At the Food Bank, we’re so happy to have the blues! The Blues Festival, that is – our annual summer extravaganza of music, food, and fun in the sun! The 20th, presented by Peoples Natural Gas, will take place Friday, July 25 through Sunday, July 27 at Hartwood Acres. As always, the Festival brings together a phenomenal line-up of international as well as local musical talent, and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top blues festivals.
This year, the headliner is none other than Dr. John, the winner of six Grammy Awards and a 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Dr. John does it all – blues, New Orleans jazz, rock and roll and more. He is beloved and admired by his fellow musicians and has collaborated with the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr and Harry Connick Jr., among many others. He’ll be performing on Saturday evening. Additional performers this year are Bernard Allison, J.J. Grey and Mofro and many more national and local bands.
As in years past, there will be plenty of great food vendors and merchandise booths at this green, family-friendly event. Even the pooches are invited and will have their own tent – the Pet Zone, where they can cool off and get a good cold drink of water plus a snack. For the kids, there’s a special area featuring arts and crafts plus a mini-food pantry, where they can learn all about the problem of hunger.
PNG, the festival’s primary sponsor, is again offering tethered hot air balloon rides – a big hit last year! Other sponsors include Giant Eagle, ComCast, Highmark, UPMC Health Plan, Children’s Hospital of UPMC, Fox 53 TV, WDVE, WYEP, Nova Chemicals, Starkist, Coors, Day Automotive and the Post-Gazette.
So dust off your lawn chair, get some sunscreen and gather your friends and family! Tickets are available right now on the Food Bank website, and you can choose a single day ticket or a weekend pass. The Blues Festival is the Food Banks biggest annual event and it has raised over $2 million in its 19 year history. No outside alcohol permitted, food cooler donation is $20.
For more information, visit www.pghblues.com.