The Suncoast Blues Festival line up includes TEN 2018 Blues Music Award nominations!

The Suncoast Blues Festival line up Includes TEN 2018 Blues Music Award nominations! This impressive lineup will only be seen at our festival!

We are excited Monster Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter have been nominated in SEVEN categories...Doug MacLeod has been nominated for TWO awards and Lurrie Bell for ONE. Joining them on the stage are award-winning artists Thornetta Davis, James Armstrong Band, Andrew Jr Boy Jones and Kerrie Lepai! This incredible lineup is not to be missed! Tickets are on sale now for only $30!

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James Armstrong

Soul, blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who born to play the blues. His mother was a blues singer; his father played jazz guitar. His songs have been used in the soundtracks of three films; Speechless, Hear No Evil, and The Florentine.

"... With a skintight band and a well-balanced combination of fire, technical proficiency, and taste, Armstrong continues on his way to the upper echelon of contemporary blues artists."

-Living Blues

James Armstrong

Andrew Jr Boy Jones

Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones is a Texas blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, whose recorded work has been released on five albums. In 1995, he was also part of the ensemble that garnered a Blues Music Award as the 'Band of the Year'. Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones is a veteran blues bandleader who's put in time with some of the best, including Jimmy McCracklin, Freddie King, Johnnie Taylor, and Katie Webster

Andrew Jr Boy Jones

Doug MacLeod

Just nominated for TWO 2018 Blue Music Awards for Best Acoustic Album of the Year 'Break the Chain' and Best Acoustic Artist of the Year! MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit and unforgettable live performances. At the heart of a MacLeod performance is his knack for storytelling, bringing characters-from the faceless to the legendary-to strikingly real life. Doug is a multiple Blues Music Award winner, 2017 BMA for Acoustic Artist Of The Year and the Blues Blast Music Award for Male Artist Of The Year. Nominated for a 2017 BMA for Historical Album-Live in Europe; 2017 Blues Blast Music Award Nominee for Acoustic Blues Album- Live In Europe.

“One of the very best acoustic blues exponents in the world.” - Lionel Ross, Blues In The Northwest UK.

“Like all great blues men, MacLeod lives his music, and the songs are not just on the tips of his fingers and tongue, they are one with his being. - Blues Music Magazine

Doug MacLeod

Thornetta Davis

Crowned “Detroit’s Queen of the Blues” in 2015, Davis a multi-talented International Singer and Songwriter and the Winner of over 30 Detroit Music Awards. Her voice is strong, commanding, melodic and smooth. She tells her stories with incredible delivery and leaves her audiences wanting more. Winner of the 2017 Blues Blast Music Award Winner for Soul Blues Album - Honest Woman, 2017 BMA – nominated for Best Emerging Artist Album for Honest Woman,

2017 BMA – nominated for Best Song-“I Gotta Sang The Blues” written and performed by Thornetta Davis on Honest Woman, 2017 Blues Blast Music Award Nominee for Female Blues Artist.

Thornetta Davis

Lurrie Bell

Just nominated for a 2018 Blues Music Award for Best Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year! One of the greatest living Chicago blues guitarists; Bell was named the 2014 Male Blues Guitarist and “Blues in my Soul” was named Best Contemporary Blues CD in the 2014 Living Blues Magazine Awards. Bell received the same honor in 2008 and 2012 and has been named Best Blues Guitarist in seven of the last eight years. Bell was named the 2015 “Best Traditional Male Blues Artist’ by the Blues Foundation in Memphis. In 2014 Bell was nominated for 5 Blues Music Awards and “Blues in My Soul” won for “Blues Song of the Year”. Bell’s new Delmark CD “Can’t Shake This Feeling” nominated for a Grammy and won the 2017 BMA for Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year and also nominated for a 2017 BMA Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year.

Lurrie Bell

Monster Mike Welch-Mike Ledbetter Band

Just nominated for SEVEN 2018 Blues Music Awards:

Album of the Year:

Monster Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter – Right Place, Right Time

Band of the Year:

Monster Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year:

Michael Ledbetter

Contemporary Blues Male Artist:

Michael Ledbetter

Instrumentalist-Guitar:

Monster Mike Welch

Instrumentalist – Vocals:

Michael Ledbetter

Traditional Blues Album of the Year:

Monster Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter – Right Place, Right Time

Welch, former child prodigy guitarist from Boston who’s been part of Sugar Ray Norcia’s Bluetones for about 25 years; Ledbetter, the melismatic former opera singer who’s received his training in the blues as a vital part of the Nick Moss Band for the past seven years are 2017 Blues Blast Awards nominee for Contemporary Album, ‘Right Place, Right Time’ and it that doesn’t miss a beat as it establishes the Welch-Ledbetter partnership at the pinnacle of the blues world today! Monster Mike Welch was nominated for a 2017 BMA for Instrumentalist-Guitar. Mike Ledbetter has earned a reputation for being one of today’s best blues vocalists. As a trained opera singer and one who has sung in every conceivable genre, Ledbetter channels his range, intonation and phrasing into what he feels is the most emotional music, the blues. Don’t miss them in performance when they tour together as a new supergroup. You won’t be disappointed. The blues will be in good hands as long as these two are on the scene.

Welch/Ledbetter

Rain or Shine | Free Parking | All Sales are Final

Gates will open at 10am on Saturday. Show times: 11am-7:00pm.

Saturday Tickets - $30 in advance or $45 at the gate.

Reserved Seating - $50, which includes admission for Saturday and must be purchased in advance.

RV Camping - $40 per night. Includes water, 30 amp power and dump station on site.

Tent Camping - $25 per night. Dry camping with no water and electric. There are no shower facilities on site. Bathrooms on site.

We are family and dog friendly! Vendors on site.

While the festival does offer RV and Tent camping at the fairgrounds, for those wishing hotel accommodations, book your room at the Comfort Suites-Sarasota, located at 5690 Honore Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34233. Lots of amenities! They have been #1 on Trip Advisor for the past three years. When you call, ask for the festival rate and you will receive a 25% discount on your room! Call 941-554-4475 for reservations or book online by clicking on the hotel link below.