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Billtown Blues Association organizers are coming down the home stretch after a year-long preparation for their signature event, the Billtown Blues Festival, now 32 years of celebrating 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 of breakthrough, and providing a first-class event to showcase treasured local and regional artists.
"Always an interesting and diverse program," "comfortable and relaxing," "family oriented," "quality and class" are common descriptions for this grandfather of nationally known blues festivals.
This year's event offers long standing tradition with Williamsport's sweetheart organization, the Uptown Music Collective, filling two spots in the lineup: kicking off on Friday at 6 p.m. and on Sunday at 11 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, New York, is Raedwald Howland-Bolton...a must-see purveyor of the bed rock 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, returning with his seven-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 following the audition band winner, Chris LaRose & the Hex Highway Blues Band.
Next on Saturday are 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 came away as a double winner for 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 has also been nominated for a Canadian Juno Award (Mid May) 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 with Mike Flanigin and Guitarist of the Year. Sue Foley will be welcomed to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette stage on Saturday, June 11.
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, from Boston, are GA-20. Fresh off a European tour and on the heels of their tribute to Hound Dog Taylor release, "Try It, You Might Like It." This young trio, having only been together since 2018, are 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
chomping at the bit to play the Festival Stage. Also from Georgia, a "20-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 12, from Wisconsin, the Cash Box Kings, known for taking Chicago blues to a whole new modern and refreshing level while not losing site of the signature sound and groove. This will be a powerful closing set for this year's festival.
All details are available at www.billtownblues.org. Tickets are available online, by mail order, and in person at three convenient locations: Community Arts Center in Williamsport, The Lockard Agency in Hughesville and by appointment in Lewisburg at pa2albania@yahoo.com.