Festival season is in full swing, and we've got two of our favorites on tap for this weekend! Saturday we return to the City of Rockville's Hometown Holidays for what promises to be a great day of music! We'll hit on the Bud Light Stage at 5:30. http://www.rockvillemd.gov/events/hth/2013/lineup/saturday


Sunday is a Memorial Day weekend staple in the Baltimore area- Brew at the Zoo at the Maryland Zoo! We'll get the party started there at 5- but come on out for the afternoon and support this wonderful Baltimore area institution. http://www.marylandzoo.org/2013/03/bbt-presents-brew-at-the-zoo-2/


We also want to take a minute, as we will also be doing at our shows this Memorial Day weekend, to thank all of our amazing men and women in the service this Memorial Day- both those currently serving, and those who have served. We have been so blessed the last few years to have been a part of several tours with Navy Entertainment that have really opened our eyes to just how incredible our service men and women are, and how wonderful it is to live in this great country of ours. If you know of someone who is currently serving or has served, (or if you, yourself have served), please send us their name so we can give a shout out on our page this Memorial Day weekend.

Hey KBB fans!

We're excited to return to the Montrose Chocolate and Wine Festival this Saturday for the second year in a row! Last year was so much fun- great crowd, great weather, delicious chocolates and wine- add KBB, and you've got the best afternoon in the northeast PA region Saturday! You don't want to miss it!

Peace-

The KBB

Hey KBB fans!

Welcome to all our new fans listening this morning on 98 Rock!

This Saturday, we're happy to be a part of Chimes Fest to benefit the Chimes Organization, which provides services for people with disabilities. The event takes place at the Maryland Historical Socitety from 6-9:30pm, so come on out and support this great cause.

http://www.chimes.org/

Peace-

The KBB

Hey KBB fans!

Friday night Organic Homegrown returns to one of our favorite spots- Chops in Phoenix, MD! We'll get the party started around 9:30, and it's always a good time!

If you missed it last week, you can still watch the Concert for the Chesapeake Bay at http://video.mpt.tv/video/2365002026. You definitely don't want to miss it- or your chance to donate volunteer hours to help the Chesapeake!

Peace-

The KBB

Kelly asked me on MLK Day to write a piece reflecting on the legacy of Dr. King. Kelly often jokes that I'll write about anything and I will. But aside from loving the challenge and the thrill of writing on a specific topic, I was honored to write a piece on arguably the most polarizing figure in the history of our nation. What Dr. King stood for, equality, hope, humility, love, peace, is more than just a litany of abstract concepts. They are ideals that should be constantly pursued and kept in forethought beyond just a holiday or a day off from work. It's for this reason why although the official holiday has passed, this piece is still relevant, whereas we've come a long way as a nation as it relates to racism and discrimination, we undoubtedly have more work to do. While I hope you enjoy the piece, more importantly I hope it resonates within us all as a call to action to keep Dr. King's dream of of peace, love, and equality alive forever.

Sincerely,

Word.



What Happens To A Dream?

What happens to a dead man’s dreams?
Do they wither like week old flower arrangements,
or live through “survived by’s” in obituary columns?

Do they die from shots on a Memphis balcony,
or live to be sworn in for a second term?

Do soul singers,
accompanied by their hip hop husbands,
sing anthems
that represent all us supposedly free folk?

Is that where dreams live?
In the melody?
In the chair next to the poet laureate?
Or the one millionth person in the inaugural audience?
Where do dreams live?

Is it in the humility of a speech,
a peaceful march,
or a clean suit,
And a fedora half cocked?
Is it in the fears of a man
Or in his courage to hide them?

Is it in his commitment to non-violence
Or his preparation to die for you and I
to live that dream?

Do we still desire equality as human beings?
Or have we tasted too much milk and honey
to bother with torch carrying?

Are we so blinded by the guises of success
that we’ve allowed ourselves to forget
the struggle ain’t done yet?
The promised land ain’t a president elect
when the prison industrial system is still in effect

When gentrification is changing the landscape
of our neighborhoods
And our youth are being killed
just for having hoodies on
When our media images are over-sexual and violent
Does “The Dream” still live on?

Where is our freedom song?
The “What’s Going Ons” and the We Shall Overcomes”
The time for silence is gone
Speak up!

Speak Up
for those wronged
with water hoses and dogs
for the dog tired who marched on
and refused to get up
from front seats on the bus

For those who sat at lunch counters
In opposition of cowards
Drunken with false power

Keep dreaming
but please wake up
Please wake up
For shut eyes will keep us shut down
And muted tongues
Speak too loudly
of apathy

Ignorance and complacency yield
to the tyranny of oppression and injustice
And it still exists
doesn’t it?

Well, keep dreaming but stop sleeping
no snooze buttons allowed
I wonder if we asked him
Would The King say he’s proud

Would he stand atop a mountain and say
“this is what I dreamed”?
Or return to sleep
Because a nightmare was what he was seeing?

Whatever happens to the dreams of a man
After that man has passed?
Hopefully the dream is kept alive by us all
Especially when the dream
is for all to be free at last…

Congratulations to the hometown Baltimore Ravens!

Check out our Mardi Gras version of the Ravens Theme Song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEfeDU8uxrs, and download the mp3 here on our website under downloads!

And if you haven't been on our facebook page in a while, check out the new pictures and videos coming soon of our Navy Entertainment trip through Asia over Christmas and New Years! We know some of you were disappointed there were no hometown shows (and we couldn't tell you why at the time!), but thank you for your support as we continue to entertain our amazing men and women in the US Military.

Hey KBB fans!

Many of you have been wondering why we didn't advertise shows over the holidays- it's because we couldn't tell you where we were while we were there! We just got back from a 12 day tour of Asia with Navy Entertainment entertaining our amazing military men and women for the holidays. We can't wait to tell you all about our trip- check out facebook for pictures and videos over the coming weeks as we take you through our incredible journey!

Peace-

The KBB

Check out our Downloads page for a FREE download of our version of The 12 Days of Christmas- The 12 Phat Days of Christmas! Also, for our Baltimore fans, check out A Very Merry Baltimore Christmas- written with comedian Larry Noto- for a special Baltimore take on the song.

Also, we're sorry to announce that this Saturday's show at The Stil has been canceled. But be sure to catch us Sunday night Dec. 16 for a special benefit at The Whiskey in Annapolis! We'll play at 7:00PM.

Just when you thought festival season was over...we've got one more for you this Saturday at the Laurel Race Track in Laurel, MD! Come on out for the 1st annual Brews and Bourbon Classic! We'll hit the stage at 2:30PM and play til the event closes at 5. (And The Cheaters go on before us- so make it a whole afternoon of great music!)

