ERIC CLAPTON’S 2010 CROSSROADS FESTIVAL DUE FOR DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASE VIA RHINO ON 8 NOVEMBER

Eric Clapton’s 2010 Crossroads Festival in Chicago on 26 June 2010 saw the usual gathering of stellar musicians including Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan, Derek Trucks, Sonny Landreth, BB King, Buddy Guy, Sheryl Crow, Doyle Bramhall II etc

Among the many highlights were a killer performance of Rock Me Baby featuring Robert Cray, Jimmy Vaughan, Eric Clapton and BB King, a great set with Eric and Steve Winwood, Jeff Beck joining Eric for Shake Your Moneymaker and so much more.

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The full schedule was:

1:50 AM – 12:15 PM
Sonny Landreth (joined by Eric Clapton for one number)

12:20 – 12:55 PM
Robert Randolph joined by Joe Bonamassa & Pino Daniele

1:00 – 1:40 PM
Robert Cray with Jimmie Vaughan & Hubert Sumlin

1:45 – 2 PM
Bert Jansch

2:05 – 2:20 PM
Stefan Grossman

2:25 – 2:50 PM
ZZ Top

3:00 – 3:40 PM
Doyle Bramhall II joined by Gary Clark & Sheryl Crow

3:50 – 4:35 PM
Vince Gill joined by Albert Lee, James Burton, & Keb’ Mo’

4:45 – 5:00 PM
Citizen Cope

5:05 – 5:20 PM
Earl Klugh

5:25 – 5:50 PM
John Mayer

6:00 – 6:35 PM
Buddy Guy with Jonny Lang

6:45 – 7:35 PM
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band joined by Warren Haynes, Sheryl Crow, David Hidalgo, Cesar Rojas, & Johnny Winter

7:45 – 8:20 PM
Jeff Beck

8:35 – 10:05 PM
Eric Clapton with Steve Winwood

10:10 – 10:30 PM
BB King with Robert Cray Band

10:30 – 10:50 PM
Sweet Home Chicago finale!

Rhino will release a double dvd/Blu-Ray set on the 8 November 2010.

JOE BONAMASSA SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ‘BLACK ROCK’

Produced By Kevin Shirley, Album Features Duet With B.B. King

Bonamassa Will Tour the U.S., U.K., Europe, Russia, Japan and Australia Throughout 2010

Just awarded the Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award at the U.K.’s prestigious Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards, blues-rock guitar hero and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa is set to release his tenth full-length solo album, Black Rock, on March 23, 2010. Bonamassa’s sixth release on his own J&R Adventures imprint, the disc re-teams him with producer Kevin Shirley (Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin), who most recently produced 2009′s The Ballad of John Henry, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Blues Chart in February of last year. The album release will be followed by a multi-country tour taking Bonamassa to the U.S., U.K., Europe, Russia, Japan and Australia.

Black Rock was recorded at, and named for, Black Rock Studios in Santorini, Greece. “With this album, we wanted to explore a ‘world’ feeling, and this was the inspiration behind going to record in Greece and using some of the best Greek musicians to add a little flavor to a couple of the tracks. But it’s by no means a ‘world’ album. We wanted Joe’s usual youthful and energetic tones to play alongside the worldly vibes of the Greek bouzouki and clarino,” said Shirley. Bonamassa adds, “It was the kind of record Kevin and I wanted to make. We needed to rock again a bit like on my first album. It’s youthful, like going back to your childhood.”

Joe Bonamassa has signed up blues legend B.B. King for a duet on his new album. The song they perform together is a rendition of the Willie Nelson-penned song, “Night Life,” which appeared on King’s 1967 album Blues Is King. Shirley says about the experience, “This is a rollicking Stonesy-vibe version of the Willie Nelson song on which B.B. King duets with Joe, both vocally and on his famous Lucille guitar. What a joy and an honor to work with the legend who is possibly the pivot point and unifying musician between blues and rock.”

