Blues by the Bay Festival

[Vicolette]

Pretty soon music festivals will be jamming from Chicago to Monterrey. Here's a heads up for folks heading south to Florida in April. If you are a blues enthusiast, plan on attending the Tampa Bay Blues Festival held at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. The line up of talent is always the best of the best with the stage seeing performers like Buddy Guy, Los Lobos, Robert Cray, George Thorogood and many more.

It's three days of soul searching, heart wrenching, and slow toe-tapping rifts with songs that tell it like it is. This year the festivals runs from April 13 through April 15, so make your plans for this 3-day weekend music-a-thon. You can buy single day tickets, 3-day passes, or go all out with a VIP package. Enjoy the St. Pete area, parks, museums, the Pier, fantastic seafood, and plenty of entertaining bars and bistros while in town.

[Geronimo-Giancila]

Yep, really looking forward to seeing Johnny Rawls at the Tampa Fest. Saw him perform at the BMA's last year and got a chance to chat with him briefly at the BMAs and when I ran into him earlier at the Rum Boogie. A real gentleman and a great performer.

[VenetianIsalnds]

here it's the line up for the dates 13, 14, & 15 April:

Friday, April 13, 2012
12:30 pm The Alexis P. Suter Band
2:30 pm Johnny Rawls
4:30 pm Delta Groove Harp Blast featuring Mitch Kashmar, Al Blake, & Big Pete
6:30 pm ROOMFUL OF BLUES
8:30 pm LOS LONELY BOYS

Saturday, April 14, 2012
11:30 pm Albert Castiglia
12:45 pm Toni Lynn Washington
2:30 pm The Mannish Boys
4:30 James Cotton Band with Darrell Nulisch
6:30 pm TOWER OF POWER
8:30 pm JIMMIE VAUGHAN

Sunday, April 15, 2012
1:00 pm Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges
2:30 pm Jimmy Thackery
4:30 pm Trampled Under Foot
6:30 pm CHARLES BRADLEY
8:30 pm DELBERT MCCLINTON

[motalniho]

i thought to mention that the festival will have after hours concert shows at NOVA 535 in downtown St. Petersburg. These concerts will begin immediately following the Blues Festival and continue until 2 a.m. the after hours party tickets will cost around $20 each. Don’t let the fun end too early!

[Vicolette]

The line-up is awesome, no two ways about it! Thanks for sharing the extra info about the after hours parties. It's definitely going to be three days of coolness and I don't mean the weather!

[backpackingSolo2]

we plan to stay in a hotel nearby the Blues Festival but not within walking distance, which I was told isn;t a good idea but to be honest I wouldn't mind driving to the festival if the hotel is going to cost half the price of one right by the festival.... I am just wondering though if we will run into parking issues if we drive in?

[dinoHadzic22]

uhm...parking should not be a problem since there a few garages where you can park for around $10 per day. There's also going to be a shuttle that runs along First Street that takes people to the Blues Fest, though with the huge crowds and craziness, driving or taking the shuttle is going to be manic. If i were you I'd book a hotel nearby now you have the chance...;)

[Vicolette]

Eliminating driving to the festival is a plus. You might want to consider one of the area bed and breakfasts. The Beach Drive Inn B&B is ideally suited. It faces the waterfront and Vinoy Park. Directly across from the B&B is the Renaissance Vinoy Resort if you're looking for upscale hotel accommodations. Check each for rates and if they have any special deal packages available during the festival. Good luck and enjoy!