Be sure to check our facebook page for all your up-to-the-minute KBB news!

We were incredibly fortunate here in the Baltimore area to have come through Hurricane Sandy with minimal damage to our homes and properties- and we even kept electricity for most of it. We hope that all of our fans are also doing well in the aftermath of the storm, and our thoughts go out to those who didn't fare as well. We'd love to hear your storm stories- share on our facebook page and tell us how you got through the storm.

When you're done cleaning up your yards on Saturday, come on out and join us for an acoustic show at The Stil in Timonium, starting around 9:30. Those of you who've seen us there before know it's always a great time and a fun crowd!

We're excited to extend our festival season one more weekend for the 1st Annual Fall Fling at West Shore Park in Baltimore this weekend! The weather looks to be beautiful, and the event promises to be a good time! We'll close the afternoon from 5:30-8pm so come on out for one last hurrah before the weather turns cold!

We hope you're all enjoying this great fall weather- and what better way to do so than with a festival this weekend! Saturday is the annual Island Bay Day, being held this year at the Queen Anne's County Fairgounds. We play at 2:15, and there's a great line up of bands all day long so come on out and hear us and then hang out for the day!

If you haven't checked out our facebook page recently, be sure to log on and see lots of videos from our trip to Guantanamo Bay!

See you Saturday!

If you haven't already read about it on facebook, we just got back from a week in Guantanamo Bay entertaining our troops stationed there! With the help and support of Navy Entertainment, we had the privilege of performing 4 shows for some incredibly hard working men and women, which you can see all about on our facebook page. A huge shout out to Navy Entertainment and Karen Fritz who organized the whole trip, everyone on the island who made us feel so welcome, and of course a heartfelt THANK YOU to our military and their families everywhere in the world.

We've got two shows in the states for you this weekend- we'll start at The Greene Turtle in Westminster, MD Saturday night around 10PM, and play a benefit for "Make Melissa Smile" at the Whiskey in Annapolis on Sunday night at 8. The whole line up for this benefit looks awesome, so come on out, support a great cause, and welcome us back to the states!

We hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful Mid-Atlantic weather! What's that you say? Perfect festival weather? Of course it is, and we're super excited to be part of the Charm City Music Festival this Saturday at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore! We'll be sharing the stage(s) with local Baltimore favorites Jah Works and the All Mighty Senators, Weezer and Flogging Molly, and so many more! Come on out for the whole day- but definitely be there at 3 for some Phat Blues!

After you've had some fun down town, come on over to Chops in Phoenix, MD for a chill way to end your day- we'll start an Organic Homegrown acoustic show over there around 10PM.

We can't think of a better way to spend a September Saturday!

We're getting close to the end of festival season, but you wouldn't know it from our schedule this weekend! We've got an awesome lineup for you right here in the Baltimore/Annapolis area- and there's no excuse not to make it out to at least one of them!

Friday, we're excited to return to Belvedere Square for the end of their summer concert series. If you remember, this got rained out in June- but they added an extra date just for us! We'll start at 6PM- great way to kick off your weekend in Baltimore!

Saturday, Quiet Waters Park added another date to *their* summer concert series- again just for us! We loved the fact that we had fans come out in July in the pouring rain to hear the show, and we wanted to give everyone a chance to come back out in some better weather! Note that this time we play at 5:30- not our usual 6PM.

Sunday we're heading right back to Annapolis for the Maryland Seafood Festival! Always a good time, and we expect nothing less from our KBB fans this year! We'll see you from the stage at 3!

Be sure to stop by our merch booth at any of our shows this weekend to pick up one of our new shirts! We've even got kids sizes!

And if you're craving some Phat Blues before Friday, here's a special treat: Behind the scenes with Kelly and Ira singing Taj Mahal's "Corrina": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znOXZCPRCj8&feature=plcp

Back to school definitely doesn't mean the end of festival season, and we've got two of our favorites up this weekend! Saturday night we'll be at the Tarara Winery in Leesburg, VA. Last year we had so much fun- even in the rain- and we can't wait for another great time this year! We'll get the party started at 7 Saturday night!

Sunday is our annual return to the Hanover Chili Cookoff in Hanover, PA. This is one of our favorite shows every year, and we know our KBB fans won't disappoint this year! Come on out for a great way to spend Sunday afternoon of a (hopefully!) three day weekend!

If you haven't checked our facebook page this week, be sure to go watch the behind the scenes video of Kelly and Ira playing Taj Mahal's Corinna!

We know back to school time is upon us, but don't wave the white flag for summer yet! We've still got some awesome festivals to keep you in that laid back summer mood! Take a break from your back to school shopping and come out and have some fun with us this week.

Thursday night we'll be at the rescheduled Brambleton Festival in Brambleton, VA. We got rained out last time, however the weather looks perfect this time around for a beautiful evening- we'll get you started around 7! Saturday we're looking forward to the Kegs and Corks Festival at Blobs Park in Joppa, MD. Nothing says summer like a wine and beer festival- we'll see you there at 4pm!

If you haven't already, make sure you "like" us on facebook for all your up to the minute KBB news, as well as some contests to win KBB merch! And be sure to bring your smartphone to our shows- you never know when we'll have a "must be present to win" facebook contest!

We're back and well rested from our annual one week vacation (check out some pictures, including one of Kelly getting a pedicure (!!) on our facebook page), and ready to deliver some killer shows for you this weekend!

Friday night we return to PJ Kelly's in Clarksburg, WV. Some of you may remember our Halloween show last year- we had an awesome time and are looking forward to another rockin' party starting around 10PM!

Saturday is an event you definitely don't want to miss. Come out to the Olde Philadelphia Inn in Baltimore for a Pathfinders for Autism charity event. You'll get a KBB show starting at 2pm, and later in the afternoon, Kelly will be a part of the Fat Tuesday reunion! (For those up on your KBB history, you know Kelly was in Fat Tuesday before the KBB years ago!) Come on out and support a great cause, and be a part of some KBB history!

Sunday we make our long awaited return to Frederick, MD for another charity event for the Susan G. Komen foundation. That kicks off at 3PM- we'll play around 4:30- at Champions in Frederick.

Sorry KBB fans we've got some bad news. Due to the threat of some bad thunderstorms, tonight's show at the Brambleton Town Center is being rescheduled. We'll be sure to let you know the date as soon as we do!

Missing your Phat Blues fix tonight? Head over to iTunes, CD Baby or our merch site and download or order a copy of if our new record to hold you over 'til our next show!

Two great shows for you this weekend- first up is the Brambleton Town Center Thursday evening at 7PM. Weather's looking a bit cooler than the last few days, so come on out and get your weekend started early! Saturday we return to Quiet Waters Park- one of our favorite shows every summer. Bring the kids, bring a blanket, bring a picnic- and bring some shoes you can dance in! We'll get things started at 6PM- you don't want to miss it!

If you haven't been on our facebook page recently, be sure to head over and check out pictures and videos from our European tour! We hope you understand why we couldn't share anything before we left or while we were over there, but we're super excited for you to see it all now!

And of course, if you haven't picked up our new record yet, well, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!? CD Baby, iTunes, our merch site, in person at a show- so many ways that there's no excuse for it not to be in your CD player RIGHT NOW! Send us an email or post on our facebook page and let us know what you think!

We had such an amazing time playing for our hardworking Navy men and women in Italy, Spain and Greece last week! We can't wait to share the pictures and videos with you- make sure to check facebook as we get them posted!

We've got three days of fun festivals for you this weekend. We kick off the weekend Friday night at the Annapolis Towne Centre for their summer concert series. We'll play at 7PM. Come welcome us back for our first show since our tour!

Saturday and Sunday we're psyched to play the Southern Maryland Sun and Music Festival at the Calvert County Fairgrounds. Saturday we'll play at 6:30 and Sunday we play at 3:30- both on the main stage. Sunday we're opening for the Fabulous Thunderbirds!

And, if you haven't picked up our new record yet- well, what are you waiting for?!? Get over to iTunes or CD Baby now to download a digital copy, or head to our merch site to order your own physical copy and we'll ship it out ASAP!

As we write this, we're on our way to play for our hardworking military men and women in Europe for a July 4th Navy Entertainment tour! We're super excited to give something back to those who are overseas working so hard for us! Due to security concerns, we can't post anything about where we are, including pictures or videos, until we leave, but stay tuned to our facebook page for updates as soon as we can post them!

Need a KBB fix before our next show on US soil July 13 at the Annapolis Towne Centre? Head over to iTunes or CD Baby right now and download our new album "Should Have Been You", or go to our merch page, order it, and we'll send your copy out right away!

We've got some HUGE NEWS!! Our new record, "Should Have Been You" is available RIGHT NOW on our merch site!

http://www.davidsnowden.com/should-have-been-you-compact-disc/

We didn't think we would have it until we returned from our European tour, but it's here now, and we were just too excited to make you wait any longer! Go and get your copy NOW, and be sure to email us or post on our facebook page what you think!

Also, don't miss your last chance to see us live before we leave for our tour with Navy Entertainment to play for our hardworking men and women in Europe! Saturday we'll be at the Edgestock Music Festival at Ft. Howard Park at 4:15- come wish us a safe trip!

Sunday we'll be at the "Red Cross, White & Blue" Event for families of fallen military, and we hope to see some of our fans there as well!

We've got four, count 'em four (!) shows for you this weekend, so there's NO excuse not to officially kick your summer off right with some KBB!

Thursday night we're up at The Outlets in Gettysburg for their summer concert series. Always a fun time, and it's promising to be a beautiful evening!

Friday night Organic Homegrown returns to Guilianova's Groceria in Westminster for another awesome dinner/show combination. These events are always a great night out.

Saturday, we've got a double header- first up is the Beer Bourbon and BBQ Festival at the National Harbor in DC. We'll play there from 1-3, and then head to the MAS Animal Rescue Benefit at the 8x10 in Baltimore. Come party with us at one (or both!) of these shows- and support a great cause Saturday night while you're at it.

Be on the lookout for the release date of our new album so very soon! We absolutely can't wait to share it with you! What song are you most looking forward to?!? Stop by our facebook page and let us know!

We are excited to officially introduce the newest member of the KBB, drummer Kevin Ellis! Kevin has been a part of the Baltimore music scene for some time, and we are excited to have him with us! If you haven't had a chance, be sure to welcome him to the KBB family the next time you're at a show!

We've got two great shows for you this weekend- Friday night we'll be at a spot that always becomes a party when we're there- the Hard Times Cafe in Germantown, MD. We'll get things started around 10 so come kick off your weekend right with us! Saturday we're psyched to play a new festival for us, the Tinner Hill Blues Festival in Falls Church, VA. All our Virginia and southern Maryland fans need to come out to help us show 'em how we do it Phat Blues style!

See you this weekend!

Festival season is in full swing, and we've had some great crowds out to hear us recently! If you haven't had a chance to get out to one yet, make sure to check out one of our shows this weekend!

Friday night finds us at Belvedere Square in Baltimore for their summer concert series starting at 6PM. It's been a little while since we've played this spot, but we're very excited to be back!

Saturday, we'll be playing a private wedding down in North Carolina. We'll make the all night trip back up to Oregon Ridge Park for the annual Great Grapes Wine Festival there! This festival is always a lot of fun for us and we love the energy we get from the crowd here! We'll be there from 2-4- the weather promises to be gorgeous, so no excuse for not ending your weekend with us!

We're coming off an awesome weekend of shows last weekend (big hello to our new Montrose, PA fans!), and are excited for some fun shows this week!

Thursday we'll be at Chops in Phoenix, MD for an Organic Homegrown show- stop by to say hi to Kirk and Ira!

Sunday we make our annual return to Brew at the Zoo at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. This show is one of the highlights of festival season for us, and you don't want to miss it!

Festival season is officially in full swing, and we've got two exciting ones for you this weekend! Friday we'll be at West Shore Park in Baltimore's Inner Harbor for their Summer Socials Series. Great music, food trucks, and lots of fun things to do make this the place to be after work on Friday! We'll play from 5-8, and the weather is looking gorgeous!

Saturday we make an apperance for the first time at the Montrose Chocolate and Wine Festival in beautful northern PA. KBB, wine, *and* chocolate- how can you go wrong? We'll be making the trip up north to start at 6PM, and we look forward to seeing our PA fans there!

We're also putting the finishing touches on our new record, and can't wait for you to hear it! Stop by our facebook page and tell us what new song you're most looking forward to!

We're back at one of our new favorites- The Stil in Timonium- for an Organic Homegrown show this Saturday night! We're looking forward to another packed house and awesome show starting at 9:45! See you there!

We're also just about finished recording the new record, and can't wait to for you to hear it! Make sure you "like" us on facebook to be the first to know when it's out!

Festival season is off to a great start this year! Up next: the Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival this Saturday at the Bay Bridge Marina! We've been watching the weather, and right now it looks like it's going to be a beautiful May day, so come on out for what's sure to be a great time! We'll close out Saturday at the festival starting at 3:45- you don't want to miss this one!

We're also still hard at work in the studio every night we can, and know you all can't wait for the new record! Be sure to check facebook for up to the minute updates, and be the first to know when it's here!

