| The popular blues fest, the UK’s biggest free blues festival, which takes place at the end of this month, is definitely still on, say the organisers, who are concerned fans will be put off coming to the city by the false rumours.
The confusion has apparently been caused by the postponement of last month’s Dundee Jazz Festival due to funding problems.
That event is now scheduled to take place in the autumn, but it appears many people have mixed up the two events and the rumours have escalated in recent weeks.
A spokesman for the Dundee Blues Bonanza said, “There seems to be some confusion doing the rounds at the moment, with a few people asking whether or not this year’s bonanza has been cancelled.
“There may have been some mix-up with another event, but please be assured, guys, the Dundee Blues Bonanza is alive and well and will be happening.”
A statement stressing that has been placed on the blues bonanza website — www.dundeebluesbonanza.co.uk
Meanwhile, the line-up for the event, which takes place on Friday, June 27, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29, has been completed and features some top names from home and abroad.
As usual, the festival is kicked off in style with the International Night on the Friday night in Deja Vu in Cowgate.
Featuring Robert Penn (USA), Dr Bendix (Norway) and The Rattlesnakin’ Daddies (Norway), it provides a preview of the headliners from abroad who can also be seen at various spots across the weekend.
Detroit’s world-renowned man of the blues Robert Penn has been perfecting his craft for the last 30 years, developing a style and skill, which has been compared to that of BB King.
In addition, the bonanza welcomes back The Flaming Stratmen again this year.
The band features the talents of German-based Werner “Flaming Stratman” Lindner on guitar and vocals, and London-based Terry Duggan (bass) and Reg Patten (drums).
A total of 34 venues will host almost 140 gigs, jams and workshops over the weekend, with the usual mix of bands from Tayside, Scotland and the rest of the UK, as well as the international contingent.
Among the special events planned are The Blindman’s Blues Forum jam session, where most if not all of the participants are members of the BBF. This year’s event, the second to be held, will be in Dexters on June 29, and will be dedicated to the memory of one of the forum’s youngest members, Calvin Baldi, who sadly died on his 15th birthday on May 31. |
