“Blues is the root, the blueprint of rock n roll, soul, hip hop, everything. It’s the sound of survival, of struggle, and of truth. Preserving it means keeping those stories alive. I think there are many roles that music plays in today's society; It brings people together from all around the world, brings laughter and joy and is a sturdy friend that you can always lean on.”…

“Music’s role in society is to bring people together through commonality/community, and the way to truly do that (in blues or any other genre), is to get back to basics and tell a solid, relatable story. I often introduce my guitar to the audience as a ‘life story machine,’ and it is. When those stories connect, it’s magic.”

Chris Vincent:…

“I wish people would listen to the lyrics as well as the music. I hope that is awakening now again in these difficult times and perhaps change our view of what is going on in the world, as well as here in the USA.”

Mary Ann Casale: Where I Belong…

"There are so many varieties of music today that I think there is something for everyone. I hope that people who listen to my records understand the importance of living the human experience. Life is short so embrace it all, the good and the bad. Without hard times, we can’t appreciate the good times, so I try to approach music with that same self-reflection and a little humor mixed in. Hopefully that concept is something the listener can connect with. I’ve…

"The balance between technique and soul is an important component of the blues. You have to have technique to execute the performance and you have to have soul for the music to be felt. So, in a strange way you only want to get so proficient on your instrument. Too much technique will take away from the music. Soul comes from experience and the more you have the more soulful your sound will be."…

“However, I prioritize soul – technique is only a tool for expressing emotions and feelings. I don't focus on correctness and consistency; I'm interested in developing and discovering new possibilities for the instrument as my means of expression.”

Krzysztof Toczko (pARTyzant):…

"Music and art are always moving. The artists who created the blues of the past lived very different lives from those today. It is truly mind blowing this awesome music that came out of such hard times, deprivation, struggle, racism, and so on. WOW. One of America's greatest art forms was created by people who were among most overlooked, oppressed, discriminated against and terrorized. I think blues music is so powerful in it's power to transcend,…

"A lot of songs can be inspired by social or current events. I want music to be something that takes the listener back to a familiar place or person, when they hear that song or music again."

Rafe Klein: Cool (Rock n’) Blue(s) Shoes 

Veteran rock ‘n’ rollers with the blues in their hearts, The Name Droppers, have toured the world…

“I don't think it's worthwhile to dwell on the past; any fear I have for the future of music would be the same as my fear for the future of the whole world. As long as there are people who have the chance, there will be music.”

Alex Blum: Good Weather for The Blues…

“Take your time - Taste and Space - When in doubt leave it out- less is more - only write and sing about what you know about and never play a note you don’t believe.“

Doug MacLeod: Depositary of Roots Blues

The outstanding, multi-­Blues Music Award winner Doug…

“Technique is building muscle memory so you can execute your ideas clearly. All those hours of practice are done to allow the emotional component of your playing to come through effortlessly and, more importantly, fearlessly.”

Greg Douglass: Guitarist For The Stars!…

"It is about having your health. Feeling good and your body working well enough to make music. Music is very physical, takes a lot to play and instrument and sing. Life can be a struggle and people use drugs, liquor and bad relationships to cope. That stuff just breaks you down and you can't go on. Your music and voice is not as good if you do not take care of yourself."

Brad "Guitar"…

“Theres a brotherhood in the blues that reaches around the world. Its a language that we all speak, some places have a different take on it. Seeing how far it has reached, attention and detail it gets. I like being able to speak this language and share this with people.”

Jon Hines: Memphis Sun, Maple Blues…

"The blues speaks to pain, loss, hope and love, universal experiences that anyone can relate to. It can be structurally simple but musically and emotionally complex."…

"I think the most important thing in life is to be happy. That does not only apply for the life as a musician. I would think this applies to life in general. I think that all “black” music is about to “have a good time”. It doesn’t matter if it is afrobeat, soul, samba, salsa, reggae, funk or blues. Most of them celebrate joy and happiness. I think this is quite different to European music or classical music."…

"The blues has always been a social commentary and will continue to be in the future. It’s always talked about the human condition and the life of the average person. This confirms we’re all just people struggling to survive."

Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues

Brandon Isaak, the Whitehorse-born…

“I think music has a bigger impact, from my point of view, more commercially than culturally. For example, jazz, blues, tango, classical, and regional music enthusiasts are immensely small compared to the consumers of today's popular music. Art enriches human beings; that's its main mission.”

Max Hoeffner: The Art of the Blues…

Dave Specter: Blues … at Space!

Blues guitarist, bandleader and producer Dave Specter has earned an international reputation as one of the premier talents on the Chicago blues scene. Since 1985 Specter has performed regularly at top Chicago blues and jazz clubs in addition to festivals and concert halls throughout the USA. Since 1989 Dave has toured internationally with performances in Argentina,…

"Lafcadio Hearn’s legacy in terms of race and social consciousness is demonstrating the need for tolerance of people of different races, nations and religions. And not just to tolerate them, but to learn about them and get to know them as fellow human beings. He also displayed the importance of helping those in need."

Steve Kemme: Lafcadio Hearn's Open Mind…

"What I miss the most is real music record stores...real radio too. The whole industry today is pretty awful...everything is too overexposed and there is no myth or legend about bands anymore. Back in the day, the only way you could see the band was if they had a picture on the record or if you went to a show or saw them in a fan magazine or on a tv show like Ed Sullivan."

Mike Onesko: Musical Dreams…