This year’s festival will feature a new “Premium Experience,” family-friendly activities, and a performance by Marquise Knox and Nikki Hill during a firework extravaganza.
Courtesy of The Gateway Arch Park Foundation
Originally posted on St. Louis Magazine’s site
The Blues at the Arch Festival, held in partnership with the National Blues Museum, will return this summer on August 9 and 10 at the Gateway Arch grounds. This free festival—celebrating its ninth year in St. Louis—promises a summery celebration of blues music and the city’s role in its history.
“St. Louis has a storied blues history, which is one of the reasons we are able to do this festival on the Arch grounds,” says Camille Brooks, director of programming and events at the Gateway Arch Park Foundation. “One of the first blues songs was written under the Eads Bridge. This is an opportunity to celebrate St. Louis.”
The Blues at the Arch festival prides itself on being an event for the whole family. Kids can enjoy the Kids Korner, where they will engage with blues music by trying out different instruments at the “musical petting zoo” or playing a range of games. Dogs are also welcome.
In addition to enjoying the musical lineup, festival-goers can grab a bite to eat at one of the food vendors that will flank the stage. Food and drink from Narwhals, Little Busy Bee, MooMobile, MO Kettle Corn, and Pour Decisions will be available at the event. Free activities like a line-dancing performance by Slideshow STL—which Brooks says possesses all the fun of a flash mob—and a morning yoga session will also join the Saturday schedule.
The music kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. with St. Louis–native Amber Bullock, who will bring a fresh, gospel flavor to the festival. Later, at 6:30 p.m., the up-and-coming artist and 2024 Blues Music Awards nominee D.K. Harrell will take the stage. The hits keep coming on Saturday, when performers will play from noon into the evening. Jeremiah Johnson, The Soulard Blues Band, and Lamar Harris will kick off the afternoon with a blend of unique sounds prior to a brief intermission.
At 5 p.m. on Saturday, award-winning St. Louis artist Marquise Knox will return to the Blues at the Arch Festival for another year. Brooks says that “everyone is very excited” for his performance. Knox will be joined by the festival’s headliner, the rocking-and-rolling Nikki Hill, for a high-energy conclusion to the day’s events. As Knox and Hill play the festival out, a firework show will explode over the skyline at 8 p.m.
“The music brings the fireworks to life, almost,” Brooks says. “The music, the guitars… it’s a really wonderful way to end the night.”
New to the festival this year is the ticketed Premium Experience for $35. These guests will receive merchandise, food and drinks, concert passes for the National Blues Museum, and special meet-and-greets with festival performers.
“It’s an elevated experience at the festival,” Brooks says. “We hope it’s a great opportunity for people to get up close and personal with the artists and bring them into the fold.”
On Sunday, after the bulk of the festival’s events are over, there will be an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet at 612North Event Space + Catering. Adult tickets are $49.99 and tickets for children ages 3-12 are $14.99. Attendees can feast on waffles and donuts while listening to a live performance by The Coleman-Hughes Project.
The Blues at the Arch festival is held in partnership with the National Blues Museum in St. Louis. For more information about the event, go to archpark.org.
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