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brought to you by
Slipped Disc Productions
June 4th, 5th & 6th
at The Jackson County Airport


2009 Bluesfest Poster for Jackson

Bands wishing to be considered for the 2009 Jackson Blues Festival should send their info and a CD to 6549 N. Sandstone Rd., Jackson,Mich. 49201. The way that the Festival works is a bit different from most others in that we try to raise all the funding in advance. This way, the bands are assured of getting paid whether we are rained out or whatever and the festival doesn't go in the hole. Because of this, we are not able to book the bands many, many months in advance and we appologize for this inconvenience. If your band is interested in performing, please consider the following: We do not want bands that only play Blues music occasionally. We know that there are many bands who are capable of performing a set of decent Blues music when called upon, but we are seeking bands that are dedicated to playing the Blues and only the Blues year-round. Likewise, we are not interested in bands that are trying to redefine the music for a rock n roll audience. Another point is that we prefer that bands not play all the obvious Blues standards such as "Mojo Workin'", "Sweet Home Chicago" or "Stormy Monday". Otherwise the audience will be subjected to 10 versions of "The Thrill is Gone" over the course of the weekend. We definitely are looking for bands with an original approach to the music. But if, at any time during the year, your band would even consider playing "Brown-Eyed Girl", "Long Train Running" or "Free Bird", please don't waste your time or ours. We want to honor real Blues music at our festival. If you ever play anything by Led Zepelin, The Rolling Stones, Grand Funk, ZZ Top or any such bands who dabble in the Blues, please don't bother. Further, George Gershwin's "Summertime" is not a Blues song. Neither is "Me and Bobby McGee" or "Roadhouse Blues". We're not passing judgement on the quality of your band, we are simply trying to keep the focus on real Blues. The last thing that we wanted to do was take on the role of The Blues Police but the whole event could easily erode into something completely different than a Blues Festival if these lines become blurred. Lastly, our apologies for this extended diatribe but it is unbelievable how many times we have had to explain this to bands who simply refuse to accept it. They all seem to think that they are the exception to the rule. This is a Blues festival for Blues fans by Blues musicians. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Now... the schedule appears below but is still being fleshed out. The festival will take place rain or shine and the details will be posted here as they accumulate. Please keep checking. Thanks....Tom and Cindy

June 4th (Thursday)
6:30pm - 7:40pm       Fat Lapp Blues Band
8:00pm - 9:10pm       Blue Moon
9:30pm - 10:40pm       Lady Sunshine and the X Band


 June 5th (Friday)
6:30pm - 7:40pm       Motor City Injectors
8:00pm - 9:10pm       Broken Arrow
9:30pm - 10:40pm       Duke Tumatoe & the Power Trio
11:00pm - Midnight       Seventh Son


 June 6th (Saturday)
3:00pm - 4:10pm       Who Dat? Blues Band
4:10pm - 4:30pm       The Harmonica Hounds
      The harmonica Hounds event is for the kids. The 1st 100 kids
      to register on Saturday will each receive a free T-shirt,
      sunglasses and a harmonica. Then Cindy will give them all
      a brief harmonica lesson and get the kids to jam with
      Mojo Phoenix. It's lots of fun and a great photo op for parents.
 4:40pm - 5:50pm       Mike Espy & Yakety Yak
6:10pm - 7:20pm       Front Street Blues band
7:40pm - 8:50pm       Tomas Esparza and the Boa Constrictors
9:10pm - 10:20pm       Mojo Phoenix
10:40pm - Midnight       Rusty Wright


2007 crowd


2006

above: 2006 fans - below: 2006 Harmonica Hounds
06 Hounds

When I first started the Jackson Blues Festival, there were many naysayers that instantly decided that Jackson would not support such an event. Well, I am proud to say this is our 8th year and I am filled with excitement. The crowd numbered in the thousands last year. We actually hit record numbers in attendance.
 Good news! The Festival is ON!! The Jackson community has rallied behind the event and has shown that it really wants the Blues festival to continue. Many businesses have decided to take out an ad in the program and support this wonderful weekend of great music. We're still a little behind and are working very hard to secure the needed funding to ensure a successful weekend of Blues. But come rain or come shine, it's gonna happen.
In these obviously troubled times, it is more important than ever that Jackson's only dedicated music festival continues.
If you're a Blues fan and you know anyone who might be willing to help please call them and alert them to our event or call us at (517) 745-2935) and we'll contact them. We're not asking for donations. We offer some excellent advertisement opportunities as well many other ways to help promote Jackson businesses.

