BONNIE RAITT TO HEADLINE
2nd ANNUAL RUTH BROWN BLUES FESTIVAL
AT NTELOS WIRELESS PAVILION

Saturday, April 21 -- Portsmouth, VA
Bonnie Raitt will be the headline performer at the 2nd Annual RuthBrown Blues Festival at NTELOS Wireless Pavilion on Saturday, April 21. The concert officially starts the 2007 amphitheater season and marks Raitt's first appearance at the event, which is part of the Virginia Arts Festival. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Raitt is a nine-time Grammy Award winner who has released 18 highly acclaimed and commercial albums. The most recent, 2005's "Souls Alike" was praised by The New York Times for Raitt's "aching lyrical interpretations" while Portland's Oregonian said "On every tune, she radiated a warmth and elegance, a deep musical sentience, that few singers can match, be it blues, pop, soul or her own funky rock." The Souls Alike Tour began in October 2005, stretching for more than 18 months and has taken Raitt across the U.S. and Canada twice, to Europe and in April 2007 to Australia and New Zealand. Raitt was inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. She also appeared in the 2003 PBS documentary "The Blues" directed by Martin Scorsese. In 2006, Raitt was selected as the inaugural artist for VH1 Classic's "Decades Rock Live!" series, with guest appearances by friends Norah Jones, Ben Harper, Alison Krauss and Keb' Mo'.

Raitt's songs have consistently graced radio playlists since 1971, and her concerts continue to attract devoted fans and new listeners. In 2006, Raitt played 111 tour dates, including a stint opening for The Rolling Stones for three dates on the North American leg of their A Bigger Bang Tour.

Raitt deeply respected Ruth Brown, and had a long-standing professional and personal relationship with the musical legend and Original Queen of Rhythm & Blues. Ruth Brown along with the late, blues piano legend Charles Brown toured with Raitt in 1994, and madevery special guest appearances in Raitt's 1995 live concert film and double-CD, "Road Tested."

At Brown's funeral in Portsmouth last November, Raitt spoke on behalf of B.B. King and Etta James who could not attend. "It was as if every heartache and problem that Brown encountered in her life was there in every note she sang," Raitt said. The ladies met in the 80's, and Raitt praised how the pioneering Stateswoman of Rhythm & Blues served as a mentor who taught the younger generation about performance and resilience. Raitt is also a co-founder of The Rhythm & Blues Foundation, an organization which was created as a direct result of Brown's efforts to foster wider recognition and provide financial assistance to Rhythm and Blues musicians of anystature.

Jon Cleary, with a salty-sweet voice, masterful piano skills, and a knack for coupling infectious grooves with melodic hooks and sharp lyrics, will be the opening act. Cleary is also a member of Raitt's touring and recording band, and as a songwriter contributed two compositions to each of Raitt's two most recent studio albums. Starting in Portsmouth, Cleary will perform multiple dates with Raitt, capped by a performance with his own band The Absolute Monster Gentleman at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 29.

Limited premium Orchestra seats have been reserved to benefit The Ruth Brown Memorial Fund of Portsmouth. This entity, under the auspices of the Virginia Arts Festival Endowment, will honor the city's own Rhythm & Blues legend, Ruth Brown and her legacy in the Arts and greater community of Portsmouth. Funds will also be designated for the Virginia Arts Festival Endowment's community outreach programs that bring Portsmouth's at-risk youth to Festival performances.

Platinum Circle Orchestra-section benefit tickets are available for $250 and include aprivate, backstage, post-concert reception with Bonnie Raitt. Silver Circle Orchestra-section benefit tickets are priced at $125. Proceeds beyond the face value of each ticket will be tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law (a receipt will be issued by the Virginia Arts Festival Endowment.) The post-concert reception will be at NTELOS Wireless Pavilion, and includedessert and coffee (no alcohol will be served.) Tickets go on-sale to Virginia Arts Festival subscribers on Monday, Feb. 12 by calling 757.282.2822.

General public sales are available on Friday February 16 at 10am through all Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.pavilionconcerts.com or www.ticketmaster.com.To charge by phone call 757-671-8100. Orchestra tickets are $59, tickets in the Gold Circle are $49, and lawn tickets are $29, plus convenience charges.

For more information about Ruth Brown, please visit www.ruthbrown.net, for more information about Bonnie Raitt, please visit www.bonnieraitt.com, and for more information about Jon Cleary, please visit www.joncleary.com.