Press Release Day!

For Immediate Release

Storied Mississippi Blueswoman to visit Maritimes

Libby Rae Watson featured on National Steel "Got Lucky" Tour

Libby Rae Watson and Doc MacLean  have each had their own shares of good luck and bad. Katrina destroyed much of Libby Rae's home, while Doc's world was shaken by a spectacular car crash on last year's Tour. But both of these delta songsters celebrate more good luck than bad. True to the music and culture which have shaped their lives, they each picked themselves up, stomped down those troubles, and moved forward down the Blues Highway. This fall that highway leads to Maritime Canada.

MacLean and Watson, who met at the funeral of the great, delta bluesman Sam Chatmon in 1982, often refer to themselves as "Sam's Kids."  Both artists spent their formative years exploring the rural south– learning their craft at kitchen tables, on front porches, and in little juke joints. MacLean played and recorded in Chatmon's last band, the BBQ Boys, while Libby Rae Watson was Chatmon's close friend–  and perhaps his best guitar student. While MacLean built a career on hard travel and performance, Watson stayed closer to home– rarely venturing beyond Mississippi. "I'm really pleased that Libby Rae has agreed to be on the National Steel Tour this year," said MacLean. "She's a pioneer–  one of the only women to cross what were difficult racial and cultural boundaries–  exploring, documenting, and learning from what's now a lost generation. She's a songster-storyteller in the delta tradition– part of an unbroken chain."  The tour will celebrate the restoration and release of Watson's latest cd, "Sweet 'N' Salty," long thought to have been destroyed by Katrina.

The 8th annual, National Steel Blues Tour includes more than 80 shows across nine provinces. Watson will join the Tour for three weeks in the Maritimes. Canada's "biggest little blues tour," an all acoustic, songs and stories in the round adventure, is known for it's "no place too large, too small, too grand or too humble" approach to performance. The Maritimes will be no exception with a wide variety of venues from festivals, to theatres, to pubs and house concerts on the schedule. Doc MacLean and Libby Rae Watson are glad to be together for this adventure and look forward to bringing their blues and stories to Maritime Canada.

Who:   Doc MacLean and Libby Rae Watson

What: 8th Annual National Steel "Got Lucky" Blues Tour- Duo Maritime Leg

Where:
  Thurs Sept 5,  The Landing, Charlos Cove, NS

Fri Sept 6, The Townhouse Pub, Antigonish, NS

Sat Sept 7, House Concert, Centreville, NS

Sun Sept 8, Freeman's Pizza, Halifax, NS

Wed Sept 11, Octopus' Garden Cafe, Alma, NB

Thurs Sept 12, Picaroon's, Fredericton, NB various during Harvest Blues & Jazz

Fri Sept 13 Long & McQuade, Fredericton, NB (guitar clinic 5:PM)

Fri Sept 13 Picaroon's, Fredericton, NB various during Harvest Blues & Jazz

Sat Sept 14 Wilsner's Room, Fredericton, NB time TBA

Sat Sept 14 Picaroon's, Fredericton, NB various during Harvest Blues & Jazz

Wed Sept 18 House Concert, Fall River, NS

Thurs Sept 19 Bearly's House of Blues, Halifax, NS (w. Morgan Davis)

Fri Sept 20 House Concert, Bedford, NS

Sat Sept 21 Marigold Theatre, Truro, NS

Sun Sept 22 The Trellis, Hubbards, NS

"Like an audio version of the movie, Sin City." - Blues Revue Magazine, USA

Backline equipped and sponsored by Long & McQuade Music.
Frontline and Bottom Line: Picaroon's, Db Custom Cigar Box Guitars.

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Libby Rae Watson grew up in Mississippi a few blocks from the Gulf of Mexico. Not exactly the heart of the Delta, but just a couple of hours drive from it. Exploring the the Delta back in the 1970s she documented, became friends with, and learned to play from both the obscure and the famous. Big Joe Williams, Furry Lewis, Johnny Woods, Son Thomas and many more. But it was her friendship with Sam Chatmon that influenced her the most. They became fast friends from day one and remained that way until his death in 1983, where Watson was asked to perform "Sitting On Top Of The World" at his funeral. After many years of performing close to home with her band, The Liberaetors, Libby Rae Watson has come back to the old Blues and the old blues highway. Serious blues and folk fans everywhere are taking note.

Doc MacLean has spent over 40 years travelling America's blue highways, performing and recording with a who's who of the blues. Like Watson, he explored the rural south in the 1970s, playing, recording and touring with many "first generation" artists. From his first duo with Colin Linden he went on to play with Sam Chatmon, Peg Leg Sam, Blind John Davis, and many others. Building his career on hard travel and performance, he has earned an international following. The self proclaimed, "blues vagabond" now plays over 200 shows annually across North America. For the last 8 years his National Steel Blues Tour has touched nearly every part of Canada- every year. " Like an audio version of the movie, Sin City." - Blues Revue Magazine, USA