Thursday, December 15, 2005

2006 Winter Blues Festival on Feb 3

Tickets are still available for the 2006 Winter Blues Festival taking place on Friday, February 3, at the Newport Syndicate. The event, in its second year, is a collaboration between Northern Kentucky University and Campbell Lodge Boys' Home. Funds raised are used to provide music lessons to residents of the Home through the NKU Music Dept.’s EMPOWER Program.

According to program founder Brian Hogg, a music teacher at NKU, “The EMPOWER Program was created to provide local urban and at-risk youth with a better understanding of the roots of African American artistry through the art forms of jazz and blues. Through education and exposure to the history and craft of jazz and blues, we hope to provide another option of expression to youth utilizing the tools of the masters of America's truly indigenous art form.”

Carl Weathersby will headline the event once again. Weathersby was a teenager learning blues guitar when he met the legendary Albert King, who became his teacher and mentor. Later, when Weathersby returned from serving in Vietnam, he toured with King as his rhythm guitarist. At last year’s event, Weathersby played a lively set to an appreciative crowd at the Madison Theater in Covington. Hopes are high that this year’s event at the Newport Syndicate will be just as entertaining, if not more so. Dick and the Roadmasters, G. Miles and the Hitmen, and the NKU Jazz Ensemble will also play during the evening.

Mike Schroth, Executive Director at the Home, is looking forward to the event. “We are thrilled to be working in cooperation with Northern Kentucky University again this year to present the 2nd Annual Winter Blues Festival, with money raised going to provide music instruction to the boys in our care. This has been a wonderful arrangement with NKU, and music provides a great alternative outlet for our residents."

Preferred seats with cocktail tables are $25, and general admission seats are $15. Tickets are available at the door, or by contacting Campbell Lodge Boys' Home (859-781-1214) or NKU’s Music Dept. (859-572-6399).