September 26th and 27th 2008. Another great line up with artists from coast to coast including headliners Gaye Adegbalola on Friday and Candye Kane on Saturday. Gaye has toured nationally and internationally, and won numerous awards including the prestigious Blues Music Award (the Grammy of the blues industry). As of Summer 2008, Adegbalola has 12 CDs in national distribution, including 3 on her own label, Hot Toddy Music. This years festival is in for a double treat as Gaye will be bringing her History of Women in Blues from the 1920s to today. She shares video and/or audio clips from Bessie Smith to Billie Holiday, from Rosetta Tharpe to Big Mama Thornton, from Etta Baker to Etta James and others. She illuminates how the history of working class black women is documented in blues lyrics and after the screening and short intermission she will return with Roddy Barnes to bring down the house! Candye Kane may still be a well-kept mainstream secret but in most underground circles, her diva status is legendary. She has been making music professionally for over two decades and toured worldwide since 1992, performing for amazingly diverse audiences. She played at the French Embassy in Rome for the President of Italy, headlined the Rhythm Riot and belted it out alongside Ray Charles at the Cognac Blues Festival. She slayed em' at the Cannes Film Festival, kept them enthralled at New York Gay Pride and helped organize a thirteen city tour of the Netherlands for special needs kids. Also on this years line up we see the return of NY solo blues woman Sarah Lemiuex who's smoky, silky voice, and unique brand of "storytelling" blues and jazz are getting people hooked all over the world, from Quebecois radio shows to Australian podcasts and everywhere in between. Patty Benson who Alan Shuttro of Blues Wax said "she doesn't just sing the blues-she whispers, cries and even belts out the blues. Her vocals ring with confidence and emotion. She's sultry and bold as she spills out her lyrics on each and every song." New to this years stage is Peggy Ratusz and Big Road who recently played the semi-finals of the 2008 International Blues Challenge representing NC's own Piedmont Blues Preservation Society'. Our festival will open with the Regions Grandmother of Blues, Mrs Rose Lucas backed by her husband Charlie Lucas. This years festival takes place in two locations showcasing the areas diversity. Friday night will take place at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater and Saturday at one of the areas newest clubs The Cellar next to the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington. Tickets on sale through the web site. Saturday Jam in the afternoon is FREE and open to the public. Regular tickets are $20 per night ($25 at the gate/door) or $40 for a weekend pass. Those who want in on the reserved seating at both venues can become individual sponsors for $100 for the weekend (2 weekend passes , reserved seating and a bag of goodies) Both locations serve food and drink.