Come help us support the Ronald McDonald House Friday night at Kurtz's Beach in Pasadena, Maryland with 100.7 The Bay's Rockin' for Ronald! We'll hit the stage at 9, but there's a great line up of bands all evening. Let's show 'em how KBB fans do it and raise some money for this great charity.

We're hard at work on our next record- if you haven't already joined us on facebook, make sure you do- you'll be the first to know all the details! You can also check out some pictures of our recording session last week that are up now!

Check out this article on Susie Mudd in the Baltimore Sun (and the KBB reference!)

For anyone who knows anything about the music scene in Baltimore, they have no doubt heard the name Susie Mudd tossed around for many years. Susie, the creator and owner of Music Monthly Magazine (a regional paper designed to support any and all music in the Mid-Atlantic area) passed away Thursday April 5. Music Monthly magazine was responsible boosting countless careers in the region, including Kix, Good Charlotte, Laughing Colors, The All Mighty Senators, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, etc. In addition, the magazine was responsible for keeping the Blues scene alive and well in the Mid-Atlantic region. For this, the Kelly Bell Band is particularly grateful. Susie, in combination with Chris Keith (also a long time advocate of local music) pushed a small Blues act from "sound on a stick" Blues bar shows to rock-n-roll arena environments. Music Monthly the magazine is the magazine that the Kelly Bell Band was voted "Best Blues Band in the Mid-Atlantic Region" for 12 years in a row. For Susie to provide an arena for our fans to vote on us in the same company as the legendary Nighthawks, Deana Bogart, Linwood Taylor, and Tom Larson was immeasurable for the elevation of Phat Blues Music. God Bless you Susie, know that you are missed and loved, and have a safe journey home. -Kelly Bell

Don't miss your last chance to hear the KBB in March tomorrow night at Chops in Phoenix, MD! We're psyched to bring an Organic Homegrown show back what has quickly become one of our favorite new venues to play! We'll hit the stage around 9, so don't miss this mid-week KBB special!

We hope you all had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day! We had so much fun at The Stil in Timonium- you definitely missed something special if you weren't there!

This Saturday we're at the Beer Bourbon and BBQ Festival at the Timonium Fairgrounds. These events are always a blast, and you definitely don't want to miss it this year! We're incredibly psyched that this signals the beginning of festival season for us- our favorite time of year!

Also, if you haven't already checked out our new merch site, head over to http://www.davidsnowden.com/kelly-bell-band/, and don't forget to enter code "phatblues" at checkout for 20% off everything in your cart! Hurry over as our supplies of many of your favorite T-shirts are running low- if you see something you like you better grab it now because once they're gone, they're gone!

We hope all of our Mid-Atlantic fans are enjoying this beautiful weather as much as we are! And speaking of beautiful weather, we're excited about our first outdoor show of the year this Saturday! (Ok so there will be tents.) One of our favorite new venues to play, The Stil, in Timonium, is having an all day St. Patrick's Day celebration that we're psyched to bring the whole band to this time! We'll hit the stage around 8:30, and we can't think of a better place to spend St. Patrick's Day!

Also, we wanted to give you an early heads up about a show April 20th for an awesome charity, The Ronald McDonald House. We've played Rockin' for Ronald before, and it promises to be a great time again this year! It's an all evening event, but the KBB hits the stage from 9-10. Come on out and support this great charity that does so much!

Check out the first of many videos from our tour on the USS John C. Stennis! Be sure to come back to our youtube channel (or better yet, subscribe!) to see all of our videos as they're posted from our trip!

Aloha KBB fans!

As you read this, we're currently on board an Navy aircraft carrier sailing from Hawaii (where we spent Monday night!) to San Deigo! While on our way there, we're playing 4 different shows for our troops and their familes, and we're totally psyched to be able to give back to these amazing men and women.

Check out this video taken from our first day on the aircraft carrier! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuysWBV9IMQ&context=C3cdee55ADOEgsToPDskKhEFkHGvNE88saYnZ5B3-p

Also be sure to follow our trip on facebook- we're posting videos and pictures when we can (not easy from the middle of the Pacific Ocean...) but they'll definitely be lots for you to see as soon as we get to San Diego!

Thanks so much for your support- we love reading your facebook messages about our trip!

Peace-

The KBB

PS- Missing some Phat Blues stateside while we're gone? Don't forget to use code "phatblues" on our all new merch site to get 20% off everything! http://www.davidsnowden.com/kelly-bell-band/

Need your Phat Blues right this second? We're also on itunes!

Come out Friday night to The Greene Turtle in Hunt Valley, MD and help send the KBB off on their 10 day Navy tour! That's right- we leave bright and early Monday morning for a 10 day trip with the US Navy! We'll fly from Baltimore to Hawaii, where we'll board a Navy ship full of troops and their families. While on board, we're going to play 4 shows as we sail to San Diego. We're so excited for the opportunity to show our troops and their families how grateful we are for their service. Stay up to date with tour updates and pictures on our facebook page!

We are also excited to lauch our new merchandise site at http://www.davidsnowden.com/kelly-bell-band/. Head on over to get all your KBB merch needs- t- shirts, CD's, hats, and the newly added hot sauce! For a limited time, enter the code "phatblues" at checkout for 20% off! It's our gift to you, our loyal KBB fans.

We've got lots of exciting things coming in the next few weeks! This Saturday we've got an Organic Homegrown show at The Stil in Timonium- always a great crowd, and always a fun time.

We're also very excited to announce we are going on a tour with the US Navy in a week and a half! We'll be flying to Hawaii and taking a Navy ship with US Navy and their families back to California, and playing 4 shows along the way on the ship. We're thrilled to be able to play for our men and women who have given so much to our country! Check out facebook for updates as we document our journey!

Also be sure to check facebook this weekend for a special Valentine's Day contest to win a phone serenade from Kelly himself!

Today we are asking all KBB fans to post their memories of Soul
Train on our facebook wall.. As a little kid, I remember my big brothers Kevin & Kirk doing all the dance moves they could muster, as if they were in competition with the Soul Train dancers. Besides reruns of the Flip Wilson Show, it was the first time I could remember Black folks being allowed to be...in a public eye on their own terms. Soul Train is just a big a part of Black/African American culture as the Afro!

RIP Don. Here's to the joy, art, and honor you brought to us all.

- Kelly Bell

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who both sent in pictures and shared our Raven's Fight Song video! The response was awesome!

Second, we've got a special sneak peek at some new KBB music recorded backstage at Ram's Head Live before we went on. You can check it out here! Enjoy!

We need your help to make our Raven's video go viral! Please send this link to anyone and everyone- personal and professional and share it on facebook! Big thanks to the KBB/Raven's fans who helped make the video!

