Billtown Blues Association organizers are coming down the home stretch after a year-long preparation for their signature event, the Billtown Blues Festival, now celebrating 32 years of the blues music art form.
There will be no deviation from the event’s reputation of securing world-class nationally known performers, exposing those on the cusp, and providing a first-class event to showcase treasured local and regional artists. “Always an interesting and diverse program,” “comfortable and relaxing,” “family-oriented,” and “quality and class” is common language used when describing this grandfather of nationally known blues festivals.
This year’s event offers a long-standing tradition with Williamsport’s sweetheart organization, the Uptown Music Collective filling two spots in the lineup: kicking off on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Along the way, local and regional acts will prove once again the incredible talent within our reach. Coming to Billtown for the first time from Ithaca, NY, is Raedwald Howland-Bolton — a must-see purveyor of the bedrock of American blues. Ann Kerstetter will quickly take charge of the stage with her flamboyant delivery and powerful vocals as she fires up the audience; for a Billtown favorite, the Billy Price Band, is coming to Billtown with his 7-piece Pittsburgh band.
Saturday will feature local favorite the Becky Blue Blues Band, followed by the organization’s 2022 Solo/Duo Audition winner Neil Tapp and Audition band winner Chris LaRose & the Hex Highway Blues Band.
Two festival returnees, hailing from Dublin, Georgia, EG Kight in trio format, and from Rhode Island, sax master Greg Piccolo in his 56th year of touring with his band Heavy Juice.
Fresh from the 43rd annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Sue Foley won Best Traditional Blues Album for “Pinky’s Blues” and the Koko Taylor Award for Traditional Blues Female Artist, repeating her 2020 win in the same category! Sue was also been nominated for a Canadian Juno Award for Blues Album of the Year; and for five Maple Blues Awards (which are given out in June): Electric Act of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Recording/Producer of the Year w/ Mike Flanigin and Guitarist of the Year. Sue Foley will be welcomed to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette stage on Saturday, June 11th.
Also, on Saturday, staying with the BBA’s formula of presenting traditional Chicago blues is the legendary guitarist and singer Lurrie Bell. Closing out Saturday and from Boston are GA-20. Fresh off a European tour and on the heels of their tribute to Hound Dog Taylor’s release, “Try It You Might Like It.” Having only been together since 2018, this young trio is way ahead of their time.
Sunday after the Billtown Gospel Review, we welcome local acoustic soloist Chris Purcell. From Atlanta, Georgia, Veronika Jackson will deliver a unique blend of acoustic folk, blues, R&B, and gospel — beautifully supported by her clean and expressive Piedmont-style guitar playing.
From their rousing set at the BBA’s Fall Into the Blues program in November, Slim and the Perkolators are chopping at the bit to play the Festival Stage. Also, from Georgia, a “twenty-something” making waves in a big way following his release “Little Black Flies” is Eddie 9V. And closing out the 32nd Annual Billtown Blues Festival on Sunday, June 12th from Wisconsin, the Cash Box Kings, known for taking Chicago blues to a whole new modern and refreshing level while not losing sight of the signature sound and groove. This will be a powerful closing set for this year’s festival.
All detail is available at http://www.billtownblues.org. Tickets are available online, by mail order, and walk-up at three convenient ticket outlet locations: CAC in Williamsport, The Lockard Agency in Hughesville, and by appointment in Lewisburg at pa2albania@yahoo.com.
