29th Annual Cincy Blues Fest
“Best Music Festival” – Citybeat, Best of Cincinnati
SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2023
Village Green Park
301 Wessel Dr. Fairfield, OH
Gates Open: 2:00 pm
Music: 2:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Come and join us for a day of top notch entertainment at our new location, Fairfield’s Village Green Park, just north of Cincinnati. Cincy Blues Society and Fairfield Parks and Recreation have teamed up to present a stellar lineup of Award Winning National and International Blues Artists.
Experience the power and soulful emotion of blues music in a beautiful outdoor park setting. There are plenty of grassy and shady areas to enjoy the Fest. In other words, be prepared to get your groove on and boogie!
Food and drink vendors will be available with a variety of great food, beer, and drinks. The park is in a DORA area.
The Cincy Blues Fest is a family friendly event. The park has a playground and new this year, will be a KIDS ZONE with fun and games for our smaller blues fans.
Please no tents, umbrellas or pets. You’re welcome to bring your own chairs or blankets.
FREE ADMISSION AND FREE PARKING!!!
Note: Schedule subject to change
Ralph and the Rhythm Hounds
3:50pm – 4:15pm
2021 Blues Challenge Winner, Band Category
Jimmy D. Rogers
4:30pm – 4:55pm
2023 Blues Challenge Winner, Solo/Duo Category
CFG & The Family
5:10pm – 5:35pm
2023 Blues Challenge Winner, Band Category
Bywater Call
5:50pm – 7:10pm
Born out of a love for southern soul, blues and roots music, this powerhouse 7-piece Southern Soul, Roots Rock band out of Toronto, Canada is sure to create a powerful and moving experience for listeners.
Since Bywater Call was formed in 2017, they have been Maple Blues and Independent Blues Award nominated and have made waves in the Canadian Festival Circuit. The band has also extensively toured Europe.
This will be Bywater Call’s debut appearance in our area.
Ben Levin & Lil’ Jimmy Reed
7:25pm – 8:45pm
At only 23 years old, Ben Levin is already making his mark as a blues pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. Embracing the authentic sound of his heroes such as Professor Longhair, Pinetop Perkins, Otis Spann, and Ray Charles, Ben has been nominated for a Blues Music Award and two Blues Blast Magazine Awards.
Li’l Jimmy Reed is the last of the original Louisiana bluesmen. A tall charismatic figure, Lil’ Jimmy epitomizes the classic Louisiana down-home blues tradition with his stinging guitar work, gritty vocals and haunting harmonica.
They will be making a special appearance together at the Cincy Blues Fest!
Sugaray Rayford
9:00pm – 10:30pm
Caron Nimoy “Sugaray” Rayford is an American soul blues singer and songwriter. Known for his larger than life stage presence, Sugaray blends funky grooves, rocking blues, and R&B with his raw power as a vocalist and entertainer. His vocals are unmistakably full bodied and incredibly soulful.
He has released five albums to date and been granted three Blues Music Awards. Rayford’s 2019 album, Somebody Save Me, was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category.
Tickets
- Admission is FREE!
Volunteer
The Cincy Blues Fest is produced solely by volunteers. Volunteering to work at Cincy Blues Fest is an excellent opportunity to help make our Fest a success!
Use the form below to sign up and volunteer.
Map/Directions and Parking
Airport
The closest airport is the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). It’s a 45 minute drive from the airport to Fairfield and the Cincy Blues Fest.
Cincy Blues Fest
Cincy Blues Fest takes place at Village Green Park, 301 Wessel Dr, Fairfield, OH 45014.
Parking is FREE!
Fest Site Map
Accommodations
Hotels
There are numerous hotels available in the north suburbs of Cincinnati. We suggest using a hotel booking website/app like Booking.com, Airbnb, etc. to find the best prices and availability.
Camping
FAQs
What time does the festival start and end?
The gate opens at 2:00 pm. The Fest closes at 11:00pm.
How can I purchase tickets?
The admission to the festival is FREE!
What I am allow to bring or not bring to Fairfield Village Green Park?
Please no tents, umbrellas or pets. You’re welcome to bring your own chairs or blankets.
How do I get to the festival?
Please see the “Map/Directions And Parking” and “Fest Site Map” sections on this page (above).
Where do I park?
Please see the “Map/Directions And Parking” and “Fest Site Map” sections on this page (above).
Is Village Green Park handicap accessible?
Yes, Village Green Park is an ADA compliant venue. You’ll need to provide your own wheel chair or scooter.
Is there food and drink available?
Food and drink vendors will be available with a variety of food, beer and drinks.
When do beer and wine sales end?
There is a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas (DORA). Sales end at 9:00pm.
Will there be commemorative festival merchandise available?
Sorry, there will be no commemorative festival merchandise this year.
Will I be able to meet festival performers and purchase their CDs?
Yes, artists will be available to greet their fans immediately after their performance, as well as having their CDs available for purchase – location TBA.
Are there ATMs available at the festival?
TBA
Contacts for Press, Sponsorship, Booking, and Vendors
Press/Media
MEDIA / PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT for the event can be made though the Fest Directors, Debby Manning and Thomas Thiem director@cincyblues.org.
Credentials
Please contact director@cincyblues.org for press credentials for any of our Blues Society events.
NOTE: We reserve the right to issue credentials based on appropriate media coverage and availability – first come, first serve.
No parking passes are available for the press, so please plan accordingly. Members of the media will be met at the main entrance gate and given an orientation of the Festival site, as well as provide any access needed during the Fest.
Sponsorship
If you’re interested in sponsoring or supporting the Cincy Blues Fest, please contact Debby Manning at director@cincyblues.org.
Artist Booking
Notice: 2023 is fully booked.
Artists are selected by the volunteer Cincy Blues Fest booking team. They take the information from numerous press kits and their experience at many live performances (locally and nationally) to determine who to invite to perform. Budget and scheduling considerations also come into play when booking for the Fest, but our booking team always seeks to bring a wide variety of blues artists to Cincinnati every summer.
If you’re interested in submitting your press kit for consideration for our 2024 festival, please contact our booking team: booking@cincyblues.org after the 2023 festival.
Vendors
Food vendors are fully booked for 2023.
Non-Food Vendors contact director@cincyblues.org for available space.
Extras – Previous Years Lineups and Awards
Previous Years Lineups
2020 and 2021 were postponed due Covid-19. The same lineup planned for 2020 will be presented in 2022.
1992 to 2018 are archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
How to see each year:
Go to this link: https://web.archive.org/web/20200104230955/https://cincybluesfest.org/2018-line-up/ This will take you to the 2018 lineup.
In your browser, change the web address from 2018 to 2017 and hit enter or return. This will allow you to see the 2017 lineup. Change the year to 2016 to see the 2016 lineup, and so on, back to 1992.
For 2019, go to this link:
https://web.archive.org/web/20210526204058/https://cincyblues.org/2019-line-up/
The Fest was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19.
Blue Ball Award
The Blue Ball Award of Lifetime Achievement is given to blues musicians or volunteers who have demonstrated a long track record of outstanding achievement in blues music.
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Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Fame
- Click the right or left side of the photo to move forward or back, or simply let the automated slide show run.
- Hover over the photo to pause it.
- Click the center of the photo to go to more information about the artist.
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Sponsors
