Contact
Thank you for your support!
For more information on BluesFest, contact MICA.
1210 Turner St.
Lansing, MI 48906
Phone: 517-371-4600
Fax: 517-371-1454
info@oldtownarts.org
All correspondence shared through this form is kept confidential between you and MICA.
Read MoreFestival Info
Kidz Beat
The “Kidz Beat” music tent, open 4-7 pm Friday and 1-7 pm Saturday, is designed to allow interactive music exploration for parents and children from toddlers to early teens.
Activities available include face painting, chalk art, crafting your own musical instruments, an “instrument petting zoo” provided by Meridian Winds on Friday and Elderly Instruments on Saturday, and performances that solicit active audience participation. No musical talent is necessary, just a love of music and a willingness to have a little fun.
Ride the river boat taxi to BluesFest on Saturday and take advantage of free rides for children 10 and under.
Happy Hour
From 4-5pm on Friday, there will be FREE admission to the beverage tent (for those age 21+). Come on out with friends or come make new ones and enjoy happy hour with the blues sounds of The Hoopties featuring Twyla Birdsong.
Green Initiative
In 2009, BluesFest became one of the first festivals in Lansing to make a concerted effort to reduce our overall impact on the environment by implementing a volunteer Green Team and committing to sustainable practices. BluesFest partners with The Sweaty Mouse Green Team & Schupan Recycling Services to provide waste and recycling solutions, water-bottle reduction strategies, and effective planning to reduce printing and single-use or disposable products. All festival attendees are encouraged to bring their own refillable beverage containers and use the free watering stations provided by the Lansing Board of Water & Light.
MICA Stage
BluesFest will offer attendees an educational experience, thanks to the MICA Stage’s performers and instructors. Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA) is a non-profit organization acting as a catalyst for quality arts programming, historic renovation and community development. Educational opportunities in the arts are the focus of the MICA Stage. See more on our performers page!
Read MoreHistory
Dedication to Lansing
Old Town BluesFest started in 1994 under the name OctoberFest. Lansing’s alternative radio station, 92.1 WWDX, signed on as media sponsor, and MessageMakers became its founding business sponsor.
The festival featured such renowned artists as Kid Rock, Marcy Playground, Duncan Sheik, Nineteen Wheels and local showstoppers such as Powerface, Knee Deep Shag, The Lash, and The Weepers.
In 2003, the festival committee decided to transform the fall music festival into Old Town BluesFest and was pleased to announce 94.9 WMMQ as the new radio sponsor.
In its early years, the festival brought out 2,000-3,000 people; now that has increased to over 10,000.
BluesFest’s updated format has featured nationally recognized blues artists such as Junior Watson, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, W.C. Clark, Carl Weathersby, Sharrie Williams, Smokin’ Joe Kubek, Bnois King, Reverend Raven, Toni Lynn Washington, Byther Smith, Grana’ Louise, bugs Beddow band, Alberta Adams, A.C. Reid, Son Seals, plus popular performers from around the state such as Lady Sunshine and the X Band, Calvin Cooke and Sacred Steel Ensemble, Mojo Phoenix, Those Delta Rhythm Kings, Root Doctor, Doug Deming and the All Stars, JR Clark, and The Automatic Blues Band. (More detailed lists of past artists are available.)
Old Town BluesFest is THE place to listen and dance to the sounds of a powerful blues beat.
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