Tuesday, August 10, 2010

A Great Reason to Feel Blue

In its 23rd year, the world renowned Bull Durham Blues Festival is getting a little bit more prestige, a little more cache...a few more reasons to feel blue, if you will. With a headliner like the international superstar Buddy Guy, an artist with more accolades and awards than fit here, blue might be the best way to feel.
At 74, Guy's career spans decades and he has produced better than 60 albums. He is considered among the world's best guitarists coming in at #30 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 100. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 by fellow Blues superstar B.B. King, who has also performed in Durham at DPAC.

Held outdoors in the Historic Durham Athletic Park for the first 22 years, famous itself for amongst other things being the back drop of much of the number one sports movie of all time - Bull Durham, the festival was subject to the whims of Mother Nature. No more.

Starting this year, the festival will be held at the state-of-the-art DPAC – Durham Performing Arts Center. This 2,800 seat theater in Durham is quickly rising as a top theater in the south and boasts the largest stage (~6,000 sq. ft) between Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA. Without a bad seat in the house, Blues fans can now listen in style and air conditioning. For those who were wondering, dancing is permitted at each seat.

Below are the basic bits of information about the festival. Tickets are on sale now and are moving fast...and with all the attention this festival has gotten around the world, expect bigger and better events in years to come.

When: September 10th and 11th

Where: DPAC – Durham Performing Arts Center

Who: c'mon...the best in the Blues business, of course

Buy tickets here.

Guy's acceptance speech at his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was short and sweet, "If you don't think you have the blues, just keep living." Well, if it can bring success the likes of which Guy has enjoyed, then feeling blue seems like an awfully good plan.

No comments:

Post a Comment