The 2019 edition of the Silver City Blues Festival includes new bands, new partners, new vendors, and a new focus: celebrating our creative community. Of course, you can still expect to hear great blues music with great people in a great small town setting.
This year’s festival continues to be free for all to enjoy. It is supported by many local businesses and individual blues lovers. The festival kicks off on Friday, May 24, at 5:00 pm. Music by the Rudy Boy Experiment starts at 6:30 pm. Be sure to visit the Gila Glass Classic Flame Off at dusk with artisans from across the southwest. There have also been rumors of 'Fire Dancers'...not something you want to miss. Saturday, May 25 features headliner, Grady Champion, a Grammy Award-winning performer from Canton, Mississippi. Also, living blues legend, Guitar Shorty returns to Silver City! Sunday, May 26 features fun party band, Felix y Los Gatos from Albuquerque.
The 2019 Blues Festival will have something for everyone – from harmonica stars, young blues prodigies to local performers, and unique vendors. There are several new and returning attractions this year for the whole family to enjoy.
- Friday, May 24, Silver City’s very own Glasserie will put on the Gila Glass Classic Flame-Off.
- Paint Out Silver! A plein air painting competition in collaboration with Silver City Art Association
- Steamroller printing: the Southwest Print Fiesta signature activity comes to the Blues Festival
- 9th Annual Kneeling Nun Bike Run
- NEW! Paradox Traveling Art Bus from El Paso, Tx
- The festival will also be hosting demonstrations from local artists and organization
- Over 69 craft and food vendors
More festival information and links to band websites are available at www.silvercitybluesfestival.org.
Please come out and support the Mimbres Region Arts Council in its mission of nurturing a creative community.
COMING TO SILVER CITY
From Mississippi to Kansas, Los Angeles to Houston, and of course, the enchanted state of New Mexico, see all these great performers, here...in Silver!
NEW! PRESENTING SPONSORLITTLE TOAD BREWS FOR BLUES!
RETURNING! 2019 Beer & Spirits Pavilion by local brewer LITTLE TOAD CREEK
We are excited to announce the return of locally owned and operated, Little Toad Creek Brewery and Distillery as the host of the 2019 Beer & Spirits Pavilion AND the Presenting Sponsor for the 2019 Blues Festival !. Look for their creative concoctions and inspiring brews. Note: There will be NO ENTRY FEE to the Beer and Spirits Pavilion! Be sure to thank and tip your servers as usual.
Check out the Saturday Night All-Star Blues Jam at Little Toad, 201 N. Bullard Street for post-festival jam! Music starts at 9 pm.
Come support this great local business at the Festival or visit them at 201 N. Bullard Street...or both!
NEW! PARADOX TRAVELING ART BUS
MOBILE ART SPACE COMES TO SILVER CITY
Paradox Traveling Art is mobile art installation created by El Paso/Juarez artist Laura Turon. This art piece is also presented as the first mobile art gallery in El Paso, housed within a converted school bus. The artistic concept portrays a mobile art gallery as an art piece itself, as one that travels and move beyond the gallery’s walls. The project features mobile murals and art installations.
Artist, Laura Turon partnered up with the EM Lab at the University of Texas-El Paso to develop new ways to combine science and art to present complex concepts visually. Together they will collaborate to create a series of art installations focusing on visual representations of the EM Lab technologies and art concepts by Mrs. Turon. These will be installed inside Paradox Traveling Art bus-but also adaptable as a series of traveling exhibitions to inspire, educate, and motivate visitors.
For more information click HERE.
GILA GLASS CLASSIC FLAME OFFRETURNS TO BLUES FESTIVAL!
Starts Friday, May 24 at dusk and runs all weekend long
RETURNING! PAINT OUT! SILVER
Plein Air painting event now includes Blues Festival park
The Silver City Art Association (SCAA) and Mimbres Regional Arts Council (MRAC) invites Plein Air artists to “Paint Out Silver!” in conjunction with the Silver City Blues Festival. Open to all artists over the age of 18 and all media. Awards include; Best of Show – $250, (2) Awards of Distinction -$125. The Silver City Visitors Center will host the Plein Air Competition art exhibit for the month of June. People’s Choice will be awarded at the Awards Reception held June 21st, 4:00 PM-5:30 PM at the Visitors Center, 201 N. Hudson Street.
Click HERE for more details.
RETURNING!STEAM ROLLER PRINTING
Southwest Print Fiesta's signature event comes to Blues Festival
One of Silver City's newest traditions, the Southwest Print Fiesta is bringing its signature event to the blues festival; Steamroller printing. Hand carved lino cuts that will be printed as one of a kind t-shirts....with a mini "steam" roller.
You have to see it to believe it!
The Southwest Print Fiesta will be held October 11-13, 2019 in Silver City.
For more information about this great event visit: www.southwestprintfiesta.org
KNEELING NUN BIKE RUN
Great Events and Bike Run - Bikers Welcome
RETURNING!SUNDAY MORNING ART WALK
Sunday, May 26 - 10 am-2 pm
VOLUNTEER
Starts Friday, May 24 at 5pm and runs all weekend long
LEND A HAND! INSPIRE GENERATIONS...
This event could not happen if it wasn't for the help of many hands. Consider volunteering for a few hours during the festival to ensure all generations can have a safe, clean, and enjoyable event. There are lots of meaningful and fun ways to help. Bring a friend!
Click HERE if you would like to learn more about volunteer at Blues Festival
SUPPORT THE BLUES FESTIVAL!Keep This Festival And Community Tradition FREE For All !
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
The 24th Annual Silver City Blues Festival needs YOUR financial support to meet the rising expenses of producing one of the last "free" festivals in the southwest. We want to make sure everyone can continue to enjoy the Blues in Gough Park. The festival has become a family tradition, a weekend under the beautiful skies of New Mexico in Silver City's own Gough Park. Enjoy decadent culinary offerings, handcrafted artisan wares and plenty of activities for kids.
- The average costs of the Blues Festival per person (including children) is almost $20.00!
- Expenses continue to rise, and our local businesses do the best they can to support this event.
Mimbres Region Arts Council is committed to keeping this a FREE FESTIVAL for all. Access to the arts is critical!
You can "Save the Blues" with a contribution to the 24th Annual Blues Festival. Help MRAC continue to stage Silver City's Memorial Day tradition.
Click here to make a contribution to support this year's festival through GIVE GRANDLY! on May 11. Donations can be made anytime through June 1.