Funkin’ in the New Year with Average White Band

Average White Band (AWB), one of my favorite funk bands, played in Pittsburgh for New Year’s Eve as a part of the First Night Events. AWB is a funk r&b band from Scotland who had big hits in the seventies and eighties, and can still jam it live. They played from 10:45 to 11:58 PM  on the Highmark Stage on Penn Ave, and then played two more songs as an encore after midnight. I was psyched because I had not realized they were going to be playing in my town until that evening, but there was a die hard AWB fan who came from the Jersey shore, specifically to see AWB play for New Year’s Eve. Video Coming soon

Gotta Love Cheap and/or Free Records

Tru.Funk.Soulja reporting for duty. Am at the funk soulja hq listening to a 50 cent Graham Central Station record. The album is the 1976 Mirror. Here are the tracks:

Side 1:

• Entrow
• Love (Covers a Multitude of Sins)
• Mirror
• Do Yah

Side 2:

• Save Me
• I got a Reason
• Priscilla
• Forever

The thing I like most about records, besides the music, is the album covers. The large liner notes are pretty cool too. The front cover of Mirror, features a Mirror, in this picture you see a reflection of hq. I love the photo featured on the back of the cover because it encapsulates the juxtaposition of styles that is GCS. On one side, they are dressed for a disco, and facing themselves, they are dressed in their Sunday best. Their Wikipedia entry notes:

The group also integrated gospel music into their repertoire, and played with the dichotomy between the funk/rock star image and the “sanctified” gospel group image.

Side 1 of Mirror is more straight up funk rock, whereas Side 2 features the more gospel songs that event quote the bible. “Save Me” sites Matthew 24, “Forever,” dedicated to the memory of Larry Graham Sr., quotes Revelation 21:4. On Side 1’s title track, “Mirror,” illustrates that we all have both sides to us, that we are all capable of being the angel or the devil.

Mirror, hanging on my bedroom wall

Mirror, tell me who is the cause of it all.

Why don’t you

It sure ain’t JESUS CHRIST, He came to save your life.

It must be Satan and his demon wife

You better listen to me, my friend, it’s a matter of life.

The song blames Satan and says he can’t win, but just the fact that it is titled “Mirror” proves that no one is without sin. Everyone is culpable when it comes to the “jacked-up world.”

Get Ready for Rare Earth!

August 9th, the first official day for the new Rivers Casino on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, PA, will conclude with a concert by Rare Earth at 8:30PM.  Rare Earth was the first band signed by Motown of all white guys that had big hits. Classified as MoTown, Funk, and Blue-eyed soul, Rare Earth is perhaps best known for their remake of “Get Ready,”  by the Temptations. The current band roster consists of Gil Bridges, Ray Monette, Randy “Bird” Burghdoff, Mike Bruner, and Floyd Stokes. Some good old school music, check it out!

The Weekend in the 412

Fri. Jul. 31

Barella’s Lounge – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Fridays.
1101 Rt. 885, Jefferson Hills, 412-384-7978.

Carhops @ Fleetwood Grille – Souled Out. Fridays.
2500 W. Liberty Ave., Dormont, 412-561-5015.

Cefalo’s Restaurant & Nightclub – Dr. Zoot. Fri., July 31.
428 Washington Ave, Carnegie, 412-276-6600, http://www.clubcefalo.com.

Comfort Inn – WitchDoctors. Fri., July 31.
699 Rodi Road, Penn Hills, 412-244-1600, http://www.comfortinnpittsburgh.com.

Hey Andy’s – Lacey Kazior, Ruffhouse. Fri., July 31. 724-531-9999.
1221 W. Main St., Monongahela, 724-258-4755.

La Casa Narcisi – Erin Burkett w/ Virgil Walters & John D’Amico. Fri., July 31.
4578 Gibsonia Rd., Gibsonia, 724-444-4744, http://www.narcisiwinery.com/.

Large Hotel – Jimmy Adler Band. Fri., July 31.
5100 Oak Road, Clairton, 724-384-9950.

Little E’s – Ahveekhy. Happy hour show. Fri., July 31.
Kevin Howard Trio. Fri., July 31.
949 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-392-2217.

