Kingston is getting ready for three days of blues music as the Kingston Blues Festival returns August 26th to 29th.
Kingston Blues Society's Bruce Boucher says they're building off the sucessfull foundation of the old Limestone Blues Fest.
Presented by the Kingston Blues Society, the festival will feature a mix of award-winning Canadian performers, international artists and local blues talent at venues around the city.
The festival opens Wednesday night at the R-C-H-A Club, with performances from David Rotundo and Tony Patler with their all-star band.Thursday night at the R-C-H-A Club, it's Riley and Riley, Big Mo and the Blues Mission, Hellhound Trail and Sweet Pete and the Heat.
Friday night will feature award-winning Canadian blues performers Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley, with Brother Paul and Blues Revival opening the show. Braithwaite is a recipient of the Blues With a Feeling Lifetime Achievement Award and a Maple Blues Award winner.
Saturday night brings the Ghost Town Blues Band from Memphis, Tennessee, with Sarah Sokal opening.
The festival will also offer several free performances. Saturday afternoon, five bands will take the stage at Confederation Park from one to six p.m. Free shows are also planned at the R-C-H-A Club on Friday and Saturday afternoons.
The Kingston Blues Festival is in its third year and is part of a busy summer music season in the Limestone City.
Organizers say the festival is designed to showcase the depth of blues music while giving audiences a chance to hear established performers alongside emerging and local artists. And Boucher reminds us, it's not just for mature music lovers.
Tickets are going fast. Head to kingstonbluessociety.ca for all the details and listen to our entire conversation with Boucher below.
Story by Brian Turner
