The PBPS honors its heritage with the addition of legendary Piedmont bluesman John Dee Holeman to the Festival line-up. Simply put, John Dee Holeman is one of the last surviving connections to the original Piedmont blues style that came to be in the drink houses and tobacco warehouses of North Carolina. At 76, John Dee still tours and records with Tim Duffy's Music Maker Relief Foundation troupe. A recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage fellowship and a North Carolina Folk Heritage award, John Dee is an American blues treasure. Learn more about him at www.musicmaker.org.

The Matt Hill Blues Band is the winner of the 2004 PBPS Talent Showcase. At 19, Matt Hill seemingly channels both Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf with his incredibly authentic slide guitar and vocals. He is without a doubt the oldest sounding young bluesman, and that is meant as a compliment. Matt is ably backed by Greensboro blues veterans Shiela Klinefelter (bass) Chuck Cotton (drums) and Terry VunCannon (guitar and lap steel). Check the band out at www.sonicbids.com/TheMattHillBluesBand.

Louisiana blues man Kenny Neal returns to the Carolina Blues Festival for the first time since his show-stopping performance at the Festival in 1995 (at Castle McCulloch). A true triple threat on guitar, harmonica and vocals, Kenny has a series of stellar releases on the Alligator and Telarc blues labels. His red-hot live performances range from gut-bucket blues to syncopated Louisiana Zydeco.  Learn more about him at www.kennyneal.net, www.alligator.com, and www.telarc.com,.

Internationally known for their rich three-part harmonies and unique mix of blues, soul and gospel, The Holmes Brothers are one of the top recording and touring groups around. They have been nominated for six W.C. Handy Awards this year, including Best Blues Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Blues Album of the Year for Simple Truths, their latest Alligator release. The Holmes Brothers have appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NPR's Weekend Edition and the CBS Saturday Early Show.  Learn more about them at www.alligator.com.

Making his first Carolina Blues Festival appearance is Michael Burks, considered to be one of the fastest rising blues stars. He is perhaps the most electrifying and dynamic blues performer since Luther Allison. An extremely accomplished guitarist, Burks' style is intense, but deeply rooted in the blues. His live shows are already the stuff of legend. Michael Burks is a three-time W.C. Handy Award nominee. Check him out at www.michaelburks.com, and www.alligator.com.