Melange Bistro – Roger Barbour Jazz Quartet. Fridays.
Kenny Blake. Fridays.
135 Sixth St., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-325-4310

Omni William Penn – Harry Cardillo. Thursdays, Fridays.
530 William Penn Pl., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-553-5235, http://www.omnihotels.com.

Pangea Shadyside – Live Jazz. Guest performances. Fridays.
736 Bellafonte St., Pittsburgh (Shadyside), 412-621-3152.

The Pioneer Grille – The Dan Baker Trio. Fridays, Saturdays.
The George Washington Hotel , 60 S. Main St., Washington, 724-225-3200.

Pittsburgh Elks Lodge #11 – Strange Brew. Fri., July 31.
5800 Buttermilk Hollow Rd., Pittsburgh (Lincoln Place), 412-461-3322, http://www.elks11.org.

Rhythm House Cafe – No Bad Juju. Fri., July 31.
3026 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, 412-221-5010, http://www.rhythmhousecafe.com.

South Park Amphitheater – Lao Tizer Band. Fri., July 31. 412-835-4810.
Brownsville Rd. & McCorkle Rd., South Park.

Waterfront Town Center – Mark Ferrari Duo. July 31-Aug. 1.
149 West Bridge St., Pittsburgh (Homestead), 412-476-8889, http://www.waterfrontpgh.com.

Wicked Witches – Ms. Freddye & Blue Faze. Fri., July 31.
919 Freeport, Cheswick, 724-275-7202.

Sat. Aug. 1

April’s On the Ave – Jazz Surgery Feat. Tony Campbell. Saturdays.
7101 Frankstown Ave., Pittsburgh (Homewood), 412-731-1630.

Barella’s Lounge – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Saturdays.
1101 Rt. 885, Jefferson Hills, 412-384-7978.

The Inn’Termission – Chizmo Charles & The Rhythm Aces. Saturdays.
1908 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-381-3497.

Johnny’s – Etta Cox & Al Dowe Band. Sat., Aug. 1.
112 Westinghouse Ave., Wilmerding, 412-824-6642.

Little E’s – Jared Wilson & the Vibe. Sat., Aug. 1.
949 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-392-2217.

The Pioneer Grille – The Dan Baker Trio. Fridays, Saturdays.
The George Washington Hotel , 60 S. Main St., Washington, 724-225-3200.

Waterfront Town Center – Mark Ferrari Duo. July 31-Aug. 1.
149 West Bridge St., Pittsburgh (Homestead), 412-476-8889, http://www.waterfrontpgh.com.

Wightman School – Swing City. Hosted by Bobby D. Saturdays. 412-759-1569.
5604 Solway, Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill), 412-421-5708.

Club 46 – Clairton VFD – Strange Brew. Sat., Aug. 1.
307 Division Ave, Clairton, 412-233-7302.

Dante’s Restaurant & Lounge – Jimmy Adler Band. Sat., Aug. 1.
4131 Brownsville Rd., Pittsburgh (Brentwood), 412-884-4001.

Sun. Aug. 2

The Carrick Inn – Jaminators Blues Rock Band feat. Warren King. Sun., Aug. 2.
1144 Brownsville Rd., Carrick, 412-884-9939.

Carson City Saloon – Carson City Gang feat. Chizmo Charles. Sundays.
1401 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-481-3203, http://www.carsoncitysaloon.com/.

The Inn’Termission – Dying Breed, Warren King. Sundays. 412-576-1767.
1908 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-381-3497.

Inner-City Sanctuary – Live jazz, jam sessions, poetry and and art exhibit. Presented by The Cultural Waypoint Committee. First Sunday of every month. 412-371-1467.
7237 Kelly Street, Pittsburgh (Homewood).

Lambro’s Lounge – East End Dukes. Sundays.
1802 E. Ohio St., Pittsburgh (Strip District), 412-231-7699.

Moraine State Park – Sweaty Betty Blues Band. Moraine Regatta. Sun., Aug. 2. 724-368-9699.
225 Pleasant Valley Rd., Butler, 724-368-8811, http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateParks/parks/moraine.aspx.

