California Beer Festival Returns; Ventura County Beer Week Leads Up To Craft Beer Heaven, Blues & BBQ Fest

     

Two-Day California Beer Festival Returns To Ventura's Mission Park; 

Ventura County Beer Week Leads Up To Craft Beer Fest, Blues & BBQ Fest   

Ventura County Beer Week: September 15-22

Craft Beer Heaven: Saturday, Sept. 21   Blues & BBQ Fest: Sunday, Sept. 22

  

    (Ventura, Calif.) - California Beer Festival, one of the most anticipated two-day live music and craft beer events of the year in Southern California, returns to Mission Park, Main St. and Figueroa St. in Ventura, with its Craft Beer Heaven on Saturday, September 21; and Blues & BBQ Fest on Sunday, September 22, respectively. Prior to that is the week-long Ventura County Beer Week, from September 15-22, with festivities all over town. Tickets priced as follows: Saturday's Craft Beer Heaven, $50.00; Sunday's Blues & BBQ Fest, $30.00; Designated Driver Ticket (Saturday only), $25.00; V.I.P. 3-Day Pass (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), $145.00. Buy tickets at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6499499177?ref=ebtnebtckt.  

   

     

Guitar Heaven: California Beer Festival's Blues & BBQ Fest on September 22 features  guitar standouts (left to right) Ana Popovic (four-time Blues Music Awards nominee in her only California appearance); five-time Grammy nominee, Robben Ford; and Carolyn Wonderland, described as a cross between Stevie Ray Vaughan and Janis Joplin. 

           

    The Blues & BBQ Fest lineup on Sunday, September 22 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. features three of today's best contemporary guitar players: Four-time Blues Music Awards nominee, Ana Popovic (in her only California area appearance); five-time Grammy nominee, Robben Ford; and Texas native Carolyn Wonderland, described as a cross between Janis Joplin and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Also performing are two popular SoCal-based blues groups with solid followings, The Alastair Greene Band (and) Michael John and the Bottom Line; plus The Bomb. Sunday also features the 5K Run and Blue Moon BBQ Cook Off with amateur and professional teams from all over the state competing for $3,000 in prize money. Guests are encouraged to enjoy samples from each team throughout the day and vote for People's Choice.

   Saturday's Craft Beer Heaven (12:30-5:30 p.m.) is one of the largest beer festivals in the state, and with over 150 craft beers on tap, it's a great place to come sample amazing craft beer from all over the world. Sample such fine beers as Ladyface Ale Companie; Ninkasie Brewing; Fireman's Brew; Bruvado; Speakeasy Ales & Lagers; Sierra Nevada; Firestone Walker; and many more. In addition to Craft Beer Heaven, Saturday also features live music by Foreverland (Northern California-based, powerhouse/horn-driven Michael Jackson Tribute band); Ventura's own groove-masters, Shaky Feeling; and Black Crystal Wolf Kids, who are the "world's first indie-rock tribute band" performing sing-along songs from bands such as MGMT, Grouplove, and Phoenix to Pavement, Pixies and Cracker.
    

     

   California Beer Festival presents "Ventura County Beer Week," an eight-day celebration of craft beer, food and friends from September 15-22. Among the events taking place during Ventura County Beer Week: Mixology at the Tavern (Sunday, 9/15); Tap Take Over with Firestone at Winchester's (Monday, 9/16); Laughing with Lagunitas at the Ventura Harbor Comedy Club (Tuesday, 9/17); Short Pour Film Contest at Barrelhouse 101 (Wednesday, 9/18); Poker/Blackjack Tournament at Players Casino with Ninkasi (Thursday, 9/19); and the First Annual VIP Brew With A View invitational (Friday, 9/20), the latter kicking off CBF Weekend at the Crowne Plaza and presented by CBF (and) Totally Local VC. Seven restaurants team up with seven breweries to compete for your vote to win the 2013 Craft Beer and Food Paring Award! Your ticket includes the view; food (medium bites); craft beer; and a live band. Breweries competing are: Anacapa Brewery, The Lab Brewing Company, LadyFace Ale House, Surf Brewery, CBF Burt's Banana Hefeweizen, and Firestone Brewery. Restaurants Competing: Watermark On Main, Crown Plaza, Twenty 88, Sidecar, The Patio Restaurant, Plated Events with Chef Jason Collis and La Dolce Vita. Space is very limited for this VIP Event. Must be 21 years or older with a valid ID to participate in this food pairing competition. For additional information log onto www.venturacountybeerweek.com.

