Mark your calendars for the 18th Annual Carolina Downhome Blues Festival scheduled for October 2-4 in historic downtown Camden. This year’s event will feature multiple performances at various sites, including The Venue on Broad, Old Town Tavern and a new site for the festival -- 833 South Broad Street. The Carolina Downhome Blues Festival is an award-winning event recognized for featuring legendary blues artists from around the globe.
In 2003, the Department of South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism awarded the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival the coveted Festival of the Year Award. Since then, the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival has gained recognition on a national level, and has been featured in such publications as Southern Living magazine.
Produced and presented by the Fine Arts Center (FAC) of Kershaw County, this year’s Blues Festival will follow the tradition of presenting a slate of new musicians as well as some old favorites. Now in its 18th year, the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival continues to be a must-do weekend in the Carolinas, drawing music fans from around the southeast. There will be blues for all tastes, from the swamps of Louisiana, to the outback of Australia and all points in between.
This year’s sponsors include the city of Camden, First Citizens, Heritage Chevrolet Buick, Alpine Agency, South Carolina ENT Allergy & Sleep Medicine, and Budweiser. The FAC was also granted funding by the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism to help promote this year’s event. Our host hotels will be the Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Colony Inn in Camden.
This year’s Carolina Downhome Blues Festival will feature artists from all across the nation and even the world. Scheduled to appear this year (artists and schedule subject to change without notice):
Harper & Midwest Kind -- (Australia/Michigan) World Blues Fusion (www.harper.biz or www.reverbnation.com/harperandmidwestkind)
Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys -- (Louisanna) Zydeco Party Band
Billy Thompson Band (Washington, DC) Rockin' Electric Blues (www.billythompsonmusic.com or www.reverbnation.com/billythompsonband)
Bill Howl-N-Madd Perry & The Perry Family Band -- (Mississippi) Electric Mississippi Delta Blues (www.hillcountryharmonica.com/bill_howlnmadd_perry and www.reverbnation.com/billhowlnmaddperry)
Little Bit A Blues featuring Warner Williams, Jay Summerour & Eric Selby -- (Washington, D.C.) Piedmont Blues & Country Roots (www.littlebitablues.com and www.ericselby.com)
Norman Taylor -- (New Jersey) Contemporary Acoustic Blues (www.normantaylormusic.com)
Robert Lighthouse -- (Sweden/Washington, DC) Acoustic Delta Blues (www.robertlighthouse.com)
Floyd Wilson & The Chicago Electrophonic Blues Band -- (Chicago) Electric Blues (www.blues.gr/profiles/blogs/chicago-bluesman-floyd-wilson-talks-about-teachings-consolation)
John Long -- (Missouri) Acoustic Delta Blues (www.johnlongblues.com)
The Hollerers -- (Georgia) Blues Rock (www.reverbnation.com/thehollerers)
Brett Barnard & The Hitman Band -- (Georgia) Blues Rock (www.reverbnation.com/brettbarnardandthehitmanband)
All access armbands are $15 each for Friday and Saturday. A full schedule with location sites and times will be announced soon! For more up to date information, tickets and more, please visit the FAC web site at www.fineartscenter.org.
The FAC is a non-profit organization which serves as a county-wide center for the arts. The FAC Campus is located at 810 Lyttleton St. in Camden, with office hours Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The FAC is funded in part by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding provided by the city of Camden, Kershaw County and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, along with donations from businesses and individuals.
