ALABAMA BLUES PROJECT (APB) NEWSLETTER

[1] _BLUES BREAK _ news update! -/ Honeydripper/ Film Premiere /-/ 2008 After-School Blues Camp /-/ Great Blues at Little Willie's BAMA THEATRE! _HONEYDRIPPER_

[2] NOMINATED FOR 2 NAACP IMAGE AWARDS: OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT OR FOREIGN FILM OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A MOTION PICTURE Monday, February 4th /HONEYDRIPPER/ FILM PREMIERE and ABP Benefit * MAGGIE RENZI CARROLINE SHINES. Call (205) 752 6263 for more information!

In 2006, the ABP was very excited to hear that director John Sayles (Lone Star, Eight Men Out, Matewan) and producer Maggie Renzi had chosen Alabama as the location of their new film, "Honeydripper". The blues and the deep south are the themes of this thought-provoking movie, which includes lots of great music. Featured musicians include Keb' Mo', Dr. Mable John, Eddie Shaw and Jerry Portnoy among many others.

The ABP is thankful that more and more people are realizing that Alabama has a rich blues culture and now "Honeydripper" can only help to spread the word. The film was shot in the southern Alabama towns of Greenville, Georgiana, Anniston and Midway in the late summer and early fall of 2006. It is interesting to note that part of Greenville's blues history includes being the home of 1920/30s blues harmonica player and recording artist Ed Bell, who was also known as "Barefoot Bill". We were very happy to be asked to assist in finding possible musician extras for the film and Tuscaloosa-based veteran keyboard player Henderson Huggins and young Birmingham based drummer Stephan Hudley got parts!

AS PART OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATIONS, ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, 2008, TUSCALOOSA'S BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC BAMA THEATER WILL BE HOSTING THE TUSCALOOSA HONEYDRIPPER PREMIER AND THE PROCEEDS OF THE EVENING WILL GO TO BENEFIT THE ALABAMA BLUES PROJECT! A RECEPTION WILL BE HELD PRIOR TO THE SCREENING AND A BLUES BAND WILL ENTERTAIN, INCLUDING HENDERSON HUGGINS, STEPHAN HUNDLEY AND CARROLINE SHINES, PLUS GUEST SPOTS BY SOME OF OUR BEST BLUES CAMP STUDENTS! THE VERY BIG ATTRACTION OF THE EVENING IS THAT THE FILM'S DIRECTOR, THE GREAT JOHN SAYLES AND THE TALENTED PRODUCER MAGGIE RENZI WILL BE PRESENT FOR A PANEL Q AND A SESSION WITH THE PUBLIC!

"Honeydripper" takes us back to the genesis of rock 'n' roll - namely the '50s rural blues of the Deep South. The story depicts a second chance for an aging bluesman, a kickoff to a young guitar slinger's career and the rise of rock 'n' roll itself. The movie features an all-star cast including Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Stacy Keach, Mary Steenburgen, Yaya DeCosta and Sean Patrick Thomas. Featured musicians include Keb' Mo', Dr. Mable John, Eddie Shaw and Jerry Portnoy among many others. The music supervisor was Tim Bernett, with original music composed by Mason Daring.

2008 After-School Blues Camp
First United Methodist Church
Tuesdays, Feb. 26th - May 20th
4:00 to 6:30 pm

ENROLL TODAY! SPACE IS LIMITED!

Call (205) 752-6263 or email cara@alabamablues.org.

Grand Finale Open House Performance on May 23rd at the Bama Theatre featuring Homemade Jamz, The Blues Instructors, and the legendary Sam Lay!

2209 4th Street Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205) 752-2060

myspace.com/littlewillies

Friday, February 8th - Mo Blues, from Argentina, touring the U.S. while here for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis

Also coming up at Little Willie's...

Friday, Feb. 1 - The Hedtones
Saturday, Feb. 2 - Tommy Gardner & Friends
Friday, Feb. 15 - The Negotiators
Saturday, Feb. 16 - The Erin Mitchell Band
Friday, Feb. 22 - Bullit
Friday, Feb. 29 - Willie King & The Liberators

ALSO BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ALABAMA BLUES PROJECT

For more information on Alabama Blues, visit www.alabamablues.org.


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