The Sixth Annual Berlin Blues Festival for June 3
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/April 6, 2006
Contact : Tom Retano - 860-604-8106
Berlin, CT - Saturday, June 3 brings electrified and acoustic blues music and more to The Berlin Fairgrounds in Berlin for a worthy cause, The Lions Low Vision Centers.
Sponsored by the Berlin Lions Club and Lions District 23B, the event features top national and local blues artists. Dubbed "Connecticut's Premier Blues Festival", the event will feature Savoy Brown, Joanna Connor, Bruce Katz, and Brian Templeton.
The festival will also feature a motorcycle show benefiting the Peter Lavery Memorial Scholarship Fund in Berlin. Lavery, a Newington police officer that resided in Berlin, was killed in the line of duty in 2005. Also included will be a motorcycle "Ride for Sight" benefiting the Lions Low Vision Centers.
The event is hosted by 106.9 WCCC personality Beef Stew. Stew's radio show "Sunday Night Blues" is well known by thousands of people in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.
Established in 1965 in London, England, Savoy Brown has recorded 30 albums over the last 41 years. Founder and lead guitarist Kim Simmonds has been the "driving wheel" in this band for all of those 41 years. According to their website, "The band helped launch the UK blues/rock movement and paved the way for such rock acts as Led Zeppelin.
Joanna Connor returns to Berlin Blues Festival after a blistering performance there in 2002. Known as one of the most talented blues slide guitar players in the world, she learned from two blues masters; Luther Allison and Buddy Guy.
Other national artists in the lineup include well known Hammond B-3 player Bruce Katz and his band, The Brian Templeton Blues Band (with blues pianist Dave Maxwell and former Fabulous T-Bird guitarist Kid Bangham), and local blues bands Jr. Krauss & the Shakes, Johnny and the East Coast Rockers, The Pete Scheips Band, TL and the All-Stars, and The Chilli Blues Band. Well known acoustic blues artist Dan Stevens will perform between sets on the Acoustic Stage.
Food, beer, beverages, snacks, and ice cream will be available. Festival goers are encouraged to bring sand chairs, sunscreen, and hats. Umbrellas, coolers and food cannot be brought into the fairgrounds for the festival. For more information call 1-800-828-0063.
All proceeds benefit the Lions Low Vision Centers located in New Britain, Bloomfield, Torrington and Bristol. Low Vision is visual impairment resulting from trauma, stroke, macular degeneration, cataracts, or other causes that cannot be corrected by surgery or other means. Staffs at the Centers teach visually impaired clients new ways to utilize remaining eyesight providing independence and enhancing activities of daily life. The low vision website can be visited at www.lionslowvision.org.