Our presenting sponsor, Patrick Square, is proud to announce that Chick Willis will be preforming at the BluesFest 2012. For those that don’t keep up with Living Blues magazine, Chick is the winner of the 2006 Best Live Performer Award.

Chick played the Royal Peacock in Atlanta as a teenager and backed Jackie Wilson, Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles and Sam Cooke. He also played alongside his cousin, the late Chuck Willis, who was a big star in the 1950s and was known as King of the Stroll. Chick has played to international audiences and is known for his electrifying performances.

BluesFest is proud to announce Chick Willis and his band will appear at Clemson’s University Inn (formerly Ramada Inn) Saturday night following his Patrick Square appearance.

You can check out more of Chick’s music at his website: http://www.chickwillis.com/

Frankie’s Blues Mission will be performing at Patrick Square and Clemson’s famous ESSO Club during the BluesFest.

As the name implies, these gentlemen are on a mission: Their purpose is to present the blues, jazz, R&B and zydeco in the best of the African-American tradition with all the energy they can muster.

Their music is described by Living Blues magazine as a fresh sound firmly rooted in, but not bound by, local tradition. You can see what everyone is talking about by listening to their new CD on Frankie’s Blues Mission MySpace page.

MAC ARNOLD HAS RECENTLY BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE TRADITIONAL BLUES MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED MAY 10 IN MEMPHIS. YOU MAY VOTE FOR MAC AT http://www.blues.org

Mac Arnold’s first band included a young piano player by the name of James Brown, back in the day when Mac and JB performed in Clemson at Littlejohn’s Grill. Mac soon moved to Chicago and Muddy Waters hired him on the spot. He toured and recorded with the Muddy Waters Band and recorded LPs with Otis Spann and John Lee Hooker. Mac moved to Los Angeles and worked with his friend Don Cornelius on the TV show SOUL TRAIN. He even played bass on the theme song for Sanford & Son when he wasn’t performing with Otis Redding and B.B. King.

He will be performing at the Clemson Arts Center during the Blues Art Exhibit and VIP Reception. During the reception you will have the opportunity to meet and mix with local business leaders, musicians, city council members and art patrons.

THE PAINTING THE BLUES art exhibit featuring the works of local artists, inspired by the Blues, will offer art for sale with all proceeds benefiting the Arts Center and the artist.

JUST ANNOUNCED—- BLUESFEST WILL AUCTION, TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, ONE OF MAC’S HAND-MADE GAS CAN GUITARS. DETAILS UNDER “CHARITIES”

Check out more of Mac’s music at his site macarnold.com

THIS JUST IN….PAULA BURNED UP THE MONTEREY BLUES FESTIVAL WINNING FIRST PLACE!!!

THEN…PAULA PLACED THIRD IN THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE COMPETITION IN MEMPHIS. JUST THINK–SHE WILL BE HERE IN APRIL

Clemson’s own Paula Harris will appear at the Red Minnow restaurant during the Nothin’ but the BluesFest. Paula frequently appears at “Top of the Mark” in San Francisco and is a nationally known blues and jazz performer.

Paula recently won the Final Four Best Bands of the Bay area competition in California and has been selected as one of the Top 10 bands to compete in the Monterey Blues Festival “Battle of the Bands” next year. Come out and help us welcome Paula home.

Listen to more of Paula’s work at her website paulaharrismusic.com