With revised reports of flooding along the Mississippi River, and Centennial Park's parking lot already partially submerged from recent storms, organizers of the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival decided to move to even higher ground on Davenport's 2nd Street.
The Festival will happen July 3 through 5 in the area between Main and Ripley Streets in downtown Davenport. The setup will be roughly the same as last year, with a few changes. The free workshops will be held on the Community Stage at Falbo's, on the 1st floor of the River Music Experience. BlueSKool and the special 30-year retrospective Photo Exhibit will be on the 2nd floor of the RME.
The current prediction has the river cresting at over two feet above flood stage during the days of the Blues Festival. "The situation is a safety issue," said Kevin Nolan, President of the Mississippi Valley Blues Society. "With the river that high, we would not have access to electricity, and the parking lot would be treacherous for attendees. When we made the decision to move to Centennial, the flooding chances were much lower. We know we're safe on Second Street. And temperatures for the festival are supposed to be in the low 80s?perfect for experiencing our internationally acclaimed event."
Today is the final day to buy advance discount tickets for the Blues Festival. Advance tickets for July 4 and 5 are $20 per day; gate prices will be $25 per day. Tickets are available at Hy-Vee stores in the Quad Cities, Clinton, and Muscatine; the Muddy Waters in Bettendorf; Co-Op Records in Moline; and Ragged Records in Davenport.
Tickets for Thursday July 3 are discounted to $10, available only at the gate. For more info, please visit www.mvbs.org
