PAXICO — The Paxico Blues Festival is set to return for its 21st year, bringing top blues musicians to the small town of Paxico on Sept. 20.
The festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., is free to attend and will feature a lineup of Grammy winners, International Blues Competition champions and Billboard chart-toppers, according to a community announcement.
This year’s lineup includes Ally Venable, Mathias Lattin, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, Bea Gray & the Exact Change Reunion Band and Big Luke & The Soul Disciples.
The festival was co-founded by Steve “Bud” Hund, who also owns Mill Creek Antiques in Paxico.
“We started The Paxico Blues Fest with a commitment to bring together a community that loves and appreciates one of the greatest American art forms: the blues,” Hund said in the announcement. “We started on a hay trailer and now in the 21st year, thousands of people venture to downtown Paxico for great music, dancing, delicious food, a beautiful setting in the Flint Hills and of course, finding antique treasures.”
The festival not only brings music to the community but also gives back, with proceeds going to causes such as school music scholarships and building local parks.
The festival has a reputation for highlighting rising stars, with past headliners including International Blues Challenge champions Danielle Nicole and Trampled Under Foot, Broadway star Mary Bridget Davies, Blues Music Award winner Samantha Fish, The Voice finalist Josh Hoyer, Independent Blues Award winner Ghost Town Blues Band and Billboard’s No. 1 Blues Artist Anthony Gomes.
This year’s lineup continues that tradition.
Ally Venable, a Texas blues-rock singer and guitarist, has been No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Charts and has performed with Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Joe Bonamassa. Her new album, “Money & Power,” features 11 originals and a cover of Janet Jackson’s “Black Cat.”
Mathias Lattin, who won the 2023 International Blues Challenge and Best Guitarist at the age of 20, is a rising star in the blues scene. He recently released his debut album, “UP NEXT,” which he wrote and produced.
Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, a soul and funk band from Lincoln, Nebraska, have toured extensively in Europe and the United States. Their latest album, “Green Light,” won Best Self Produced Album of 2022 by the International Blues Foundation.
Bea Gray and the Exact Change Reunion Band are a formation of Kansas City blues legends, including three-time Grammy award-winning guitarist Will Matthews.
Big Luke & The Soul Disciples, a soulful blues band from Kansas City, have won the Kansas City Blues Society’s “Road to Memphis” Blues Challenge for two consecutive years and are two-time semi-finalists at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
The festival offers more than just music, with local food, antique shops and a scenic setting in the Flint Hills.
“The people keep coming back, and bringing more friends,” Hund said. “We strive to provide a world-class experience and we are honored to open up our community year after year.”
For more information, visit www.paxicobluesfest.com.
This story was created by reporter Charles Rankin, [email protected], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Paxico Blues Festival returns with top acts for free 2025 festival
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