To
blues
it may concern:
Peace and blues to you all, and welcome to the 2008 IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. Come hell or high water, the fest must go on! This year's Mississippi River flood only strengthened our resolve to bring you the best in blues, even if we can't be in LeClaire Park.
I have had the great honor of being elected to the presidency for consecutive terms and am proud of the progress we have made in improving the festival's overall operations. It has also been my good fortune to work with some incredible individuals. Never a dull moment, I will admit, but worth every minute. This year marks the 24th year that a small group of blues-loving people has sacrificed its time (sometimes at great personal risk) to make this fest possible.
Why do they do it, and why do they come back year after year? The answer is simple: live music. This is the force that drives people to give their all to make this festival possible. The Mississippi Valley Blues Society has been blessed since the beginning with the best volunteers in the world. The festival logistics committee has stepped up to the plate and delivered - just as they have since day one - and Steve Heston has done an outstanding job as the chair of that committee. And, if you notice a little yellow cart flying around with a guy in a funny hat and a serious look on his face ... that would be Bob Covemaker. Bob has been at the center of our blues world for as long as I can remember. His dedication to live music is a source of inspiration to us all.
There are so may people to thank and so little time to thank them. So, help me out and thank a volunteer. Let them know that you appreciate their hard work. It will make their day. I would also like to thank our title sponsor, the IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union. Their continued support has been vital to our success. Additionally, the City of Davenport deserves our thanks for working with us when the flood made LeClaire Park unusable. Thanks to all the firefighters and volunteers who filled sandbags and built walls to protect our offices and the depot.
This has been a memorable year with many triumphs, as well as some tragic events. Through them all, we have remained, as always, a family. Having said that, I would like to dedicate Friday, July 4, to the memory of Katie Pedigo. She was, and always will be, a part of this blues family.
We have an impressive lineup this year. It is my hope that you have a great live music experience and will come back next year to celebrate our 25th anniversary!
Peace and blues,
Ric Burris, MVBS President
How to Buy Tickets
Advance tickets for the 2008 IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival are available through July 2 at all IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union locations, the River Center/Adler Theater Box Office, and through Ticketmaster. A three-day pass for the fest is available in advance for $40. At IHMVCU locations, IHMVCU and Mississippi Valley Blues Society members can buy individual fest tickets at a discounted rate of $15 each.
Advance
ticket holders will receive half-hour early gate admission.
Tickets will be available at the festival gate at the event for $18 each. Children aged 14 and under will be admitted free if accompanied by an adult. Tickets are good for admission only on the day printed on the ticket.
