The Blues Society of Western PA would like to thank everyone that made the CD release party a success. The Pamela Bick and the Warehouse Blues Band deserve many kudos for "stepping up to the plate" and generously donating their equipment for a great day of music.

John Deloe brought his sound equipment and maintained the sound system for the day.

We, the BSWPA, would like to thank all of the bands who generously donated their music to Blues from the Burg 2. We thank you for supporting this project....to "keep the music alive."

We would also like to thank those bands who were able to perform at the CD release party.

Mostly, we want to thank the blues fans and blues members from Western PA who came out to share a wonderful day of blues.

Yours in Blues,

Phat Cats - Saturday, March 13 - 9pm - No Cover - Hollywood Gardens, 169 Pinney Street, Rochester PA - Show membership card for drink specials from 9pm - 12am

>>> DOWNLOAD FLYER

Zack Tyler and Blu Razor - Friday, April 30 at 9 pm - No cover - Baltimore House, 176 Curry Hollow Road, Pleasant Hills, PA 15236

>>> DOWNLOAD FLYER

>> DOWNLOAD AND DISTRIBUTE FLYERS

>> DOWNLOAD SMALL FLYERS (4/page)

Preparations are being made for the April 10, 2010 BSWPA Blues Challenge.

The event: BSWPA Blues Challenge
The place: Ramada Inn (Greentree)
401 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, PA
412-922-8100

The date: April 10, 2010
What: Competition for blues. One winning band and one solo/duo act will be selected by a panel of judges. Those winners will be the 2011 representatives for the BSWPA in Memphis, Tennessee
Added bonus: Blues brunch with Bubs McKeg on Sunday, April 11, 2009
This will be included in your room rate. The brunch will be open to the public (those not staying) for $10 per person.

The Big News for you the fan….Book early!!!
1. Book your overnight accommodations at the Ramada… 412-922-8100. Ask for the “Blues Society Room Rate” of $89. Breakfast for two will be included.
2. The first ten rooms that book will receive two free tickets to the April 10 competition. You will be required to email your confirmation number to 2golfers2@comcast.net or call your confirmation number to 412-882-4916 (after 6pm) or 724-378-8926 to receive your free tickets.
3. Act fast…the first ten rooms will be the lucky winners.

The Blues Foundation has announced the inductees for the Blues Hall of Fame in 2010, including Louisiana-born, Chicago-based bluesman Lonnie Brooks, highly-esteemed blues singer and harpist Charlie Musselwhite and singer, songwriter, guitarist and social activist Bonnie Raitt......

The BSWPA is seeking monetary donations, as well as donations of goods and services that would enable our group to host their 7th Annual Blues Challenge on April 10, 2010 at the Greentree Ramada. We are asking that you enable our efforts by securing advertising space in our program or donating goods and services in exchange for program space. This would be a tremendous promotional opportunity for your business while helping a very worthwhile endeavor. - Call 412-882-4916 (after 6pm) 

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• 2009 Blues Challenge
• Blues Goes to School - (BITS) The Society hosted Fruteland Jackson, a blues man and an award-winning instructor from Chicago who is affiliated with the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Jackson gave his Blues 101 presentations at two area schools. The Society also teemed with Gateway to the Arts to make this project happen.
• The BSWPA helped man the children’s blues tent at the Pittsburgh Blues Festival.
• Eugene Morgan gave a presentation at Avonsworth Middle Schools on behalf of the BSWPA
• The BSWPA created awareness with gatherings during our “Blues Night Out” Tour…The Society provided the opportunity for the venues, fans and the bands to meet and flourish in the Western Pennsylvania area.
• Move! to the Blues for the Fisher House on Sunday, May 31 was held as a cooperative effort with the localVeterans Hospitals to raise funds to build a facility to house disabled veterans' families.
• The BSWPA worked several festivals to increase awareness for the blues genre of music.
• The BSWPA provided music during the 2009 Stand Down for the homeless veterans in Western Pennsylvania.
• Blues Goes Pink was held on August 23. The Blues Divas of Pittsburgh Concert enabled the BSWPA to raise funds for Adagio Health to provide breast and cervical cancer screenings for the many underinsured women in the Western Pennsylvania region.
• The BSWPA hosted the 2nd Annual Blues Day Out picnic
• The BSWPA worked to raise funds for the Greater Pittsburgh Area Foodbank.
• The Blues for Tots and Toys was held in December. The toy drive was a means for the BSWPA to give back to the community.
• The Veterans is a Healer Tour was taken to Aspinwall Veterans Hospital. Many musicians donated their time to cheer our local veterans. The BSWPA provided assistance.

      ~  Happy New Year from the Board and Officers of the BSWPA
          working together with you, the members, ...."Keeping the Blues Alive!"

Recording company offering 3 hours of time for $30.
Interested? Email Don Vecchio, our VP, at: donv21@yahoo.com

The PITCH Program (Putting Instruments in the Children's Hands) would appreciate the donation of instruments in good working condition to enable the fulfillment of this program.