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SPARTA (EVANSVILLE) BLUES FESTIVAL

The 2008 Sparta Blues Festival
featured the bands Homegrown Review, Los Carnales Band, Melissa Neels Band, Lew Jetton and 61 South, and Billy Peek. And a move to a new location! The Sparta Blues Festival has become a jewel in the crown of Illinois Blues Festival, bringing in some incredible talent over the years. Koko Taylor, Delbert McClinton, Gatemouth Brown, Michael Burks....the list goes on. Driven by a love of the Blues - no doubt inspired by her father Jim Gentry - Fest Director Debbie Klausing and her dedicated staff have always drawn fans from all over Illinois and Missouri with some great musical lineups, and with the support of the City of Sparta, a town that embraced it's musical heritage. That was through 2007. The year 2008 brought a new mayor and administration, and almost brought an end to the Sparta Blues Fest.

Yet, there's no denying the power of music. Along came the town of Evansville, Ill. located on the Kaskaskia river, the gang over at the Water Street Bar & Grill, and a new location for the Sparta Blues fest. It's hard to relocate an event the size of the Sparta fest, but they did an admirable job, contending with a flooded fest ground the week before. Anytime you can take a great Blues festival, and add the scenic backdrop of the Kaskaskia river, it's hard to beat. Maybe add a train passing nearby, a lonesome whistle, as if on cue, and it'd be perfect. The Water Street Bar & Grill provides a great place to seek shade and libations, located right along the floating stage complex. Visit the Sparta Blues Festival website at www.spartablues.com for more information.

Congratulations to Debbie and her hard working staff for keeping the blues alive! Enjoy our photo gallery below, and mark the Sparta Blues Festival on your list of must-do fests in 2009. Tell them STLBlues sent you!


 
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Sparta Blues Festival 2008
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    Sparta Blues Festival 2008
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    The introduction, by fest director Debi Jo
  • Sparta Blues Festival 2008
    Color Guard Ceremony
  • Sparta Blues Festival 2008
    Sparta Blues Festival 2008
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    Sparta Blues Festival 2008
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    Sparta Blues Festival 2008
  • Sparta Blues Festival 2008
    Boaters on the Kaskaskia
  • Sparta Blues Festival 2008
    Los Carnales Blues Band
  • Melissa Neels Blues Band
  • Melissa Neels Blues Band
    Melissa Neels Blues Band
  • Melissa Neels Blues Band
    Melissa Neels Blues Band
  • Waterfront Grill
    Water Street Bar $ Grill
  • Waterfront Grill
    Water Street Bar $ Grill

Sparta Blues Festival 2008
 
 

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