NatchElBlues.org
Title
Natchel Blues Network - Keeping The Blues Alive in Hampton Roads - Virginia
Description
The Natchel' Blues Network (NBN) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to promoting the Blues as a true American art form. Recipient of The Blues Foundation's Keeping The Blues Alive (KBA) award for Blues Organization of the Year in 1998.
The Natchel' Blues Network (NBN) has been promoting the blues in southeastern Virginia as a 501(C)(3) organization since 1984. Chase Jackson, Ernie Williams, and other musicians wanted to increase the awareness of the blues in Hampton Roads, so they formed the NBN. Our first "Elizabeth River Blues Festival" was presented in Norfolk, VA in 1985 with headliner John Lee Hooker. Over the next ten years, the headliners included Albert King, Katie Webster, Big Twist, Lonnie Brooks, Gatemouth Brown, The Holmes Brothers, Marcia Ball, Denise LaSalle, and Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials.
Due to cuts in grants, this festival has not been presented since 1994. In 1996, Festevents (promoters of the Town Point Jazz Festival for 13 years) and the Natchel' Blues Network joined together to present the Town Point Jazz & Blues Festival. This festival, going into its third year, has been very successful. In 1994, we had an opportunity to try a new venue - the oceanfront in Virginia Beach, for Blues At The Beach. The first festival was a low-budget, one-day affair, that presented some of the best of the local blues scene. Since then, Blues At The Beach has included Roomful of Blues, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Bob Margolin with Pinetop Perkins, Lucky Peterson, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, Long John Hunter, R.L. Burnside, Shemekia Copeland, the Nighthawks, and a host of talented local bands. Our organization has always stressed having local bands participate in our festivals.
