Illinois Blues Festival

CHRIS STEVEN’S ILLINOIS BLUES WORKSHOPS

All workshops at the “BLUES TENT” will focus on the player and/or listener having fun through a better understanding of the music known at The Blues. These workshops are suitable for both players and non-players who just love to listen to the ‘Blues.’

A huge thanks to Chris Stevens for developing and coordinating our workshops. Please feel free to take advantage of these interesting discussions and demonstrations.

All Workshops are Free and located in the BLUES TENT!

Schedule

FRIDAY AUGUST 29, 2008

7:00pm

BLUES IN GENERAL – The BLUES TENT opens with a short interactive discussion: Where did the blues originate? What makes music Blue?

7:15pm

HISTORY OF DELTA BLUES and other important artists such as Robert Johnson. Plus, artists who later emerged such as Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins and John Lee Hooker.

7:30pm

DEMONSTRATIONS OF DELTA BLUES which will include solo acoustic guitar, two acoustic guitars, Dobro/slide and a discussion of vocal and lyric styles.

8:00pm

QUESTION & ANSWER session with audience interaction

8:15pm

SHORT HISTORY OF MEMPHIS BLUES and some of the important figures. Discussion of the important position Memphis plays in the development of Blues. For example, B.B. King worked as a disc jockey there and continues to operate a namesake nightclub. The International Blues Challenge holds its annual event in Memphis.

8:30pm

DEMONSTRATIONS OF MEMPHIS BLUES which will include horn players

9:00pm

DAVE HOFFMAN discusses how Ray Charles conducted rehearsals, the importance of professionalism and other “non-playing” topics. He will also discuss reading music and does it play a role in improvisation?

9:15pm

SHORT HISTORY OF CHICAGO BLUES – This workshop features the introduction of electric guitar and harmonica. Discussing some of the important figures of Chicago Blues such as: Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy and others.

9:30pm

DEMONSTRATIONS OF CHICAGO BLUES includes guest players including Steve “The Harp” and others.

10:00pm

FINAL JAM – The audience decides the direction of this as several players take to the stage and plays the style of Blues Music requested from the audience.

SATURDAY AUGUST 30, 2008

1:00pm

GUITAR TECHNIQUES & BLUES IN GENERAL You’ll enjoy a short history of the Blues and a discussion on what makes a song “Blue”. The influence of Blues in Rock n Roll and Pop music PLUS you’ll learn three specific guitar techniques:

Which chord in what position

Which scale

Timing

2:00pm

BLUES HARMONICA WITH STEVE “THE HARP”. Steve “The Harp” will conduct his very popular interactive harmonica workshop and demonstrate various techniques such as “cross harp” and how to create a blues feel.

5:00pm

SPENCER BOHREN – Direct from New Orleans, Spencer will present his excellent workshop on how to integrate the same song into the various blues styles.

DON’T MISS THESE PERFORMANCES SATURDAY IN THE BLUES TENT

3:30pm

DOKTU RHUTE MUSSIC (ROY HIGHTOWER)

6:30pm

JIMMY BURNS

7:45pm

ROCKY LAWRENCE

9:00pm

SPENCER BOHREN

ALL TIMES AND APPEARANCES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

At The Budweiser Illinois Blues Festival