BBQ & Blues ’11 will rock

The event calendar and entertainment lineup for the 7th annual BBQ & Blues Festival have been finalized. This year’s event is set for April 21-23.The festivities begin with the kickoff party/after hours Thursday, April 21 from 5-7 p.m. at United Bank.The cook teams will roll in that night.Friday night’s music begins at 5 p.m. at the BBQ stage and features 4U2C, The Melflames and Buckeye Band with special guests.Saturday’s music begins at 11:30 a.m., also at the BBQ stage, with Veronika Jackson followed by Frankie’s Blues Mission and the Ben Ratliff Band. That night the music moves to the big stage at Ritz Park.Mark Henson kicks things off at 5:30 p.m. followed by Long Hot Summer, E.G. Kight and Contagious.Beverly ‘˜Guitar’ Watkins has been named the recipient of the 2011 Georgia Music Legend Award. The honor will be bestowed at Saturday’s show.Watkins, 70, performed with the Ink Spots in the 1960s and still plays around the world. She will take the stage with Kight.For vendor or sponsor information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 770-358-5884 or visit the festival website: http://www.bbqandblues.org