Listeners will hear more than 60 nominees and almost 30 nominee sets, many with one of a kind pairings. The event is expected to showcase these critically-acclaimed artists.

“I can think of no better location to host the Blues Music Awards than the undisputed birthplace of the Blues, right here in the Mississippi Delta,” Governor Barbour said. “The Delta location will provide an excellent opportunity for music fans that come from around the globe to explore the Birthplace of the Blues. The timing is particularly appropriate as more and more of the Mississippi Blues Trail markers are added, honoring the legends in blues music history.”
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The Blues Music Awards, an international event, will be held at the new Harrah’s Casino Tunica at the Event Center, which is a state-of-the-art, 2,500 seat venue.

“Tunica is the logical place to host this international event,” Webster Franklin, president and CEO of the Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau, said. “Not only is Tunica the entrance to America’s Blues Highway 61, it’s also the South’s Casino Capital, making it an entertaining destination for all visitors coming to this event.”

The event brings together Blues performers, industry representatives and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year. Each year, the Foundation presents The Blues Music Awards to the artists selected by its members. They are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists.

In addition, Blues fans can be assured that many additional events will be scheduled in the area on the weekend after the official Blues Foundation events. For example, the State of Mississippi has created a Blues Trail for blues enthusiasts to travel along the Mississippi Blues Trail, walk where they walked, dance where they danced, and experience the blues where they were born. Come on an unforgettable journey and follow the Mississippi Blues trail, from street corners where blues musicians played for tips to places they called home and event to their final resting places. Point your browser to www.msbluestrail.org and start planning your authentic experience now.

The Presenting Sponsor for the Blues Awards 2008 is The GIBSON Foundation. The Blues Music Awards are also sponsored by the State of Mississippi, Harrah’s Casino Tunica, the Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau, BMI, Casey Family Programs, Eagle Rock Entertainment, FedEx, and the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Located 30 minutes south of Memphis, Tunica is The South’s Casino Capital. Be Taken Away by the nine world-class casinos, 6,000 luxurious hotel rooms, fine dining restaurants and buffets, headline entertainers, championship golf and tennis, award-winning museums, lavish spas, and outlet/antique shopping. Come see why everyone is saying, “Take Me Away to Tunica!” Call 1-888-4TUNICA to request a value-packed Winner’s Guide, or visit www.TunicaMiss.com for travel information.
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Contact:|
Claire Pittman, Public Relations Manager
Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau
662-363-3800
888-488-6422
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Note To Editors: For a variety of photos of Tunica, please visit the Press Room of the Tunica website at www.TunicaMiss.com. Selections of recent high resolution photographs are available for all Tunica attractions. If you are unable to find the photo needed for your article, please contact Claire Pittman at the number listed above, and for more details about all the great attractions and facilities in Tunica, please see the official Tunica Press Kit.