Blue Jordan Records
Founded1996 (1996)
FounderJanet Pressley
GenreFolk, folk-rock
Country of originU.S.
LocationCincinnati, Ohio

Blue Jordan Records is an independent record label founded by Janet Pressley in Cincinnati, Ohio.[1] In addition to releasing records the label has organized concerts and music festivals.

The Cincinnati Post said, "Blue Jordan is as much a state of mind as a record label" and described its origins, "When the coffeehouse folded the musicians who played and sang there simply stuck together and have been releasing CDs and making music ever since."[2]

Festivals and concert series

Logo for the Blue Jordan Fall Music Festival 2000

The label has organized a number of shows and music festivals over the years, notably the Blue Jordan Fall Music Festival at the Heritage Village of Sharon Woods Park in Sharonville, Ohio. The festival ran 1998–2000. Headliners included acts like Carrie Newcomer (1998),[3][4][5] Over the Rhine (1999),[6] the Cowboy Junkies, and Victoria Williams and the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers (2000).[7] At its peak the festival included a diverse mix of two dozen local and national artists providing 10 hours of music on three stages and was described as "Cincinnati's premiere music event of the fall."[7][8] All the Fall Music Festivals took place at the historic 19th-century open-air museum; Heritage Village Museum in Sharon Woods Park and funds raised by the events went to the restoration, upkeep and historical interpretation of the village. The charm added by the location was noted in the Chicago-based webzine Phantom Tollbooth, "After experiencing a folk festival in this atmosphere (and only shelling out $15), how could one go back to an auditorium? The event is well worth the drive from Detroit, Chicago or your hometown."[9]

The label has also held other events such as the Spring Songs Music Festival,[10] and the Blue Jordan Records Christmas Show.[11]

The label's 2008 house concert series, Living Room Shows, was named Best Intimate Concert Series in Cincinnati.[12] The 2008 run will wrap up in December with a "Songwriters in the Round" Event.[13]

Releases

References

  1. ^ Bird, Rick, "Celebrating the Troubadour Tradition: A Decade of Music from Blue Jordan", The Cincinnati Post, August 17, 2006
  2. ^ Bird, Rick, "Blue Jordan Gathering Features Old, New", The Cincinnati Post, May 10, 2007
  3. ^ Breen, Mike, "Spill It", CityBeat, 445, Oct. 1, 1998
  4. ^ Winteritz, Felix, "Fall Folk Festival Sets Stage for Music-filled Week in Cincy", Dayton Daily News, October 2, 1998
  5. ^ Bird, Rick, "Fall Folk Festival '98 Folkathon in the Park", The Cincinnati Post, October 1, 1998
  6. ^ "Get To It: A guide to help make your day", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Sept 16, 1999
  7. ^ a b Breen, Mike, "Spill It: Blue Jordan Fest" Archived March 14, 2005, at the Wayback Machine, CityBeat, 6:35, July 14–20, 2000
  8. ^ Bird, Rick, "Blue Jordan Throws a Party", The Cincinnati Post, September 14, 2000
  9. ^ Walker, Jessica Aguilar, The Third Annual Blue Jordan Music Festival, Phantom Tollbooth, September 29, 2000, http://www.tollbooth.org/2000/creviews/bluejordan.html
  10. ^ "Get To It: A guide to help make your day", The Cincinnati Enquirer, April 25, 2001
  11. ^ "Get To It: A guide to help make your day", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Dec 17, 1999
  12. ^ Best of Cincinnati 2008 Archived June 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, (survey by CityBeat)
  13. ^ "Come See Blue Jordan", Blue Jordan Records web site
  14. ^ Baker, Brian, Singer/songwriter Gleans Gold from Kenwood Towne Centre, CityBeat, October 22, 2008 [1] Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Weber, Alex L., Blue Jordan Turns 13 In Style, CityBeat, June 16, 2009 [2]
  16. ^ Breen, Mike, Local CD Review: The Tempers' 'Mauled' , CityBeat, May 19, 2009 [3]
  17. ^ Breen, Mike, It's Raining New Album Releases, CityBeat, December 8, 2009 [4] Archived 2011-06-13 at the Wayback Machine