history
Dedicated to Lansing
Michigan BluesFest started in 1994. Lansing’s alternative radio station, 92.1 WWDX, signed on as media sponsor, and MessageMakers became its founding business sponsor.
The festival featured such renowned artists as Kid Rock, Marcy Playground, Duncan Sheik, Nineteen Wheels and local showstoppers such as Powerface, Knee Deep Shag, The Lash, and The Weepers.
For 2002, the festival committee decided to transform the fall music festival into Old Town BluesFest and was pleased to announce 94.9 WMMQ as the new radio sponsor.
In its early years, the festival brought out roughly 2,000 people; now that has increased to over 5,000.
BluesFest’s updated format has featured nationally recognized blues artists such as Junior Watson, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, W.C. Clark, Carl Weathersby, Sharrie Williams, Smokin’ Joe Kubek, Bnois King, Reverend Raven, Toni Lynn Washington, Byther Smith, Grana’ Louise, bugs Beddow band, Alberta Adams, A.C. Reid, Son Seals, plus popular performers from around the state such as Lady Sunshine and the X Band, Calvin Cooke and Sacred Steel Ensemble, Mojo Phoenix, Those Delta Rhythm Kings, Root Doctor, Doug Deming and the All Stars, JR Clark, and The Automatic Blues Band. (More detailed list of past artists are available.)
Michigan BluesFest is THE place to listen and dance to the sounds of a powerful blues beat.
BluesFest 2020 Held Online
in response to COVID-19
Festival’s producer Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art announced that the annual Michigan JazzFest will be a week-long interactive on-line experience held from the 13th to the 20th of September. It will be conducted in tandem with Michigan BluesFest.
“Our festival’s team felt that it is in the best interests of fans, volunteers and musicians to host virtual concerts this year”, said Marcus Sigh, MICA’s new Operations Manager.
Although there will be no public street performances, programming will be expanded with live streaming from sound stages in Old Town, Lansing plus live performances from across the US, Europe and South America.
JazzFest 2020 will also feature newly recorded live performances, video highlights from last 20+ years, music workshops, KidzBeat activities, ability to virtually meet with musicians and much more.
Schedule, musicians, how to participate, registration, and sponsor opportunities will be announced soon at micharts.org.
privacy statement
Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA), producer of Lansing JazzFest, Michigan BluesFest, and MICA Gallery, shares your concern about personal privacy and security of information. This statement explains MICA’s policies regarding this important topic. When you visit any of MICA’s websites, the following information about you is collected and stored:
The name of the domain from which you access the Internet;
the date and time at which you access the website; and the Internet address of the website from which you linked directly to our website.
MICA may use this information to measure the number of visitors to the different sections of each of its websites, allowing MICA to make its sites more responsive to visitors’ needs. MICA will only obtain personally identifying information about you if you choose to provide it to us. If you choose to send e-mail or other personal information over the Internet, you do so voluntarily.
MICA will not disclose personal information you provide unless you request that we do so (orally, in writing, by telephone, electronically, or by other means we recognize) or the disclosure is required by law, such as pursuant to court order, subpoena, legal process or government agency examination or investigation.
By using any of MICA’s websites, you agree that you understand and consent to this privacy statement.
If you have any concerns about this privacy policy, please contact us at 517-371-4600 or mica@micharts.org.