(GLOUCESTER, MA) – The eighth annual Gloucester Blues Festival returns to Cressy’s Beach at Stage Fort Park [Gloucester, Massachusetts] this Saturday, Aug. 10, with a lineup of award-winning artists, national touring acts and – for the first time in its history – forecasted good weather.
“We’ll have a bunch of different styles of blues, which is exciting and educational for the people who come,” said Paul Benjamin, owner and organizer of the festival. “This also gives people a chance to see artists they never get to see in Gloucester or in the area.”
Chris Beard, son of blues legend Joe Beard, will open at 11 a.m. The winner of Best Emerging Artist Album at this year’s Blues Music Awards, Amanda Fish, follows at 12:15pm with Newton native Tyler Morris joining her on stage.
Marquis Knox will pay homage to blues greats at 1:30pm. Darrell Nulisch, who’s played with David Maxwell, Ronnie Earl’s The Broadcasters and sung with James Cotton’s band on tour, will play at 2:45pm.
Damon Fowler will grace the stage with his guitar and voice at 4:15pm. Johnny Rawls will bring out his “Red Cadillac” and share his sound, which was crafted at the side of southern soul legend O.V Wright, from 5:45-7pm to close the show.
A beer garden and food and craft vendors will set up at Stage Fort. Refreshments from hamburgers and hotdogs to sausages and Mexican food will be available.