22nd Annual Kalamazoo Blues Festival

Additional Information

SHEMEKIA COPELAND, SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY TO HEADLINE
THE 22ND ANNUAL KALAMAZOO BLUES FESTIVAL JULY 9-11, 2015
KALAMAZOO, MI: For the 22nd year, the Kalamazoo Valley Blues
Association is proud to carry on “keeping the blues alive”, as it presents the 2015 Kalamazoo Blues Festival, July 9, 10, and 11. Featuring an array of well-known artists including Shemekia Copeland, Southern Hospitality, Dawn Tyler Watson & Ben Racine Band, Larry McCray, Scott Holt Band, Ghost Town Blues Band, and The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. This year’s festival will bring a total of 22 local, regional, and national blues acts to the twin stages at downtown Kalamazoo’s Arcadia Festival Site.
This three-day celebration of blues music, culture, and history, first staged in 1994, is one of the longest-running festivals in Kalamazoo. Offering continuous performances on the Firekeepers’ Stage and the Metro Toyota Stage, a variety of free workshops covering topics such as guitar and harmonica techniques, slide guitar secrets, and home-made instruments, a large children’s activity area, a great selection of blues-related merchandise, a shade tent for those hot July days, and a wide variety of
food and drink vendors, the Kalamazoo Blues Festival truly offers
something for everyone.
As an added bonus, the price of an advance weekend pass includes
entrance into the very popular All Start Blues Jam to be held Thursday night after the festival at Shakespeare’s Lower Level. Starting time is 10:30 pm, and it’s not uncommon for local jammers to be joined by performers from the festival for a great party.
The Kalamazoo Blues Festival, a true community event that is staffed entirely by volunteers and supported by local groups, businesses, and arts organizations, has won recognition from performers and attendees alike as “the best blues festival in the Midwest”. In an exciting development this year, each of the two stages that allow for continuing performances throughout the three days is being sponsored by local businesses in support of the Kalamazoo arts and music scene.
Firekeepers’ Casino-Hotel in Battle Creek, which has been a major sponsor of the Kalamazoo Blues Festival for six years, is proud to present the Firekeepers’ Stage, while the blues lovers at Metro Toyota of Kalamazoo are stepping up in their third year of sponsorship to offer the Metro Toyota Stage. Between offering financial support, many hours of volunteer time, promotional activities such as contests to win tickets, and more, Firekeepers’ and Metro Toyota are outstanding examples of the many local
businesses who do so much to make the Kalamazoo Blues Fest a reality.
Don't miss the NEW Imperial Beverage Blues Beer Garden. Experience
full-bodied tastes and aromas of craft beers brewed from Arcadia Ales, Boatyard, Gonzo's BiggDogg , Founders and Short's. In addition to the familiar beverage pavilion, the Blues Beer Garden will exhibit a relaxing environment to kick back, savor craft brews, and enjoy the music!
Advance sales of weekend passes will begin June 1, online at the newKalamazoo Blues Festival Website (http://kalamazoobluesfestival.com)
and at various retailers around the region, including all ECCU branches, Kalamazoo State Theater, Marshall Music, the Union Bar and Grill, and Green Light Music. An updated list of retailers will be available on the Blues Festival website.
The cost of an advance weekend pass will be $20.00, which represents a $12.00 savings over the total price of daily tickets for all events. Daily festival ticket prices will be $5.00 for Thursday night, $10.00 for Friday night, and $12.00 for Saturday; the Thursday night jam will be $5.00 at the door.
Watch the Festival website regularly for the latest updates in Festival developments.

Thursday July 9th
Time Artists:
5:00 - 5:50 Groove Platter
5:55 - 6:45 Gator Blues Band
6:50 - 7:40 Kathleen Bolthouse & Bridge St. Band
7:45 - 9:00 The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
9:05 - 10:35 Ghost Town Blues Band

Friday July 10th
Time Artists:
5:00 - 5:55 Mortals 2
6:00 - 6:55 Marci Linn Band
7:00 - 8:25 24th St Wailers
8:30 - 9:55 Scott Holt Band
10:00 - 11:30 Shemekia Copeland
11:35 - 12:30 Martila Sanders and Gee Q

Saturday July 11th
Time Artists:
12:15 - 1:05 Shoestring Blues Jam
1:10 - 2:00 Hunt & Gator
2:05 - 2:55 Barrelhouse Catts
3:00 - 3:50 Stan Budzynski & The Third Degree
3:55 - 4:45 Big Boss Blues Band
4:50 - 5:40 Jim Shaneberger Band
5:45 - 6:55 Crystal Shawanda
7:00 - 8:20 Larry McCray
8:25 - 9:55 Dawn Tyler Watson & Ben Racine Band
10:00 - 11:30 Southern Hospitality
11:35 - 12:30 JR Clark & The All Star Blues Mob