Monday, December 8, 2014

Field of Blues Festrival Cancelled for 2015

The Board of Directors of Crossroads Blues Society has decided that the Field of Blues Festival will not be held in June 2015.  While the festival was a great event, attendance both years was right at 600 people.  That level of support does not allow the festival to be a financial success.  We broke even both years, which in itself is a huge positive, but with another festival to run two months later and all the nearby competing blues events in June (Chicago Blues Fest, Blues on the Fox, Madison Blues Picnic, Champaign Blues Festival and then the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival on or before 4th of July weekend each year we feel that adding another event in the mix of that is just too much.

Focusing our efforts on the Crossroads Blues Festival at Lyran Park and eventually expanding that event is a far better use of our time and efforts.  The weekend before Labor Day has little local competition in blues events and festivals in general (although there is always something else going on), so we are going to stick with that at the great facility we have available to us in Lyran Park.


We are exploring other sorts of outdoor evens on a smaller scale, but those are still in the early planning stages.  We thank our attendees, artists, sponsors and the Rockford Aviators for making the 2013 and 2014 Field of Blues Festivals such fun events!

Monday, June 30, 2014

Pictures from June 28, 2014!

Alex Wilson Band on Stage


Dan Phelps between sets


Liz Mandeville and the Blue Points


The Jimmys


Doug Deming and Dennis Gruenling and the Jewel Tones


John Nemeth


More pictures at: 
Photo Album

Friday, June 27, 2014

Welcome to the Second Annual Field of Blues Festival

We thank you for attending oursecond annual event!

Aviators Stadium is actually located in Loves Park, right on the Rockford border.  It is right off of Riverside Blvd and Riverside Blvd is one of the Rockford exits on I-90/I-39.  Coming from the south and east on I-90 or I-39, it is the third Rockford exit after the Illinois 20 and State St/Business 20 exits.  Coming from the north and west, it is the third exit in Illinois after the Rockton/IL-75 and then the IL-173 exits.  The stadium is on Interstate Blvd, immediately east of the highway.  Ample parking is available at the stadium; parking is $2.  There are 1,200 spaces in the lot.  Over flow parking will be off of Interstate Blvd and also to the east at the YMCA.

Kids are welcome, 5 and under are free, kids 6 to 12 are $5 at the gate (no advanced sales).

Do's...

Do stay cool.  Bring an umbrella (not for rain but for shade).  There is also a huge 50 x 105 foot pavilion to get out of the sun and stay cool.  Summer is here!

Do bring sunscreen. The weather report looks great! Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. On field seating is allowed. You can sit in the stands, too. The stage will be facing the third base line and centered about where the shortstop usually plays. Sit in front of the stage only, please, not behind it.

Do visit Blues Central under the pavilion. On sale there will be fest items like shirts and koozies, CDs and artist merchandise, and information on how to become a member of Crossroads Blues Society. There will also be music between acts and other cool stuff like Hard Times Cigar Box Guitars,Terry Abrahamson (author of "In the Belly of the Blues") and Dan Phelps will be playing, too.

Do have a great time!

Don'ts...

Don't bring coolers into the festival. No outside food and beverages are allowed and the Aviators do not allow tailgating in their parking lot.

Don't bring pets. No pets allowed. Sorry!

Don't smoke at the fest unless you are in a designated stadium smoking area.
The festival is in a small professional baseball park. Access to the field is on the outfield sides of both dugouts. Real bathrooms- no portable restrooms! Restrooms are on the first base side of the park. Beer, wine and a full assortment of liquor is available in the park along with a large assortment of soft drinks and foods.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Advanced Tickets Still Available Until They Run Out!

Advanced Ticket Locations

 

Loves Park
Aviator's Stadium
The Hope and Anchor English Pub
Woodman's Supermarket

Rockford
Guzzardo's Performance Music
Alpine Bank (Alpine, Springcreek, East State, and Cherryvale Branches)
Culture Shock
Toad Hall
CD Source
Rockford Area Arts Council
Just Goods Store
Lyran Society Club

Beloit
Gary's Guitars

Online on this site and from all Crossroads Board Members.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Field of Blues Festival 
TV Public Service Spot 
WREX Channel 13
Thanks to this Great Sponsor!

