Everything You Need to Know: The 2016 Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival

Join the fun as Centrum transforms Port Townsend into a blues mecca again in 2016!

August 3-6 we celebrate the culmination of a week of learning in community with passionate tradition bearers in acoustic blues. Artistic Director Jerron Paxton has gathered an amazing community of musicians who were either born into blues traditions or became bearers of these traditions out of direct exposure and passion.

*Download the 2016 Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival Program*

We use the word acoustic to distinguish an earlier era before music ‘plugged in’. The focus of the Festival is to honor the traditions upon which American pre-war blues music were founded. This meeting of African and European musical cultures had a major effect on the development of modern music. It gave rise to black church songs or ‘spirituals’, old-time, country blues, gospel, jazz, Rhythm & Blues, rock & roll and soul. Early American blues music reflects a people holding up their humanity and hope under sometimes harsh conditions of oppression. The word blues makes one think of sadness but inside this music you will find hope, love and courage.

Gospel Choir “Make a Joyful Noise” with Dr. Raymond Wise

Saturday August 6, 2016, 11 a.m. Fort Worden Chapel
Free

Acoustic Blues Showcase

Saturday August 6, 2016, 1:30pm – McCurdy Pavilion, Fort Worden
Reserved Seating Tickets: $45, $35, $25

Jerron Paxton, Artistic Director
The Fairfield Four
Guy Davis
Jimmy ‘Duck’ Holmes
Pat Donohue
Orville Johnson
Tim Williams
Mark Graham
Clay Swafford
Phil Wiggins

Blues in the Clubs: August 5-6, 2016

Friday and Saturday Night – 8pm
Admission: $25 wristband – all access

Blues in the Clubs is perhaps the signature experience of the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival. On Friday and Saturday night of festival week, the artist faculty head to numerous venues in Port Townsend’s historic downtown and uptown districts to play sets in all sorts of interesting combinations.

One wristband each night gives you access to all venues, and an amazing variety of musicians. Please read our Wristband Policies.

Blues in the Clubs is a moveable feast of great music in various downtown venues, with each venue operating on a first-come, first-seated basis. Your wristband is an all access pass, and we encourage you to move around throughout the evening to gain the full benefit of the clubs experience. Venue hosts will help direct you to available seating or standing room options.

Friday, August 5, 2016
8 p.m. to Midnight

American Legion Hall (all ages)

8-9 p.m. Scottie Parker & Aaron Gunn
9:15-10:15 p.m. Corey Ledet / Kirk Harwood / Mark Rubin / Orville Johnson / Rich DelGrosso
10:30-12 a.m. Wendy DeWitt / Kirk Harwood / Dean Mueller / Orville Johnson / Johnny Ward

The Boiler Room (all ages)

8-9 p.m. Ari Eisinger
9:15-10:15 p.m. Chris Berry
10:30-12 a.m. Elijah Wald

Key City Public Theater (all ages)

8-9 p.m. Lauren Sheehan
9:15-10:15 p.m. Pat Donohue & Mark Graham
10:30-12 a.m. Jerron Paxton & Phil Wiggins

The Whiskey Mill

8-9 p.m. Tim Williams
9:15-10:15 p.m. Terry Waldo
10:30-12 a.m. Clay Swafford

The Cotton Building (all ages)

8-9 p.m. Steve James
9:15-10:15 p.m. Jimmy ‘Duck’ Holmes
10:30-12 a.m. Guy Davis & Chaz Leary

The Cellar Door

8-9 p.m. Ernie Vega & Valerie and Ben Turner
9:15-10:15 p.m. Lightnin’ Wells
10:30-12 a.m. Andy Cohen

Saturday, August 6, 2016
8 p.m. – Midnight