Big Ron has a blast in North Dakota - and don't miss Shakori Hills!

Big Ron rocked North Dakota! Big Ron played the North Dakota Museum of Art on April 14th, and he received the same warm welcome that Ironing Board Sam did! Artist Adam Kemp worked with children at the museum to create a special sign to welcome Ron, and he was thrilled. Ron loved playing at the NDMOA, and had the full Grand Forks experience, even feeding some calves at Adam Klemp's farm!     Chocolate Drops in DC May 10! The Carolina Chocolate Drops will play the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA on May 10th! Come out for a show full of foot-stomping energy as the Drops play songs new and old. The show will be in the Bandstand, which means there is room to dance! Tickets are $25 and you can purchase online here. Doors open at 6pm, the show starts at 7:30pm. Hope you can make it!   Photo of the week    MMRF Advisory Board Member Taj Mahal, Neal Pattman, and Cootie Stark by Tim Duffy  Don't Miss Music Maker at Shakori Hills! The Music Maker Blues Revue will be at Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival in Pittsboro, NC! The show, 8-10pm on the Cabaret stage, will feature Pat "Mother Blues" Cohen, Big Ron Hunter, Captain Luke, Ironing Board Sam, Boo Hanks, Bubba Norwood, Sol and Gerald Robinson. While you're there, find the Music Maker popcorn stand! The sales support our programs, so enjoy some delicious popcorn while helping MMRF! There's plenty happening at Shakori, like Justin Robinson & the Mary Annettes on Friday night - hope to see you there! Listen:  Ironing Board Sam - Bye Bye Blackbird Diggin: A first listen to "Bye Bye Blackbird" We're so excited that later this year we will re-release Ironing Board Sam's record Ninth Wonder of the World of Music, recorded in the late 60's in Gary, Indiana. This song, Bye Bye Blackbird, Sam learned from fellow musicians on South Beach in Miami.  Anyone who's heard this jazz standard before will note Sam's original take on this classic tune: fast, bluesy and freaked out.  Sam claims he had to hypnotize his drummer, Lil' George, to play as fast as he does on this track. Sam took the synthesizer break on one of his favorite toy keyboards. We love this track and think you will too - enjoy! -- Corinne & Aaron The 78 Project benefits MMRF - tickets now available! Tickets are now on sale for The 78 Project at City Winery in New York City on May 20! The event includes a Live Music Revue and Benefit Auction featuring Dawn Landes, The Reverend John Delore & Kara Suzanne, Vandaveer and more special guests. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Music Maker, and we are so grateful to them for supporting our mission! Tickets range from $25 to $65, and you can purchase them here! To read more about the 78 Project, check out their website! Quick Links:     Website  Merch  Music

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events  4/19 - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins - Sweet Georgia Juke Joint, Atlanta  4/21 - Music Maker Blues Revue - Shakori Hills Festival, N.C. 4/27 - Cool John Ferguson, Captain Luke, and Shelton Powe - Havelock Blues Festival, N.C.   4/27 - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins - Northside Tavern, Atlanta   4/27 - Guitar Lightnin' Lee, Leyla McCalla - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/27 - John Dee Holeman - Cat's Cradle, Carrboro N.C.  4/28 - Carolina Chocolate Drops - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival   4/29 - Ironing Board Sam - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 5/11 - Music Maker Blues Revue - Back Porch Music, Durham, N.C. 5/11 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, N.C.    Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. helps the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain  recognition and meet their day to day needs. We present these musical traditions to the world so American culture will flourish and be preserved for future generations.

If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”