Old Capitol Blues & BBQs
Aug. 22-23, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday, Fifth and Washington streets, Downtown Springfield
Savory and sizzling barbecue tops the weekend menu while hard-driving, toetapping blues music rocks the stage at the Old Capitol Blues and BBQs the fourth weekend of August, Friday the 22 and Saturday the 23. Located at Fifth and Washington streets in downtown Springfield, this will be a yummy and entertaining end-of-summer party.
At this fest featuring more than 40 BBQ competitors and vendors you’ll be able to sample the best-of-the-best in barbeque made in the Midwest. Be sure to cast your vote for People’s Choice – Favorite Food, Most Festive Booth and BBQ Hospitality.
Both local and national blues talent is featured alongside the barbeque festival. Get your blues on with a great lineup. On Friday, Kicked to the Curb will first get the tunes going at 5:30 p.m., followed by Josh Hoyer & The Shadow Boxers at 7 p.m. and Harper & The Midwest Kind at 8:30 p.m. Then topping off the night is headlining performers Victor Wainright & The Wild Roots at 10 p.m.
The Hard Road Blues Band will take the stage at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, then Mary Jo Curry and Tombstone Bullet at 7 p.m., Brook Thomas and The Blue Suns at 8:30 p.m. Closing this year’s music festivities will be The Lee Boys & Sacred Steel at 10 p.m.
From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday will be the annual Illinois Central Blues Club Challenge. Winners of the Illinois Central Blues Club Challenge advance to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.
Admission to listen to the blues is $10, which includes four food and beverage tickets. Food and beverage are $1. Ages 12 and under are admitted free. Free entertainment for your kids is presented on Aug. 23 from 2-6 p.m.
Special downtown hotel overnight packages are offered for Old Capitol Blues & BBQs. They include admission and food/beverage tickets with your hotel room booking. Walk to and from the festival. For more information about this or the festival, visit www.downtownspringfield.org or phone 217-544-1723.