Sponsorship Opportunities


$3,000 level
      * Company name announced during every intermission all three days
      * Autographed guitar - signed by all performers at the Blues festival
      * Full page color ad in the festival program
      * Your company banner displayed on the stage at the festival
      * 10'x20' exhibitor booth space (canopy, table and chairs not included)
      * Company logo on the Harmonica Hounds T-shirts
      * Company logo on festival poster

$2,000 level
      * Autographed guitar - signed by all performers at the Blues festival
      * Full page color ad in the festival program
      * Your company banner displayed on the stage at the festival
      * 10'x10' exhibitor booth space (canopy, table and chairs not included)
      * Company logo on the Harmonica Hounds T-shirts
      * Company logo on festival poster

$1,500 level
      * Half page color ad in the festival program
      * Your company banner displayed on the stage at the festival
      * 10'x10' exhibitor booth space (canopy, table and chairs not included)
      * Company logo on the Harmonica Hounds T-shirts
      * Company logo on festival poster

$1,000 level
      * Quarter page color ad in the festival program
      * Your company banner displayed at the festival
      * 10'x10' exhibitor booth space (canopy, table and chairs not included)
      * Company logo on the Harmonica Hounds T-shirts
      * Company logo on festival poster

$500 level
      * Quarter page black & white ad in the festival program
      * Your company banner displayed at the festival
      * 10'x10' exhibitor booth space (canopy, table and chairs not included)
      * Company logo on the Harmonica Hounds T-shirts

$200 Options
      * Quarter page black & white ad in the festival program
      * Your company banner displayed at the festival
      * Company name on Harmonica Hounds sunglasses (2 spots available)
      * Company logo on the Harmonica Hounds T-shirts (15 spots available)



You can e-mail us at: jacksonbluesfest08@yahoo.com

Program Ad Rates
$750 = full page color
$400 = full page black & white
$400 = half page color
$200 = half page black & white
$200 = quarter page color
$100 = quarter page black & white
$100 = business card size color
$50 = business card size black & white


The festival has definitely proven to be a success. I actually have businesses approaching me inquiring about sponsorships, instead of me chasing them across the parking lot. (Not really, but sometimes it feels that way). Despite our desperate situation, I have a good feeling about this year’s festival.
Since its inception, Jackson has embraced this event and It would be a shame to see it go away. There is no greater thrill for me than to see something that I believe in so much bring pleasure to so many Blues fans.
Tom and I work all year long raising funds, designing posters, designing t-shirts, hiring bands, arts and craft exhibitors and food vendors. The first day of the event when the crowd starts showing is our reward. So please make plans to attend, we need you.
Check this website often for a current list of bands and last minute changes.
Join us June 4th, 5th & 6th at the Jackson County Airport, 3601 Wildwood Ave for the 8th Annual Jackson Blues Festival.

June 4th - Thursday 6pm – 11pm- $2.00 Admission
June 5th - Friday 6pm – Midnight $2.00 admission
June 6th - Saturday 3pm – Midnight $2.00 admission

Bring a lawn chair, kick back and enjoy some of the best musicians in the business.
Remember: No outside food or beverages allowed. Support the food vendors. They help to make this Festival happen.

Blues Afficionados



      2006 brought Jackson's fifth annual Blues Festival. It was again held at the Jackson County Airport. The first year (2002) it was held at Kuhl's Bell Tower parking lot and attracted over 1700 attendees. We needed more space and so we moved the 2003 festival to the Jackson County Fairgrounds where we had about 4000 blues fans come out, even though it was still taking place in a parking lot on asphalt. Although the Fairgrounds raised our rent substantially, we decided to hold 2004's festival at the fairgrounds in an effort to establish some continuity. 2004's event brought in 13,000 plus and was a big success. In 2005, the Jackson County Fairgrounds chose to more than double the rent again, even though our previous year went smoothly with no negative incidents and we left the grounds spotless and paid all our bills promptly. Sadly, We realized that we had to move the festival and it took some searching but we finally found a great location at the Jackson County Airport; on a grassy lawn! It worked out beautifully. 2005's attendance surpassed 20,000 and in 2006 the numbers again jumped significantly. The airport has been very accommodating and is making us feel welcome like no other venue has before now. We want to thank local businesses who contribute by taking out ad space in the festival program which is distributed to concert goers. These programs are most often kept as souvenirs and so the ads have an extended lifespan and circulation. If you're interested in helping to support the Blues Festival or other community events produced by Slipped Disc Productions, please call Cindy at (517) 796-9368 or e-mail at slippeddiscproductions@yahoo.com and ask about sponsorship opportunities. If you have any questions please e-mail us at slippeddiscproductions@yahoo.com. We will reply promptly.

Tom and Cindy (Slipped Disc Productions)