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2004 - MAY 2009
Dear Friends and Supporters:
For those of you that supported the “Simply the Blues” blues festival from our 1st festival in 2004 and up until this year, thank you for everything that you have done. I am sorry to announce that Simple Man Enterprises, L.L.C. will no longer be producing our trademarked festival, “Simply The Blues” Blues festival. We also apologize for waiting so long to thank you and to make this announcement. This has been a very complicated decision to make and we wanted to take the time to make sure it was the right decision. This festival could not have been done without all the amazing sponsors, volunteers and friends that we have accumulated in the last six years.
While other events have lost sponsorship in the last year due to the economy, our festival has had the highest sponsorship that it has ever had. Our attendance was over 1,500 and that has been about the average over the last 3 years. Unfortunately, costs have risen, while the attendance has not and we feel that asking any more from our sponsors and friends, would not be fair to them and to do the things that we need to do to increase growth, would require greater sponsorship.
In order to cut costs and to keep it going, we feel we would negatively affect the quality of the festival and we do not want to turn this into a “parking lot” event. With all the great/legendary artists, the money raised for charities (over $17,000), the unique events (i.e. “Simply The Blues” train, free harmonica workshops, sponsoring music at the Main St. Bar-B-Q contest, Blues in Schools, ect), bringing in attendees from all over the world and even the start of a music scholarship, we feel that this has not been a waste of our time or our sponsors/friends time and support.
Our motivation has been based on the benefits for the community of Ft. Madison and surrounding areas, the Blues community and the sponsors. The “Simply The Blues” organizers/volunteers are very proud of what we have been a part of and want to go out on a high note. Again, thanks to all of you for your friendship and support of the “Simply The Blues” Blues festival.
Sincerely,
Matt Eimer and the “Simply The Blues” committee
THIS PHOTO AND MANY OTHERS AND MANY OTHERS FROM OUR FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHER WHAT WAS SIMPLY THE BLUES?
--- SIMPLY THE BLUES™ 2009 BLUES FESTIVALTHE REAL STARS OF SIMPLY THE BLUES,OUR VOLUNTEERS(we do not have pictures ofmany of our volunteers, because there are so many,but we thank them all, because "Simply The Blues"couldn't be done without them)
C.E. RICHARDS RODEO ARENA
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SIMPLY THE BLUES 2009 Lineup |
SIMPLY THE BLUES 2008 Lineup |
Bobby Rush w/ band Sugar Blue Harper Shannon Curfman *30th Anniv. Earwig Music Review *Johnny Drummer and Starlights w/ Liz Mandeville *Chris James and Patrick Rynn w/ Bob Corritore porterdavis Soul of John Black(John Bigham) JP Soars(2009 IBC Band Winner) Patrick Hazell |
MagiMagic Slim and the Tear Dropstr Drops Eddie Turner Leon Redbone Louisiana Red Jason Ricci Diunna Greenleaf and Blue Mercy Zach Harmon Shawn Kellerman Trampled Under Foot Alvin Jett and Phat Noiz Matt Wood and the Thunderbolts Steve McLain and The JCGB Second Skinny Blues Alan Smith and Willie McKnight Smokin' Mojo Kings(host hotel) SIMPLY THE BLUES TRAIN CHICAGO TO FT. MADISON SIMPLY THE BLUES TRAIN KANSAS CITY TO FT. MADISON |
SIMPLY THE BLUES 2007 Lineup |
SIMPLY THE BLUES 2006 Lineup |
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Hubert Sumlin W/ Willie "Big Eyes" Smith Band Sean Carney Band(2007 IBC Winner) The Mercury Brothers Hal Reed and Daniel Burnside Second Skinny Blues Matt Wood and The Thunderbolts(Host Hotel) SIMPLY THE BLUES TRAIN CHICAGO TO FT. MADISON SIMPLY THE BLUES TRAIN KANSAS CITY TO FT. MADISON |
James Cotton The Fabulous Thunderbirds Rory Block Harper Pat Ramsey and The Blues Disciples Jason Ricci and New Blood Daniel Ballinger/w Hal Reed Joey Gilmore Joe Price The Mercury Brothers The Second Skinny Blues Travis Ried and Jim French Alvin Jett and the Phat Noiz Blues Band ( at Host Hotel) |
SIMPLY THE BLUES 2005 Lineup |
SIMPLY THE BLUES 2004 Lineup |
Kenny Neal Bernard Allison Eric Sardinas John Primer Anthony Gomes Liz Mandville Greeson Jimmy Burns Slick Ballinger and The Soul Blues Boyz The Clayton Miller Blues Band Diunna Greenleaf and the Blue Mercy Band The Second Skinny Blues The Mudcats Mark Hummel and The Blues Survivors (at Host Hotel) |
Michael Burks Carrie Bell Willie Kent and the Gents Slick Ballinger and the Soul Blues Boyz Todd Snider The Gibbs Brothers Band The Mudcats The Mel Thacker Band |
Simple Man Enterprises, LLC, promotes national, regional & local entertainment,
as well as sponsoring Simply the Blues, blues festival.
We are proud members of the Blues Foundation, the Central Iowa Blues Society and the Mississippi Valley Blues Society.
Simple Man Enterprises supports and promotes all live music.
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© 2003-2009(SIMPLE MAN ENTERPRISES,L.L.C.) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
