Helena, Arkansas, April 4, 2008: The Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival (formerly KBBF), recognized as one of the largest free blues festivals in North America announces the 2007 Emerging Artist Contest Winner. This past year over 150 bands and performers applied to participate in the contest. A local favorite of Moscow, Arsen Shomakhov, was selected by the Festival to take the stage and show the fans their version of blues. Mr. Shomakhov wowed the audience and our judges with his version of the Delta Blues that he took home to Russia the coveted bragging rights of being the 2007 Emerging Artist Top Performer and proved to us that you do not have to be from the Delta to sing or know about the blues, and renewed the fact that blues is a unique and universal language all its own.
The Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival is recognized for its continuing efforts to preserve the traditions of the Delta Blues. Launched in 1986 the King Biscuit Blues Festival attracts over 100,000 blues fans to the banks of the Mississippi River. The festival takes place in Historic Helena, Arkansas home to blues legends Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson, and at one time Muddy Waters.
The festival was started to preserve the traditions of the Delta blues. The organizers realized the best way to preserve these traditions was to ensure that they are passed on to a new generation of blues artist. Artist are selected to participate in the contest for several reasons, original music, blues traditions, and the festival organizers hope that while these new artist sit around backstage with blues legends they will learn first hand the history of the music.
As part of the winning package Mr. Shomakhov and his band will travel to Helena to perform at the 2008 Festival October 9-11, 2008 and play on the Sonny Boy Williamson Main Stage.
For additional information please contact: Rosie Swan Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival P.O. Box 118 Helena, Arkansas 72342 Festival Office 870-995-6569 Email: bluesandheritage@yahoo.com
