BLUES AND ROOTS ARTISTS SET FOR BLUESFEST ’09 ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 4TH AT ZUFFY’S PLACE TO BENEFIT SECOND WIND CANCER RETREAT IN NORTH GEORGIA

SILENT AUCTION FEATURES MULTI-STAR AUTOGRAPHED FENDER STRATOCASTER GUITAR AND OTHER COLLECTIBLES

ATLANTA, GA – Blues and roots musicians throughout Georgia are coming together once again to perform at BluesFest ’09 on Sunday, October 4th at Zuffy’s Place in Atlanta to benefit the Second Wind Cancer Retreat in North Georgia, which offers a haven where cancer patients and their caregivers can relax, recharge and gain new strength and momentum. Artists already confirmed to perform at this year’s event include Liz Brown, Nick Edelstein, Men in Blues, the Joe Pitts Band and Yonrico Scott. A number of surprise special guests are also expected to join in the music that day, which will start at 3:00 PM and continue until 8:00 PM. Doors open at 2:00 PM for BluesFest ’09, with a donation of $15.00 being asked of those who attend. All proceeds go to help support the Second Wind Cancer Retreat. Zuffy’s Place is a family-friendly restaurant and lounge, so children are welcome for the event.

Last year’s event at Blind Willie’s was a huge success and enabled the Second Wind Cancer Retreat to finish the remaining work and open the new house which was constructed specifically to handle cancer patients and enable them to help heal their minds and bodies in a beautiful 17-acre setting outside of Blue Ridge, Georgia. At the retreat, patients can relax amid the splendor of beautiful rolling hills, enjoy the tranquil meadows with horses grazing nearby, fish in a trophy-size trout pond or walk the friendly trails. All proceeds from BluesFest ’09 will go towards the maintenance and upkeep of the facility.

In addition to the music, a silent auction will once again be held during the benefit to raise additional funds. The highlight of the auction will be a customized Fender Stratocaster Guitar autographed by such music stars as Sheryl Crow, Jay Geils, Jimmie Vaughan, Duke Robillard, Tinsley Ellis and Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd fame, among many others. A number of additional autographed collectibles, travel and vacation items, and other merchandise will be open for silent bidding throughout the event.

BluesFest ’09 will open at 3:00 PM with singer/guitarist Liz Brown, whose Delta blues style has been compared to the likes of Bonnie Raitt and Rory Block, followed by the high-energy blues of Nick Edelstein. Men in Blues, who performed at last year’s event, are up next giving the crowd a heaping-helping of Chicago blues. Rising star Joe Pitts and his band will follow with a guitar-charged set of blues; and closing out the show will be drummer Yonrico Scott, who also performed at last year’s show. Scott is a legendary Atlanta musician who currently plays in the band of slide guitar wizard (and Allman Brothers Band member) Derek Trucks. A number of local and national musicians are expected to sit in with Scott during the final set of the event, with some major jamming expected.

Zuffy’s Place is located at 1860 Corporate Boulevard, NE (just off Buford Highway), Atlanta, Georgia, 30329. The phone number is (404) 343-1171.

About Second Wind Cancer Retreat: Second Wind Cancer Retreat for cancer patients and survivors is an IRS-approved 501(C) (3) non-profit charity located in the North Georgia mountains.