Island Park Blues Festival
Kenny Neal
The inaugural Island Park Blues Festival will be held on the banks of the beautiful Willamette River in Springfield, Oregon, on August 9 and 10, 2013. This event is a fundraiser for FOOD For Lane County. Headliners appearing on the Rooster’s Main Stage will include Lydia Pense & Cold Blood on Friday night and Kenny Neal on Saturday. You’ll be immersed in all styles of blues music — from roots tunes on handmade instruments up through high voltage progressive tunes. Multiple generations of performers will join us with elders like king of the buskers Eagle Park Slim and 14 year old sensation Savanna Coen. Beer, wine and hard cider will be available, along with delicious food and non-alcoholic beverages and “Artisans Row” will offer up all sorts of art work and crafts.
After-hours performances will also take place at Mac’s Night Club Stage, at 1626 Willamette Street, featuring the original Rooster’s Blues Jam both Friday and Saturday night, hosted by Skip Jones and Bryon Case, from 9:30 pm to 1:30 am with no cover charge.
IPBF will also feature the first annual 5k/10k “Blues Cruz Run” on Saturday morning, starting and finishing at Island Park.
IPBF is a family friendly, community based event — there will be a KidSpace area on Saturday, where families can enjoy activities such as face painting, balloon art and music at no charge.
You may pay $7 plus 3 non-perishable food items, or, if you’d prefer not to bring food with you, it’s just $10 and we’ll donate $3 of that directly to FFLC. Children 12 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult.
Friday line-up:
Lydia Pense & Cold Blood
Hank Shreve Band
Hank Shreve Blues Showcase with special guests including Grammy winner Ken Emerson and Blues Music Award nominee Karen Lovely
Vicki Stevens/Sonny Hess Band with Deb Cleveland, Joanne Broh, Barbara Healy and special guest Savanna Coen
Tribute to Gavin “Rooster” Fox with special guests TBA
Saturday line-up:
Kenny Neal
Michael Osborn & the Drivers featuring Stu Kinzel with special guest, Grammy winner Ken Emerson and a “Wall of Blues Guitars”
Bill Rhoades & the Party Kings featuring the Slidemasters: Sir Henry Cooper, Newel C. Briggs and Chuck Laiti with special guest Delta Groove recording artist Mitch Kashmar
Acoustic Roots Showcase
“Blues Luau” with Ken Emerson featuring Iron Mango with hula and ukulele lessons