GO RAVENS!

Reciept of this message can be considered permission to use this video/audio. Lyrics by John Modell (Modell family former owners of the Ravens). Music by the Kelly Bell Band.

Etta James is what a blues singer is supposed to sound like! I have loved her music my whole life. When I get to heaven, I'm gonna kiss that woman right on her mouth...and cry out so all of heaven can hear.."At Last!"

God bless you Etta; and thank you.
-KB

Happy New Year KBB fans!

We hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season and you are settling back into the routine of the new year. We consider ourselves extremely blessed to be starting our 17th year as the Kelly Bell Band, and we’ve got some exciting things on the way for 2012! If you haven’t already “liked” us on facebook, make it your New Year’s Resolution to do it now so you don’t miss any part of it!

Congratulations to our Raven’s fans on making the playoffs! (Those of us who are fans of that other Beltway team are still licking our wounds and trying not to be too bitter.) Head on over to the downloads section of our website at www.kellybellband.com and download our version of the Raven’s theme song that we rewrote several years ago. While you’re there, you can also download a KBB Acoustic version of Bill Withers “Use Me” recorded at Bohanger’s in 1999. We’re going to post a new song every week until you have the entire CD, so be sure to check back once a week to get the new song!

We’re super excited to start our 2012 schedule opening for G Love and Special Sauce at the Ram’s Head Live in Baltimore Friday Jan. 13! It will be an Organic Homegrown show, and tickets are going fast so head over to www.ramsheadlive.com and get yours now!

Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year- filled, of course, with lots of Phat Blues!

I came to know Hubert through longtime friends and mentors Automatic Slim and Mark Wenner of the legendary Nighthawks. Mark has told me many stries of time personally spent with this legend. ANOTHER BLUES ANGEL DONE PLAYED AND GONE. Read more from this article passed on through Automatic Slim.
-KB

Next month..the Kelly Bell Band will be celebrating 17 years! It is during this
season that I am reminded of how truly blessed we all are... We have met, played
with, and befriended many of our heroes. We have seen family members affected
by our music. We have known our fans to be our friends...Truth be known, I feel
like I hit the lottery everytime I hit that stage. KBB says happy holidays to
you all.

Your last chance to hear the KBB in 2011 (and pick up those last minute KBB stocking stuffers!) is Friday night at Puck in Doylestown, PA! We'll get the party started at 7 so come on out and kick your holiday weekend off right!

We also want to wish all of our fans a very Happy Holiday!

We'll see you Friday night!

Introducting...Organic Homegrown! Organic Homegrown is the winner of our facebook "Name the band" contest for the acoustic version of the KBB! Congratulations to Michelle Ingrodi and Kaymi Plank for their suggestions!

Come see Organic Homegrown Thursday night at The Red House Tavern in Canton, MD! We'll hit around 9:30, and it's sure to be a great time.

Also don't forget as you're doing your holiday shopping to give the gift of music! CD's make great stocking stuffers! Check out our CD's and other merch here: http://www.davidsnowden.com/new/cgi-bin/kbbshop.cgi?ACTION=enter&thispage=kbbindex.htm

We hope you're out of that turkey coma from last week, and ready to get out and party (and shop!) this weekend!

This Saturday we've got an awesome line up of shows for you. Saturday afternoon we'll be a part of Joy Jingle Jam at Harbor East. Come on down and get some great deals on Christmas presents (don't forget to stop by our merch table hint, hint) and on food, as well as free parking! The event is from 12-5, and we'll hit the stage at 3!

After you've had your fill of shopping downtown, come on up to The Stil in Timonium for an acoustic show! We'll hit here around 9:30, and as always have a great line up of guests sitting in! We'll also announce the winner of our "Name the Band" contest! You don't want to miss it.

Don't forget to check out our facebook page for a chance to be a part of KBB History! The band votes are in, and our three favorite names for the acoustic part of the KBB have been put to a fan vote! Be sure to click on the survey site on our facebook page to have your voice heard!

Peace!

The KBB

It is this during this time of year we take moments to give thanks. To higher
powers, family (past & present), friends, health, etc. I am a man who is
thankful for many, many things as well (far too many to mention). Rather than
pontificate on the world and the society within; I will send this message
instead: "Live in GRATITUDE everyday!" There are several psychological/scientific
studies that have shown that those who approach each day in thanks, tend to
suffer less, live longer, have better health, etc. This is my wish for us all.
Tomorrow never comes...Live, Learn, and Love TODAY! - Happy Thanksgiving..Kelly

We've got two great shows for you on Saturday! First up is the Calvert County Fairgrounds WinterFest! The first 1000 in the gate receive a commemorative wine tasting glass to sample the wines available, and there will also be lots of food vendors, an oyster bar, BUD track and craft vendors. Get your tickets online at www.calvertwinterfest.com or at the gate. The KBB goes on at 3:30 and it looks like the weather's going to cooperate for a nice day!

We head straight from there to Hager Hall for a concert to support the MD Flight Paramedics and Children's Miracle Network. Please come out and help us support these two great causes- we know our KBB fans won't disappoint! We'll see you at 10PM to bring the party!

Tomorrow night finds the Kelly Bell Acoustic Show with Kelly Bell, Kirk Myers, Ira Mayfield and special guests at the Guilianova's Groceria in Westminster! Only 4 tickets remain for the shrimp boil and show (the dinner starts at 6:30), but don't worry- you can still get in after 9 buying a ticket at the door for just the show! We can't wait to see you there!

We had a blast at our Halloween show last week in Clarksburg, WV- check out the pics on facebook! And while you're at it, stay tuned for a new contest coming your way!

This week we'll be back at the Hard Times Cafe in Germantown, MD. We can always count on our fans to bring the party here! We'll see you around 9:30 for a great end to your week!

We're working on our Halloween costumes for Saturday night, and can't wait to see what you all come to the show dressed as this year!

Our show this Halloween weekend is at PJ Kelly's in Clarksburg, WV- we'll be getting the party started around 10PM!

Happy Halloween!

Come on out Saturday to what appears to be our last festival of the season! The Cockeysville Fall Festival is on Saturday from 10am-6:30pm, and benefits an awesome charity- Pathfinders for Autism. We'll play at 4:30, and we're counting on a great KBB fan showing!

Be sure to check facebook before you go for a special merch offer!

Lots going on this week!

Thursday morning from 6am-7:15am be sure to catch Kelly, Dave and Ryan on the 98 Rock morning show! If you're not in the Baltimore listening area, you can always catch the show online too!

Friday night Kelly will be sitting in with G Love and Special Sauce at the 9:30 Club. Always a great time when these two get together.

