For 25 years the Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Gladstone, have worked to bring in well-known Blues artists to the Northland. Oak Grove Park has been rocking and groovin’ to the sounds of award winning and well-known Blues artists.
In 1996, the Bluesfest started as a BBQ contest that featured blues music, called BBQ and Blues. At the time, the BBQ contest was known as Midwest Festival Championship Barbecue and Blues Festival held in Central Park during July. Then in June of 1997, the BBQ was dropped and the venue was moved from Central Park to Oak Grove Park, and the Gladstone Summertime Bluesfest emerged.
The reason for the change was the public was more interested in the music than the barbecue contest and enabled the festival to have move to a better location at Oak Grove Park Amphitheater. The park was a better fit for families to come and enjoy music with a playground and picnic table nearby.
In the years following that move, this outdoor event of music and food has been enjoyed over a two-day period, rain or shine. The most notable performers from years past have been Shirley King, who is the daughter of BB King: Charlie Musselwhite: Tab Benoit and Kelley Hunt. For 2022, the festival will have regional and local award-winning Blues artists.
For 2022, regional, local and award winning Blues artists are performing.
Friday lineup: Stone Cutters Union, Midwest Harp Meltdown with Dustin Arbuckle & The Damnations and Blind Mississippi Morris. Music starts at 6 pm.
Saturday lineup: Nick Schnebelen, Nace Brothers, Zac Harmon and EG Kight. Music starts at 4 pm.
Come enjoy the music, food and cold drinks.
Gladstone Summertime Bluesfest will be held at Oak Grove Park in Gladstone, Missouri on June 17 & 18, 2022. Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.. Parking is $5 and there is a suggested donation of $5 at the entrance. Bring blankets and lawn chairs for seating. The park will open 1 hour before the music starts. No dogs are allowed at the festival.
For directions or more information, visit www.gladstonechamber.com, and also check out the Gladstone Summertime Bluesfest page on Facebook.
