Dear Friends and Supporters:

For those of you that supported the “Simply the Blues” blues festival from our 1st festival in 2004 and up until this year, thank you for everything that you have done. I am sorry to announce that Simple Man Enterprises, L.L.C. will no longer be producing our trademarked festival, “Simply The Blues” Blues festival. We also apologize for waiting so long to thank you and to make this announcement. This has been a very complicated decision to make and we wanted to take the time to make sure it was the right decision. This festival could not have been done without all the amazing sponsors, volunteers and friends that we have accumulated in the last six years.

While other events have lost sponsorship in the last year due to the economy, our festival has had the highest sponsorship that it has ever had. Our attendance was over 1,500 and that has been about the average over the last 3 years. Unfortunately, costs have risen, while the attendance has not and we feel that asking any more from our sponsors and friends, would not be fair to them and to do the things that we need to do to increase growth, would require greater sponsorship.

In order to cut costs and to keep it going, we feel we would negatively affect the quality of the festival and we do not want to turn this into a “parking lot” event. With all the great/legendary artists, the money raised for charities (over $17,000), the unique events (ie. “Simply The Blues” train, free harmonica workshops, sponsoring music at the Main St. Bar-B-Q contest, Blues in Schools, ect), bringing in attendees from all over the world and even the start of a music scholarship, we feel that this has not been a waste of our time or our sponsors/friends time and support.

Our motivation has been based on the benefits for the community of Ft. Madison and surrounding areas, the Blues community and the sponsors. The “Simply The Blues” organizers/volunteers are very proud of what we have been a part of and want to go out on a high note. Again, thanks to all of you for your friendship and support of the “Simply The Blues” Blues festival.

Sincerely,