New Music Festival Package Provides Cure for Winter Blues

COEUR D'ALENE, ID, December 7, 2006 -- The ideal escape from those inevitable winter blues is a weekend visit to The Coeur d'Alene Resort Winter Blues Festival, February 16-18 at the award-winning Coeur d'Alene Resort on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

The preeminent blues artists in the Northwest are to be showcased at the inaugural event, including Portland's Lloyd Jones Struggle and "Blueswoman of the Year" Nicole Fournier (& Her 3 lb. Universe). The lineup features twelve bands playing the blues for some 15 rockin' hours over the three evenings.

The musical presentation is conveniently distributed around four intimate music venues inside The Resort - including two stages inside the newly remodeled Conference Center - as well as an inviting Blues Cruise on the lake Friday after dark.

The 9th Annual mARTi Gras Benefit and Cajun Cook-off in downtown Coeur d'Alene on Saturday night and an incredible Gospel Brunch in Dockside on Sunday morning are sure to offer some of the best southern cooking this side of the Mississippi. For family fun, there will be a Kid's Carnival from 10am to 3pm on Saturday at the Resort Plaza Shops with ten ongoing art workshops and entertainment on stage.

Guests can take advantage of the special Winter Blues Festival Package, which includes accommodations and access to all the music venues for the weekend. Packages start at $289 per night.

About the featured artists:

• The Fat Tones: awarded the "Best Blues Band" by the Inland Empire Blues Society for 2005.
• Nichole Fournier & Her 3-lb. Universe: guitarist, singer-songwriter named "Blueswoman of the Year" in the Northwest.
• Randy Oxford: popular trombonist is blues-based, but now branches out to R&B and funk.
• Too Slim and the Tail Draggers: with Tim "Too Slim" Langford on guitar, meld a fresh, modern, dirty-rock sound into original blues.
• Lloyd Jones Struggle: one of the most original artists on the modern-day blues scene, fuses of funk, blues and R&B into a Memphis groove.
• Doghouse Boyz: one of the premier duos of pure blues.

The Coeur d'Alene Resort Winter Blues Festival Schedule

Friday, February 16, 2007
6:00 p.m. - Paul deLay's Blues Cocktail Cruise (on the lake)
8:00 p.m. - Black & Warhol (Whispers)
8:00 p.m. - Buddy Vaughn (Beverly's)
9:00 p.m. - Cool Stack (Shore Lounge)

Saturday, February 17, 2007
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Kid's Carnival (Resort Plaza Shops)
6:00 p.m. - 9th Annual mARTi Gras Benefit & Cajun Cook-Off (Resort Plaza Shops, Brix, Cricket's, The Ironhorse & Barrel Room No. 6)
7:00 p.m. - The Fat Tones (Conference Center)
8:00 p.m. - Black & Warhol (Whispers)
8:00 p.m. - Buddy Vaughn (Beverly's)
8:15 p.m. - Nichole Fournier & Her 3 lb. Universe (Conference Center)
9:00 p.m. - Cool Stack (Shore Lounge)
9:30 p.m. - Randy Oxford (Conference Center)
10:45 p.m. - Too Slim & The Tail Draggers (Conference Center)
12:00 a.m. - Lloyd Jones Struggle (Conference Center)
Daily Tickets $35

Sunday, February 18, 2007
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Gospel Brunch (Dockside)
8:00 p.m. - Doghouse Boyz(Whispers)
8:00 p.m. - Buddy Vaughn (Beverly's)
9:00 p.m. - Cool Stack (Shore Lounge)
Daily Tickets $10

(Schedule and artists are subject to change)

Tickets

Weekend Resort Pass for Friday, Saturday & Sunday: *$35
Saturday Resort Pass: *$35
mARTi Gras Pass on Saturday night: *$45 in advance (*$50 at the door - Plaza Shops)
Full Access Weekend Pass for Resort venues and mARTi Gras: *$70
Blues Cocktail Cruise Tickets for Friday Evening (does not include beverages): *$20
Gospel Brunch at Dockside Restaurant on Sunday (by reservations only): *$23.95

* All pricing listed above are per person.

More information on The Coeur d'Alene Resort's Winter Blues Festival Room & Entertainment Packages

For accommodation package information call 1-800-688-5253. All other information, please call 208-765-2300 ext. 21