PHOTO PROVIDED Friends of the Brothers and Allman Brothers Band historian and author Alan Paul will be at the 2023 Billtown Blues Festival at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville.

Through its 33 year history the Billtown Blues Festival has presented over 350 bands including legends Luther Allison, Levon Helm, Pinetop Perkins, BB King’s daughter and Muddy Waters’ son. Early Chicago blues legends and early Chess recording artists Jimmy Rogers, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Eddie Shaw, Hubert Sumlin have graced the event’s stage. This year, the festival presents author/musician Alan Paul, the official historian of the Allman Brothers and New York Times best-selling author.

“Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan” and “One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band,” Paul’s last two books have been instant New York Times best sellers. According to a news release from the Billtown Blues Festival, Texas Flood is being developed for both a documentary and feature film. Both books will be available for purchase and signing at the Festival on June 9.

Paul’s next release, “Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the 70’s,” will begin his next book signing tour and will kick off July 25. “Brothers and Sisters” celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Allman Brothers best-selling album with over 7 million copies sold. Visit http://alanpaul.net/appearances/ for a book signing close to you.

Paul is also the founder of Friends of the Brothers, where he serves as vocalist and guitarist. Friends of the Brothers is a 7-piece assembly of musicians “who were connected musically with the Allman Brothers during their impressive history,” the news release said.

Friends of the Brothers are headlining the Billtown Blues Festival on June 9 with a planned showtime of 9:30 p.m. Alan Paul will offer a meet and greet before and after the set. Friday tickets for the show are available at local ticket outlets the Community Arts Center and The Genetti Hotel in Williamsport, the Lockard Agency in Hughesville, Music One in Lock Haven and by appointment in Lewisburg. All ticketing detail is available at www.billtownblues.org. Other Friday performances include The Uptown Collective Blues Band, blues harmonica master Tony Holiday, and guitar wizard Laurie Morvan. Gates open at 5 p.m. with music beginning at 6 p.m.