American Blues Legend to Headline the Rotorua Blues Festival
Los Angeles Blues legend Doug MacLeod will be headlining the Rotorua Blues Festival in June this year.
The Festival which spans the Queen’s Birthday Weekend is becoming one of New Zealand’s major Blues Festivals.
Doug, Patron of the Bay of Plenty Blues Club, will perform exclusively in Rotorua on Saturday June 4th at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside hotel.
It will be a rare opportunity to see one of the world’s greatest blues singer/songwriters.
Acknowledged as a torchbearer of acoustic blues, Doug is one of the last remaining bluesmen who learned from the old masters.
He is a great story-teller who enthralls his audiences with stories which have inspired his songs, and is renowned for his finger picking and “bottle-neck” guitar wizadry, warm soulful vocals and wit which combine to produce memorable live performances.
Also featured this year is Alison Penney, the Sydney Blues Performer of the Year 2009 & 2010,
plus a fantastic line-up of blues musicians from around New Zealand.
Novotel Rotorua Lakeside becomes the Home of the Blues over Queen’s Birthday weekend.
The Rotorua Blues Festival, running from Wednesday June 1st – Monday June 6th 2011 presents an eclectic mix of blues bands playing downtown in bars and restaurants.
The weekend will also feature a range of events including a one-off concert from Doug MacLeod, two specialist workshops with Doug, and a two hour cruise on the fabulous Mississippi style paddle boat The Lakeland Queen, with full bar service, nibbles and two hours of old style acoustic blues from some of our most respected musicians.
Musicians/bands confirmed so far include: Doug MacLeod (Los Angeles), Sydney Blues Performer of the Year (twice!) Alison Penney, The Flaming Mudcats (Auckland), The Blues Buffet (Wanganui), Carol Bean and Dave Murphy (Wellington), The Downhome Blues Revue, The Mike Garner Band, Brilleaux, The Rob Gillies Trio, B-SIDE Band, Peri Grant and Bill Ward (all Bay of Plenty)
Programme includes:
Downtown Carnival – blues bands in bars across town (all weekend)
Songwriting Workshop with Doug MacLeod (1pm Saturday)
An exclusive concert with Doug MacLeod from Los Angeles. (6pm Saturday)
Blues Guitar Master Class (9am Sunday)
Blues Cruise on Lake Rotorua (2pm Sunday)
Youth Blues Guitar contest (6pm Sunday)
Locals’ jam session (3pm Monday)
For more details, visit the Rotorua Blues Festival's web site by clicking HERE.
