Handy Blues Hits Henderson June 7-14
05/31/2008 10:35
A week-long festival with music, food and
celebration. The festival, held in beautiful downtown
Henderson, hosts performances in a wide variety of
blues styles, from gritty delta blues to smooth soul
to big horn bands.
Now in its 18th year, W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival has become one of the largest free music festivals in the nation, drawing attendants from almost every state and many countries. The festival was recently recognized by the Kentucky Main Street Program as the number one outdoor festival in Kentucky and was voted "One of the Top Ten Festivals" in the Commonwealth by the Kentucky Tourist Commission. The event is a celebration of the life and legacy of Henderson resident and "Father of the Blues," William Christopher Handy.
This year's festivities begin on Saturday, June
7 with the "Taste of Henderson" with barbecue of all
varieties sold by local teams and great live music in
Henderson's Central Park. Live music at the scenic
Audubon Mill Park on the Henderson Riverfront
continues every night from Wednesday, June 11, to
Saturday, June 14. Throughout the week, there will be
a host of other events, including the Mardi
Gras-style William Branaman Street Strut Peoples
Parade, Handy Lunch Breaks at local eateries,
exhibits, children's events and more.
Festival Guides are now available and can be picked up at the Henderson Welcome Center. For more information about the festival, call the Henderson County Tourist Commission at 1-800-648-3128, or go to www.handyblues.org
The schedule for this year's festival is:
Saturday, June 7
Taste of Henderson - barbecue and live music! Kicks off at 9:00 am.
10:00 am - 8th Annual Poker Run
11:00 am - "Taste of Henderson" - come see why Henderson is famous for its barbecue!
Live music, including:
11:30 am - Chad Nordhoff
1:00 pm - Mojo Peddlers
3:00 pm - Velveeta Jones
5:30 pm - The Daddy Mack Blues Band
Monday, June 9
11:45 am - Handy Lunch Breaks - live music in local eateries
Tuesday, June 10
11:45 am - Handy Lunch Breaks - live music in local eateries
Wednesday, June 11 - Red, White and Blues Night
11:45 am - Handy Lunch Breaks - live music in local eateries
Live music at Audubon Mill Park:
4:00 pm - Hog Maw Blues Band
5:30 pm - Eddie Shaw and the Wolfgang
6:00pm -Children's Celebration - hands-on art activities
7:15 pm - Ana Popovic
9:15 pm - Ronnie Baker Brooks
Thursday, June 12 - Zydeco Night with Red Beans and Rice
11:00 am - Children's Art Camp & Umbrella Workshop
11:45 am - Handy Lunch Breaks - live music in local eateries
Live music at Audubon Mill Park, including:
4:00 pm - Huckleberrys
5:30 pm - Dennis Stroughmatt and Creole Stomp
8:30 pm - Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
Friday, June 13 - Riverbank Blues Blast
Live music at Audubon Mill Park, including:
12:00 pm - Blues 4U
2:00 pm - Small Train - Featuring Jesse Sellers
4:00 pm - The Stella Vees
6:00 pm - The Beat Daddys
8:00 pm - Tad Robinson
10:00 pm - Zac Harmon
Saturday, June 14 - Java Blues Jam
10:00 am - The William Branaman Street Strut People's Parade
Live music at Audubon Mill Park, including:
12:00 pm - Jimmy Duck Holmes
2:00 pm - BooBoo Davis Band
4:00 pm - Organiks
6:00 pm - Alexis P. Suter
8:00 pm - Big James and the Chicago Playboys
10:00 pm - Bernard Allison
Now in its 18th year, W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival has become one of the largest free music festivals in the nation, drawing attendants from almost every state and many countries. The festival was recently recognized by the Kentucky Main Street Program as the number one outdoor festival in Kentucky and was voted "One of the Top Ten Festivals" in the Commonwealth by the Kentucky Tourist Commission. The event is a celebration of the life and legacy of Henderson resident and "Father of the Blues," William Christopher Handy.
Festival Guides are now available and can be picked up at the Henderson Welcome Center. For more information about the festival, call the Henderson County Tourist Commission at 1-800-648-3128, or go to www.handyblues.org
The schedule for this year's festival is:
Saturday, June 7
Taste of Henderson - barbecue and live music! Kicks off at 9:00 am.
10:00 am - 8th Annual Poker Run
11:00 am - "Taste of Henderson" - come see why Henderson is famous for its barbecue!
Live music, including:
11:30 am - Chad Nordhoff
1:00 pm - Mojo Peddlers
3:00 pm - Velveeta Jones
5:30 pm - The Daddy Mack Blues Band
Monday, June 9
11:45 am - Handy Lunch Breaks - live music in local eateries
Tuesday, June 10
11:45 am - Handy Lunch Breaks - live music in local eateries
Wednesday, June 11 - Red, White and Blues Night
11:45 am - Handy Lunch Breaks - live music in local eateries
Live music at Audubon Mill Park:
4:00 pm - Hog Maw Blues Band
5:30 pm - Eddie Shaw and the Wolfgang
6:00pm -Children's Celebration - hands-on art activities
7:15 pm - Ana Popovic
9:15 pm - Ronnie Baker Brooks
Thursday, June 12 - Zydeco Night with Red Beans and Rice
11:00 am - Children's Art Camp & Umbrella Workshop
11:45 am - Handy Lunch Breaks - live music in local eateries
Live music at Audubon Mill Park, including:
4:00 pm - Huckleberrys
5:30 pm - Dennis Stroughmatt and Creole Stomp
8:30 pm - Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
Friday, June 13 - Riverbank Blues Blast
Live music at Audubon Mill Park, including:
12:00 pm - Blues 4U
2:00 pm - Small Train - Featuring Jesse Sellers
4:00 pm - The Stella Vees
6:00 pm - The Beat Daddys
8:00 pm - Tad Robinson
10:00 pm - Zac Harmon
Saturday, June 14 - Java Blues Jam
10:00 am - The William Branaman Street Strut People's Parade
Live music at Audubon Mill Park, including:
12:00 pm - Jimmy Duck Holmes
2:00 pm - BooBoo Davis Band
4:00 pm - Organiks
6:00 pm - Alexis P. Suter
8:00 pm - Big James and the Chicago Playboys
10:00 pm - Bernard Allison