DURHAM -- Buddy Guy, the legendary blues guitarist, will headline the 23rd Bull Durham Blues Festival.
The St. Joseph's Historic Foundation Inc., the presenters of the annual music festival, is collaborating with the Durham Performing Arts Center, where Guy will perform on Sept. 11.
"Our audience can count on great blues music from some of the best artists our country has to offer," V. Dianne Pledger, the Foundation's president and CEO, said in a press release.
Guy, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, began his career as a recording artist in the 1950s, but is best known for his 1991 album "Damn Right, I've Got the Blues," which sold 500,000 copies and earned a Grammy and five W.C. Handy awards. He has recorded with famous bluesmen Muddy Waters, Little Walter and Howlin' Wolf, as well as rock stars Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bonnie Raitt and the Rolling Stones.
The foundation announced Guy's performance in a press release Monday, adding that five additional acts will be added in coming weeks, and the festival's "Blues All Around Town" theme will be anchored with performances at the Hayti Heritage Center on Sept. 10 before moving over to the DPAC.
"The decision to change the venue was not an easy one," Ed Gomes, the chairman of the Foundation's board, said in a press release. "However, the Foundation views this as a wonderful opportunity to forge a partnership with what is now one of the premier performing arts venues in the southeast."
The Bull Durham Blues Festival festival began in 1988 and, in 2000, earned the "Keeping the Blues Alive Award" from The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tenn. The event has become North Carolina's largest celebration of blues music, has attracted as many as 20,000 blues lovers and has a $3 million economic impact on the Durham economy each year.
The St. Joseph's Heritage Foundation hopes the partnership will "grow the festival in ways that maximize the exposure of this unique art form to both long time fans and other unfamiliar with the blues," Gomes added.
The festival will also include Blues After Hours social events at area restaurants before the festival.
"The Bull Durham Blues Festival has been a family tradition for so many people in Durham and throughout the region who are Blues lovers," Tom Bonfield, Durham City Manager said. "I am excited that the tradition is continuing, with the 23rd annual festival. I join Dianne, who always puts her heart and soul into this festival, in encouraging people to make sure they put the festival dates on their calendars."
Tickets go on sale May 28.
More information is available at www.bulldurhamblues.org, or www.dpacnc.com.
