BLUES FESTIVAL rolls on in temporary location

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By David Burke | Wednesday, July 2, 2008 3:14 PM CDT | () comments

Making the best of a bad situation has been the subject of many a blues song.

And it’s the unofficial theme of the 24th annual IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, which begins tonight and continues through Saturday.

With the festival’s traditional home of LeClaire Park recovering from Mississippi River flooding, organizers have moved it a few blocks to downtown Davenport.

“Nothing’s better than LeClaire Park, of course, with the grass and the river, but if you have to have a second, this is a pretty close, pretty excellent second,” said Ric Burris, the president of the Mississippi Valley Blues Society, which sponsors the festival.

It’s the third time the festival has had to find a temporary home because of flooding in the riverfront park.

The main stage, which had been in the band shell, will now be at the corner of Pershing and 2nd streets. Burris estimates that intersection, with overflow on 2nd headed toward the RiverCenter, can accommodate 5,000 to 6,000 people.

“That’s a good average at the fest per day” in past years, he said.

The acts that had been scheduled for the tent stage will perform at the Adler Theatre on 3rd Street, where there’s main-floor seating for about 1,200 people.

Beer tents, with newly added microbrews on the menu, will be set up on Pershing.

Merchandise sales, the photo workshop and the BlueSKool for youngsters all will move to the RiverCenter’s concourse area.

And Kaiserslautern Square Park, across from the Adler, will be the location for workshops throughout Friday and Saturday.

The Blues Society made the decision to move on June 25, and Burris praised Davenport City Administrator Craig Malin and his staff for responding quickly to their needs.

“He went through hoops for us that usually takes two or three weeks to get done,” Burris said of Malin.

Despite the venue change, Burris expects a good turnout.

“Sales haven’t been the greatest, but part of that is the uncertainty of where we’re going to be,” he said.

David Burke can be contacted at (563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

IF YOU GO

What: IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival

When: Today through Saturday

Where: Downtown Davenport, with the main stage at the corner of 2nd and Pershing streets and the acts formerly scheduled for the tent stage playing at the Adler Theatre

How much: $15 per day, or a three-day pass for $30; youth 14 years and younger admitted free with a paying adult

Information: Call (563) 322-5837 or go to MVBS.org/fest on the Web

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

TODAY

5 p.m.: Kilborn Alley Blues Band, main stage

5 p.m.: Ben Prestage, Adler

6:30 p.m.: Steve James and Del Rey, Adler

7 p.m.: Kal David, main stage

8:30 p.m.: Carolina Chocolate Drops, Adler

9 p.m.: The Kinsey Report, main stage

10:30 p.m.: Otis Taylor and the Black Banjo Project, Adler

11 p.m.: Elvin Bishop, main stage

FRIDAY

2 p.m.: Little Bobby and the Storm, main stage

2 p.m.: Kent Burnside and New Generation, Adler

3:30 p.m.: Paul Geremiah, Adler

4 p.m.: Phil Guy, main stage

5:30 p.m.: Big Pete Pearson and the Rhythm Room All-Stars, Adler

6 p.m.: Teresa James, main stage

7:30 p.m.: Great Black Music Ensemble, Adler

8 p.m.: Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers, main stage

9:15 p.m.: Billy Boy Arnold with Jody Williams, Adler

10 p.m.: Koko Taylor, main stage

SATURDAY

2 p.m.: Avey Brothers, main stage

2 p.m.: Boo Hanks, Adler

3:30 p.m.: Doug MacLeod, Adler

4 p.m.: Alexis P. Suter Band, main stage

5:30 p.m.: Marie Knight, Adler

6 p.m.: John Nemeth, with Junior Watson, main stage

7:30 p.m.: Big George Brock, Adler

7:45 p.m.: Denise LaSalle, main stage

9:30 p.m.: Holmes Brothers, Adler

10 p.m.: Tinsley Ellis, main stage