I know TTB is (among others) the big news for MagFest this year, but be sure to note CeDell Davis. To be honest, I didn't know he was still alive let alone still touring or gigging. He is pushing 90 and one of the last original bluesmen. Due to a childhood hand deformity caused by polio, he began using a butter knife in order to continue playing slide guitar. He also uses a unique tuning on the guitar that I think he made up. In any event, between playing slide with the knife and the alternate tuning he has an inherent atonal sound to his playing. He plays very "out" by his very nature.

I saw him open for ARU in the early 90s at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. ARU ended up recording (uncredited) an album with him in the mid-90s as his backing band - it was called "The Best Of..." but it was newly recorded material and not a compilation of old recordings. I think it was recorded on Capricorn right before the label went under, and I'm not sure the rights to that one was ever bought out of bankruptcy, so that record may be a tough one to find.

Anyway, anyone going to MagFest should make sure to check CeDell out. There aren't very many of the originals still left playing.

I'm not sure the rights to that one was ever bought out of bankruptcy, so that record may be a tough one to find.

Not tough to find used though... good ol' Amazon.