Omni William Penn – Harry Cardillo. Sundays.
530 William Penn Pl., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-553-5235, http://www.omnihotels.com.

Paparazzi – Billy the Kid & the Regulators. Sundays.
2100 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-488-0800.

Rhythm House Cafe – Maureen Budway. Sun., Aug. 2.
3026 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, 412-221-5010, http://www.rhythmhousecafe.com.

Schenley Park Visitor Center – Trop Rock. Sun., Aug. 2. 412-682-7275, www.pittsburghparks.org.
101 Panther Hollow Rd, Pittsburgh (Oakland), 412-687-1800.

Tusca Global Tapas – Sunday Jazz Brunch. Sundays.
Southside Works, 2773 Sidney St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-488-9000.

Speaking of Bootsy Collins…

ahhh...the name's bootsy, baby

A lot of funk sure does come out of Ohio. Bootsy Collins was born William Collins in Cincinatti, OH on October 26, 1951. Bootsy Collins is known for funk bass. His band became the original J.B.’s, playing behind James Brown, the King of Soul. He is best known, however, as the bassist for Parliament-Funkadelic. He also played in his own bands, Bootsy’s Rubber Band and Sweat Band. Bootsy Collins is still active producing Movie, game and animation scores. He also has his own production company, Bootzilla Productions, where he mentors young talent. Bootsy Collins is sited as a major influence to many prominent bass players today. Bootsy’s style is juicy, driving, rhythmic, and groovy. He is known for using the auto-wah, or envelope filter, a type of wah-wah filter that gives the bass a very resonant sound. He uses the slap bass technique with 16th note patterns and syncopation.

Resources:

http://www.bootsycollins.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootsy_Collins

Meanwhile, the World’s Fastest Bass Guitarist

At thirty-six percussive notes per second, Jayen Varma holds the record for being the World’s Fastest Bass Guitarist. He has earned universal respect among the world’s most recognized bass guitarists. Bootsy Collins, for one, told Varma

WOW! JAYEN, IT IS WITH AMAZING SPEED THAT YOU PLAY, AND THE GREAT THING IS TO HAVE A GOOD FEELING ALONG WITH THE SPEED! YOU ARE RIGHT UP THERE WITH ALL THE REST OF THE GREATS! EXPOSURE IS THE KEY, BECAUSE YOU ARE WITHOUT A DOUBT, FUNKY! LOVIN’ WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT BASS, YOUR OTHER BROTHER, BOOTSY

Varma started playing music on Indian percussion. He uses the method of playing the table with the bass. Instead of applying the slap bass in the “traditional” way, by slapping the strings with thump and popping the strings with index and middle fingers , Varma plays bass like Tabla, which is widely known as “Indian Slap Bass”. Experimentation with music can be furthered by interactions between musicians of all cultures. Many Western musicians have incorporated Eastern style music into their repoitoire, and both have influenced the other. Varma’s website comments that in this age of technology, collaboration and interaction can happen faster and more easily, and can change the shape of modern music.

Resources:

• http://jayenvarma.net/
• http://www.youtube.com/user/jayenvarma

Coming Soon

Coming soon on Tru.Funk.Soulja

-An interview with Ketan Bakrania

-The African Funk Movement

-News and updates regarding Jazz/Poetry Concert 2009 in Pittsburgh

-Album reviews

-and much, much, more!

Stay tuned!

This Weekend in the 412

Blues/R&B

Thu. Jul. 16

Atria’s Restaurant & Tavern – Soul Merchants. Thu., July 16.
PNC Park, 103 Federal St., Pittsburgh (North Side), 412-322-1850.

Jacktown Ride and Hunt Club – The Usual Suspects. W/ weekly special guests. Thursdays.
11369 Center Hwy., North Huntingdon, 724-863-8151.

Sloppy Joe’s – Wil E Tri and the Bluescasters. Thursdays.
217 Shiloh St., Pittsburgh (Mt. Washington), 412-381-4300.

Sunseri’s – The Contenders. Thursdays.
3385 Babcock Boulevard, Ross, 412-364-9902.

