Boogie-woogie pianist Marcia Ball headlines the Coeur d'Alene Blues Fest.
The Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival was named Best Blues Festival by the Inland Empire Blues Society during its annual awards ceremony in November. The festival won over the Winthrop Blues Festival, as well as the very popular outdoor Rock Cut Blues Festival.
This marks the third year in a row that the Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival has taken top honors, which makes it a Hall of Fame winner. (Hall of Famers are not eligible to win the same award for another three years.)
Plans are well underway for the ninth annual festival, March 23-25 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The “soul swingin’ weekend” again features some of the best talent in local, regional and national artists, celebrating the best of modern blues.
The festival has already confirmed headliners for Saturday’s main event. Five-time Grammy nominee Marcia Ball from Austin mixes Gulf Coast blues, New Orleans R&B, swampy Louisiana ballads, and jumping, Tex-Mex flavored zydeco into a one-of-a-kind musical gumbo, a sound she has been perfecting over the course of her legendary career. The award-winning Andy T Band of Nashville features vocalist “Alabama Mike” Benjamin and blazing guitarist Anson Funderburgh from Nashville.
Three Northwest favorites also take the stage Saturday: the Rose City Kings from Portland, the Rafael Tranquilino Band from Seattle, and Spokane-based Charlie Butts and The Filtertips.
Exciting newcomer Shoot Jake will play the Friday night Blues Cruise; this rockin’ young trio from Kennewick, Wash., joins another Inland Northwest favorite, The Sidemen. And the Sara Brown Band entertains on Sunday’s Blues Cruise Brunch.
Other popular bands on the line-up include The MasterClass Big Band’s Rhythm & Blues Revue, The Doghouse Boyz, and Coeur d’Alene’s own Paul Mata and Don Chilcott. A V.I.P. meet and greet is on tap at the Hagadone penthouse suite.
Tickets for the 2018 festival are on sale now. Saturday festival tickets are just $39. Room packages that include all-access passes will also be available.
The Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival is brought to you by The Coeur d’Alene Resort and Too Far North Productions. Visit www.cdabluesfestival.com.