Saturday we're psyched to be a part of Island Bay Days with Kix, Jimmie's Chicken Shack and Laughing Colors, among others. We play at 5:40, but the whole day is going to be a blast, so be sure to check it out!

Sunday finds us up in PA for the Liberty Mountain Fall Festival. It's certainly beautiful there this time of year, and we can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday fall afternoon. We'll be there at 1:30.

Two great shows for you for this beautiful fall weekend! First up is the second of our Das Best Oktoberfest shows, this time at the Timonium Fairgrounds. These shows are always a blast (check out the pics on facebook from the last one!), and you don't want to miss it!

Sunday we're back to Frederick for the Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes. We'll play at 1:30, so come help us support another good cause.

We've got 4 shows this weekend, and a little something for everyone!

Thursday night is a KBB Acoustic show with Kelly Bell, Kirk Myers and Ira Mayfield (and as always some special guests)! We'll be at the Red House Tavern in Canton, MD at 9:30PM.

Friday is a day show at the C Burr Arts Public Library in Frederick, MD for their Music on the Terrace- and the perfect reason to take a long lunch. We'll see you there at 11:30AM.

Saturday is one of the last wine festivals of the season at the Tarara Winery in Leesburg, VA at 6PM, so come help us bring in the first fall weekend with some great wine and music!

Sunday morning Kelly and Ryan will be at the Walk to Defeat ALS at the Old National Pike Park in Mt. Airy, MD for another acoustic show.

We've got one show for you this week, so let's make it a killer KBB fan showing! The first of two "Das Best Oktoberfest" festivals that we play this year is happening at the National Harbor this Sunday- we'll be there starting at 1PM. These festivals are always a great time, and we're looking forward to playing them again this year!

Also, be sure to check out Kelly's tribute to Willie "Big Eyes" Smith who passed away this past week on facebook.

See you Sunday!

This Saturday we'll be playing at the Rock the Need Charity Event at the Westview Promenade in Frederick, MD! The event will benefit Goodwill Industries (bring lightly used clothing to donate), the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs (bring personal hygiene items), and Hope Alive (bring canned foods and non-bleach cleaning items). We know our KBB fans will bring a great showing as usual!

The event itself is from 2-8, the and the KBB will do two sets from 5-6 and 7-8 with a fashion show in between.

It promises to be a fun afternoon for some worthwhile causes, so come help us out!

What is up with this crazy weather? Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods...we are once again hoping all our Mid-Atlantic fans are safe- and dry!- tonight.

Friday night finds us close to home at the Greene Turtle Hunt Valley. We play at 9:30 and we're counting on our hometown fans to be out in full force to rock this place!

Sunday is our return to the annual Maryland Seafood Fest- always a great time. We'll see you all there at 3 for a perfect way to end the weekend!

We've got a big week for you this week! Thursday night is the rescheduled Brambleton Freedom Fest in Ashburn, VA. All the details are the same- we'll see you there at 7PM!

Saturday night, we're super excited to be a part of the Olivia Newton-John and Terrell Owens Cancer Awareness Event at Rams Head Live, Baltimore. It promises to be a great night for a very worthwhile cause.

Sunday is the much anticipated Kclinger's Chili Cookoff. We look forward to this show every year, and our fans never disappoint!

We hope everyone is ok after the storm and that you didn't sustain too much damage. Here in Baltimore, some of us are still waiting for our lights to come back on. As frustrating as that is, we know we're fortunate to still have our houses, and that all of our loved ones are safe. We sincerely hope everyone reading this can say the same.

So we know the topic of the day was that earthquake- crazy, no?- and we certainly hope that no one in our KBB family suffered any damage.

We'll be heading to Virginia both Thursday and Friday night this week. Thursday is the Brambleton Freedom Fest in Ashburn, VA. We'll be there from 7-9:30PM. Then Friday we'll be at TC Tooties Historic Sports Pub in Winchester, VA. This is our first time at what looks like a pretty cool venue, so help us show them how the KBB rocks a house!

Hey KBB fans!

We're well rested from our weekend off and ready to bring you 4 (!) shows this week! As we write this we're packing for a road trip to Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday for the Easton Sounds on the Town Concert Series! We'll see you there at 6PM Wednesday night!

Then it's a drive back to DC on Thursday to play at the Smithsonian American Art Museum at 5PM Thursday evening for DC show one of three over the next three days!

DC show number two on Friday night is at the National Harbor for their concert series from 6-8PM.

And last but not least, DC show three on Saturday is also at the National Harbor for the Chesapeake Crab and Beer Festival. We'll be there around 5PM for what promises to be a great end to our four days of shows!

Also, don't forget to get your tickets to see us open for Olivia Newton John at the Rams Head Baltimore on Sept. 3! The event is to raise money for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Center and the local Baltimore Cool Kids Foundation. You can get your tix here: http://tickets.ramsheadlive.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=455

Peace!
-The KBB

We've got three Maryland shows to kick off August this weekend! First up is another Kelly Bell Trio show with Kirk and Ira at The Red House Tavern in Canton! These shows are a lot of fun- and you never know what you're gonna hear- so come on out and get the weekend started a day early!

Friday is what you've been waiting for, Frederick fans- our much anticipated return to Danielle's. We hear you all requesting shows out your way, so we expect a rockin' KBB crowd! We hit around 8 so be sure to be there early!

Saturday, come out and enjoy the beautiful weather we've had this week at the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard! We'll see you from the stage at 5!

Be sure to stay up to date on all the up to the minute KBB news on our facebook page!

We had a great road trip out west last week, but it's good to be back for a few hometown shows this week!

Thursday night, head on out to the The Outlets at Gettysburg- get started on your back to school shopping, and hear some Phat Blues! Sounds good to us! We'll see you there at 6:30!

Friday night, catch a special Kelly Bell Band Acoustic Trio performance at The Still in Timonium. Kelly's looking forward to singing with Kirk and Ira again- you don't want to miss it! They'll be kicking things off around 9:30PM.

Saturday, we head into B-more's Inner Harbor to the Harborplace Amphitheater for a true hometown show! We hit at 8PM for what's always a great show!

Stay cool KBB fans- we're definitely glad to be done with the 100 degree heat for a while!

Tomorrow starts a 4 day road trip for us and we are super psyched to spread some phat blues west of the Mid-Atlantic!

Thursday we'll be at Nino's in Findlay, Ohio, hitting the stage at 10PM. Friday finds us at The Rathskeller in Indianapolis at 7:30PM, and Saturday it's off to Downer's Grove, IL and the Ballydoyle Irish Pub at 9PM. Then it's an all night drive back to Pennsylvania for the 3rd Annual PA Hemp Festival on Sunday at 5PM.

