The National Blues Museum And Entertainment, St. Louis
The National Blues Museum and Entertainment St. Louis, organizers of St. Louis Bluesweek today announced details about the premiere blues celebration for the region. August 25 through September 4, Bluesweek draws its significance from the best talent and most knowledgeable historians in the fabled St. Louis blues community.
Bluesweek 2011 is the first official event of the National Blues Museum, which will be taking shape inside downtown’s new Mercantile Exchange (MX) entertainment district. Organizers expect Bluesweek to become an annual signature event of the National Blues Museum.
“We welcome all of St. Louis to be a part of the historic significance that this region and its musicians have had in the world of music,” said Bluesweek organizer Mike Kociela of Entertainment St. Louis. “As important, the Bluesweek festival will be a great show!”
The central musical event is the August 26-27 St. Louis Bluesweek Festival at 6th and Washington, just outside the future home of the National Blues Museum. These shows will honor the wide range of musical styles that were born in St. Louis. Each show will be a compilation of the area’s most well-known and influential blues musicians. This premiere musical event is free and open to all ages.
The following weekend, September 2-3, will see another unforgettable blues party, the Soulard Blues Cruise. Patrons can see ten bands in ten different establishments for $10 each night. Wristbands will be available for purchase at any of the venues, the night of the show. In addition to these two all-weekend events, there will be an All-Star Blues Brunch, a Blues History Panel Discussion, Blues Workshops and the Second Annual Blues Awards, where musical legend Chuck Berry will accept the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The idea of a blues experience and hall of fame at the MX was first announced at last year’s Bluesweek. That idea quickly grew into the creation of a permanent, national home for blues music, just as other forms of music, including rock & roll and jazz, have national museums. The National Blues Museum is expected to open in 2013 at the corner of 6th and Washington in the Laurel building, part of the MX district.
"The blues has deep roots along Washington Avenue in downtown St. Louis," said Rob Endicott, Chairman of the NBM board. "So the MX location for the National Blues Museum is an obvious choice. We are proud that St. Louis Bluesweek is our kickoff event. This is just the first of many great events to take place in and around the NBM.”
