Hughesville, PA - FirstEnergy Berks Jazz Fest, Billtown Blues Festival, and Johnstown Folk Fest have developed a cooperative advertising program for the 2007- 2008 festival season titled "American Roots Music in Pennsylvania" through a Festival Grant Initiative from the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
   The second year of the festival grant requires that participating festivals find synergies amongst themselves. FirstEnergy Berks Jazz Fest, Billtown Blues Festival, and Johnstown Folk Fest have discovered their synergies under the "blues" events that they offer annually at their respective festivals. Bonnie Tallman, charter member of the Billtown Blues Association, explains that "each of the festivals is very different in style, presentation, and time of year. This is the first time area Pennsylvania festivals have come together, with blues as the common thread, to implement a co-op advertising program with the dual function of promoting the festivals and at the same time, Pennsylvania tourism."
   The cooperative advertising program will promote the festival in publications, websites, and e-newsletters such as Blues Revue, the Blues Festival Music Guide, Elmore, and Blues Festival E-Guide, and Blues.org.
   Berks Arts Council presents the FirstEnergy Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, March 16-28; The Johnstown Area Heritage Association presents the Johnstown Folk Fest in Johnston, on August 31-September 1. The Billtown Blues Association presents the 18th Annual Billtown Blues Festival, in Hughesville, Sunday June 10, with other Williamsport area events and attractions from June 8th thru the 10th.
   This is the second year for the commonwealth's Festival Initiative Grant, which provides marketing funds for 18 small to large festivals, including film, music, ethnic crafts, historic reunions, native and other cultural events, to promote tourism.
   Information about the Billtown Blues Association Inc., with historic and current information about the Billtown Blues Festival can be found at billtownblues.org. Specific information about the 18th Annual Billtown Blues Festival can be obtained by calling 570-584-4480.

CONTACT: Bonnie Tallman
Billtown Blues Association., Inc
Phone: 570-584-4480