Be sure to stay up to date with the latest happenings from the road on our facebook page!

We can't wait to see all our mid-west fans, and make some new friends this weekend!

Time to get a good night's sleep...we're off bright and early tomorrow morning!

We've got something for our Mid-Atlantic fans this weekend- a DC show Thursday, and shows in Annapolis Friday and Saturday! (All you further West fans stay tuned- we've got a big road trip coming next week!)

Thursday sounds like another great day to take a long lunch- and we've got the perfect place to do it, DC fans! The NoMa Bid Concert Series at 1325 Second St. NE will be the place to be starting at 11:30am!

Friday is the first of two shows in Annapolis this weekend- this one at the Annapolis Towne Center Concert Series. We'll be there at 7:30. Then Saturday is our annual return to Quiet Waters Park- always a great time! We'll see you there from 6-8.

Perfect July weather, and 3 shows close to Bmore- no excuse not to come out this weekend!

We hope you all had a happy, safe 4th of July! We enjoyed having the holiday to spend with our families this year!

Friday night, July 8th, we have a special treat for you- an acoustic trio show at Giulianova Groceria in Westminster, MD with Kelly Bell, Kirk Myers and Ira Mayfield! You certainly don't want to miss this! Head over to brothersun.biz to get your tickets for what's sure to be an awesome night.

Sunday finds us on another road trip, this time to Connecticut for Sailfest. We'll see all our northern friends from the stage at 4!

Please note that the Baddest Man on the Planet Festival originally scheduled for Saturday July 10 has been canceled- and obviously along with it the KBB show that night. Sorry DC fans you'll have to wait until next week to catch us!

If you haven't checked our facebook page in a few days, be sure to check out the pictures from our road trip to North Carolina last weekend! We not only know how to put on a good show, we know how to have fun getting there!

Peace-

The KBB

Particularly all you DC fans pay attention...we've got a lunch time show for you Wednesday at 11:30 at Yards Park! We know you all needed a reason to take an extra long lunch break this week, and we can't think of a better one!

Friday we'll be back down in Rockville at the Austin Grill. Come start the extended 4th of July weekend right with some Phat Blues!

Saturday is our long awaited return to North Carolina and The Pit in Kill Devil Hills. Always a great time, and another awesome place to keep the 4th of July weekend party going!

If you haven't "liked" us on facebook- what on earth are you waiting for? You're missing out on some great contests and up to the minute KBB news!

Stay cool KBB fans and we'll see you this week!

Friday night we're opening for our good friends the Los Lonely Boys at the Birchmere in Virginia! We hope you got your tickets early though cause this show is SOLD OUT! We're super psyched to play to a full house!!

This Saturday is the Northern Virgina Summer BrewFest in Leesburg, Virginia! The festival itself is from 11am-9pm Saturday, and we'll be doing a set at 6PM and 7:20PM. It promises to be a great time!

We'll see you there!

We've got two shows to tell you about this weekend! Friday night we'll be down in Roanoke, Virginia at the Blue 5 restaurant. We are very excited to play here and hope to have a great showing of KBB fans!

Saturday we are back at the Brunswick Music Fest in Brunswick, MD. We've played here before and it's sure to be another awesome time! The weather also looks a lot more promising than last week (check out the pictures on facebook or the gallery section of the website to see the crazy rain storm last Sunday!!), so come on out and enjoy some great music in a beautiful part of Maryland!

We'll see you this weekend!

We were just at the Great Grapes festival this afternoon since our son was performing in the Forest Lakes Jazz Band. The Kelly Bell Band is very entertaining and has a great sound.. We just wanted to know how much we appreciated how the band handled the whole weather situation this afternoon. It blew us away that we were allowed to go on stage with the band in order to get us out of the rain. Not only did the band perform awesome, but they were great with the kids and keeping us entertained. It was also so nice that the band allowed the Forest Lakes Band to continue with another song instead of trying to rush everything at the end of the show. Everything turned out to be perfect! Thank you so much for today!! We will definitely try to see more shows in the future...

We hope all of our Mid-Atlantic fans are staying cool this week- this heat's been crazy! We are certainly thankful for air conditioning this time of year. We are getting into the swing of festival season, and Sunday finds us at one of our favorites- Great Grapes at Oregon Ridge Park! Be sure to "like" us on facebook for a special CD offer just for fans! Also performing during our set break on Sunday is former KBB sax player Dominic Selvi's award winning elementary school jazz band! We are excited to share the stage with this awesome group of 9-11 year olds!

After the wine festival, head over to the Baltimore Comedy Factory (with your designated driver if you've been drinking all day of course!) to watch Kelly participate in the roast of Kirk McEwen. The evening is a benefit for a cause that's close to our hearts- Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children- and is sure to be a great time!

We'll see you Sunday!

To our Hagerstown KBB family- we are so sorry Friday night's show has been canceled, but we want you to know that we are trying to work some things out to play in your area soon! Stay tuned!

Saturday we will be at Fort Howard Park for the Edgestock Music Festival! This festival raises money for children and adult services in Baltimore County. The festival itself is all day, but we will see you from the stage at 5!

We've got 3 local shows for you this weekend! Friday night at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Annapolis, support the efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay at the 13th Annual Treasure the Chesapeake Celebration sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. We'll play at 6:30.

Saturday night, come party with us Preakness style at the Dark Horse in Bel Air for their Triple Crown Fest! You'll find us there from 6:30-9PM and it's sure to be a great time!

Sunday, we're part of an awesome line up at the 8x10 Club in Baltimore to raise funds for the Maryland Animal Society which tragically burned down in March. Mr. Greengenes kicks things off at 2, and the KBB hits at 4. Great bands, great cause- fantastic way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Baltimore!

We'll see all you hometown fans this weekend!

We've got a great way to end what's been a beautiful week here in the Mid-Atlantic! Head out to Yards Park in DC Friday evening from 6PM-8PM for a free concert in the park! It kicks off the Captiol Riverfront Summer Concert Series- you can get more info at http://www.capitolriverfront.org/calendar/do/evening-concert-series.

And just a reminder to "like" us on facebook if you haven't already for up to the minute KBB news as well as exclusive contests and merch offers!

Enjoy the rest of this gorgeous week and we'll see you Friday night!

Hey KBB fans we've got a last minute show announcement for you! Check out a trio show Friday night with Kelly, Kirk and Ira at First Fridays in Ellicott City! The event is from 5-9PM and we play from 7-8. Look for us around the old post office.

Tomorrow night, catch us in Dewey Beach for the High Tide Dewey Beach Jam Fest at The Rusty Rudder! We play at 11PM on "Stage A", but there's tons of bands on 4 different stages starting at 9. We're super excited to kick off festival season and hope you can join us!

