The Historic Masonic Theatre Presents Underground Blues Jam and Clifton Forge Blues Festival, January 24 and 25   Clifton Forge, VA (Jan. 14, 2020) - The Underground Blues Jam will take place on Friday night, January 24 at 7:30 pm in the Thomas P. Dean/Racey & Dean Inc. Underground Lounge of the Historic Masonic Theatre. Bobby ‘Blackhat’ Walters will headline with a few of special guests rotating in and out of the set. The Underground Lounge is known as a laid-back and intimate listening room, perfect for this high-energy, up-close and personal kick-off to Saturday’s Clifton Forge Blues Festival. On Saturday, January 25 beginning at 7:00pm, join headliner, The Bobby ‘Blackhat’ Walters Band and a line-up of award-winning blues musicians as they shake the walls of The Historic Masonic Theatre. Featured artists scheduled to join Bobby are blues groups from Richmond and Hampton Roads. The Blues Festival will take place in the John E Hillert Auditorium. Bobby "BlackHat" Walters (Robert Walters) is recording artist, harmonica player, vocalist, songwriter and actor from Cleveland, Ohio and has been playing harp for over 40 years. Bobby is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander with 27 years of distinguished service which included serving as Military Aide to the President and being awarded the Coast Guard Medal for Heroism. Bobby has had the honor of opening for Blues Legends B.B King, Taj Mahal, and Steady Rollin Bob Margolin and has performed with Kenny Neal, Jackie Scott, Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Jason Ricci, Eddie Shaw,  Ruthie Foster,  Slam Allen, Tas Cru,  Mick Kolassa, and Memphis Gold. In 2017, Bobby won the USAA/We Are The Mighty Mission: Music nationwide competition.  In 2016, the Bobby BlackHat Band advanced to the FINALS of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.  Bobby has won two Blewzzy Awards for "Song of the Year"  (I Hear Mama's Voice, 2012 and Please Mr. BlackHat, 2015).  He was also awarded two 2016 VEER Music Awards for "Best Blues" and "Song of the Year" (HRBT Blues). Underground Blues Jam Tickets are $30 per person (Limited Tickets) and Clifton Forge Blues Festival Main Event Tickets are Main Orchestra: $25; Rear Orchestra and Front Balcony: $20; Rear Balcony: $15; Box Seats: $35. Tickets may be purchased at the Theatre Box Office Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 3:00 or by calling 540 862 5655 and online at www.historicmasonictheatre.com. For more information about the Theatre’s 2020 season, please visit the Theatre website and Facebook page.

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