Can't Stop The Blues Athon image

Can’t Stop The Blues

The blues world has come together to support Can’t Stop The Blues, a not-for-profit virtual blues venue that began in the first days of the COVID-19 crisis and has evolved to become the largest ongoing virtual venue for blues performances in the world.

In a two-part series, over 50 artists will be participating in a fundraiser to keep CSTB operational, as a one-of-a-kind platform that brings exclusive blues performances to the world. (During regular broadcasting, 100% of all proceeds go directly to the musicians.)

“I hated to ask the artists to donate their time,” says Karen Gottheimer, founder of Can’t Stop the Blues, “but we’ve found that certain key positions just aren’t sustainable in an all-volunteer organization, and we have to hire freelancers to keep the shows going on.” “I’ve been overwhelmed by the response from the musicians- their generosity and support has been incredible.”

In addition to musicians, the fans will be cameoed in the broadcast as well. “We’ve asked viewers to send in pictures of themselves enjoying the blues,” Gotthiemer says. “They are as big a part of CSTB as the artists are, and we want to feature them too!”

Can’t Stop the Blues currently features two blues artists per night, four nights per week: Thurs-Sun at 9:00 pm eastern on their Facebook page and group. While free to watch, fans are encouraged to tip the artists directly. “For many artists, this is the only gig they are able to do right now. Every dollar contributed is vital to them,” states Gottheimer. Even as venues begin to re-open, with capacity restrictions and health fears, it’s going to be a long time before life gets back to normal for musicians. “We want to be here for them, and we want to be here to bring blues music to the world as well.”

During shows, which are pre-recorded and broadcast in a live format, artists are participating in the real-time comment stream, interacting with the fans during the shows. “We’ve developed quite the social community. We typically have hundreds to thousands of comments during each broadcast. Viewers greet each other, comment on the music, talk to the performers, laugh, joke and dance. It’s about as close as we can come to all reaching out and holding hands right now, and many of our fans tell us they don’t know how they would have gotten through all of these months without the CSTB family.” “We see plenty of artists coming in as well, to greet each other and watch each other perform.”

“We are hoping to become self-sustaining in the next 6 months”, Gottheimer explains. “We are working with Penn State Erie and their affiliated colleges, as well as University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on multiple projects, including becoming a 501c3 and obtaining grants and sponsorships. We are still in the process of prioritizing all of the things we’d like to do, but our main goal is supporting professional blues artists however we can, while growing our community of blues lovers.”

Participating artists include: AG Weinburger, Aki Kumar, Alabama Mike, Alexis P Suter, Alex Lopez, Ally Venable, Annika Chambers and Paul DesLauriers, Ben Rice, Billy Price, Bobby Blackmon, Bob Margolin, Chris Cain, Diana Rein, Doug Macleod, Dudley Taft, Eliza Neals, Eric Johanson, Erin Coburn, Fred Hostetler, Grace Kuch, Greg Rhan, The High Note Group, Jake Thistle, Kid Anderson, Janiva Magness, John Blues Boyd, Johnny Burgin, Johnny Sansone, Jon Shain, Katie Knipp, Kelly’s Lot, Lakota John, Larry Mitchell, Lisa Leuschner Anderson, Lisa Mann, Lucky Losers, Marco Cinelli, Meg Williams, Mighty Mike Schermer, Mike Dangeroux, Mr. Sipp, Mitch Woods, Nancy Wright, Nick Moss, Odds Lane, Professor Louie & the Crowmatix, Red’s Blues, Six String Andrew, Sonny Green, Terrie Odabi, Texas Slim, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Val Starr, Veronica Lewis

You can contribute to Can’t Stop the Blues via:

gofundme.com/f/axane5-can039t-stop-the-blues
paypal.me/CantStopTheBlues
Bravo: CantStopTheBlues