Ft. Smith Riverfront Blues Festival
“Bringing the Crossroads to Downtown Ft Smith”(Fri.17th and Sat.18th)
This Blues Fest has a different look, sound and smell to it! And I like it!
Weather has been almost taken outta the equation. There are 6 stages for the blues. All venues will be on Garrison Ave.! Food trucks scattered up and down the Ave. And the Lineup is stellar!
I applaud the brave move by the Members and Leaders of the Blues Society! In an effort to “stay on the map” as an Annual Blues Festival, they have reinvented this year’s festival. It kinda reminds me more of the ones in West Helena and “The Crossroads” – Clarksdale Miss.!
After “lockdown”, you remember that don’t you? It was a struggle in 2021 to have the festival AT ALL! Last year, the Ft Smith Blues Society revamped the festival, more local blues acts AND generously opened the gates “FOR FREE”! It had over 500 diehard blues fans down by the river!
So great minds came together to overcome last year’s loss of revenue, the Ft Smith Blues Society has eliminated the high cost of the Riverfront Amphitheater. This will let them continue to support the 3 Blues Programs that influence the lives of young blues musicians! They are the Barry Ratliff Memorial Scholarship, “Blues in the Schools” and they cover the expense of sending the Ft Smith’s winning Blues bands to the “International Blues Competition ” held in Memphis each year! I bet you thought the Blues Society just liked to throw a party! Well, they kinda do. But they continue to support and help keep the Blues alive in our area!
So, in my honest opinion, here are the pros and cons of the change from Riverside to Downtown. Pros – there are 6 stages along a 8-block strip on Garrison, no chance of rainouts, comfortable seating in all, reasonable cost and Awesome entertainment! All very good things!
Cons – Somewhat limited seating, the Majestic has the largest capacity, Parking and traffic are about the same but very limited HC accessible venues and VERY limited family friendly opportunities. just saying!
The Board and members have done a great job. The lineup is excellent! The show will go on. So show up, support Live Music and the Blues, become a member and contribute time or donations, become a sponsor! See ya at this year’s 2022 Ft Smith Riverfront Blues Festival! Watch for info and schedule on my fb page!
Mo’ Live Music! Dawn’s Diner in Red Oak will kick off the weekend this Thurs. 16th, with a dynamic duo, Randy Fennell and Larry Taylor. From Hillbilly to Mainstreet, these guys can cover all your favorites. Then on Friday 17th, it’s Connie and Dave Abbott – “Make It a Double”. Classic Country with Chicken Fried Steak. Perfect combo! Sat. 18th, great music by Big Marty and the Dirty Dogs take the stage. It will be three nites of great music! Music starts at 7 pm!
Vacations are over and Rearvue Mirror will pop up in the Atrium at the Pocola Choctaw Casino! Sat the 18th, music is from 7-11 pm.
Spiro Eagles have a dance this Sat. the 18th and Libby Starkes and the Stray Dawgs will keep the dancers out on the big dance floor! Music starts at 8 pm. Libby and the band are favorites at the Spiro Eagles!
The Oklahoma Moon Band will be taking off the weekend of (June 17-19th) so that (2) of the OKM Band Member’s can Celebrate their Wedding Anniversaries. Doug & Eyvone York celebrate their (50th.) Wedding Anniversary on June 17th. & David & Melissa Love Celebrate their (51st.) Wedding Anniversary on June 19th. “And they said it wouldn’t last!!! Lol” – David Love! Congrats to these folks for over 100 years of Marriage!!
Movin’ On will play this Sat, June 17th at Doug’s Redneck Heaven Howe, Oklahoma 9pm-1am. Harry Taylor/guitar, Lundy Taylor/bass and Robert Jones/drums will play the hits from classic Country to classic Rock. Great dance music for this bunch of rednecks! Stop by for a cold one and some good music!
I-40 Dance and Music Hall will have Backroads this Sat. the 18th! A most popular band for these dancers. So whether ya wanna Slow dance or Twist – Line dance or two-step, “git yersef” over to I-40 in Muldrow!
Well that’s all I got for this week. Gonna try and beat the heat this week. Y’all do the same. For info, contact me at 918-647-5736 or tj.wiles61@outlook.com. Thanks!
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