The Lorie Anne Hall Smith Blues Festival is coming back around the block this weekend after being canceled June 26 due to inclement weather.
The event, held in partnership with Old Munichburg Association will be noon-6 p.m. Aug. 28 on the 100 block of Dunklin Street with bands Buddha Blue, Joe Lewis and Kingdom Brothers in attendance.
In remembrance
The festival is named in remembrance of Lorie Ann Hall Smith, who was executive director of the MO Blues Association and owned Vines on Broadway. Smith died in December following complications from a heart procedure, and Vines on Broadway closed Jan. 31. The festival is meant to honor the late Smith, said Rebecca Fredrickson, president of the MO Blues Association.
"(Canceling in June) was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made but it seemed like the best decision at the time," said Fredrickson, as Smith had planned the festival to happen last year and it had to be canceled due to COVID-19. "But there's a lot of excitement."
Fredrickson said part of this excitement for the group's first street festival, which is sponsored by Missouri Arts Council along with local banks and businesses, has come from wanting to honor Smith's memory.
"(All of the sponsors) stuck with us; everybody has backed us up," Fredrickson said. "I think a lot of has been to honor Lorie Smith."
Preserving the blues
Admission to the market and the festival is free, but donations for the MO Blues Association are accepted. Additionally, MO Blues will be selling T-shirts and hats with the organization name and logo. Donations will go toward MO Blues programs, including Blues in the Schools, an educational program about the origins and continued relevance of blues music.
Fredrickson previously said MO Blues is hoping to hold a virtual program in October. She added donations to events like the blues festival are important because music and the arts often go underfunded in schools.
"We have found that since part of our mission is to preserve the blues, one way is bringing it to our kids," Fredrickson said, "and many times, (seeing nlues in schools) is their first exposure to it. It's a truly American art form."
Buddha Blue will take the stage from noon-2 p.m. Aug. 28 with Joe Lewis following from 2-4 p.m. and Kingdom Brothers closing from 4-6 p.m. The stage will be set up at the intersection of Madison and Dunklin streets. Frederick added all three bands have been recognized by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, which is a high honor among Blues musicians.
"We've got some really good bands lined up," she said.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair. Food and drinks will be available around Old Munichburg, including The Tavern, which will be selling drinks outside their 130 E. Dunklin St. location, and MO Blues will be offering soda, water and wine, Frederickson said.
The festival will be held in conjunction with the 9 a.m. Old Munichburg Saturday Market, and the Holy Guacamole competition will be taking place after - Fredrickson hopes the festival can bring attention to these organizations and local businesses in the area.
"People can make a whole day out of it," she said.
For more information about the festival, including weather-related updates and about upcoming events with MO Blues, visit their Facebook page at bit.ly/3k4YZWj.