Ruthie Foster Nominated For Best Female Blues Artist In 2012 Blues Blast Music Awards

Ruthie Foster has been nominated for Best Female Blues Artist in this year's Blues Blast Music Awards. This is the second time Ruthie has been honored with a nomination in this category, having previously been nominated in 2010. The 2012 awards will be presented by Blues Blast Magazine, with the nominees having been chosen by a wide range of music industry professionals.

Ruthie's frequent collaborator, Hadden Sayers, is also nominated for his song, "Back To The Blues", which he recorded as a duet with Ruthie.

Voting begins July 1 and continues until August 31, 2012, and is free and open to the public. For the complete list of award categories and nominees visit Blues Blast Magazine's website, and cast your vote here >>

Bettye LaVette's New CD Announced With Initial Single "I'm Not the One" Out Today And Accompanying Video Available On RollingStone.com

In a milestone year for Bettye LaVette, she will celebrate her 50th Anniversary in the music business with a new CD Thankful N' Thoughtful and the release of an autobiographical book, A Woman Like Me, both coming out in late September. For full press release, see here >>

Bill Frisell Named Guitarist Of The Year For Third Time Since 2008 By The Jazz Journalist Association

Bill Frisell was awarded Guitarist of the Year at the 16th annual Jazz Journalist Association (JJA) Jazz Awards Gala held at The Blue Note, New York City, on June 20. This is Bill Frisell's third time winning this award since 2008. In addition to being named Guitarist of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2012, Bill was also nominated in this category in each of the other intervening years - 2010 and 2011. The awards gala honors excellence in jazz music, recordings and journalism, and are voted on by professional members of the JJA. For information about the JJA visit jjajazzawards.org.

This latest award for Bill comes close on the heels of his receiving the prestigious Doris Duke Performing Artist Award in May. Recipients of this award are chosen anonymously by their peers across a broad spectrum of performing arts disciplines and are presented with an unrestricted grant in recognition of their significant and continuing contribution to the Arts. For further information about the Doris Duke Performing Artists Awards, visit DDPAA.org.

Congratulations to Bill on all his success and please catch him live on stage, please see Tour Dates here >>

Dr. John To Be Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award At Lugano Estival Jazz 2012

Congratulations to Dr. John who'll be presented with the Lugano Estival Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award, "In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to contemporary music and culture". Dr. John's name will be added to an illustrious list of past recipients including Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Tito Puente, Herbie Hancock, Max Roach, Chick Corea, Dave Brubeck, Maynard Ferguson, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, The Manhattan Transfer, Miriam Makeba, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, McCoy Tyner, Al Jarreau and Solomon Burke. This prestigious award will be added to his already impressive collection of acknowledgements including last year's induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This Lifetime Achievement Award coincides with Dr. John's latest and most successful album release in decades. Locked Down, released on April 3, 2012, already appears on top albums lists for 2012, including NPR Music's 25 Favorite Albums of 2012 (So Far) and the Guardian's (UK) list of The Best Albums of 2012 (So Far). This latest honor, the Lugano Estival Jazz's Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented to Dr. John upon his performance at Estival Jazz on July 6, in Lugano Switzerland. Congratulations again to Dr. John.

To catch Dr. John and The Lower 911 featuring Jon Cleary live this summer in Europe and select markets across the US.

Bill Frisell Featured On Shawn Colvin's New CD, Bill Joins An All-Star Cast for Hunter S. Thompson's The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved

Bill Frisell is featured on Shawn Colvin's new CD All Fall Down. In addition to adding his signature guitar work to seven songs on the project, he also co-wrote the track "Anne of the Thousand Days" with Shawn.

Bill also recently composed and arranged music to help bring to life a definitive performance of an all time classic piece of journalism, The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved by Hunter S. Thompson. An all-star cast lead by Tim Robbins, Ralph Steadman, Annie Ross, John Joyce III, Will Forte and Rosebud's Dr. John add spoken word to this Hal Wilner produced project on 429 Records. Originally published in Scanlon's Monthly in June of 1970, this article is the quintessential example of Thompson's uniquely humorous and piercing insight - and the piece that inspired the term Gonzo Journalism. Rolling Stone calls the record the "the Robert Altman of all-star concept LPs." Original illustration is also provided by Ralph Steadman.

Catch Bill Frisell live on stage throughout the summer and look for a package tour with Lucinda Williams with details to be announced later in the year. Please see tour dates >>

Trombone Shorty Featured At Obama For America Event at Sarah Jessica Parker's New York Home

Trombone Shorty made a special appearance at an Obama for America fundraiser at the home of Sarah Jessica Parker in New York Thursday, June 14. Parker recently became a fan of Trombone Shorty and was eager to feature him at the event, attended by both the President and First Lady, Michelle Obama. Trombone Shorty flew in the same afternoon directly from a tour of Brazil in order to make the appearance. Among the impressive lineup of guests attending the special dinner and sharing their great appreciation for Trombone Shorty's set were Aretha Franklin and Meryl Streep.

