19th Annual Riverfront Blues Festival - June 26-27

It’s that time of year again! The 19^th annual Riverfront Blues Festival is slated for June 26-27 at Fort Smith’s Harry E. Kelley Riverfront Park. Admission is $5 per day and kids under 12 get in free with an adult.

According to the Riverfront Blues Fest website, the Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Society was organized in 1993 by local blues fans. Their mission is to support the American form of music known as Blues, and also the redevelopment of downtown Fort Smith. Funding for such activities is provided through society membership dues, donations (both corporate and private), as well as fundraising.

Blues Fest is not the society’s only fundraiser; the group holds many fundraisers to support the festival and also maintains the Barry Ratliff Memorial fund that enables young musicians to obtain annual college scholarship. Also, the Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Society provides the “Blues in the Schools” educational program to area schools.

The lineup for the 19^th annual Riverfront Blues Festival is as follows:

The Robert Cray Band

Jackie Greene

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

Roomful of Blues

Curtis Salgado

Eric Lindell

The Soul of John Black

Smilin’ Bob & the Bushwhackers

If you’re planning on attending Blues Fest, don’t forget your blankets and lawn chairs for seating. Your driver’s license is required to purchase alcoholic beverages, which will be on sale at the venue. The Blues Festival does not allow camping, pets, coolers, camcorders, or other recording devices. Also, the Blues Festival will not allow swimming or wading in the Arkansas River or access to the festival by boat. The show will continue on stage despite inclement weather, unless there are severely heavy rains, dangerous conditions, high winds or lightning. The show may pause and resume in response to certain weather conditions, but no alternate location will be used and the festival will not be rescheduled. There is a free paved bike parking lot near the entrance gate which will be available on a first come first served basis.

More information about the Riverfront Blues Society and the Riverfront Blues Festival can be found here.