The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band will close out the 29^th Mississippi Valley Blues Festival on Saturday July 6 on the Bandshell in Davenport's LeClaire Park.  Sponsored in part by Wieblers Harley-Davidson of Davenport, Shepherd's set will show why Guitar World named him the world's #3 blues guitarist?right after B. B. King and Eric Clapton.

Still barely in his 30s, the Louisiana-born axeman and songsmith has been selling millions of albums, throwing singles into the Top 10, shining a light on the rich blues of the past and forging ahead with his own modern twist on a classic sound he has embodied since his teens. He met Stevie Ray Vaughn at 7 and shared the stage with New Orleans legend Bryan Lee at 13.

From 1995 on, Shepherd took seven singles into the Top 10, and holds the record for the longest-running album on the Billboard Blues Charts with Trouble Is.   Shepherd has been nominated for five Grammy Awards, and has received two Billboard Music Awards, and two Blues Music Awards.

In 2007, he released a critically-acclaimed and two-time Grammy-nominated DVD-CD project, 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads. The film and album document Kenny Wayne Shepherd as he travels the country to jam with and interview the last of the authentic blues musicians, many of them now gone. As they tour the backroads, Shepherd, with members of the Double Trouble Band, play with a host of blues greats including Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, blues harp master Jerry "Boogie" McCain, Cootie Stark,  John Dee Holeman, Etta Baker, and Henry Townsend with Honeyboy Edwards.  There's also a concert session with the surviving members of Muddy Waters' and Howlin' Wolf's bands, including luminaries such as Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Pinetop Perkins.

"It's exciting to have such a name and talent as Kenny Wayne Shepherd at the BluesFest," said Bob Covemaker, co-chair of the committee that books acts for the festival.  "His energy is perfect for drawing in more young people, the future of the blues."

Kenny Wayne Shepherd is one of 27 acts on two stages at the Blues Festival, which begins at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday July 4 and runs through July 6.  Free workshops by festival artists are scheduled for all three days, and BlueSKool for the kids runs Friday and Saturday.

Discount advance tickets are available until June 30 from Hy-Vee stores in the Quad-Cities, Clinton, and Muscatine, by calling the Mississippi Valley Blues Society at 563-32-BLUES, or online at www.mvbs.org.  Gate admission is $20 per day, with children 14 and under free if accompanied by a paying adult.

Besides the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, this year's artists include, Mighty Sam McClain, Walter Trout, Southern Hospitality, John Primer (who will receive the RiverRoad Lifetime Achievement Award), C. J. Chenier, W. C. Clark, The 44s, Anthony Gomes, Samantha Fish, and Davina & the Vagabonds?among a total of 27 acts on two stages.

Also this year the festival will see the first-ever Mississippi Valley Blues Challenge.  Three bands from within a 175-mile radius of the Quad-Cities will compete in the final round on July 5, with the winner playing a full set on July 6 at the festival and representing the Mississippi Valley Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January 2014.

PELLA, (05/28/2013)(readMedia)-- The following local students graduated from Central College Saturday, May 11. The ceremony was held at H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse in Pella, Iowa. There were 348 graduates from 15 states and one foreign country.

Patricia Braun, of Davenport, graduated summa cum laude with a major in biology, Spanish and international studies-Latin American.

Erik Grunder, of Wilton, graduated with a major in social science.

Stephanie Hasken, of Davenport, graduated with a major in exercise science.

Nancy Huddleston, of Muscatine, graduated magna cum laude with a major in mathematics.

Emily Huegel, of Bettendorf, graduated magna cum laude with a major in elementary education.

Justine Jackovich, of Eldridge, graduated magna cum laude with a major in biology.

Maaike Mielenhausen, of Davenport, graduated magna cum laude with a major in elementary education.

Gregory Oldsen, of De Witt, graduated with a major in environmental studies.

Rachel Pashon, of Sterling, graduated with a major in business management.

Allison Redman, of Davenport, graduated magna cum laude with a major in elementary education.

Samantha Scheckel, of Long Grove, graduated cum laude with a major in art.

Shannon Skalla, of New Boston, graduated with a major in theatre.

Kelly Spavin, of Bettendorf, graduated summa cum laude with a major in English.

Kevin Templeton, of Muscatine, graduated magna cum laude with a major in music education-vocal.

Andrew Weaks, of Fulton, graduated cum laude with a major in accounting and actuarial science.

Treaver Willis, of Muscatine, graduated with a major in athletic training.

Central College is a residential liberal arts college dedicated to the education of 1,500 undergraduate students. Guided by its ecumenical Christian tradition, the college community engages in vigorous, free, open inquiry in pursuit of academic excellence. Founded in 1853, the college is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America and NCAA Division III athletics.

Central is a recognized leader in study abroad as a result of its international, residential programs. Central College is located in Pella, Iowa, a thriving community of 10,000 two minutes from the state's largest lake and 40 minutes southwest of Des Moines. Please visit the college website at www.central.edu.

Chicago, IL - Hurricane Gumbo will headline the 24^th annual Gumbo YaYa fest in downtown Rock Island, Illinois on Friday, June 7^th 2013 followed by an encore performance on Saturday, June 8^th.

Chicago's Hurricane Gumbo combines zydeco, rhythm & blues, jazz and funk to create some of the finest in Louisiana party music. Through an energetic mix of eclectic originals and cover material, the eight-piece group has performed together for more than 10 years at festivals and clubs throughout the Midwest, including the House of Blues in Chicago, Milwaukee's Summerfest, and the Taste of Chicago.

"We are very excited to once again be a part of this incredible fest!" says Bill Rosas, lead vocalist and keyboardist with HG. "Gumbo YaYa is one the best festivals in the country! It captures all the sights, sounds and atmosphere of New Orleans."

Please visit www.hurricanegumbo.com

For more information on all upcoming show dates.

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today issued a statement regarding the Illinois Senate Executive Committee's passage of House Bill 183, an alternative proposal that would keep local public safety ordinances across Illinois, such as Chicago's assault weapons ban, on the books:

"Senator Kwame Raoul's legislation provides a reasonable framework that would protect critical gun safety ordinances across Illinois.

"This bill would place reasonable limits and restrictions on guns in Illinois while protecting the important principle of home rule. We must ensure that Illinois municipalities can continue to take additional steps to ensure public safety for their residents.

"I thank Senator Raoul and Senate President John Cullerton for their hard work and commitment to public safety. I will continue working with them to pass this common-sense legislation."