November 2, 2014
Bradenton Blues Weekend:
Make a Weekend of the Blues!
December 5-7, 2014
Downtown Bradenton will buzz with the blues in anticipation of the third annual Bradenton Blues Festival with street and club concerts, a gospel brunch, and arts and crafts vendors. New this year is a Blues in the Library initiative.
(Bradenton, Florida) To celebrate the third annual Bradenton Blues Festival happening on Saturday, December 6, 2014, downtown Bradenton will buzz with blues concerts and outdoor festivities, December 5-7. “We wanted to extend the terrific excitement already built up around the festival,” says Johnette Isham, executive director of Realize Bradenton, the organization powering the Bradenton Blues Festival and Bradenton Blues Weekend, along with multiple community partners and sponsors.
“The Bradenton area is a hotbed of celebrated blues musicians and blues bars, and we want to amplify the blues buzz! This year, blues fans can again spend the entire weekend grooving on the blues.” She’s also excited about a new Blues in the Library initiative, coordinated by the Central Library.
According to Isham, tickets for the Bradenton Blues Festival are quickly selling out. She urges blues fans to buy their tickets online in advance of the festival. “You can still buy tickets at our website for $30,” she says, adding that tickets at the gate are $40. Group sales for 10 or more are $25 in advance. For more information about Bradenton Blues Weekend or the Bradenton Blues Festival, and to purchase festival tickets, visit www.BradentonBluesFestival.org.
Bradenton Blues Weekend Highlights
Blues on Main
Friday, December 5, 5-10 p.m. Old Main Street
Three blues duos (Matt & Sidney, the Steve Arvey Band, and Bodie Valdez) perform on pedestrian-friendly Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton, with food and craft vendors.
The Blues Appetizer Concert with the Bridget Kelly Band and the Lauren Mitchell Band
Friday, December 5, 6-9 p.m. Riverwalk Pavilion, 452 3rd Avenue
Free mini-concert will showcase the Bridget Kelly Band and the Lauren Mitchell Band. Bring a blanket. Beverage and food are available. Last chance to buy discounted Bradenton Blues Festival tickets at $30! Sponsored by Mojoe Productions.
Déjà Blues in The Blues Lounge with EG Kight
Friday, December 5, 7-11 p.m. The Brickyard, 427 12th Street West
Celebrated blues vocalist/guitarist EG Kight mesmerizes audiences with her rich voice and mastery of the guitar. Experience her blues smoothness in person—before the Bradenton Blues Festival the next day. Tickets, which are $125, include premium open bar, food and entertainment. $75 of ticket proceeds benefit the Women’s Resource Center of Manatee. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 941-747-6797 or visit www.wrcmanatee.org.
Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Second Annual Bradenton Blues Festival Bradenton’s Riverwalk
Annual festival featuring a stellar team of top blues artists on the downtown Riverwalk. Lineup includes Marcia Ball, Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues, Samantha Fish, EG Kight, Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones with Dennis Gruenling, and Dave Muskett. Bring a chair. Beverages and southern-inspired food will be available. Presenting is sponsor BMO Harris Bank leading 69 other sponsors. Riverwalk Pavilion, 452 3rd Ave., Bradenton. Tickets are limited. $30 in advance and $40 the day of the event. To purchase tickets visit www.BradentonBluesFestival.org or visit Keeton’s Office and Art Supply at 817 Manatee Ave. W.
Blues on Main with Karen and the Big Bad Wolves
Saturday, December 6, 5-11 p.m. Old Main Street, Bradenton
Enjoy food, beverages and handmade crafts offered by local vendors.
Tarpon Pointe Blues with the Sean Chambers Band
Saturday, December 6, 7 p.m.-midnight Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar, 801 Riverside Drive East, Bradenton
Experience the Sean Chambers Band up close and personal for an after-festival jam.
Gospel Blues Brunch at SOMA
Sunday, December 7, noon-2 p.m. Old Main Street, Bradenton
Indulge in a delicious brunch at SOMA, 1401 Manatee Avenue W., and enjoy a gospel concert with Rebecca the Songbird and The New Soul Revue, featuring Henry Lawrence and Blue Crab Larry. Cost is $25; reservations are requested. Call 941-567-4001 for reservations.
Blues in the Library Series
See Manatee County Public Library website for more info.
Monday, Dec. 1; 6-7:30 p.m.
Central Library, Barcarrota Blvd. W., Bradenton
Walker Smith plays in the tradition of singer/songwriter bluesmen guitarists of the past and tours nationally.
