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