Those of you following the band in recent years have seen us performing for and with the Colours group. Headquartered at Northwestern High School under the guidance of Mr. Jason Cook, the group uses music and dance performance as a vehicle to reach Prince Georges County area young people, many of whom are "at risk" or challenged in some area to promote academic improvement and achievement and mentor positive attitudes and life skills. Many of them learn to play instruments for the first time and the group concentrates on the R&B and Blues classics. They have performed all over the US and have formed partnerships with organizations as varied as the Washington Redskins and "The Sounds of Blackness". In a true measure of what the group does for, and means to, so many; “graduates" often return to offer support and to mentor current participants.

Besides Mr. Cook, many parents are very involved, supportive and central to Colours ongoing existence, success and effectiveness. One of those parents we have had the pleasure of knowing and befriending is Sergeant Suzie Johnson of the Hyattsville, MD Police department. Suzie has a son and daughter who are involved in Colours but in fact she is a "den" mother to the group at large. Suzie is very active in the greater community as well. We are glad to say that Suzie has been named a finalist among first thousands of first-responders nationally in the America's Most Wanted All-star contest sponsored by Sprint and the show of the same name. The winner will receive $10,000 and a NASCAR weekend courtesy of Sprint. Final voting starts on April 21st. We are asking all of our KBB friends to go to the link below and see how fortunate we are to have someone like Sergeant Suzie out there for us, and then vote for a true hero from our hometown to be recognized for her dedication and sacrifice. We feel honored to call Suzie our friend and hopefully after going to the link below you will feel likewise to be able to vote for her to say "thank you" and tell AMW to award the prize to our home town hero. Thanks everyone and Peace!

I’m taking time to share a 1 degree of separation story with all of you. The singer/blues harp leader of the Legendary Nighthawks (our personal friends and mentors for many years now.. GO GET A NIGHTHAWKS CD!), Mark told me story of doing some shows with the late, great , Grammy for lifetime achievement winner Pinetop Perkins. As I remember it, Pinetop was staying at Mark’s house for a couple of days while they were in town, as the Nighthawks were backing him up for small tour. Mark had come downstairs of his home to make breakfast for the then elderly Mr. Perkins (not that after a show the previous night together he was setting an alarm clock or anything). He was, however awakened by the sounds of an upright piano being tickled like crazy. It was Pinetop! He had been awake for some time and just playing in the living room for the love of it. Not to practice, to write new music or correct mistakes from the night before; but just for the love of the “Blues.” Mark then told me he said to himself, “Wow, Pinetop Perkins is playing the piano in my house!”

The best part of that story is the humble way in which one “Blues” legend spoke in this giddy tone that only could have come from the little boy inside of him, speak about another Legend of the Arts: Pinetop Perkins. At this moment with the recent passing of Big Jack Johnson (my “Daddy” in the Blues), I am reflecting on this time where many of the ground breaking musicians are movin’ on to promised days. Pinetop was one of those folk. How lucky are we to have been around to experience these Giants of music. Big Jack Johnson and Mark Wenner have both recorded with the Kelly Bell Band (Jack on “Phat Blues Music” and Mark on “Ain’t Like It Use Be..”). Like Mark’s story, I take the time to remember: How blessed are we? Mark put best: “WOW!”
-KB

All you craving a KBB fix, we've got 3 chances for you to see your favorite phat blues band this weekend!

First up is Friday night at the Hard Times Cafe in Germantown, MD. We played there back in January to an awesome crowd that had the dance floor full all night!

Saturday we head to Longwood University in Farmville, VA for their Spring Weekend 2011. The KBB hits at 6PM, but the event is all day long! Also be sure to check out national recording acts Cali Swag District and Cartel playing after the KBB on the same stage!

Last but certainly not least, Sunday night the KBB will be playing at a benefit for the the Frederick Blues Society Blues in Schools program. The event runs from 2PM to 11:45PM on Sunday, and the KBB performs at 8. Come out to support a great cause, hear some great music, and get a chance to win over $800 in door prizes! No cover- donations will be accepted, and Bushwaller's will donate 10% of all food and beverage sales. We can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday night!

No excuse this weekend not to get yourself to a KBB show...we'll see you there!

“Big Jack Johnson has passed away.” These were the words of my good friends Automatic Slim and Jimmi Sexton who both contacted me to give me the news. Big Jack was my friend, my mentor, and star on our first CD “Phat Blues Music.” Jack and I gave many interviews together. He frequently would say that Smokey Wilson was the “Grand Daddy” of the 3 of us, referring to himself as the “Daddy” and myself as the “son.” It’s now that I realize how powerful that statement was/is to me. The way that Smokey and Big Jack taught, accepted, and loved me over the years has been in the forefront of my mind since hearing the news. I say this to all who will listen: GO BUY a Smokey Wilson and Big Jack Johnson CD and hear what a bluesman is supposed to sound like! “Big Daddy” you go on and rest in the fact that some of us will pay the cost to be the boss in this business, keeping the “Blues” (and your memory alive and well). I love you Big Jack! I’m gonna do it like we always said we would.. “til the wheels fall off the damn thang!”

-KB

From Bethesda, Maryland, Dave cites some of his musical influences as Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix and John Williams. He's always wanted to play Madison Square Garden (and not just the parking lot!), and also claims the Redskins as his favorite sports team (which in case you've been counting means the Redskins... fans out number the Ravens fans in the KBB now!) You can find Dave adding some wicked awesome guitar playing to our shows! You can read more about him in the Members section and be sure and stop by and say hi Friday night at the Beer Bourbon and BBQ Festival!

Hailing from Annapolis, MD and citing his favorite blues musician as BB King (and his favorite team as the Redskins...Hail to the Redskins!), you'll find Ryan adding some killer guitar playing to our shows! Check out the "Members" section for more information about Ryan!

Check out this article in the Baltimore City Paper about good friend of the KBB, LOVE the poet. Kelly sings on her last record and there are two poems about him in the her book- one of which she will be performing next Friday at our show!

If you've been to our shows recently, or looked at some pictures, you may have found yourself wondering who that adorable sax player was. Well, the KBB would like to introduce our newest member, Russell McCray! Hailing from DC and claiming his favorite song is "Killer Tofu" by the Beets (I guess we'll forgive you), you can find Russell adding some sweet alto sax, tenor sax, and a little flute (or maybe all three at once? Ok maybe not) to the KBB show! Whether he's on stage rockin' out, walking into the audience making women swoon, or showing off his awesome dance moves during a set break, we know you'll love our new addition as much as we do! Be sure and welcome him to the KBB family the next time you're at a show!