21st annual Hot Springs Blues Festival schedule announced

The 21st annual Hot Springs Blues Festival is set for Sept. 2-3 in downtown Hot Springs at Hill Wheatley Plaza, with additional events scheduled for Aug. 30 through Sept. 1 at The Big Chill.

Tickets are $20 per day and can be purchased online at http://www.spacityblues.org.

The festival is sponsored by Visit Hot Springs, Mountain Valley Spring Water, Arkansas Beverage Sales, Bubba Brews, Tax Connections, Wendell Workman, Holcomb Transport & Recovery, Alliance Rubber, Tresa McFarlin, Bank of the Ozarks, The Big Chill, Dannielle Davis, Doris Legge, Diamond Bank, Hotel Hot Springs, Clevenger Guitars, Tomcat Cigar Box Guitars, Nightflying Magazine, and Blues Festival Guide.

Events scheduled at The Big Chill include:

• Aug. 30 -- Hump Night Blues Jam with special guests, 8 p.m.

• Aug. 31 -- Spa City Blues Society IBC Solo/Duo Competition, 8 p.m.

• Sept. 1 -- Spa City Blues Society IBC Band Competition, 8 p.m.

Workshops

• Sept. 2 -- Diddley Bow Workshop with Sarah Elmore facilitating, 10 a.m. Location to be announced.

Participants will hear the history of the diddley bow and make their own bow to take home with them. Pre-registration is required. Cost is $10. Limit 20 participants.

Managing Your Superstar Kid with Sherree Hughes, Michale Kuntz and Phyllis Murdock facilitating, 11 a.m. Location to be announced.

This workshop is designed for parents of talented or entertaining children, or children that aspire to be entertainers. Parents of up-and-coming superstars will share information on how to share their children's talents with the right individuals and what it takes to be a booking agent, manager and bus driver.

• Sept. 3 -- Rhythm Warriors Workshop with Sherree Hughes and David Elmore facilitating, 10 a.m. Location to be announced.

This workshop is designed for veterans, public servants, EMTs and other individuals who deal with stressors related to their jobs that may cause PTSD. Also open to individuals that need a positive way to release stress. Participants may bring instruments.

Blues Piano Workshop with Al Hill, 2017 IBC Solo/Duo winner, facilitating, 11 a.m. Location to be announced.

Hill will share information on how to be a blues piano player in a hands-on workshop. Participants may bring their own keyboard; only two will be provided at the workshop.

Festival schedule

All festival events will take place at Hill Wheatley Plaza unless otherwise noted.

Sept. 2

• 1 p.m. -- Gates open.

• 1:45-2:15 p.m. -- Spa City Blues Society IBC Solo/Duo winner announced.

• 2:30-3:15 p.m. -- Spa City Blues Society IBC Band winner announced.

• 3:30-4:30 p.m. -- Performance by Al Hill, 2017 IBC Solo/Duo winner.

• 4:45-5:45 p.m. -- The Stella Vees.

• 6-7 p.m. -- Akeem Kemp Band.

• 7:15-8:30 p.m. -- Leo "Bud" Welch.

• 8:45-10 p.m. -- John Nemeth & The Blues Dreamers.

• 10:30 p.m. -- Festival grounds closed.

Sept. 3

• 1 p.m. -- Gates open.

• 1:45-2:15 p.m. -- Jelly Brown & Kathy Kidd.

• 2:30-3:15 p.m. -- Spa City Youngbloods.

• 3:30-4:30 p.m. -- Hoodoo Blues Revue.

• 4:45-5:45 p.m. -- John Calvin Brewer Band.

• 6-7 p.m. -- Nandha Blues.

• 7:15-8:30 p.m. -- Nikki Hill.

• 8:45-10 p.m. -- Anthony Gomes.

• 10:30 p.m. -- Festival grounds closed; breakdown and cleanup.