Mark your calendars now to attend Oklahoma’s largest free blues festival September 18–20, 2009. The 12th Annual Stillwater Blues Fest provides three days for music and fun. At the corner of 8th Avenue and Duck Street by downtown Stillwater, Oklahoma, the festival features blues, delta blues, Texas blues, Chicago blues, and more blues. If you are blues or music fan, this is one weekend you can’t miss.
Headliners this year include Blind Pig recording artist Robin Rogers. Rogers is an award winning blues singer/songwriter who has shared the stage with greats like Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Carey Bell, Bob Margolin, and Tommy Castro. Other headliners are two time Grammy nominee and M.C. Handy award winner John Lee Hooker, Jr., a delta blues musician and son of the late great John Lee Hooker. Australian recording artist (Armadillo Records) Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges will make Stillwater his stop during his US tour. Bridges is son of blues guitarist Hideaway Slim. Bridges latest self-titled CD was nominated for two 2008 U.S. Blues Music Awards. Electo Groove Records recording artist Mike Zito debuted his album “Today” in 2007, which perfectly captures Zito’s earthy essence and intimate voice, and driving intensity of his music, creating a recording that sounds simultaneously comfortable and familiar. Garrett "Big G" Jacobson, an Oklahoma native known for his unique blend of blues, soul and jazz and his dynamic showmanship will perform Sunday afternoon, following by Red River Mudcats and their Texas blues routine.
Gloria Short, City of Stillwater Community Center festival coordinator, says, “The festival will take place rain or shine, so be sure to bring your lawn chairs, sunscreen and maybe an umbrella. Each year people travel from around the U.S. to Stillwater because the Festival has grown into such a great show with an intimate atmosphere. We anticipate an audience of 10-12,000 people over a period of three days. Because of continued support from our outstanding sponsors, the Stillwater Blues Fest is Oklahoma’s largest free blues festival. Come prepared to enjoy a wide variety of blues music, festival food, beer, a new kid’s fun area, and free parking.”
Additional festival entertainment includes the new Stillwater Blues Idol contest to replace the previous Blues Guitar Competition. The Blues Idol contest will be open to any age with any type of talent they want to present as long as the presentation is blues themed with family oriented content. Each act has three minutes to perform, whether it’s dancing, singing, playing an instrument, juggling, or whatever, the contest is open to all aspects of talent. Contestants participating on Friday or Saturday, Sept 18 -19, will be judged by audience vote. The finals, held on Sunday, Sept 20, will announce the winners chosen by 50% audience and 50% judge’s vote. Trophies and gifts will be awarded to the top three Stillwater Blues Idols. Those wishing to participate should contact the Community Center or visit the website.
Educational components of the Blues Fest are the ever popular Blues in the School program (BITS), which includes both the school and after-school classes. Award winning blues educator David Berntson will go into the schools to teach area students the history and culture of the blues with his harmonica and catchy presentation. After-school classes are offered to students wishing to perform in a band sitting with their own instruments. These students will learn up to four blues songs to perform on stage during the blues festival on Saturday.
Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, City of Stillwater, Stillwater Community Center Foundation, the Stillwater Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, AT&T and other local sponsors, support the Stillwater Blues Fest financially in part. To see all sponsors, visit the website’s sponsor page.
For more festival information, how to become a sponsor, volunteer, or participant, please call (405) 533-8433 or e-mail bluesfest@stillwater.org.
We look forward to seeing you at the 12th anniversary of the infamous Stillwater Blues Fest, September 18-20, 2009.