Armory Steakhouse, 7-9 pm: Drink Small
Crescent Grill, 7-9 pm: The King Bees
Wood Auditorium, 7-9 pm: Shrimp City Slim Blues Revue, featuring Chick
Willis and Miss Wanda Johnson
La Fiesta, 7-10 pm: Freddie Vanderford & Brandon Turner
Gadgets, 7-10 pm: The Delta Swagger
Blues Kiosk, 8-9:30 pm: Congaree
The Venue, 9 pm - 1 am: Harper
1011 Galleria, 9pm - 1am: Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble
Courtyard Stage, 9 pm-1am: Johnny Rawls
Southern Contessa, 9 pm-12 am: Ironing Board Sam
Davis & Son, 9 pm-12am: Rusty Davis Group
Old Armory Steakhouse, 10:30 pm-12:30 am: Congaree
Crescent Grill, 10:30 pm-12:30 am: Robert Lighthouse
Sam Kendalls, 10 pm-12 am: Matt Walsh
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6
Old Armory Steakhouse, 12-2 pm: The King Bees
Crescent Grill, 12-2 pm: Rusty Davis & Floyd Callen
Southern Contessa, 12-2 pm: Ironing Board Sam
The Venue, 4-6 pm: Robert Lighthouse
Old Armory Steakhouse, 7-9 pm: Drink Small
Crescent Grill, 7-9 pm: The King Bees
Wood Auditorium 7-9 pm: Shrimp City Slim Blues Revue featuring Chick
Willis and Miss Wanda Johnson
La Fiesta, 7-10 pm: Freddie Vanderford & Brandon Turner
Gadgets, 7-10 pm: The Delta Swagger
Blues Kiosk, 8-9:30 pm: Congaree
The Venue, 9-11:30 pm: Harper
1011 Galleria, 9-11:30 pm: Skeeter Brandon & the Prime Rib Blues Band
Southern Contessa, 9-11 pm: Ironing Board Sam
Courtyard Stage, 9-11:30 pm: Johnny Rawls
Old Armory Steakhouse, 10-11:30 pm: Congaree
Sam Kendalls, 10-11:30 pm: Matt Walsh
Crescent Grille Sat 10:00 - 11:30 Robert Lighthouse
* Most of the venues are clustered in a two block radius of Broad Street (Hwy 521) and Dekalb Street (Route 1) in downtown Camden, South Carolina.