NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The fourth annual Bluesberry Music + Art Festival will take place in Covington, Louisiana on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a stellar lineup of regional and national talent on the Northshore Media Group Stage! Headlining this full-day celebration of blues music and the arts is Americana stalwarts The Band of Heathens from Austin, a crowd favorite from Bluesberry Festival 2022. Other featured performances include 5x blues music award winner Mike Zito; Texas blues-rock singer/songwriter and guitarist Ally Venable; Nashville country band Big 50; and New Orleans natives Kevin & The Blues Groovers.
Bluesberry Festival will also introduce a brand new third stage, The Reminding Coffee & Creative House’s River Revival Stage, which will be under a large tent near the Bogue Falaya River and will feature various Christian music and gospel artists throughout the day – plus locally roasted coffee creations! The FOX8/Ozone Songwriter Stage will return to the festival pavilion and will feature performances by a number of local and regional songwriters from the Mandeville-based Ozone Songwriter Festival, which takes place in November each year.
Set in Downtown Covington’s riverside Bogue Falaya Park, Bluesberry Festival is a perfect place for music and art aficionados who want to “experience” the arts amidst Southeast Louisiana’s natural landscape. In addition to a diverse music lineup, the festival features live art demonstrations; 20+ talented artists from across the region who will be selling their original work; the Liberty Self Storage Photo Booth; and the Children’s Village, sponsored by Louisiana State Senator Patrick McMath, where kids can exercise their own creative talent.
As for food and drink options, the festival will feature the KYSEK Food Truck Roundup with local cuisine from mobile eateries like Pyre BBQ, Rustic Press, Rue Chow, Cranky Pig, Yum Yum Gimme Sum Mobile Food Truck, Hocus Smokus and more. Each will serve up their signature dishes, but also put a blueberry spin on some old favorites. A lso returning to the festival this year is the Gulf Coast Bank Relaxation Station, where patrons can cool down and grab a cold drink with a great view of the stage; and the Gallardo Signs Beer Garden, where festival goers can sip on a variety of locally crafted brews from Abita Brewery, including Abita Blueberry Beer, which they brew exclusively for this festival. A variety of wines from around the world will be available at the Acquistapace’s Wine Tent.
“As Bluesberry Festival enters into its fourth year, we’re so grateful for the accolades and outpouring of support we’ve received, including our recent Offbeat Best of the Beat Music Award for ‘Best Festival Outside New Orleans!’ Our goal has always been to create a high quality, family-friendly celebration of culture and community,” says Bluesberry Festival Co- founder Sarah Federer. “With the addition of a third stage this year, The Reminding’s River Revival Stage, we look forward to expanding our festival’s musical variety and showcasing even more of the incredible talent we have right here in our own backyard.”
General admission to the festival is $30 online, $40 at the gate, and free for children ages 10 and under. Festival parking will be available at the St. Tammany Justice Center, and the Gulf Coast Bank Trolley will be running throughout the day, transporting festival patrons to and from Bogue Falaya Park. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.thebluesberryfest.com.
