2014 King Biscuit Blues Festival Lineup Announced

Earlier this evening, organizers of the 29th annual King Biscuit Blues Festival, scheduled for Oct. 8-11 in historic downtown Helena, announced the lineup for the legendary event.

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Again this year, the festival kicks off with Warm Up Wednesday on Oct. 8, an opportunity for people to experience a “behind-the-scenes” look at how the festival comes together. Food and beverage vendors will be open to the public and festival wristbands (required to access the Main Stage area) and Blues Bucks will also be available for purchase. Live music will also be featured on the Main Stage and admission is free.

Thursday, Oct. 9, the main headliner is Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings with special guest Sonny Landreth. Roy Rogers is considered one of the world’s premier slide guitarists performing today. He has received Grammy nominations as an artist, composer and producer. Rogers has worked with musical legends such as Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Miller, Sammy Hagar, and Ray Manzarek. Sonny Landreth is known as “the King of Slydeco” because of his strong zydeco influence. Eric Clapton has called him one of the most advanced guitarists in the world and one of the most under-appreciated. Other performers on Thursday, Oct. 9, include the Arkansas Delta’s own Sunny Burgess, Jimmy Hall & Wet Willie, Guitar Shorty and Eric Hughes.

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Delbert McClinton returns to the Biscuit as the headliner on Friday, Oct. 10. McClinton started out in a bar band, The Straitjackets, who played back-up to such musical greats as Sonny Boy Williamson II, Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Jimmy Reed. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has released albums in every decade since the 1970s. Performers scheduled for Friday’s main stage also include the CW Gatlin Band, Bobby Rush, the Eric Hughes Band, Reba Russell, Anson Funderburg & the Rockets, and the Paul Thorn Band.

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Saturday’s headliners are Jimmy Vivino & The Black Italians. Jimmy Vivino has worked with comedian Conan O’Brien in several musical capacities since O’Brien began his late-night career on NBC in 1993. He currently serves as musical director on the comedian’s cable late night show, Conan. Vivino began performing with his own band at age 13.  Vivino has also recorded and played live with such legends as Johnnie Johnson and Arkansas Delta sons Hubert Sumlin and Levon Helm. Also featured on Saturday night’s lineup are Sonny Rhodes, Jack Rowell Jr., Don McMinn, Matt Schofield, Andy T & Nick Nixon, and the legendary bluesman James Cotton.

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