June 2011
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Summers almost here. The bands are warming up and the festivals are starting to simmer. The Chippewa Valley Blues Society is kicking off Tuesday Night Blues on May 31 with the following lineup of great bands.
5/31- Lucas K & the Coolhand Saints
6/7- Jonestones
6/14- Howard Luedtke & Blue Max (Pay it Forward)
6/21- Left Wing Bourbon
6/28- Sparky & Friends
7/5- Jayson Collins Group
7/12- Code Blue
7/19- The Steve Meyer Band
7/26- Deep Water Reunion
8/2- Pete Neuman
8/9- Love Buzzards
8/16- The Sue Orfield Band
8/23- Ross William Perry
8/30- Mojo Lemon (UCP/Bike Show)
The first weekend in August Blues On The Chippewa will be once again providing 15 plus bands for FREE to benefit the food shelf for the fourth year in a row. Free camping, a Car Show and Art Fair. There will also be a benefit concert in June to help raise money to support this excellent event. For more info go to http://bluesonthechippewa.org/
Some other Festivals in the region include The Willow River Blues & Brew Fest at Willow River State Park near Somerset June 3 & 4. They will be featuring Corey Stevens and a great lineup of regional talent including Mojo Lemon and The Pumps. http://www.willowriverbluesfest.com/ for more info.
June 4 is also the day the Trempealeau Hotel is holding it’s annual Blues Bash with a full one-day lineup playing from 2 p.m. until late! Check them out at http://www.trempealeauhotel.com/trempealeauhotel
July 2 & 3 will be the second annual Grass On The Chippewa bluegrass festival in Durand with 10 bands over two days, and it’s FREE!. Goodwill donations for the Pepin County Senior Council would be appreciated. There will be a banjo contest on Saturday and camping is free too! More info at http://bluesonthechippewa.org/
July 29 & 30 is the Prairie Dog Blues Festival in Prairie du Chien with an awesome line up of talent from around the Midwest. Go to http://www.prairiedogblues.com/ for ticket, camping and band info.
August 12 & 13 will bring the 23rd annual BayFront Blues Festival in Duluth. This festival was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2010 for good reason. There will be terrific regional and national musicians here performing on two different stages. This one always draws huge crowds. Better make arrangements for accommodations in advance. http://www.bayfrontblues.com
Though their website is still under construction it looks like a helluva cast of characters appearing at The Big Bull Falls Blues Fest again this year August 19 & 20. Check back at http://bigbullfalls.net/ for more info.
There’s a handful of other hot events goin’ on this summer! And they are all good. Throw in the other festivals in the area like Country Jam, Country Fest, Rock Fest, the Chippewa Valley Renaissance Faire and a whole variety of community festivals, there is no reason to have nothing to do!
What’s that you say? This economy has been beatin’ you up and $4.00/gallon gas is draining your pocketbook? Well remember every Tuesday night the Blues Society is putting on FREE concerts in Eau Claire at Owen Park from 6:30 – 8:30. The price is right, and the music is great. All the food is under $5, from Joel’s Brats to famous Dave’s Bar-b-que, and 9 Degrees ice cream. Visit us at TuesdayNightBlues.com or go to chippewavalleyblues.com for additional info.
Now it’s starting to really feel like summertime. Can’t wait! Thanks for lending me an ear.
See ya around.