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Official Poster


11 x 17 and 8-1/2 x 11 formats.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Crossroads Announces John Nemeth to Headline 2nd Annual Field of Blues Festival


2nd Annual Field of Blues Festival
Rockford Aviators Stadium
Love Park , IL
Appearing at 8 PM
June 28, 2014




Tuesday, January 14, 2014

2014 Field of Blues Festival Lineup Set, Seeking Sponsors

The lineup is official.  We have some great acts planned for 2014!  We are looking to begin at noon, so the doors will open at 11 AM.  We have our Crossroads Blues Challenge winners the Alex Wilson Band opening the day for us.  Alex was a finalist in the International Blues Challenge and has performed in Memphis twice now at the IBCs.  We are hoping the third time is a charm and they come back as winners!



Next up is the ever popular Liz Mandeville and her band! They perform at 2 PM.  Liz brings her high energy act from Chicago to us and we can't wait to hear it! It has been far too long that this red headed blues diva has graced a stage in the Rockford area and we are proud to finally bring her back!


The Jimmy's will bring their swinging blues and other styles of music to the Rockford Aviators Stadium at 4 PM.  Jimmy Voegeli on keys, Perry Weber on guitar, the Young Horns, Mauro Magellan from the Georgia Satellites on drums and if that is not enough Bun E. Carlos will also sit in on drums!  If their show Saturday in Loves Park was any indication, a party will break out when these guys play!


At 6 PM, the ever cool Doug Deming and Dennis Gruenling will take the stage with the Jewel Tones.  These guys both put out fantastic CDs that have gotten much radio airplay and when they were featured in our Byron Blues Fest they were fan favorites!  This will be a great set of rocking and swinging music!


At 8 PM our headliners will be...John Nemeth!!!  From hi Blind Pig Records bio..."Since bursting onto the scene in 2007 with his dazzling national debut album (Magic Touch), John Németh has wowed critics and audiences alike with his riveting vocals and harmonica prowess.  The Philadelphia Inquirer testified to his standing in the current music scene with the comment, "Classic soul and R&B styles have been revitalized by artists such as James Hunter, Eli 'Paperboy' Reed, and Sharon Jones.  You can include John Németh on any list of the best of them."

On his latest release, Name The Day!, the dynamic soul sensation continues to reinvigorate vintage American rhythm and blues with his uncanny ability to skillfully blend retro and modern blues and soul into compelling music that is simultaneously old and new."



Between acts we will feature local acoustic blues man Dan Phelps up in the covered pavilion on the third base side of the stadium.  Acts on the Field of Blues, between acts up on the concourse with more music.  10 hours of music from noon to 10 PM (we close at 10:30 PM). Tickets will once again only be $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

Crossroads Blues Society is an all-volunteer 501c3 non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Illinois that works to conduct Blues in the Schools programs for area schools.  Sponsorship donations for the festival are tax deductable and are used to cover the many costs of running a music festival. 


Costs include band fees, lodging for non-local bands, a stage, sound and lights, electrical work, insurance, licenses and more.  It takes a lot of money and effort to run an event of this magnitude.  We had a dedicated core of volunteers who support us.

Festival sponsorship levels:

·      Festival Sponsor: $5,000.

One available. Festival name will included sponsor (e.g. “The Acme Field of Blues Festival.” Benefits include logo integrated into festival logo on tee shirt front and all uses, name on banner on stage, recognition in program and other advertising plus 100 free tickets

·      Platinum: $1000 and up.  Benefits include larger logo on tee shirt, name on banner on stage, recognition in program and other advertising plus 25 free tickets.

·      Gold: $500 to $999.  Benefits include smaller logo on tee shirt, name on banner on stage, recognition in program and other advertising plus 10 free tickets.

·      Silver: $200 to $499. Benefits include name on banner on stage, larger name on tee shirt, recognition in program and other advertising plus 4 free tickets.

·      Bronze: $100 businesses, $50 individuals. Benefits include small name on banner on stage, recognition in program and other advertising, small name on tee shirt plus 2 free tickets.



Gold and above sponsors also get to have a tent/booth at the festival and may place banners in the park.  All sponsors are also frequently noted on stage after each act.  We expect a large crowd at our festival.  Any level of sponsorship can help to make this dream a reality.  In-kind sponsors for services and such are also desired.


All proceeds from the festival will be used to fund and hopefully expand our Blues in the Schools (BITS) program.  Crossroads Blues Society has conducted 125 BITS programs for almost 40,000 students since its’ inception in May 2002.  We are proud to add music events to school calendars and to help keep the blues alive by educating the next generation of music fans about the roots of all American popular music.


We ask that your business consider becoming a sponsor for the 2014 Field of Blues Festival and thank you for your time and consideration!


Sincerely,

Steve Jones
Festival Chairperson
779-537-4006

sub_insignia@yahoo.com