B. B. King Blues Club and Grill Hosts Patti LaBelle et al, 5/31-6/6

The B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, located at 237 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues), will be hosting several events during the week of May 31 to June 6. Tickets may be purchased via Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000) or at the B.B. King's Box Office from 10:30am - Midnight (there is $2 per ticket service charge).

On May 31 at 11am, B.B. King's will feature the Hudson Institute Film Festival.  Tickets will be $15.  After a review of dozens of worthy films that came out in the past year, the Hudson Institute's selection committee has chosen three documentary films to showcase at the first annual Hudson Institute Film Festival. These films highlight the Iranian nuclear threat, the battle of Fallujah, and anti-Semitism at American universities. The film directors will attend the screenings and engage in a Q & A session after each film.  Hudson Institute is a nonpartisan policy research organization dedicated to research and analysis that promotes global security, prosperity, and freedom.

On May 31 at 8pm, B.B. King's will host A Birthday Tribute to Bob Dylan with Highway 61 Revisited, featuring violinist Scarlet Rivera, bassist Rob Stoner, and drummer Winston Watson.  Tickets will be $25.  Highway 61 Revisited recreates Bob Dylan's greatest music and stage shows, featuring the songs that made Bob Dylan a cultural icon and legend ("Knockin' on Heaven's Door," "Like A Rolling Stone," "Hurricane," "Tangled Up in Blue" and "All Along the Watchtower") as well as new hits like "Things Have Changed." For this performance, Highway 61 Revisited will especially feature songs from the 1975-1976 Bob Dylan Rolling Thunder Revue tour, including "Isis", "One More Cup of Coffee," "Joey," and many more.

On June 1 at 8pm, B.B. King's will feature 'The Music of Crazy Heart- The Songs of Bad Blake'.  Tickets will be $25 in advance and $30 at the door.  The music will be performed by a live band.

On June 2 at 8pm, B.B. King's will feature Toots and the Maytals, with the Fear Nuttin Band as an opening act.  Tickets will be $29.50 in advance and $35 at the door.  Toots is one of the true architects of reggae - so much so that "Do the Reggay," a 1968 single by Toots and his group, the Maytals, is credited with giving the genre its name. Classic songs written and recorded by Toots and the Maytals have been covered by the likes of the Clash and the Specials, and the group was featured in reggae's greatest breakthrough event - the 1972 film "The Harder They Come".

On June 3 at 8pm, B.B. King's will hold a Tenth Anniversary Celebration Show featuring Patti LaBelle.  Tickets will be $150.  LaBelle is known for her versitility, belting out classic rhythm and blues renditions, pop standards and spiritual sonnets. She received acclaim and a mainstream breakthrough with her 1974 song "Lady Marmalade". She went on to have a solo recording career, earning another U.S. #1 single in 1986 with "On My Own," a duet with Michael McDonald. She is renowned for her passionate stage performances, wide vocal range and distinctive high-octave belting. Her biography, Don't Block the Blessings, remained at the top of the The New York Times best-seller list for severAl Weeks.

On June 4 at 11pm, B.B. King's will feature Los Autenticos Decadentes from Argentina.  Tickets will be $28 in advance and $32 at the door. Los Auténticos Decadentes (Spanish for "The Authentic Decadents") is an Argentine band that mixes ska with Latin American rhythms. The band was formed around the year 1986 by Cucho and Nito, who invited Gastón to join them. Their first hit was "Veni Raquel", which set the tone for the irreverence of their later lyrics. Many of their songs are anthems of  Argentine nightlife, such as "Corazón", "Loco (Tu Forma de Ser)", "Entrega el Marrón", or "El Murguero". For some of their  songs and videos, the Decandentes have engaged Argentine icons such as notorious soccer referee Guillermo Nimo and the candombe singer Alberto Castillo. As they draw from traditions such as canzonetta, murga bands and cantina songs, they are popular with many generations.

On June 5 at 8pm, B.B. King's will feature an album release show by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.  Tickets will be $36.50 in advance and $40 at the door. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are pleased  to announce the release of their new CD, "pills and ammo," which will be played in its entirety at B.B. King's. This new CD has a guitar-oriented rock and roll feel to it. Southside has written all the songs on "Pills & Ammo" in collaboration with Jukes keyboard player, Jeff Kazee.  Titles like "Lead Me On," "Heartbreak City" and "You Can't Bury Me" contain some of the more acidic lyrics, while "Thank You" and "Place Where I Can't Be Found" are more emotional.

On June 6 at 8pm, B.B. King's will feature The Foreign Exchange.  Tickets will be $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  Consisting of singer/songwriter Phonte and producer Nicolay, The Foreign Exchange came together via the online hip-hop community Okayplayer.com in 2002. After trading files through Instant Messenger for over a year, Nicolay and Phonte completed their debut album before they ever met each other in person. The album, "Connected," was released in 2004 to positive reviews. The performance will also feature Yahzarah, Darien Brockington, Zo! and a live band with special guests YahZarah as Purple Saint James, Jesse Boykins III, and DJ Brainchild (of GG Radio).

B.B. King's is a full-scale restaurant; the menu is American Continental with a Southern flair. There is also a full bar with all premier liquors and domestic and international cold beer. A full menu is served at all concerts. A $10 food and/or beverage minimum is standard for table seating during shows.  B.B. King's features a Beatles Brunch every Saturday and a Gospel Brunch every Sunday.

Unless otherwise noted, all shows are suitable for all ages and offer general admission seating. Seating for all shows is first come, first seated; B.B. King's does not take advance table reservations, except where noted as a condition of a VIP ticket. Standing room for all shows is available at the bar.

In addition to the events described here, B.B. King's will be hosting additional events the week of May 31 to June 6 and many events throughout the year.  For further show information and directions to the venue visit www.bbkingblues.com or call 212-997-4144.

All events are subject to change.