“Bigger, Better, More Depressing than Ever” is the slogan of the 13th annual Texas Blues Festival, which will be held on the brick streets of downtown Tyler on April 25 from noon to midnight.
This event is sponsored by the City of Tyler, Heart of Tyler Main Street Program and Rick’s on the Square.
“It was started to draw people to downtown Tyler,” Beverly Abell, director of Heart of Tyler Main Street Program, said
The Blues Festival can attract as many as 4,000 people during the day. The first 100 people to attend will receive a pair of Texas Blues Festival sunglasses.
“This is a great event that will be 12 solid hours of music,” Abell said.
The Texas Blues Festival will feature many high-profile bands such as Larry Garner Blues Band, Lil’ Dave Thompson, Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat, Big Smoo and the Trailer Park as well as many others.
“We will have a lot of great bands,” Rick Eltife, owner of Rick’s on the Square, said.
Abell said she is getting phone calls from out-of-state people interested in coming into town to listen to their favorite bands. She has had many interested callers from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and many from all around Texas.
“Many of my family members are traveling from the Houston area to attend the festival and are very excited,” TJC student Whitney Flewellen said.
Besides the many bands that will be playing, souvenirs like t-shirts and limited edition posters will be sold. Anyone interested in purchasing anything should arrive early. Food and alcoholic beverages will be available to adults over the age of 21.
Tickets are available in advance online at TXBluesFest.com for $15 and will be available at the gate for $20. There is no age requirement to attend.
Parking will be easily accessible around the downtown area, but some roads will be closed. Ferguson Street from Broadway Avenue to Bois D’Arc Avenue, College Avenue from Locust Street to Elm Street and Erwin Street will be closed.
“This event is the gamut of the blues,” Abell said.
