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OLD TOWN BLUES. Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin’ Daddies will be performing at the 16th annual Tacoma Old Town Blues Festival July 12.

Blues fest attracts local, national talent

By Meghan Erkkinen

The 16th annual Tacoma Old Town Blues Festival is once again attracting some top national talent to Old Town for a full day of great music July 12.

This year’s festival is going local, attracting a number of Northwest artists, including Junkyard Jane (who recently returned to the area from Kentucky), Becki Sue and Her Big Rockin’ Daddies, Tim Hall Band and Loose Gravel and the Quarry.

“The last couple years, we’ve always been looking for headliners outside of our realms,” said promoter Ted Brown, who has been with the festival since its inception. “We’ve stayed really local this year.”

The day will start off with a Bluesberry pancake breakfast at Slavonian Hall, with a special performance by Alex Weed and special guest Jay Mabin. Other shows kick off at noon on the Old Town Park Main Stage.

“I think people are going to see some great artists this year and some artists they haven’t seen for a while,” Brown said. “The format is pretty similar except the bands are different. We always promise to bring the best music we can possibly find and I think we have a great lineup this year, and I think people are going to really enjoy it.”

A total of 14 bands and artists will be performing on a five stages during the event, in the park, at The Spar, at the Mountaineers Legends and at Slavonian Hall (which has two stages).

The festival, which began as a small event, has expanded over the years to incorporate more of the neighborhood.

“We kind of started out just doing a few little areas over there and we’ve now expanded to the whole Old Town area,” Brown said. “We’ve really been embraced and enjoyed by the Old Town people. It’s just been a fun event. I’ve extremely enjoyed doing it.”

And again this year, as it has for the past seven years, the blues festival is going pink. Organizers will donate the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Tacoma, which works to increase awareness and knowledge of breast cancer and breast health among area residents.

Last year, the festival raised close to $11,000 for the center. Attendees will have the opportunity to find out more about the center and donate additional money by visiting a booth at the festival.

The 16th annual Tacoma Old Town Blues Festival will take place July 12 in Old Town. The main stage, located in Old Town Park, is free. Concerts on indoor stages cost $5 each or $20 for a daylong pass. Some of the stages are restricted to visitors aged 21 and older.

In addition to the talents listed above, other performers will include Eddie Gillan & Love Child, Joe McMurrian Quartet, Little Bill & The Bluenotes, Reloaded, Jr. Hill Blues Band, Angel Grace, Brown & Blues Band, Kincaid Ave., and Billy Roy Danger & the Rectifiers.

For more information on the festival and for a complete list of the 15-hour schedule of events, visit www.tacomaoldtownbluesfest.net.

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