Status Active Location Cincinnati, Ohio Founded 1996 | Genre folk
folk-rock Founder Janet Pressley Country of origin United States of America | |
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Official website | ||
Blue Jordan Records is an independent record label in the Northside neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. It was spawned by the Blue Jordan Coffeehouse, which closed in 1996, the same year that Janet Pressley founded the label. The label is self-described as "a collective of artists based in the Cincinnati area who have pledged to share their resources and talents with one another and with the listening public." 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." In addition to releasing records the label has organized numerous acclaimed concert showcases and music festivals. Their 2008 series of house concerts is Living Room Shows.
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Artists
In addition to records by founder, Janet Pressley, Blue Jordan Records has released albums by Mike Helm, Katie Reider, David Wolfenberger, The Marshwiggles, The Mood Rings, Gwendolyn Speaks, Joshua Seurkamp and Wild Carrot. In May 2007 Blue Jordan added Cincinnati artists; Maurice Mattei, Liz Bowater and Sharon Udoh to their ranks. Brandon Dawson was added in March 2008.
Festivals and concert series
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), Over the Rhine (1999), the Cowboy Junkies, and Victoria Williams and the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers (2000). 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." 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."
The label has also held other events such as the Spring Songs Music Festival, and the Blue Jordan Records Christmas Show.
The label's 2008 house concert series, Living Room Shows, was named Best Intimate Concert Series in Cincinnati. The 2008 run will wrap up in December with a "Songwriters in the Round" Event.