Fri. Jul. 17

Atrias Restaurant & Tavern – Soul Merchants. Fri., July 17.
12980 Perry Highway, Wexford, 724-934-3660.

Carhops @ Fleetwood Grille – Souled Out. Fridays.
2500 W. Liberty Ave., Dormont, 412-561-5015.

Cefalo’s Restaurant & Nightclub – Gary Belloma & the Blue Bombers. Fri., July 17.
428 Washington Ave, Carnegie, 412-276-6600, http://www.clubcefalo.com.

Inn the Ruff – WitchDoctors. Fri., July 17.
6229 Saltsburg Rd., Penn Hills, 412-793-9779.

Little E’s – The Blues Orphans. Fri., July 17.
949 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-392-2217.

Sat. Jul. 18

CJ’s – The New Show Band. Sat., July 18.
2901 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh (Strip District), 412-642-2377.

d’Vine Wine Bar & Lounge – Sweaty Betty Blues Band. Sat., July 18.
12017 Perry Hwy., Wexford, 724-933-5533, http://www.dvinewinepa.com.

Heinz Hall – Maxwell. Sat., July 18.
600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-392-4900, http://www.pgharts.org.

The Inn’Termission – Chizmo Charles & The Rhythm Aces. Saturdays.
1908 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-381-3497.

Moondog’s – Flockery Blue, Freeport Road Gang. Sat., July 18.
378 Freeport Road, Blawnox, 412-828-2040, http://www.moondogs.us/.

Sun. Jul. 19

The Carrick Inn – The Jaminators Blues Rock Band w/ special guest Warren King.. Sun., July 19.

1144 Brownsville Rd., Carrick, 412-884-9939.

The Inn’Termission – Dying Breed, Warren King. Sundays. 412-576-1767.
1908 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-381-3497.

Lambro’s Lounge – East End Dukes. Sundays.
1802 E. Ohio St., Pittsburgh (Strip District), 412-231-7699.

Paparazzi – Billy the Kid & the Regulators. Sundays.
2100 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-488-0800.

Carson City Saloon – Carson City Gang feat. Chizmo Charles. Sundays.
1401 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-481-3203, http://www.carsoncitysaloon.com/.

Jazz

Thu. Jul. 16

Altman’s – Spider Rondinelli. Thursdays.
611 Old Clairton Road, Pleasant Hills, 412-653-6440.

Backstage Bar at Theater Square – Keith Stebler. Thu., July 16.
655 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-325-6769, http://www.pgharts.org/venues/backstagebar.aspx.

Capri Ristorante – Tony Campbell & Jazz Surgery. Thursdays.
6001 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh (East Liberty), 412-362-1250.

Firehouse Lounge – Etta Cox Trio. Thursdays.
2216 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh (Strip District), 412-434-1230.

Little E’s – Jessica Lee. Thursdays.
949 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-392-2217.

Omni William Penn – Harry Cardillo. Thursdays, Fridays.
530 William Penn Pl., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-553-5235, http://www.omnihotels.com.

Altman’s – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Thursdays.
611 Old Clairton Road, Pleasant Hills, 412-653-6440.

Fri. Jul. 17

Barella’s Lounge – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Fridays.
1101 Rt. 885, Jefferson Hills, 412-384-7978.

Gullifty’s – Etta Cox & Al Dowe Band. Fri., July 17.
1922 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill), 412-521-8222, http://www.gulliftysrestaurant.com.

Melange Bistro – Roger Barbour Jazz Quartet. Fridays.
135 Sixth St., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-325-4310.

Pangea Shadyside – Live Jazz. Guest performances. Fridays.
736 Bellafonte St., Pittsburgh (Shadyside), 412-621-3152.

The Pioneer Grille – The Dan Baker Trio. Fridays, Saturdays.
The George Washington Hotel , 60 S. Main St., Washington, 724-225-3200.

Wolcott Park – New Orleans Riverside Band. Fri., July 17. 412-741-4405, www.sweetwaterartcenter.org.
Broad St. & Beaver St., Sewickley.

