Coeur d'Alene Blues Festival headliner Ana Popovic is a potent singer and guitar slinger.
After a two-year pandemic hiatus the Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival returns with its annual soul swingin’ weekend, March 25-27 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in north Idaho. Hear the best of modern blues at events ranging from the popular Blues Cruise to Saturday’s Main Event, featuring music by five bands.
Music kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the resort with Bubble and Squeak in the lobby followed from 4-7 p.m. by Doghouse Boyz at Whispers Lounge and Rusty and Ginger in the Terrace.
The Blues Cruise, featuring two bands playing on two boats, boards at 7 p.m. and features music by the Bobby Patterson Band and Montana fave, the Kenny James Miller Band ($32.50).
Music starts at 12:30 p.m. Saturday with the Rooftop Blues Party featuring Diego Romero at the Terrace Lounge; Rusty and Ginger entertain at Whisper’s from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Saturday’s main event, from 4 p.m.-midnight in the Resort Convention Center, features non-stop music ($44.50, advance purchase only). Headliners include award-winning guitar slinger and singer Ana Popovic – called “one helluva a guitar-player” by Bruce Springsteen and a nominee for six Blues Music Awards – and Idaho native John Németh, who has an uncanny ability to blend retro and modern blues and soul into compelling music that’s simultaneously old and new.
Lloyd Jones Struggle, a Portland band, opens the show with his swampy sound, back-porch picking, and blend of funk, soul and old-school R&B. Also from Portland is the Rae Gordon Band, serving up a potent stew of gritty blues and heartfelt soul – driven by Gordon’s soaring vocals driven by searing guitar counterpoint, high-energy horns and a hard-driving rhythm section. Whack A Mole rounds out the Main Event roster with a mix of rock, Motown, funk and disco.
Top off the weekend with the Blues Breakfast at Dockside Restaurant, served from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday with music by Bubble and Squeak and Diego Romero.
Call 855-703-4648 for details or order tickets online.