Downtown Toledo Blues Events

"One of the nicest urban discoveries I ever stumbled upon in another city was a blues festival taking place in a downtown plaza ..."

A rock and blues festival used to be held in downtown Toledo at Promenade Park. It used to be a weekend event, and then I think the Black Swamp Blue Society sponsored a one-day blues festival at Promenade Park. Or maybe both occurred each year.

From the Wayback Machine about the 2001 event:

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Miller Lite Rock, Rhythm, & Blues Festival
Memorial Day Weekend
Fri, May 25 - 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sat & Sun, May 26-27 - 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Location – Promenade and Festival Parks on the banks of the Maumee River in the heart of the Downtown Business District.

Attendance – Three day Festival attendance 100,000

Event Description - This year marks the 13th anniversary of this popular downtown festival. Festival goers will be treated to a mix of the nation’s best Blues and Rock & Roll artists from across the country. Blues artists perform throughout this annual festival and National headliners cap each evening’s entertainment. The Harley Davidson / Buell American Hog Walk will return by popular demand to showcase an the area’s hottest motorcycles and apparel. Festival Park will host the area’s largest BBQ Pit as local churches crank up the heat and their spits for some prime-time, finger-licking, festival fun!

Schedule:

May 25, 2001
5:00 PM The Mighty Meaty Swing Kings (Local Big Band Swing)
7:00 PM David Clayton Thomas and Blood, Sweat & Tears (National Recording Artists)

May 26, 2001
1:00 PM Art & Roman Griswold - Johnny Reed, Laurie Swyers (The Best of Toledo Blues)
2:00 PM Eddie and Jimmy Burns - Motor City Blues Brothers
3:00 PM Jerry McCain & Willie Kings Mississippi Juke Joint
5:30 PM The Holmes Brothers (Blues)
7:00 PM Mickey Thomas Starship (National Recording Artists)

May 27, 2001
1:00 PM Joe Weaver, Stanley Mitchell, Kenny Martin (Motor City Motown Review)
2:00 PM Al Hill and The Love Butlers (Blues)
3:00 PM Eddie Shaw, Sam Lay, Abe Locke (Howlin Wolf Tribute)
4:30 PM Michael Burks Blues Band (Blues)
7:00 PM The John Entwhistle Band (National Recording Aritist)

#toledo - #music - #blues