From Dennis Massingill, President, KVBA

To have a successful festival you have to have three main ingredients: a good lineup, good weather, and a large crowd to enjoy it. The first two items were in place. Felix Yberra, writer for Big City Blues, commented that this was the strongest lineup of acts he could remember. The comment was seconded by several in earshot. The weather was beautiful … maybe a little too hot for some … but no sight of rain. The people, however, were scarce. Thursday and Friday nights were particularly slow. The people that attended thought it was a great festival but there were not enough of them.

It is the third time in the last five years that the festival has lost money.  This time it’s more devastating because it consumed all spare reserves and left the KVBA with unpaid bills. Each of the last several years the budget for the festival has been cut back in hopes of correcting the shortfalls but the future of the 17 year old festival is once again in doubt and will depend on fundraising efforts this fall and winter if it is to continue.

We will host a series of (Second) Sunday afternoon shows as we have the last couple of years. They will begin on October 10th. More information will be forthcoming. We will also host our annual Blues Challenge at Club 411 on Sunday, September 26th. Please put these dates on your calendar and come out to support blues music in Kalamazoo.

Where is August going!?

Don’t have a clue how it got this late in August (suspect many of you are scratching your heads and thinking the same thing). Fact is that it is the middle of August and school time is just around the corner. Many of the last festivals of the summer are getting ready to take place and many of your local favorites will be out and about helping to Keep the Blues Alive. Check out the latest schedule on our events page.

Mid North Michigan Blues Society

Our friends at MNMBS tell us they are looking for bands to compete in their blues band competition on September 5. The competition is for a chance to compete at the upcoming International Blues Challenge in Memphis. If you have a blues band that is interested in competing in the Traverse City area, give a shout out to Steve at: 989-350-8615.

Share the love

Come on you blues lovers and get out there and support live music wherever and whenever you can. Keep the Blues Alive and your spirit strong. Check our Events page for the latest listings.

Thanks

We want to send out a thank you to the sponsors, artists, and guests of the 17th Annual Kalamazoo Blues Festival. There certainly was excitement in downtown Kalamazoo this past weekend and we hope you were a part of it.

Great Anticipation

It is here! Blues Festival week in Kalamazoo. Shows start Wednesday on the downtown mall at 5 pm; the festival officially kicks off on Thursday nite (gates open at 4:30 – music begins at 5-ish) and will continue Friday (gates: 4:30 music: 5-ish) and Saturday (gates: 11:30 am music: noon-ish). We’ve been doin’ this for 17 fantastic years – c’mon downtown and celebrate one true american art form and help us keep the blues alive.

Holidays

Ah good people – you know we want you to have a most enjoyable, safe, happy, and healthy national birthday party. But we also wanna see all of you next week at the 17th Annual Kalamazoo Blues Festival – the blues will rule in Kalamazoo!

Just sayin’

You are probably sick and tired of hearing it, but hey, there are just two days left to claim one of the hottest tickets of the summer festival season! Advance sale tickets for the 17th Annual Kalamazoo Blues Festival conclude tomorrow.

$20 – 3 days – 2 stages – 24 acts. (Do you realize that is less than $1/hr!!!)

This Just In!

We know many of you are planning on coming down to this show, but now an added twist/benefit:

June 20th Blues & BBQ at THE 411 CLUB – doors open at 6pm. Advance tickets for the show are now on sale for $10 – $12 day of show.

Fathers Day Rib Dinner with Bernard Allison.

1/2 rack with 2 sides $15; Full rack with 2 sides $20. $5 from each dinner will go to the KVBA for the 17th Annual Kalamazoo BLUES FESTIVAL! What could be better!?

Advance Sale Tickets for Kalamazoo Blues Fest

Where did the time go!? Now only 14 days left to grab on to an extraordinary deal for one of the very best blues festivals around (yeah, we’re a little opinionated on this!). You can get advance tickets locally and on-line for $20 for three days – 2 stages – 24 acts.

Head to the Blues Festival link for more information.