In its thirteenth year, the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival continues to be a must-do weekend in Camden featuring legendary international talent. Over 3 days we have 47 performances at 18 different sites with 28 performers (solo, duo or group). 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 Hotels:
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
TruVista, Alpine Agency, Flowers Heating & Cooling, South Carolina ENT, Budweiser Columbia, and Wach Fox 57.
Artists
HILTON VALENTINE & SKIFFLEDOG (England)
www.hiltonvalentine.com
www.myspace.com/hiltonvalentine
The legendary guitarist of The Animals returns to his acoustic skiffle roots with his new group. Hilton is the man who inspired many of us to go back and discover the blues. That was him on "House of the Rising Sun", "We Gotta Get Out of This Place", "It's My Life", "Don't Bring Me Down", and so many other groundbreaking platters. A member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and one of THE influential guitarists of the last forty years, HILTON VALENTINE cannot be missed.
ANDREW JR. BOY JONES (Texas)
www.myspace.com/andrewjrboyjones
This monster Texas blues guitarist played in Freddy King's band in his early years. Charlie Musselwhite employed him as guitarist in the 1980s ("the best band I've ever had," said Charlie). John Street (ex-Anson Funderburgh) on keyboards and a massive rhythm section make this a Lone Star act you have to hear.
SOUTHERN SOUL EXPLOSION, featuring
ROY ROBERTS, BARBARA CARR, and AJ DIGGS
(North Carolina/St. Louis/Philadelphia)
www.royrobertsblues.com
www.cdsrecords.com/barbaracarr.htm
www.myspace.com/ajdsr45
For you soul/blues lovers! Barbara Carr recorded for Chess in the 1960s, Roy Roberts worked with Otis Redding and others, AJ Diggs played with (Harold Melvin's) Blue Notes in Philly...an avalanche of Southern Soul!
JOHN DEE HOLEMAN & ANDY COATS (North Carolina)
www.myspace.com/johndeeholemanblues
www.andycoats.com
80 year-old John Dee Holeman is one of the last great North Carolina bluesmen. His acclaimed work with Fris Holloway and Algia Mae Hinton took him on State Department tours around the world. A bit of Lightnin' Hopkins, a touch of Blind Boy Fuller and a whole lotta John Dee Holeman...talk about "downhome"!
LIL DAVE THOMPSON (Mississippi)
www.lildavethompson.com
Representing the hottest blues out of Mississippi these days...torrid guitar workouts and anguished vocals...one of the best bands on the scene today.
LIGHTNIN WELLS (North Carolina)
www.lightninwells.com
One of America's foremost acoustic traditionalists
POP FERGUSON DUO (North Carolina)
81 year old blues guitarist from western NC and his son
WANDA JOHNSON (South Carolina)
www.wandaj.com
The New Voice of South Carolina soul & blues
DRINK SMALL (South Carolina)
www.drinksmallblues.com
The Palmetto State's storied "Blues Doctor"
VERONIKA JACKSON (Atlanta)
www.veronikajackson.com
An artist to watch..."some folk, some blues, sometime" describes this charismatic singer/guitarist whose influences include Odetta, Joan Baez, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Sam Cooke. Sweet!
REV. MARV WARD/CONGAREE (South Carolina)
www.marvward.com
Exciting new CD now out from veteran guitarist & his band
SHRIMP CITY SLIM (Charleston)
www.shrimpcityslim.com
Effervescent 'blues on the beach'
DR. PICKUP (France)
www.myspace.com/drpickup
Guitar & vocals with that Continental flair
JEFF BEASLEY DUO (Savannah)
www.jeffbeasleyband.com
Tough acoustic blues and feisty originals
LIL JIMMY & THA BOYZZ (South Carolina)
www.myspace.com/liljimmythedyrtiboyz
Roadhouse harp & guitar from the Midlands
WSNB (North Carolina)
www.wsnbmusic.com
"We sing nasty blues"...lots of rockin' originals
SKYE PAIGE & THE ORIGINAL RECIPE (Atlanta)
www.myspace.com/skyepaigeandtheoriginalrecipe
Lady rockabilly...irresistible!
JEFF NORWOOD (Camden)
www.jeffnorwoodblues.com
Well-travelled blues bard loves the Hill Country sound
MY BUDDY TODD (South Carolina)
www.mybuddytodd.com
Hard-working duo from the Grand Strand
RUSTY DAVIS & FLOYD CALLEN
(Camden/Texas)
Punchy acoustic blues & rock favorites
MOTHERLESS CHILLIN' (South Carolina)
www.jeffliberty.com
www.nazharp.com
Muscular duo turns the heat up on the blues
ROBERT LIGHTHOUSE (Sweden/Wash, DC)
www.robertlighthouse.com
Channeling Dr. Ross, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters comes easy for this superb one-man band.
