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Spend the weekend with the Blues For the third year Ashland venues will play host to the blues - both home grown and sung by some big name talent. Headlining the Rogue Valley Blues Festival, which happens from Friday night, January 17 until Sunday afternoon, January 19, will be Guy Davis, Lester Chambers and Curtis Salgado. Curtis Salgado performs at the blues festival. Contributed photo The festival will begin Friday at 8 p.m., at the Unitarian Center, 4th and C Streets, Ashland, with Guy Davis presenting his one-man play "In Bed With the Blues: the adventures of Fishy Waters." The play is set in 1959 and liberally laced with Delta Blues songs of the 1920s and 30s. Davis originally produced it at the New Federal Theatre in New York City in 1994. "In Bed With the Blues" is a loosely knit hybrid of blues concert, storytelling session and fictional remembrance. Davis' CDs have garnered Best Acoustic Blues Artist, Song of the Year and Blues Album nominations from the W.C. Handy Awards two years in a row. Many will recognize him from his starring role as Double K in the movie "Beat Street," or as Dr. Josh Hall on television's "One Life to Live." Davis grew up with acting and singing in his blood -his parents are Ruby Dee and Ozzie Davis. Saturday evening, the festival will continue at the Historic Ashland Armory, Oak and B Streets, Ashland. MC for the night is former Hamazon, Joannie McGowan. This will be an all ages event with a beer and wine garden. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for barbecue dinner served by Two Pines Smokehouse (there's an additional charge). At 7 p.m. music will begin with local favorite Ellen Sheeley and the Blues Reunion featuring Ed Dunsavage, Tom Freeman and Tom Frederick. Returning for a second time are Lester Chambers (formerly of the Chambers Brothers) and KK Martin. A big hit at the first Rogue Valley Blues Festival, Chambers and Martin will be joined by Ronnie Shumake, bassist for Canned Heat. Headlining the night will be the Curtis Salgado Band. Salgado was playing and singing in the Robert Cray Band, when he caught the attention of John Belushi. Belushi incorporated some of Salgado's act and even some of his trademark stage patter into his Blues Brothers character, Jake. In the 80s, Salgado fronted the Grammy-winning Roomful of Blues for two years. Afterwards he formed the Stilettos, which became a regional hit in the Northwest. His latest CD on the Shanachie Label is "Soul Activated." Sunday evening the Rogue Valley Blues Festival will conclude with a blues jam at the Ashland Community Center, Winburn Way across from Lithia Park. Host band for the evening will be The Roadmasters with Craig Martin on guitar, Tom Freeman on drums and Tom Frederick on bass. In addition to the evening concerts, daytime events of the blues festival, including workshops, lunches and informal teaching sessions, will bring out the visiting players and many of the great musicians who make the valley their home. Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., workshops take place at the Historic Ashland Armory. At 11 a.m. Guy Davis presents Routes of the Blues, some history and some hands-on learning; 1 p.m. Lester Chambers teaches harmonica; and 2:30 p.m. KK Martin teaches blues guitar. Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. workshops take place at the Ashland Community Center. At 11:30 a.m., Curtis Salgado shows his vintage video clips of performances from the 50s to 70s with personal anecdotes and commentary. These include musical rarities from his personal video archives. Collected from years of swapping performance clips with fellow musicians, Salgado's archive is loaded with great blues, jazz, soul, gospel and rockabilly from the 1950s-70s. His intimate knowledge of the artists and their music and his anecdotes and commentary, makes his selections come alive. At 1 p.m. Ronnie Shumake teaches electric bass; at 2:30 p.m. Michael "Hawkeye" Herman teaches blues guitar. (For a timetable, see above.) For those who just want to soak in some blues, Rogue Valley blues musicians will be featured at Standing Stone Brewing Company and at the A Street Marketplace courtyard from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (For a timetable, see above.) Admission to the Third Annual Rogue Valley Blues Festival is: $45/weekend pass including workshops and blues jam; $22/Friday evening; $25/Saturday evening; $15/each workshop; $8/Blues jam. Tickets are available at the Music Coop in the A Street Marketplace. For more information, call St. Claire Productions, at 535-3562. For a complete schedule of events, check the website www.stclairevents.com and click on Rogue Valley Blues Festival. Where it's all happening: Friday - Guy Davis, 8 p.m., Ashland Unitarian Center, Fourth and C St. Saturday - Workshops at the Historic Ashland Armory and Ashland Community Center, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Music at Standing Stone and A Street Marketplace, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday night - Lester Chambers, KK Martin and Ronnie Shumake Trio, the Curtis Salgado Band, & Ellen Sheeley and the Blues Reunion Band, 7 p.m., Ashland Historic Armory, Oak and B St. Sunday - Blues Jam for all - hosted by the Roadmasters, 7 p.m., Ashland Community Center. LINKS: REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. DAILY TIDINGS: Main | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -