WALLACE. ID – On July 10-12 we will again be hosting the best small town blues festival this side of Chicago. This festival has been named the top regional blues festival each of our first three years by the Inland Empire Blues Society. This achievement led to our induction to the IEBS Hall of Fame in 2014.

This year we will have 18 acts performing at 6 different venues located across our downtown area. Music will kick-off Friday night at 7:00 pm and run until midnight. On Saturday all venues, music will begin at noon and again run until midnight. Sunday morning the festival will close with our blues music breakfast. Advance tickets are $30 through Tickets West and at designated regional outlets (see our website). Tickets at the gate will be $35. Once again, all Silver Valley residents get in for $20 a head.

You will be experiencing this festival in the majestic mountain mining town of Wallace, ID. It is recognized by most civilized cultures, as the Center of the Universe. It is one of the few cities whose entire downtown district is listed on the National Historic Registry. Wallace sits within the Silver Valley, historically, one of the richest silver mining districts in the world. Within three miles of this site, Ed Pulaski held his men at gunpoint in a mine tunnel during the 1910 Big Burn; the largest forest fire in this country’s history.

As always, we are proud to present to you an eclectic regional and national line-up of bands and artists. Regional favorite Sammy Eubanks will be performing Friday night and heading up our now traditional All-Star Jam to finish our Saturday event. Don’t get too carried away early on Saturday, because you can’t miss this energy-charged finale! We are proud to have our own nationally recognized artist, Too Slim, Tim Langford, and his Taildraggers with us again this year. In 2012, his bassist Taildragger was none other than Polly O’Keary. This year she’s bringing her own band, The Rhythm Method, to our main stage.

Of course, this festival would not be the same without Anita Royce, Forrest Govedare and the High Rollers. And, it’s also been said that Dog House artists Neil and Romeo actually make the already famous Wallace brewed beers taste better in our Beer Garden. New artists Kenny Neal (New Orleans) and Studebaker John (Chicago) will provide a fine mix to our “Blues Stew.” Finally, if you missed Ben Rice playing with Lisa Mann at the CDA Blues Festival, don’t fret. He is with us this year to share his soulful vocals and incredibly diverse blues guitar sound. He is awesome!

Please! If you stay over, come on down to the Elks for our blues breakfast on Sunday morning featuring the beautiful, high-heeled Sara Brown and her band.

For the first time this year, the festival will be presenting three blues music workshops free to all festival attendees and Silver Valley residents. Those workshops are: Neil Elwell, slide guitar, Charlie Butts, blues harp, and Jeff Aker, blues guitar. All workshops will be presented on Saturday outside the gated venue at the Elks Lodge.

Blues music isn’t the only attraction we are providing for festival attendees here in Wallace. We have plenty of food vendors, both inside and outside our gated venue, providing a wide range of culinary cuisines. Don’t let that limit the time you spend checking out the many fine restaurants and food establishments in our downtown area though. While out and about you will likely also get a bit thirsty. We will be well stocked at our beer garden to cover those pressing needs. When outside the gated venue you will be able to satisfy that thirst at numerous local establishments around town that are well staffed and ready to serve ya. Sorry boys, some brothels may be open but only to provide historical perspective. Because music is presented at six different venues across town, you will have ample opportunity to explore and experience our many shops and businesses.

Our website has information about lodging accommodations as well as multiple festival RV and camping locations within and just outside of Wallace. We will also again have a free trolley that runs thru the Silver Valley corridor for the duration of the Fri-Sat events to transport festival attendees to and from their lodging locations.

Please visit our website for artist bios, schedules and a wealth more information about the festival and the many other friendly businesses in our area. Thanks for considering the Historic Wallace Blues Festival. Long live the blues.

Historic Wallace Blues Festival performed at the Center of the Universe.