COTTON BLUE (South Carolina)
www.cottonblueband.com
This energetic duo shakes up the swamp with their lively Lowcountry 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. The Boykin Co. Grille, 73 Boykin Mill Rd., 803-425-6724
Great Food in a nice relaxing atmosphere. - 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. - 13. Kershaw County Farmers Market, 631 W. DeKalb Street
Some of the best farmers, nurserymen, bakers, gardeners and hobbyists in all of Kershaw County. - 14. Kirkwood Books, 944 Broad St., 432-5169
Enjoy some excellent reading at this nice little bookstore in the heart of Camden. - 15. Indigo Jones, 511 Rutledge St., 432-1616
- 16. The Crescent Grille, 1035 Broad St., 713-0631
- 17. Vittel Salon & Day Spa, 1025 Broad St., 432-4446
- 18. Fatz Cafe, 212 Wall St., 432-3439
Where everyones a regular
- 19. The Pearl Resturant, 707 West Dekalb St., 432-2285
Performance Calendar
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Thursday October 1st
LUGOFF-ELGIN HIGH SCHOOL : (am) Blues In The Schools with Shrimp City Slim Trio w/Dr. Pickup
THE VENUE ON BROAD : 5:30-7pm (Opening Party) Wanda Johnson & Shrimp City Slim w/Dr. Pickup
THE VENUE ON BROAD : 8-11pm Wanda Johnson & Shrimp City Slim w/Dr. Pickup
THE OLD ARMORY STEAK HOUSE : 7- 8:15pm Veronika Jackson
THE OLD ARMORY STEAK HOUSE : 8:30 - 10pm Jeff Norwood
SAM KENDALLS : 7-10pm John Dee Holeman & Andy Coats
THE CRESCENT GRILL : 7-10pm Lil Dave Thompson (solo)
DAVIS & SONS GUITAR SHOP : 8:30-10:30 The Rusty Davis Group
Friday October 2nd
NORTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL : (am) Blues In The Schools with Shrimp City Slim Trio w/Dr. Pickup
THE OLD ARMORY STEAK HOUSE : 12:15-2:15pm Shrimp City Slim & Dr. Pickup Duo
THE OLD ARMORY STEAK HOUSE : 7- 9pm Motherless Chillin'
THE OLD ARMORY STEAK HOUSE : 10pm-12:30 Drink Small
THE BOYKIN CO. GRILLE : 6-9pm Lightnin' Wells
THE WOOD AUDITORIUM : 7-8:15pm Hilton Valentine & Skiffledog
INDIGO JONES : 7-10pm John Dee Holeman & Andy Coats
FATZ CAFE : 7-10pm Congaree
SAM KENDALLS : 7-9pm Pop Ferguson Duo
SAM KENDALLS : 10pm-12:30 Cotton Blue
THE CRESCENT GRILL : 7-9pm & 10pm-12:30 My Buddy Todd
LaFIESTA : 7-10pm Skye Paige & The Original Recipe
GADGETS of CAMDEN : 7-10pm WSNB
VITTEL SALON & DAY SPA : 9pm-12 Robert Lighthouse
THE CLOCKTOWER STAGE : 9pm-12 Lil Dave Thompson
THE VENUE ON BROAD : 9pm-1 Andrew Jr. Boy Jones
Saturday October 3rd
THE KERSHAW COUNTY FARMERS MARKET : 10-11:30am Drink Small
CAROLINA CAFE : 11:30am-2pm Rusty Davis & Floyd Callen
FATZ CAFE : 11:30am-1:30pm My Buddy Todd
FATZ CAFE : 7-10pm Cotton Blue
THE OLD ARMORY STEAK HOUSE : 12-2pm Shrimp City Slim & Dr. Pickup Duo
THE OLD ARMORY STEAK HOUSE : 7- 9pm Little Jimmy & Tha Boyzz
THE OLD ARMORY STEAK HOUSE : 10-11:30pm Drink Small
THE CRESCENT GRILLE : 12-2pm Veronika Jackson
THE CRESCENT GRILLE : 7-9pm & 10-11:30pm Jeff Beasley Duo
KIRKWOOD BOOKS : 2-3:15pm Lightnin' Wells
THE VENUE ON BROAD : 4-6pm Andrew Jr. Boy Jones
THE VENUE ON BROAD : 8-11:30pm Barbara Carr / Roy Roberts / AJ Diggs & Band
THE BOYKIN CO. GRILLE : 6-9pm Motherless Chillin'
THE WOOD AUDITORIUM : 7-8:15pm Hilton Valentine & Skiffledog
INDIGO JONES : 7-10pm Robert Lighthouse
SAM KENDALLS : 7-9pm Pop Ferguson Duo
SAM KENDALLS : 10-11:30pm Lightnin' Wells
LaFIESTA : 7-10pm Rev. Marv Ward
GADGETS of CAMDEN : 7-10pm Lil Dave Thompson
VITTEL SALON & DAY SPA : 9-11:30pm Veronika Jackson
DAVIS & SONS GUITAR SHOP : 9-11:30pm The Rusty Davis Group
Sunday October 4th
THE PEARL RESTURANT : 11:30am-1:30pm The Blues Lunch with Robert Lighthouse
* 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.