The Sarasota Blues Fest was an annual music festival held at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. In addition to all day live entertainment, the festival has vendors selling a wide array of food, drink and crafts.
History The Sarasota Blues Fest was started in 1991 by the Sarasota Blues Society. They went bankrupt in 1992. Concert producer Barbara Strauss took over the Sarasota Blues Fest in 1993. The festival is now incorporated by Strauss's company, Sovereign Ventures, Inc. The festival was originally held at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds but moved to Ed Smith Stadium Complex in 2006. In 2011 The Sarasota Blues Fest and all rights to the name and property was purchased by ExtremeTix Inc., a Houston-based Ticketing Solutions and Event Services company.
Charity Partial proceeds from the event go to a charity. Past recipients of donations have included United Cerebral Palsy, Police Athletic League Sailor Circus Capital Campaign, United Way, Florida Center for Child and Family Development & All Faiths Food Bank.
Past performers 1993 - Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, Derek Trucks, Chris Anderson 1994 - Gregg Allman & Friends, Junior Wells, Michael Farris, Twinkle, Lil' Ed & The Blues Emperials 1995 - Buddy Guy, Chris Duarte, Sandra Hall, Josh Smith 1996 - Dr. John, Tab Benoit, Lady Bianca, Lucky Peterson, Floyd Miles, Sean Chambers 1997 - The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Tinsley Ellis, Bill Wharton "The Sauce Boss" 1998 - Jimmie Vaughan, Gregg Allman, Derek Trucks, Bernard Allison, Mary Cutrofello 1999 - Booker T & the MG's, Deborah Coleman, Henry "Son" Seals, Bryan Lee, Steven Seagal w/Dickey Betts & Lee Sklyr 2000 - Gregg Allman & Friends, Lonnie Brooks, E.C. Scott, Walter Trout & The Free Radicals 2001 - Delbert McClinton, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Hubert Sumlin, Liz Manville Greeson, Walter Smith 2002 - Jeff Healey Band, Little Milton, Eric Sardinas, Kelly Richie Band, Gibbs Brothers 2003 - Solomon Burke, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Coco Montoya, Eric Steckel Band, Delta Moon 2004 - Ike Turner & Kings of Rhythm, Radiators, Larry McCray, Nick Curran & The Nitelifes, Robin Thrush 2005 - Delbert McClinton, Shemekia Copeland, Sonny Landreth, The Lee Boys, Reggie Sears 2006 - Gregg Allman, Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Maria Muldaur, Devon Allman, Jamie Eubanks 2007 - Buddy Guy, Oteil and the Peacemakers, Zac Harmon, Mighty Lester, Conrad Oberg 2008 - Bobby Rush, Bob Margolin & Diunna Greenleaf, JJ Grey & MOFRO, Jason Ricci, Wyatt Garey 2009 - Little Feat, Duke Robillard, Larry McCray, Bruce Katz, Floyd Miles, Mojo Myles, Fogts Junior Allstars 2010 - Elvin Bishop Band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Tommy Castro, Moreland & Arbuckle, Jake Haldenwang 2011 - Los Lobos Band, Ryan Shaw, Shaun Murphy, Lightnin' Malcolm, Selwyn Birchwood Band, Mike Imbasciani with special guest Alex Shaw 2012 - Delbert McClinton, Ana Popović, Curtis Salgado, Paul Thorn, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Pett Crow.
References
External links Event Site Event Information The Heart and Soul of It All The "Must Sees" of 2008