A two-day Blues music festival featuring a tribute to B.B. King and a performance by Grammy Award-nominated Barbara Morrison will be held at Santa Anita Park Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Food and thematic drinks such as MADCatfish Mimosas, Margaritas, Bloody Marys and Metropolitans will be offered for sale at the iconic Santa Anita horse track, 285 West Huntington Drive in Arcadia throughout the First Anual Southern California MADCatfish Blues Festival named after the event’s official “Chief Mascot Officer (CMO),” Cecil Ray Bailey, aka MADCatfish.
Barbara_Morrison, photo courtesy of the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center
Single day General Admission tickets: $40 each; Premium tickets (includes Preferred Parking): $65 each; VIP Private Terrace Ticket: $150 each (imcludes VIP seating, valet parking, gourmet lunch, non-alcoholic beverage, and admission to the Juke Joint event). Two Day General Admission: $75 each; Premium ticket; $115 each; VIP Private Terrace ticket: $250 each. Group tickets (groups of eight or more): 20% discount per ticket. Purchase tickets online via Brown Paper Tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2018738 or by calling 1-800-838-3006 (press Extension 1 – Event Number is 2018738.
Blues and jazz radio personality and La Brea resident James Janisse of www.KJMJRadio.com, affectionately known as “The Gentleman of Jazz,” will serve as Master of Ceremonies, introducing the Blues recording artists and bands based in Southern California.
Other attractions during the event will include the introduction of up-and-coming 11 year-old Carson pianist Richard Cameron Lovely, and a late-night Juke Joint evening of comedy and blues from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday in the Santa Anita Park Concourse Room, hosted by actor Ernest L. Thomas (“Everybody Hates Chris,” “Roots”) and produced by Cynthia Busby of Busby Promotions. Also at the Juke Joint: card games, dominoes, an Open Mic, dancing, selfie photo op area, food and drinks for purchase, and live band led by singer/song stylist Marguaret Love of Inglewood. Comics will be King Kedar of Glendale (“Funny People,” “Marmaduke”); Keith Morris of Long Beach (“American Hardcore,” “Sid and Nancy”); Edwonda White of Inglewood (Def Comedy Jam, The Apollo Comedy Hour, B.E.T. Comedy Awards). Separate tickets are required for the Juke Joint at $15 each for General Admission, $25 each including a red carpet reception.
Presented by MADCatfish Entertainment, LLC and Executive Producer, La Quētta M. Shamblee, the festival line-up of blues music acts is as follows:
Saturday, September 5
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Yu Ooko Band featuring Yu Ooko on Guitar
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.: Bassist Leslie Baker, with Song Stylist Marguaret Love
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.: The Delgado Brothers
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Sunnie Paxson-Mark Vincent All Star Band with Singer & Percussionist Rock Deadrick; Introducing Pianist Richard Cameron Lovely
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.: Guitarist Ray Bailey and Friends, including Singer, Kenyatta Mackey (aka BabyDoll) and a Tribute to the late legendary Blues artist, B.B. King
7:00 – 10:00 p.m. (Special Event): Juke Joint Hosted by Ernest L. Thomas starring Comics King Kedar, Keith Morris, Edwonda White and A Surprise Guest, along with Song Stylist Marguaret Love with her Band.
Sunday, September 6
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: The Scorch Sisters
12;30 – 2:30 p.m.: Barbara Morrison accompanied by the Bu Crew; Singer Jay Jackson and Introducing Pianist Richard Cameron Lovely
2:30 – 4:00 p.m.: Corney Mims & The kKNOW-IT-ALLz Band
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.: Ray Bailey Review, including a Tribute to the late legendary Blues artist, B.B. King
“I am very excited to be starting a new tradition here in the Southland with the establishment of a regional music festival focused on showcasing the Blues,” said event producer La Quētta M. Shamblee, who hails from Monrovia after transplanting from Mississippi and growing up in Compton, CA. She earned an undergraduate degree in Business Management at Pacific Christian College in Fullerton, and earned an MBA from Azusa Pacific University. Shamblee has produced numerous blues events as well as being part of the production team behind the Southern CA Cherry Blossom Festival for 10 years that drew 60,000 – 70,000 people over a two-day weekend in Little Tokyo downtown Los Angeles, and many other events. “This year’s festival represents the launch of a new three-year plan to establish the MADCatfish Blues Festival as the premiere annual Labor Day weekend destination Blues celebration in Southern California.”
Media and promotional partners of the MADCatfish Blues Festival include: Beacon Media, Mountain Views News, www.KJMJRadio.com, Smooth Jazz Magazine, Santa Anita Park, Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, Garrett Morris Downtown Blues & Comedy Club, Wow! Productions, Busby Promotions, Hoopla!, Bonnie B’s Smokin’ Barbeque Heaven, Corfu and Steve Moyer Public Relations.
The official host hotel of the festival, Hilton Garden Inn, 199 North Second Avenue, Arcadia, is offering a special discounted rate for Festival attendees. Call 626-574-6900 or click on the Hilton Garden Inn link on at the festival website, www.madcatfish.net
“MADCatfishBlues” social media connections at Facebook and Twitter.
— By Scott Hettrick