End of summer blues

Literally. Blues. Summer is winding down, but there are still several topnotch blues festivals within a reasonable day’s drive from the North Country Public Radio geography.

Go here to find out about a late August festival in Vermont, with an amazing line up of stars, including Kenny Neal, Marcia Ball, Joe Louis Walker and Johnny Winter.

Or, check this out for a festival in Ontario, second weekend of September, headlined by Elvin Bishop, Johnny Winter and lots more, with multiple opportunities to see each artist.

If you can make it to Fredericton, New Brunswick (I’ve been there…it’s a day’s drive across Maine, but very doable), again in mid-September, there’s a fabulous line-up planned at the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, including Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (Grace is an SLU alum we’ve all been proudly following as she makes a place for herself in the blues/roots/rock world), Maria Muldaur, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Kurt Elling, John Hiatt, Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers, and the list goes on and on. An amazing gathering of blues and jazz greats.

So, that’s a sampling. For a list of festivals across the nation–scheduled for late August through late September–check out the master calendar.

And if you think the blues ain’t hot, check this out:

And don’t forget to tune in each week to The Blue Note, Tuesdays at 3:00 pm. I’ll be there. I hope you’ll be there, too.

Tags: blues, blues festivals