Omni William Penn – Harry Cardillo. Thursdays, Fridays.
530 William Penn Pl., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-553-5235, http://www.omnihotels.com.

Barella’s Lounge – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Fridays.
1101 Rt. 885, Jefferson Hills, 412-384-7978.

Melange Bistro – Kenny Blake. Fridays.
135 Sixth St., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-325-4310.

Sat. Jul. 18

April’s On the Ave – Jazz Surgery Feat. Tony Campbell. Saturdays.
7101 Frankstown Ave., Pittsburgh (Homewood), 412-731-1630.

Barella’s Lounge – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Fridays.
1101 Rt. 885, Jefferson Hills, 412-384-7978.

Boyce Park – Monroeville Jazz Festival. Feat. Rodney McCoy, Kenia, Roger Humphries Big Band. Wave pool north parking lot. Sat., July 18. 412-372-4332.
675 Old Frankstown Road, Monroeville, 724-327-0338, http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/bpfac.aspx.

The Pioneer Grille – The Dan Baker Trio. Fridays, Saturdays.
The George Washington Hotel , 60 S. Main St., Washington, 724-225-3200.

Barella’s Lounge – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Saturdays.
1101 Rt. 885, Jefferson Hills, 412-384-7978.

Bethany Presbyterian Church – Philip Russell & Friends. Gospel jazz concert benefits church trip to Malawi. Sat., July 18.
740 Washington Ave., Bridgeville, 412-221-5132.

Sun. Jul. 19

Ligonier Diamond – Moonlighters Band. Sun., July 19.
Main St., Ligonier, 724-238-4200.

Mellon Park – Bach, Beethoven & Brunch. Ortner-Roberts Duo. Sun., July 19. 412-255-8975.
Fifth and Shady, Pittsburgh (Shadyside).

Rhythm House Cafe – Roger Humphries & R H Factor. Sun., July 19.
3026 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, 412-221-5010, http://www.rhythmhousecafe.com.

Evolution

As music has evolved, so too will this nascent funk blog. “I used to be a sperm,” George Clinton intones on Turn my Teeth Up’s”Baby Elephants ‘n’ Thangs.” Life is always in flux. Funk is by far my favorite genre of music. Sometimes it is hard to draw lines between types of music when describing different songs or artists. I already opened this blog up to include music influenced by funk, and now I’m going to take it a step further.

My real intro to funk that took me further and further in depth began with listening to WAMO 860 AM with a close friend. This Pittsburgh AM station bills itself as “the adult channel” playing “smooth R&B and classic soul.” My blog will now encompass all that that entails. As the header says, we’ll be kickin’ it ol’ school here, and hope to be your source for funk, soul, blue, jazz, & smooth r&b in da burgh and world wide!

Help End Hunger With the Blues

While it’s not funk, funk has been influenced by blues, and vice versa in later years, so I thought I would share this upcoming event in Pittsburgh. I will be volunteering at the event to help out the Pittsburgh Food Bank. If you are interested in volunteering, go to www.pghblues.com/volunteer to see what positions are still available.Volunteers receive Free admission, Free Parking, $2.00 off coupon for merchandise, and a Complimentary meal.

tru.funk.soulja

********

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s largest annual fundraiser, the Pittsburgh Blues Festival, is celebrating its 15^th Anniversary this year with a stellar musical line-up and some new features. The Blues Festival, presented by First Commonwealth, will be held at Hartwood Acres for the 5^th year, thanks to a partnership with Allegheny County.

The list of performers exemplifies the usual mix of blues legends and up-and-comers. The Festival begins with Free Friday, sponsored by Fox 53 TV, FedEx Ground, WDVE and Hefren-Tillotson, when admission to the Festival is free with the donation of a bag of non-perishable groceries for the Food Bank (last year, more than 13 tons of food were donated). Friday’s bands are Eric Lindell, and Cyril Neville and Tribe 13. Lindell is known for an eclectic style of New Orleans blues, and Neville is one of the famous Neville Brothers.