Tuesday, Dec. 2; 12:30-2 p.m.
South Manatee Branch, 6081 26th Street West, Bradenton
Brian Leneschmidt has played as a full-time musician for over 14 years with five CD’s of original music.
Wednesday, Dec. 3; 2-3:30 p.m.
Braden River Branch, 4915 53rd Avenue East, Bradenton
Steve Arvey has traveled with blues legends, including Homesick James, Honeyboy Edwards, Sam Lay, Hubert Sumlin and Jimmy Rogers. He leaves his audiences with an understanding of the social, spiritual, and historical impact that blues music has had on society.
Thursday, Dec. 4; 6:30-8 p.m.
Palmetto Branch, 923 6th Street West, Palmetto
Bodie Valdez grew up on Anna Maria Island and has played with Willie Nelson, Albert Collins, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and many other blues artists.
Friday, Dec. 5; 2-3:30 p.m.
Rocky Bluff Branch, 6750 US Highway 301 North, Ellenton
Walker Smith plays in the tradition of singer/songwriter blues guitarists of the past and tours nationally.
The 2014 Bradenton Blues Festival’s all-star lineup includes veteran singer and songwriter Marcia Ball, the double-edged guitar dynamics of Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers, the rollicking Lil’ Ed & the Blue Imperials, multiple Grammy nominee Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues, young whirlwind Samantha Fish, “Georgia Songbird” EG Kight, local stars Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones with harmonica virtuoso Dennis Gruenling; and refined finger-style blues guitarist Dave Muskett, who will entertain audiences between the major acts. This year, blues fans will also be treated to some down-home, Southern-style cuisine, craft beers and poured wine served up by the region’s top restaurants, including Ortygia, Yachtsea Grille, SOMA Creekside, Cedar Reef Fish Camp, S.O.B. Burgers, Anna Maria Oyster Bar, and Hickory Hollow. Proceeds from the festival support Realize Bradenton’s free youth, art, and music outreach programs.
Gates open at 10 a.m. The music starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance; $40 at the gate; $25 per person for groups of 10 or more; $20 for students; and $10 for children, ages 5-12. Children four and under will be admitted free. A limited number of reserved front row seats are available for $75 (chairs included). For the first time, tickets are available at Keeton’s Office & Art Supply, 817 Manatee Ave West, 941-747-2995. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.BradentonBluesFestival.org. To view festival video online, visit www.bit.ly/bradblues.
The 2014 Bradenton Blues Festival Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor
BMO Harris Bank
Hosting Sponsors
Realize Bradenton
Blues Music Magazine
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Downtown Development Authority
City of Bradenton
Blues Kings
Callaghan Tire
Tidy Coast Event Services
Don Brandes Illustrator
Manatee Printers Inc.
Pier 22
Artefact Design
Sarasota Magazine
SEE Magazine
Biz (941)
Urology Partners
Bryan Gordon Design
Bradenton Herald
Bright House Networks
Cool Cats
Florida Blue
Blue Rooster
Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar
OSA Global
New Orleans
Tropicana
Jeffcoat Blueprint
Mojoe Productions
PepsiCo
SRQ Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport
Firkins Nissan
Planet Stone Marble & Granite
Anna Maria Oyster Bar
Halfway Bar
Where Will We Go Tonight
Turner Tree & Landscape
NDC Construction Company
Manatee Apparel Graphics
Gold Coast Eagle
Dr. Mark T. Elfervig, DDS
Hampton Inn & Suites Bradenton Downtown Historic District
Andersen Racepark
Fawley Bryant Architects
Bealls Inc.
Tarpon Point Grill & Tiki Bar
Michael & Christy Messer
METV
Chicago Blues
Courtyard Marriott Bradenton
Iaboni Real Estate Inc.
Clear Sunset Carwash
Air & Energy
Goodwill Manasota
USA Fence
FPL
Stan D. Perkins, Keller Williams Realty
Manson Roofing, Inc.
Sandbar Seafood & Spirits
Aces Live
Stewart Engineering Consultants
Suncoast Blues Society
Fetch Pet Care Bradenton
Hillstrom Facial Plastic Surgery
Manatee Community Federal Credit Union
Essenson Law Firm
US Tent Rental
Blues Bar Buzz
The Blue Rooster
Ace’s Live
Darwin Brewing Company
About Realize Bradenton
Realize Bradenton is a non-profit organization that brings people together to create a vibrant and prosperous Bradenton area. For more information, visit: www.RealizeBradenton.com.
