Date: May 20th 2010

(HENDERSON, Ky.) May 19, 2010 – The Henderson Music Preservation Society is proud to present the 20th Annual W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival during the week of June 12-19 in downtown Henderson, Ky. Over 20 blues performances are scheduled during a weeklong celebration that includes a Street Strut Peoples Parade, The Taste of Henderson Barbecue, Zydeco Night with Red Beans and Rice, and other events. As part of one of the largest free music festivals in the country, Handy events are all offered free of admission.

Schedule of Festival Events:

SATURDAY, JUNE 12 – TASTE OF HENDERSON BARBECUE Location: Central Park, Downtown Henderson, Ky. 11 a.m. until sold out - Beginning as early as 9 a.m., local barbecue teams will be cooking up mouth-watering barbecue of mutton, chicken, pork and ribs for sale to attendees. 10 a.m. - The William Branaman Street Strut People's Parade with music by Bob Minnette and The Dixieland Society. Parade forms around 9:30 at Central Park on Elm Street. 10 a.m. - "Gardens That Swing III" Garden Tour - sponsored by The Garden Club of Henderson. There are eleven stops on the tour this year, many within walking distance of Central Park 11:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Live music. Artists scheduled to perform are Bob Minnette and the Dixieland Society, Blues4U, Velveeta Jones and Albert Castiglia. Free Admission.

MONDAY-THURSDAY, JUNE 14-17 – HANDY LUNCH BREAKS Location: Local Henderson eateries
11:45 a.m. - Enjoy live music as you dine in one of Henderson’s many local restaurants. From coffee houses to steakhouses, you’ll find a match up of food and music to delight your tastebuds and your ears. See www.handyblues.org for a full listing of Handy Lunch Breaks schedules. Free admission.

MONDAY-SATURDAY – W.C. HANDY TENNIS TOURNAMENT Location: Water Street Courts, Downtown Henderson Singles, Men's and Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Sign up on Water Street Courts bulletin board; deadline is Friday, June 11th at 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16 – RED, WHITE & BLUES NIGHT Location: Audubon Mill Park, Downtown Henderson, Ky. Riverfront 4:30 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. - The main music portion of the festival begins on the downtown Henderson riverfront. Fabulous view of the Ohio River, cool breezes, plenty of shade and some of the best blues musicians you will ever have the opportunity to hear. Scheduled performers include the evening's headliner Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, as well as Shirley Johnson, Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm and Alias Jones. Free admission. Children’s Fun Zone (with purchase of Fun Zone wristband) and Concessions also available. 6 p.m. - Children’s Celebration - Hands-on art activities. Location: Children’s Art Area in Audubon Mill Park. Sponsored by Methodist Hospital, Henderson Area Arts Alliance and Junior Women’s League.

THURSDAY, JUNE 17 – ZYDECO NIGHT WITH RED BEANS & RICE Location: Audubon Mill Park, Downtown Henderson, Ky. Riverfront *except where noted 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Children’s Art Camp & Umbrella Workshop. For ages K-5th grade, featuring umbrella decorating, Street Strut workshop and other art activities. Location: J.F. Kennedy Center, Alvasia & Vine Streets 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - The Handy Committee will be serving up red beans & rice, andouille sausage, gator on a stick and other Cajun food. Scheduled performers include festival favorite Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble and Doug MacLeod. Come early for the food and stay late for high energy zydeco music. Free admission. Children’s Fun Zone (with purchase of Fun Zone wristband) available.

FRIDAY, JUNE 18 – RIVERBANK BLUES BLAST Location: Audubon Mill Park, Downtown Henderson, Ky. Riverfront *except where noted Noon - Concession sales begin
Noon to Midnight - All-day music in a beautiful venue, featuring Tab Benoit, Kenny Neal, Albert Castiglia, The Stella Vees, Bryant-Stevens Band and Hog Maw Blues Band. Free admission. Children’s Fun Zone (with purchase of Fun Zone wristband) available. 3 p.m. - Doug MacLeod guitar workshop at Riverbend Academy (145 N. Main Street)

SATURDAY, JUNE 19 – JAVA BLUES JAM Location: Audubon Mill Park, Downtown Henderson, Ky. Riverfront Noon - Concession sales begin
Noon to Midnight - All day music in a shady park overlooking the Ohio River, featuring festival headliner and Blues Music Award “Album of the Year” winner Joe Louis Walker, Shemekia Copeland, Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Otis Taylor Band, Kilborn Alley Blues Band and Doug MacLeod. Free admission. Children’s Fun Zone (with purchase of Fun Zone wristband) available.

For more information, go to www.handyblues.org.

About the Henderson Music Preservation Society: Founded to support the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival in 1991, The Henderson Music Preservation Society, Inc. is tax-exempt, non-profit organization. The society, generous corporate and individual sponsors, as well as volunteers, help keep the W.C. Handy Blue & Barbecue Festival free and open to everyone.

About the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival: Now in its 20th year, the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival began in 1991 and has become one of the largest free music festivals in the nation, drawing over 30,000 attendants from almost every state and many countries. The festival was recently recognized by the Kentucky Main Street Program as the number one outdoor festival in Kentucky and was voted "One of the Top Ten Festivals" in the Commonwealth by the Kentucky Tourist Commission, as well as being recognized as a “Top 20 Event” by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2009. The event is a celebration of the life and legacy of Henderson resident and "Father of the Blues," William Christopher Handy. For complete festival information, go to www.handyblues.org.

Follow the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/HandyBluesCrew
www.facebook.com/handyblues

For public relations inquiries, please contact:

Christi G. Dixon, Promotions Chairman
W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival cdixon@handyblues.org

Mollie Durbin, Publicist
Blue Heaven Design, LLC
mollie@blueheavendesign.com