This appearance comes close on the heels of Trombone Shorty's visit to the White House in February for a special Black History Month PBS taping of Red White & Blues along with BB King, Jeff Beck, Keb Mo, Mick Jagger, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks and more. This event was a bit more intimate and featured just Trombone Shorty and his guitarist, Pete Murano and drummer, Joey Peebles.

Catch Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

Elvin Bishop on A Prairie Home Companion, Saturday June 16

Elvin Bishop will feature as a special guest on A Prairie Home Companion on Saturday, June 16. Saturday's show will be broadcast live from the Cuthbert Amphitheater in Eugene, Oregon. This is Elvin's fourth appearance on the show since January 2010. Also guesting on this week's show is Bluegrass star, Sam Bush.

Hosted by Garrison Keillor, A Prairie Home Companion today has 4 million listeners each week on more than 600 public radio stations across America. To find your local radio station listing for A Prairie Home Companion, please go to prairiehome.publicradio.org/stations.

To catch Elvin live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

The Blind Boys of Alabama Join Tom Petty For East Canada Dates

Thanks to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers who presented The Blind Boys of Alabama as special guests for their shows last week in Eastern Canada.

The Telegram (St. John's NF) declared "gospel kings the Blind Boys of Alabama brought the salvation, with a tight band and heavenly harmonies. ...An uplifting beginning with a rousing end"

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers posted a Thank You on their official website noting "Everyone with the Blind Boys of Alabama - from the band to their crew - were incredible to have for these Canadian dates, and the entire Heartbreakers family will miss having them out on the tour" (read the full article)

The Blind Boys of Alabama and Rosebud extend their thanks to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers for adding the band to this run of dates. Catch the Blind Boys performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

Rosebud Artists Nominated for 7 Living Blues Awards: Marcia Ball, Ruthie Foster, Mavis Staples and Duke Robillard All Up For Nominations - Cast Your Vote

Marcia Ball, Ruthie Foster, Mavis Staples and Duke Robillard all earned Nominations in the 2012 Living Blues Awards, with Ruthie Foster scoring two and Marcia Ball racking up an impressive three nominations - more than any other nominee this year.

Marcia Ball was nominated for Blues Artist of the Year (Female) and Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard), both being categories she won last year. She won the former category in 2009 as well. This year Marcia is also nominated for Best Blues Album of 2011 for her CD, Roadside Attractions.

Ruthie Foster was also nominated for Blues Artist of the Year (Female) for the second year in a row - this being a category she won in the Critic's Poll in 2010. This year she also brought in a nomination for Best Blues DVD of 2011 with Ruthie Foster - Live At Antone's.

Mavis Staples is also acknowledged as a nominee for Most Outstanding Blues Singer, a category she won in the 2011 Critic's Poll in which she also won as Blues Artist of the Year.

Duke Robillard earns a nomination for Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar), a category he has won 4 times in the Blues Music Awards (of an impressive 14 nominations).

You can vote at livingblues.com for your choices, as well as write-in candidates. All ballots must be received by July 10, 2012. Congratulations to all the nominees!

Check out these artists performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

Jon Cleary and Dr. John Join Forces for Summer Tour of the US and Europe

Jon Cleary joined Dr. John and The Lower 911 on June 1 to begin an extensive tour that will last through July. In addition to performing as part of Dr. John's Lower 911 band, Cleary will also be performing solo as the support artist on select shows. The tour, billed as Dr. John and The Lower 911 featuring Jon Cleary, will hit a limited number of markets across the US before crossing to Europe at the end of June. The tour hits 10 countries overall with appearances at a number of prestigious festivals including Montreux Jazz, Roskilde and Nice Jazz Festival as well as a number of headlining concerts.

This collaboration comes hot on the heels of Jon Cleary's critically praised new album, Occapella, released April 17. Occapella, is a collection of carefully selected, creatively re-structured songs written by the legendary Allen Toussaint. The track "Let's Get Low Down" features Bonnie Raitt (who Cleary toured with for a number of years) and Dr. John on guest vocals, with Dr. John also playing guitar on the track. Bonnie was recently quoted in the LA Times praising Jon as "the world's best-kept secret".

Dr. John's latest album Locked Down, released April 3, has won rave reviews worldwide. And from a commercial standpoint the CD has brought the legendary Doctor his greatest sales and highest chart positions in decades. Locked Down benefitted greatly from production by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys who proclaimed Dr. John "…one of the greatest who ever was and who ever will be…I'm so honored to have had this opportunity to work with him."

Check out Jon Cleary, please see Jon Cleary's Tour Dates >>