Saturday’s headliner is the legendary Los Lobos. Over 35 years, Los Lobos has pushed the limits of blues, rock and folk with their own special blend of Latino instruments, probing lyrics, and can’t-sit-down rhythms. Other groups performing on Saturday include Shannon Curfman, Shawn Kellerman, and Curtis Salgado. Curfman, just 24, has already been known as a blues wunderkind for nearly 10 years. Reviewers call Kellerman a true blues guitar wizard, and Salgado is a veteran who has played with the likes of Muddy Waters, Robert Cray and Bonnie Raitt, and whose new release Clean Getaway was called “one of the best records you’re going to hear this year” by Blues Revue Magazine.

The Festival will close on Sunday with the “master bluesman and storyteller” Robert Cray. The five-time Grammy winner is still going strong after 25 years with the success of 2006’s Live from Across the Pond, recorded in London’s Albert Hall during his tour with Eric Clapton. Other Sunday performers include Deb Callahan and JJ Grey & Mofro. Callahan released her latest CD, Grace & Grit, just last year, and JJ Grey’s latest, Orange Blossoms, drew this review from Billboard Magazine: “The MOFRO vibe travels freely among swamp funk, blues, rock and soul, and does so with a certain down-and-dirty swagger that’s as real as it is appealing.”

“The Blues Festival is our largest annual fundraiser,” said Joyce Rothermel, CEO of the Food Bank, “but it is also the Food Bank’s way of honoring our community’s support by giving back a Festival of joy, celebration and America’s great music – the blues. We are so grateful to our sponsors and to our volunteers for making the Blues Festival possible.”

Interspersed with this line-up will be local blues bands, including Glenn Pavone & the Cyclones, Jill West & Blues Attack, Eugene & the Nightcrawlers, the Jimmy Adler Blues Band, Ron Yarosz & the Vehicle, and the local International Blues Challenge winners Felix & the Hurricanes.

One exciting new feature added to the Festival this year is called Blues in the Tents, an interactive kids’ music workshop series, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, which will be an extension of the popular KidZone. Added to the usual crafts and games for kids will be interactive music presentations by local blues musicians Bubs McKeg, Eugene Morgan, Bill Weiner, Bob and Andy Gabig, and Larry Nath. Another local bluesman, Jimmy Adler, is organizing the effort which will include age-appropriate story-telling, blues history, and sing-along.

The Pittsburgh Blues Festival takes place on July 24-26, 2009, at Hartwood Acres, Allegheny County’s park in Hampton Township. Tickets to the Festival on Saturday and Sunday are $25.00 each day. Advance ticket, weekend pass, and family fun pack discounts can be found on the Festival website, www.pghblues.com, with a schedule of events and more information.  Parking is free.

Admission for children under 12 is also free. The Blues Festival is family friendly, with children’s activities planned all weekend at the Festival’s KidZone, sponsored by UPMC Health Plan and Children’s Hospital, and supervised by experienced staff with Act 33/34 clearances.

The Pittsburgh Blues Festival reached the total fundraising milestone of $1 million last summer. Thanks to generous sponsorship, all money raised at the Blues Festival goes directly to support the Food Bank’s programs for helping the hungry. An estimated 300,000 people are at risk of hunger in southwestern Pennsylvania, the number estimated to be living below the federal poverty level (a 2007 pre-economic downturn statistic).

The Food Bank thanks all Blues Festival sponsors: First Commonwealth, UPMC Health Plan, Giant Eagle Express, Del Monte Foods, Hefren-Tillotson, David A. Tepper Family Foundation, Allegheny County, Fidelity Investments, Bay Valley Foods, Children’s Hospital of UPMC, WPXI-TV11, Grainger, FedEx Ground, WDVE, Comcast, Massaro Corporation, Coors, Coors Light, Blue Moon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 91.3 wyep fm, Fox 53, Sodexo, Fiserv, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Armstrong Cable, KDKA-TV2, Moondog’s, GBL, Inc., White Diamond Vodka, Team Amcom, WTAE-TV4, U.S. Airways and Keller Williams Realty.

More information about the Pittsburgh Blues Festival can be found at the official Festival website www.pghblues.com, or by calling the Blues Hotline at 412-460-BLUE.