Aug07

Read by thousands of discerning blues enthusiasts worldwide. More - - - >
MySpace Music: www.myspace.com/bluesguitarnews
POB 2077, Benton, AR 72018. Email: mike@bluesguitarnews.com

Blues Guitar NEWS
August 2007

Past Issues

Blues in the Natural State, Blues Fest Fayetteville, Arkansas 2007
We want to thank Liz Lottman, Bob Coleman, Sandy & Roy McCann from
the Ozark Blues Fest for making our stay, and opportunity to perform at
this years fest so eventful. We had the best time ever, and thank you all
for your Arkansas hospitality. Also our special thanks to landmark Sonny
"Sunshine" Payne, legendary KFFA King Biscuit Radio host, and Paul Kelso
of KUAF-FM 91.3 Blues Radio. George's Majestic Lounge is a landmark
blues venue in Northwest Arkansas, and we felt privalaged to play on their
stage with a super sound man "Dave" making sure we were dialed in all
night long. Enjoy the photos from the Blues in the Natural State 2007
Blues Festival, as the sights, sounds and visions are still floating around in
our head while we unwind and savor the fantastic time we all shared on July
21st. We could not have pulled this off without Roy McCann sitting in on
bass for us, Thank you from the crew at "Big Blue Cats".

Photos by Jo Ann Dollins

Ted, Ben, Sonny Payne and Mike. Big Blue with a Radio Blues
Legend, King Biscuit Blues Radio KFFA, Helena, Arkansas.

Blues Radio Hosts Sonny Payne and Paul Kelso announcing
the blues show and review at the OBS Blues Fest.

Bob Colman - Harp & Tas Cru - Guitar

Little Joe McLarren & Robbie Mack

Liz Lottman & Ocie Fisher: Show and Review.

We had such a blast at the Ozark Blues Festival, we stayed a few days,
drove up to "Little Switzerland" of the Ozarks in Eureka Springs. Shannon
from Trimmed and Burnnin' amps www.trimmedandburnin.com suggested we
eat at Bubba's BBQ, and I still have BBQ sauce in my beard. Mmmm, a true
Ozark Hills culinary delight. We also met Joe Harless of Shaker Harmonica
Microphones, and had a great chat about blues harp players. We also want
to feature Brent Pierce of Stringed Instrument Peddler in Eureka Springs.
Besides his artistry on acoustic guitar, he has the best darn little guitar shop
in the Ozarks. Check out the photos, as this is a guitar oasis, and a
vanishing American heritage guitar shop. Support your local shops, they
have a heart, and where you get your parts, lessons and repairs.

Brent Pierce, Acoustic Guitarist
and Guitar Peddler excellent.

A special big THANK YOU to Roy and
Sandy McCann, of Fayettville, Arkansas
for all your best friend hospitality, and for
Roy filling in on Bass for us at the Blues
Fest. Visit Roy and Sandy's Blues
Builders web site, and learn more about
this amazing blues couple so active in the
education of our youth. They promote,
ecourage and support blues players from
all over young and old. We love you guys.

Blues Guitar News from all around

Barry Big "B" Brenner with
Albert King in the 80's.

Featuring resonator blues guitarists Brenner, Herman and Pearl. Mouse click their
photos, and each will take you to a Blues Guitar web site or MySpace Music. Cool huh?

Arkansas Blues Legends
Click Mr. Lockwood's photo

JIMMY LLOYD REA AND
THE SWITCHMASTERS
& his 1954 Fender Precision Bass

Ken Schoppmeyer, Blues Harp Par Excellent, and his all star
Blues, Jazz and R&B crew of smokin' real deal players.

Gibson Les Paul Vintage
Mahogany Electric Guitar

The Gibson Les Paul Vintage Mahogany
brings together old and new Les Paul
features to create a unique and special
guitar. The round warmth of mahogany top
on a mahogany back first debuted in the
famous "The Paul" guitar. This fabulous
wood combo is back with a new carved top,
and the added vintage edge of Gibson's
Alnico V BurstBucker Pro humbuckers -
Designed especially for the new Gibson Les
Paul Standards, these pickups provide pure
PAF purr for tone lovers of humbuckers on
their electric guitars. A '59 rounded Les
Paul mahogany neck with rosewood
fretboard and trapezoid inlays is fast yet
substantial. This guitar can sizzle and burn
6L6's and EL34 tubes too - Purr or crank.

Back in the 80's I had a Gibson "The Paul" guitar, that
was a basic mahogany, flat top without an arch, and the
usual Gibson pick ups, controls and switching. I used it
through a Music Man HD 130 2X12. She purred like
Harley idling, and felt as comfortable as old Tee
Shirts and Levis Pants.   I always missed that guitar
after I let her get away.   Gibson just introduced a
newer version, but with an arch top and Alnico V
BurstBucker Pro pick ups.   Not only did I recapture
that sweet mahogany purr for blues, when I run it
through my Polytone jazz amp, it can replicate an
ES175.   For just over seven hundred, this guitar is a
best kept secret going. I changed the knobs and
pickguard, you know I screw with every guitar I get,
but besides that she is stock, and I'm lovin' her as she
has gigged with me a couple times.   She is talkin' to me
too, let me tell y'all.   If you like shined up, curly tops,
this may not be for you.   But for a no nonsense working
guitar, this puppy is a stage hog for sure.         mike

Blues Guitar Product Review

Geoff's Blues Radio, worth a
visit and listen. Click imagage.

Dan Marolt's Blues Hall of
Fame is a tour through a
blues wonderland.

For some good time radio,
check out Paul's Midnight
Blue 62's Music Lounge

Hey y'all, if you made it down this far, thanks for hanging on. Visit our other sites, and all our blues
friends sites too. You'll find acres and acres of blues guitar related you could get lost in space on for
weeks, months and years. You got something to share or say send us a note at:
mike@bluesguitarnews.com New stuff every month. Don't forget to visit all the past issues above on
the bullets, as there are miles and miles of blues stories to be found. Thanks for stopping by, and check
out our other sites too. Keep on jammin' them blues, mike www.mikedollins.biz
MySpace Music Sites: www.myspace.com/bluesguitarmike
www.myspace.com/mikedollinsband and www.myspace.com/michaeljazz

Blues friends of Blues Guitar News
Mouse click their photos, and visit their blues sites.