3x GRAMMY® Award-nominated guitar superstar Joe Bonamassa and Sixthman, the leader in festivals and music cruises for more than a decade, have confirmed 12 more artists who will perform at Keeping the Blues Alive At Sea Mediterranean III, the third European voyage of Bonamassa’s world-famous floating blues-rock party at sea. Keeping the Blues Alive At Sea Mediterranean III sails August 17-22, 2023 from Athens, Greece to Dubrovnik, Croatia and Santorini, Greece aboard the luxurious Norwegian Jade.
Guests can book their cabins now at www.bluesaliveatseaeurope.com.
This 5-night music festival will feature two unique sets from Bonamassa along with dozens of electrifying live performances and once-in-a-lifetime collaborations by a spectacular lineup of hand-picked special guests that include Blackberry Smoke, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jimmy Vivino, Kirk Fletcher, as well as the 12 artists just added to this year’s Mediterranean cruise lineup – Ruthie Fletcher, King King, Vanessa Collier, Henrik Freischlader, Cardinal Black, Bywater Call, Johnny A, Eddie 9V, Dom Martin, The Cinelli Brothers, True Strays, and Alice Armstrong.
In addition to the non-stop music, guests will enjoy an array of unique activities and special programming geared towards the ultimate blues enthusiasts. Wine tastings, exclusive raffles, and opportunities to interact with Bonamassa and other artists onboard are just a few of the unique experiences guests can enjoy onboard. Sign up at www.bluesaliveatseaeurope.com to be the first to know when new artists and activities are announced.
Between the non-stop music and onboard events, the ship will dock at stunning ports in two of the most breathtaking cities in the world — Dubrovnik, Croatia, a medieval city adorned with cobblestone lanes that lead to world class restaurants with delicious cuisine, and Santorini, Greece, known for its iconic whitewashed architecture, steep cliffs, and stunning sea views. Shore excursions will be available to purchase until 4-6 weeks prior to sailing.
The spectacular Norwegian Jade will provide everything needed to make Keeping the Blues Alive At Sea Mediterranean III the most extraordinary cruise vacation yet, with fully stocked bars at (almost) every corner, tasty dining options, the Pool Deck (with multiple hot tubs), the Jade Club Casino, Mandara Spa, Body Waves Fitness Center, Sports Court, and much more.
Keeping the Blues Alive At Sea Mediterranean III will once again benefit the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation (KTBA), dedicated to providing students and teachers the resources and tools needed to further music education. Founded by Bonamassa in 2011, KTBA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to fuel the passion for music by funding programs and scholarships for students and teachers who possess the desire but lack the resources or access to achieve their potential within music education. Through generous corporate sponsorships by industry powerhouses Ernie Ball Strings, Guitar Center, J&R Adventures, and individual donors, KTBA has been able to offer weekly donations to music classrooms and merit-based scholarships all over the United States, reaching over 70,000 students in all 50 states through the funding of over 450 unique projects. In 2020, KTBA took its mission a step further by forming the Fueling Musicians Program, an emergency relief plan for touring musicians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing financial assistance for essential living expenses, the Fueling Musicians Program has helped over 300 struggling musicians with immediate cash payments of $1,500. KTBA plans to make the Fueling Musicians Program a permanent part of the organization to help musicians get on their feet and on the road. For more information, please visit keepingthebluesalive.org.
KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE AT SEA MEDITERRANEAN III
August 17-22, 2023
Sailing from Athens, Greece to Dubrovnik, Croatia and
Santorini, Greece aboard Norwegian Jade
LINE-UP
JOE BONAMASSA
BLACKBERRY SMOKE
CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM
RUTHIE FOSTER
KING KING
JIMMY VIVINO
KIRK FLETCHER
VANESSA COLLIER
HENRIK FREISCHLADER
CARDINAL BLACK
BYWATER CALL
JOHNNY A
EDDIE 9V
DOM MARTIN
THE CINELLI BROTHERS
TRUE STRAYS
ALICE ARMSTRONG
+ MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
ABOUT JOE BONAMASSA
One of today’s most celebrated performing musicians, Joe Bonamassa is a certified blues-rock titan, a 3x GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist whose acclaimed new album, Time Clocks (J&R Adventures), recently made history as his 25th #1 album on Billboard’s Blues Album chart.
Though still only in his early 40s, Bonamassa is already a living legend with an astounding multi-genre catalogue spanning over 40 albums to date, including studio and live recordings, collaborative albums with fellow blues sensation Beth Hart, and the adventurous side projects, Black Country Communion and Rock Candy Funk Party. The New York State native first captured the imagination of blues aficionados everywhere by opening for the great B.B. King at just 12 years old. Since then, Bonamassa has played alongside a who’s-who of blues and rock icons, including Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, John Lee Hooker, Warren Haynes, Steve Winwood, Peter Frampton, to name but a few. The winner of multiple Blues Music Awards – including the prestigious “B.B. King Entertainer of the Year” award – he has starred on the covers of such publications as Guitar World, Guitar Player, Vintage Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, and Classic Rock, with high profile features in Rolling Stone, Esquire, the Wall Street Journal, Parade, American Songwriter, and many more.
Hailed by Guitar World as “arguably the world’s biggest blues guitarist,” Bonamassa is known for his limitless work ethic and endless hunt to expand his eclectic musical horizons. Bonamassa and his manager, Roy Weisman, furthered their 30-year partnership in 2000 by founding J&R Adventures, a 360-degree independent record label, management, marketing, and concert promotion company that has survived and thrived during one of the music industry’s most uncertain eras. In 2020, Bonamassa and Weisman created Keeping the Blues Alive Records (KTBA), releasing acclaimed new albums by such artists as Dion, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Larry McCray, and others.
As noted, Bonamassa founded the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation in 2011 with a mission to promote and sustain music education and blues music by funding scholarships and providing music education resources to schools in need. KTBA awarded over $1M since its foundation, positively impacting more than 70,000 students across America.
For more information, please see jbonamassa.com.
ABOUT SIXTHMAN
Sixthman festivals tear down walls between artists and fans by creating community-inspired vacation experiences at resorts and at sea. Since 2001, Sixthman has set the stage for moments that make life rock, serving over 300,000 guests on over 150 unforgettable vacations on sand and at sea with their favorite artists, athletes, actors, comedians, and brands. These carefully curated, intimate events bring non-stop performances, artist collaborations, in-depth panels, Q&As, fan-artist activities, museums, and overall, truly immersive experiences that celebrate community and change expectations of what a vacation can be. Sixthman’s domestic homeport of Miami brings escapes for guests to dream destinations in the Virgin Islands, Belize, Honduras, Mexico, and The Bahamas. In 2019, Sixthman expanded its festivals at sea to Europe, sailing from Barcelona, Spain to exotic Mediterranean ports and then from Athens through the Greek Isles in 2022. In addition to festivals at sea, Sixthman has taken its innovative vacation concept to world-class, all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic and Mexico. In 2020, Sixthman Services was launched to support other event holders with a suite of on-site and virtual event management services and enhanced experiences. 2023 is poised to be a record year in terms of number of events and expansion into new verticals. LIVE LOUD with us at www.sixthman.net.