 

                                        www.californiabeerfestival.com

The Jam is almost here! Greeley Blues Jam 2013, June 7 & 8, Greeley CO

The Jam is almost here!  Headliners: John Mayall JJ Grey & Mofro Harper & Midwest Kind Bonerama Carolyn Wonderland Lil’ Brian & The Zydeco Travelers ABOUT THE FESTIVAL  The Greeley Blues Jam is June 7th & 8th 2013 in Greeley, Colorado Indulge in delicious food and beverage, take off your shoes and dance on the 45,000 sq. feet of fresh green sod on the arena floor! Presented by the City of Greeley and the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, the Greeley Blues Jam offers an absolutely stunning line-up, bringing to you several of the world’s most highly regarded blues artists.  Come out and enjoy this talented roster of national and local blues performers, on two big stages with 11 hours of non-stop blues. There will be lots of food vendors on site or pack a picnic lunch, leave it in your car, and you can come and go from the arena and enjoy the park. Ticket holders will be stamped and allowed to re-enter at any time.  Don’t forget your picture I.D. Also visit the intimate “Blues 101 Stage” where we offer kids of all ages the opportunity to learn about this music that is part of our national heritage. See and meet some of the most talented young blues performers in the country! We have a family oriented atmosphere where everyone can expect a wonderful blues experience.  Great food & drink, merchandise vendors, ample free parking, plus camp & RV sites just outside of the arena at Island Grove Park. Not to be missed is an additional 10 hours of Friday festivities in many of the Downtown bars & restaurants, and all FREE!  This is now an integral part of the Greeley Blues Jam and is 100% guaranteed to put a smile on your face and get your feet moving! It all adds up to two absolutely amazing days of non-stopping blues… remember our goal and our motto:  “It Ain’t Nothin But a Party”! The party starts Friday at 5 p.m. downtown and continues well past midnight.  On Saturday, the arena opens at 10:30 am—music starts at 11and plays continuously until 10:30 pm.  Get there early for best seating on the grass!  Hope to see you there! Go to greeleybluesjam.com for complete information and ticket locations

Still Alive and Well - Carolyn Wonderland

Carolyn Wonderland (born Carolyn Bradford 1972, Houston, Texas) is an American blues singer, songwriter and musician. She is married to A. Whitney Brown.
Wonderland dropped out of Houston's Langham Creek High School to pursue her music ambitions. In 1999 Wonderland moved to Austin, Texas, but, by 2001, she lost her apartment lease after her landlord became ill and decided to live out of her van as she was spending more than 300 days a year on the road performing.

Wonderland's instrumental abilities include guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, trumpet and piano. Although primarily a blues artist, Wonderland likes to incorporate elements of country, swing, zydeco, surf, gospel, soul, and cumbia into her musical mix. She usually performs with Cole El-Saleh on keyboards and Robert Michael Hooper on drums.

In February 2008, Wonderland released the CD, "Miss Understood" on the Bismeaux Productions label and the title song has been on the Top 50 of the 'Roots Music Report' chart since the album's release.[4] Fans of Wonderland's music include Bob Dylan, and Ray Benson, founder of Asleep at the Wheel. Benson produced Miss Understood, and has been one of her songwriting collaborators. Wonderland credits several blues and Texas musicians as influences on her music. One notable influence is Austin singer/songwriter Terri Hendrix, as Wonderland covered two Hendrix songs, ("I Found the Lions" and "Throw My Love"), on Miss Understood.

Wonderland has been involved in a number of recordings, including several that were self-produced on independent labels. She was the lead singer fronting the band Imperial Monkeys. Wonderland released Bloodless Revolution in 2008, and is the primary singer on the Jerry Lightfoot's Band of Wonder Texistentialism CD with Lightfoot and Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead, Tubes.) Wonderland was a founding member of the Loose Affiliation of Saints and Sinners (with Papa Mali, Eldridge Goins, Guy Forsyth, and others), with several of her songs being featured on their Sessions from the Hotel San Jose Rm. 50 CD.[6] She was also the lead guitarist in the all-girl, southern rock band Sis DeVille (other members include Shelley King, Sarah Brown, Lisa Pankratz and Floramay Holliday), and a founding member of the Austin Volunteer Orchestra.
Carolyn Wonderland jamming at Antone's in Austin (2008).

Wonderland appeared on Austin City Limits in 2008, and has had her music used on NBC's Homicide and Fox's Time of Your Life. She was a headlining artist at the annual Rochester International Jazz Festival summer 2009 at the Eastman Theatre and New York. In 2003, Wonderland opened the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, after performing there for the previous ten years, singing the National Anthem with 'The Imperial Monkeys'.

Wonderland also performs with the Imperial Golden Crown Harmonizers, raising money for local Austin charities, food banks, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and on behalf of the legalization of marijuana.

Wonderland married writer-comedian A. Whitney Brown on March 4, 2011, in a ceremony officiated by Michael Nesmith.
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