With Tedeschi Trucks Band in the lineup; this year’s Blues Festival has reached a completely new level.
The 11-piece band led by husband and wife Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi will perform on the second day of Blues Fest on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. after making a stop in Winnipeg. Organizer Bob Halvorsen said having the Florida-based band gives the event a recognition never seen before.
“Tedeschi Trucks are on that rise to infamy right now,” Halvorsen said.
“They just won a Grammy this year for best blues album and it was the first one they put out and they played for the president. So having a group of that stature coming to Thunder Bay when they could play anywhere in the world is absolutely phenomenal. It’s really a testament to how recognizable this festival has become.”
Halvorsen was able to secure the band in November of last year. He said the group knew about the festival wanted to be a part of it.
He said it’s astounding to think that a band of that size can pick up and move.
Friday’s lineup includes:
• Trevor Potts and Ten Miles of Bad Road at 4 p.m.
• Randy Scott at 5:15 p.m.
• Sass Jordan at 6:30 p.m.
• Joe Louis Walker at 7:45 p.m.
• Jonny Lang at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday’s lineup includes:
• The Chain at 11:30 a.m.
• Big Walter Smith at 12:45 p.m.
• Matt “Mojo” Tedder at 2 p.m.
• Honey Island Swamp Band at 3:15 p.m.
• Monkey Junk at 4:30 p.m.
• Popa Chubby at 5:45 p.m.
• Royal Southern Brotherhood at 7 p.m.
• Scrapomatic at 8:45 p.m.
Sunday’s lineup includes:
• Rodney Brown and the Derailers at 12 p.m.
• JP Soars at 1:15 p.m.
• Shannon Curfman at 2:30 p.m.
• Sugar Blue at 3:45 p.m.
• Kelley Hunt 5 p.m.
• Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown 6:15 p.m.
• Sonny Landreth 7:45 p.m.
• .38 Special 9:30 p.m.
Halvorsen said people may not recognize some of the names on the list but the talent the musicians possess will be sure to blow people away.
On average, the attendance at the festival has remained consistent since the festival started. Even with the Tedeschi Trucks, Halvorsen said he wasn’t sure if more people would be coming to this year’s festival and as long as the audience remains the same, he’ll consider it a successful event.
With the recent warm weather, Halvorsen said he would rather have a hot day than a rainy day.
“Obviously too hot is not good either but there will be plenty of water and refreshments down there,” he added.
The Blues Fest begins on Friday at 4 p.m. at Marina Park and runs until Sunday. Tickets are available at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Box Office or by phone at (807) 684-4444 or toll free at 1-800-463-8817.
Individual tickets are $45 and a weekend pass is $85. Only 5,000 weekend passes will be sold.
For more information visit the Blue Festival website.