Other tracks appearing on Black Rock include Jeff Beck’s “Spanish Boots,” Leonard Cohen’s poetic “Bird On A Wire,” Otis Rush’s “Three Times A Fool,” Bobby Parker’s “Steal Your Heart Away,” Blind Boy Fuller’s “Baby, You Gotta Change Your Mind,” John Hiatt’s “I Know A Place,” and James Clark’s “Look Over Yonder’s Wall,” as well as the originals “When The Fire Hits The Sea,” “Wandering Earth,” “Athens To Athens,” and “Blue and Evil.”

2009 was a big year for Bonamassa which saw him play to a sold out crowd at London’s Royal Albert Hall, arguably the most prestigious concert venue in the world. Adding to the excitement, Eric Clapton joined him on stage for a joint-performance of Clapton’s hit “Further On Up The Road.” Shortly after, Bonamassa released a 2-DVD live set – Joe Bonamassa – Live From The Royal Albert Hall – which captures the night in full for posterity, and for all the fans that couldn’t be among the roughly 5,000 concertgoers filling the seats.

Last year also marked Bonamassa’s twentieth year as a professional musician, a huge achievement for a performer just into his 30s. Recently, he was named Best Blues Guitarist in Guitar Player Magazine’s 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards for the third consecutive year. He is a spokesperson for the Blues Foundation’s respected Blues In The Schools program, volunteering his time during tours to speak with groups of high school students about the first pure American music form. Recently, he was chosen by Channel One, the largest in-school news network, to host an ongoing segment called “Know Your Roots with Joe Bonamassa” in which he traces the musical roots of Channel One’s weekly “Hear It Now” featured artist.

And, 2010 has already started with a bang – Guitar World dubbed Bonamassa “The Blues Rock Titan” and his song, “Lonesome Road Blues,” is a part of Guitar Hero V’s New Blues Masters Track Pack. Keeping with his blues roots but fluently moving between rock n’ roll and international sounds, 2010 is not only a new decade but a new era for Bonamassa.

For more information and updated tour schedule, visit www.jbonamassa.com

Pre-order your copy here!

Source: PR Newswire

Buy your copy here if you live in Europe.
Buy your copy here if you live in the USA.

JOE BONAMASSA ‘LIVE FROM THE ALBERT HALL’ FEATURING ERIC CLAPTON AND PAUL JONES DUE FOR DVD RELEASE

When Joe Bonamassa took the stage at Royal Albert Hall in May 2009, he fulfilled a dream he’d held since first picking up a guitar as a kid in upstate New York. The sold-out concert—fresh off the release of his album The Ballad Of John Henry—marked Bonamassa’s headlining debut at arguably the most prestigious concert venue in the world. “May 4, 2009 was a day 20 years in the making,” says Bonamassa. “I have never been so honored in my life. It was truly larger than the sum of its parts.”

The two decades he’s referring to began when—at age 12—he first opened for blues icon B.B. King, who said, “this kid’s potential is unbelievable.” King’s words are as fitting today as they were then. Bonamassa averages 200 shows every year, and with each gig, he comes more into his own as a virtuoso and a vocalist. At the Hall, Bonamassa had the added honor of being joined onstage by the legendary Eric Clapton for a blistering version of ‘Further On Up The Road’. The Times of London cited Joe’s “searing excellence and showmanship,” and Planet Rock said, “The sight of two of the world’s best guitarists trading solos was more than a little thrilling.”

This two disc digipack DVD, which also features an exclusive interview with Bonamassa, presents that magical night in full—for posterity, and for all the fans that couldn’t be among the roughly 4,000 concertgoers filling the seats. The twelve-camera high definition, surround sound shoot was produced by Bonamassa’s longtime collaborator Kevin Shirley.

“Joe Bonamassa is a big star amongst his peers,” says Shirley, “garnering awards and magazine covers all around the globe. While he has a devoted audience that’s growing worldwide, his rejection of major label deals in favor of paving his own musical path has left the mainstream largely unfamiliar with his extensive repertoire and skill. Hopefully, this incredible performance—featuring Joe accompanied by an incredible band in addition to a guest appearance by Eric Clapton—will put an end to that. Directed by groundbreaking filmmakers Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen, this concert experience will become the benchmark for the genre. But pigeonhole Bonamassa at your peril—sure, the blues is the anchor, but this virtuoso refuses to play inside the box. Any box. Enjoy!”

A preview is available to watch on our home page.