Contact: Ramon Johnson, Director, San Jose Blues Week
Tel: (408) 275-6524
Fax: (408) 924-4574
email: ramonjohnson@yahoo.com
cheframon@ksjs.org
www.ksjs.org
www.fountainbluesfestival.com

The Derek Truck Bands and Tommy Castro with Chris Cain Rock San Jose Blues Week

Prodigal Son John Wedemeyer Returns for Chef Ramon's Talking Blues

San Jose, Ca-Monday, May 4th through Sunday, May 10th San Jose Blues Week rocks JJ's Blues Club, The Poor House Bistro, and San Jose State with a full slate of events including the 29th Annual Metro Fountain Blues Festival, 12:30-8 p.m. Saturday May 9, 2009, at the San Carlos Plaza area of San Jose State University featuring The Derek Treks Band, The Tommy Castro Band with special guest Chris Cain, Lurrie Bell's Chicago Blues Band, Candy Kane Band with Laura Chavez, The Bay Area Blues Society Caravan of All-Stars, and John Wedemeyer and Friends. Broadcast live on 90.5 FM KSJS 12 Noon-8:30 p.m., www.ksjs.org world-wide. Chef Ramon will provide exclusive behind the scenes commentary and performer interviews). Tommy Castro and Chris Cain, who both proudly hail from the East Side of San Jose, are the recepients of a commendation recognizing their respective contributions to the arts from San Jose Blues Week and the City of San Jose.

Friday, May 8th features the Official Metro Fountain Blues Festival Pre-Party Event--"Chef Ramon's Talking Blues and Crawdad Feast" with JOHN WEDEMEYER, once considered one of the best guitarists in the South Bay now based in Las Vegas and backing entertainers like Wayne Newton and Donnie and Marie Osmond, returns to San Jose and his blues and rock and roll roots. "Talking Blues" features special guests-Ron Thompson, Ronnie Stewart, Lara Price, Maxx Cabello Jr., and Brad Kava, having a provocative discussion of race and the blues, the current state of the blues and more! "Talking Blues" also features an exclusive 1 lb. Crawfish Boil plate with red potatoes for $8.95, $1.00 off of New Orleans beer, other promotions are in the works please call for more information. "Talking Blues" runs from 4:30-5:45 p.m. with a special performance by John Wedemeyer and Friends from 6-10 p.m. The blues is about community and in that spirit we will be passing the hat to help our friend, former band leader for John Lee Hooker, and a Bay Area guitar legend in his own right, Ron Thompson, help pay off some substantial medical bills after he survived a sever bout of Pneumonia. This event will be recorded and broadcast at a later date on 90.5 FM KSJS. Poor House Bistro, 91 S Autumn St. San Jose (408) 29-BLUES, www.poorhousebistro.com.

San Jose Blues Week also boasts a pre-Fountain Blues event at the Clarion Hotel (Clarion Hotel San Jose, 1355 N. Fourth St.. (408) 453-5340, www..clarionsj.com), with Little John Chrisley, a Fountain Blues post-party event at the Clarion featuring John Wedemeyer, and a week of exclusive entertainment at JJ's Blues Club (JJ's Blues Club, 3439 Stevens Creek Blvd. San Jose, (408) 243-6441, www.jjsblues.net), highlighted by performances by Maxx Cabello Jr. Mayand a Jake Mackey and the Muddy Suns CD release party, please see the San Jose Blues Week event calendar below. San Jose Blues Week, Keeping the Music Alive!

SAN JOSE BLUES WEEK EVENT CALENDAR MAY 4-10, 2009

"Official Metro Fountain Blues Festival Pre-Party!"

Fri. 5/8 "Chef Ramon's Talking Blues and Crawdad Feast" featuring JOHN WEDEMEYER and special guests-Ron Thompson, Ronnie Stewart, Lara Price, Maxx Cabello Jr., and Brad Kava, having a provocative discussion of race and the blues, the current state of the blues and more! "Talking Blues" is 4:30-5:45 p.m. with a special performance by John Wedemeyer and Friends from 6-10 p.m. This event will be recorded and broadcast at a later date on 90.5 FM KSJS. Poor House Bistro, 91 S Autumn St. San Jose (408) 29-BLUES, www.poorhousebistro.com, all part of San Jose Blues Week, Keeping the Music Alive!

"Metro Fountain Blues Festival Pre-Party Event!"

Fri. 5/8 9 p.m. Little John Chrisley

Clarion Hotel San Jose, 1355 N. Fourth St. (408) 453-5340, www.clarionsj.com, a San Jose Blues Week event, keeping the music alive!

POOR HOUSE BISTRO (no cover)

Wed. 5/6-Ron Thompson 6-9 p.m.
Thurs..5/7-Lara Price & Yesterdays Band 6-10 p.m.
Fri.5/8-Chef Ramon's Talking Blues & Crawdad Blow-Out Featuring John Wedemeyer and special guests 4:30-5:45 p.m.

John Wedemeyer & Friends 6-10 p.m.

Sat.5/9 Two Harp Boogie with Gary Smith and Andy Just 6-10 p.m.

Sun.5/10-Gale Dobson Latin Jazz Brunch brunch runs fromn 10 a.m.-2 p.m..
Gale Dobson performs 12 Noon-4 p.m.

Poor House Bistro, 91 S Autumn St. San Jose (408) 29-BLUES, www.poorhousebistro.com, all part of San Jose Blues Week, Keeping the Music Alive!

JJ'S BLUES CLUB

5/4 7 p.m. Gene Washington/Dennis Dove
5/5 7 p.m. Blue J (Amateur Jam)/Dennis and Stuart (Pro Jam)
5/6 7 p.m. TBD
5/7 7 p.m. TBD
5/8 7 p.m. eBlues/Maxx Cabello Jr. cover $10
5/9 2-6 p.m. Little John Chrisley Pro Jam
7 p.m. Jake Mackey CD Release Party! cover $10
San Jose Blues Week events, keeping the music alive!

JJ's Blues Club, 3439 Stevens Creek Blvd. San Jose. (408) 243-6441, www.jjsblues.net

29TH ANNUAL METRO FOUNTAIN BLUES FESTIVAL

Sat. 5/9 12:30 p.m-8 p.m. (gates open at 11 a.m.) $5 admission Saturday, May 9th San Jose State University, San Carlos Plaza, 29th Annual Metro Fountain Blues Festival featuring The Derek Trucks Band, The Tommy Castro Band with special guest Chris Cain, Lurrie Bell's Chicago Blues Band, Candye Kane Band with Laura Chavez, The Bay Area Blues Society Caravan of All-Stars, and John Wedemeyer and Friends. Broadcast live on 90.5 FM KSJS 12 Noon-8:30 p.m., www.ksjs.org world-wide. Chef Ramon will provide exclusive behind the scenes commentary and performer interviews). (408) 924-6262, www.fountainbluesfestival.com. A San Jose Blues Week event, keeping the music alive!

"The Official Metro Fountain Blues Fest After Party"

Sat. 5/9 9 p.m. Featuring John Wedemeyer and Friends at the Clarion Hotel. A San Jose Blues Week event, keeping the music alive!

Clarion Hotel San Jose, 1355 N. Fourth St. (408) 453-5340, www.clarionsj.com