Tampa Bay Blues Festival 2018: ROBERT CRAY, BETH HART, BUDDY GUY, RONNIE EARL, DELBERT McCLINTON, SUGARAY RAYFORD April 6, 7, & 8

Michael Hepworth

St. Petersburg (Perfect Music Today) 11/15/17/–The Tampa Bay Blues Festival returns to Vinoy Waterfront Park in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, April 6, 7, & 8.  This internationally renowned, three day music festival has been staged for the past 24 years on the sunny shores of Tampa Bay and features spectacular waterfront views, a tropical atmosphere, and the finest in blues music.  The event draws visitors from throughout the United States and Europe and is regarded as one of the best blues festivals in the world.  In 2011, the Festival won the prestigious Blues Foundation’s “Keeping the Blues Alive” award for best U.S. blues festival.  The 2018 artist line-up is as follows:

Friday, April 6, 2018

8:30 p.m.       ROBERT CRAY

6:30 p.m.       BETH HART

4:30 p.m.       JOHN NEMETH

2:30 p.m.       Chris Beard

12:30 p.m.     Jonn ‘Del Toro” Richardson

Saturday, April 7, 2018

8:30 p.m.        BUDDY GUY

6:30 p.m.        RONNIE EARL

4:30 p.m.        JANIVA MAGNESS

2:30 p.m.        Eric Gales

12:30 p.m.       Quinn Sullivan

Sunday, April 8,  2018

8:30 p.m.        DELBERT McCLINTON

6:30 p.m.        SUGARAY RAYFORD

4:30 p.m.        MISSISSIPPI HEAT

2:30 p.m.        Band of Friends feat. Davy Knowles

1:00 p.m.        Tad Robinson

Gates open approximately 30 minutes before the first artist each day.  Music until 10:00 p.m. each evening.

The festival will feature a large concert stage and state of the art P.A. system.  Multiple food vendors will be providing Florida foods, seafood, Cuban foods, and a variety of festival treats.  Beer, wine, and mixed drinks are also sold on site, together with sodas and other beverages. Patrons may not bring outside food or drink to the event.  Blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged, and re-entry to the park is allowed with a hand stamp.

Proceeds from the Tampa Bay Blues Festival will benefit our charity partner, PARC.  PARC has been our primary charity for the past 24 years, and its work is critical to the welfare of the Tampa Bay community.  In addition, the Tampa Bay Blues Festival is proud to participate in the Blues in the Schools program which teaches students about the blues and its place in American history.

General Admission Ticket Prices:

Friday:  $50

Saturday:  $50

Sunday:  $40

All Three Days:  $115

Tickets available online at www.tampabaybluesfest.com

Tickets will be available at the gate on the day of show (cash only).

Three Day Blues Club VIP packages (includes festival admission; access to the VIP Tent with food presentations at 2:00 and 6:00 p.m.; FRONT OF STAGE SEATING (chairs provided); complimentary Sunday champagne party; free food, beer, wine & soda; may be ordered online (www.tampabaybluesfest.com) for $475 for all three days.

Single day (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday) VIP passes may be ordered for $250, $250, and $200, respectively, and include festival admission, access to the VIP Tent, front of stage seating (chairs provided), and free food, beer, wine & soda.

Free Shuttle service on First Street North from city parking garages (South Core and Baywalk).  Please publicize this shuttle service, which will help us facilitate parking for the Blues Festival.

Official “Kick Off” Party/After Shows.  The Palladium Theater will host the Official “Kick Off Party” on Thursday, April 5, 2018, with John Németh.  Tickets available at www.tampabaybluesfest.com or www.mypalladium.org.  After Shows at Ringside Cafe and The Ale & Witch featuring festival artists on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Tampa Bay Blues Festival has earned a strong reputation for hosting one of the most scenic and best blues music festivals in the world.  We look forward to seeing you in Florida this spring for three great days of blues by the bay!

Tampa Bay Blues Festival, Inc.

1535 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street North

St. Petersburg, FL 33704

(727) 895-6153 / www.tampabaybluesfest.com / cwross@tampabay.rr.com