Keokuk’s ‘Rollin’ on The River’ Blues Festival is This Weekend

Keokuk's "Rollin' on The River" Blues Festival is this weekend. The annual Blues festival is going into its 31^st year and has become a premier venue for the promotion of the Musical Arts in the Tri-State Area.

The two-day Blues Festival, to be held this Friday and Saturday, offers both contemporary and venerable Blues & Roots acts on stage, with a fan base locally and from all around the mid-west.

Since 2012, "Rollin’ on The River" has used their profits for the event to offer scholarships to high school seniors from the area who intend to major or minor in music at a college or university. They have awarded a total of 20 scholarships since the inception of this program.

Another way they have chosen to promote interest in the musical arts is through their free “Young People’s Workshops and Activities” on Saturday afternoon. This year they will have a Harmonica Workshop, Percussion Workshop, a “Young People’s Open Mic” hour, where young folks can show off their musical talents.

New this year is an Art & Painting Workshop where participants have the opportunity to learn some basic instructions in painting and then create their own painting to take home. There is absolutely no charge for these Saturday afternoon events.

The  "Rollin' on The River" Blues Festival will be held on the riverfront at Victory Park in Keokuk. Tickets are $15 per night, $25 at gate or $22 in advance. Here is this year’s lineup:

FRIDAY

4:30-5:30    Tent entertainment  Bo Casey

6:00-7:30    Whiskey Friends of S.E. Iowa.

7:45-9:15    Laurie Morvan

9:30-Close  Billy Jones Blues Band

SATURDAY

4:00- 6:00   Tent Entertainment Noah McNally

6:00-7:30    The Other Brothers

7:45-9:15    Lauren Mitchell

9:30-Close  Jason Dee Williams

For ticket and more information, go to: www.rollinontheriverkeokuk.com, Rollin on the River Blues Fest on Facebook or follow them on Twitter@rorbluesfest.