Catalina Island Blues Festival

Nothing But the Blues
Catalina Island Blues Festival – September 25-27th

Three Blues-tastic days of top-name entertainment on Catalina Island fill the weekend with island breezes, musical riffs and world-class blues in a world-class setting.  The Catalina Island Blues Festival, September 25th-27th, invites visitors to enjoy a complete line-up of blues entertainment and features headliners, Taj Mahal and Robert Cray in a special concert in the world famous Casino Ballroom

The island comes alive when the festival kicks off Friday, September 25th with the ever-popular Blues Walk throughout Avalon. Local hot spots such as the Lobster Trap and JL's Locker Room will feature various blues artists performing late into the night. Visitors can stroll through town enjoying the lights of harbor and the hot sounds of music in the air.

The festival continues Saturday afternoon with a free outdoor concert from 2-3pm in the heart of downtown Avalon at Crescent and Metropole Avenue, along the waterfront. Local restaurants and Catalina’s quaint shopping district will also welcome guests in friendly island style.

On Saturday evening, taking the stage in the Casino Ballroom is the dual headline entertainment of Taj Mahal & The Phantom Band and Robert Cray.  These giants of the blues scene will electrify the crowd with four fantastic hours of the best blues music in the world in the Casino’s intimate and unique art deco setting. 

Taj Mahal is a two time Grammy Award-winning blues artist who has been playing his own brand of the blues for over 40 years. A self-taught musician, Taj plays more than 20 instruments and compliments the sound with his distinctive voice, traveling the entire spectrum from smooth & sultry to rough, blues gravel. His music feels as if it erupts from raw emotion. The influences of funk, Caribbean, folk, rock, Latin, jazz, gospel, zydeco, and soul meld with solid blues in a manner that defies classification into a single genre. Says Taj Mahal about his music, "In the end, ultimately the music plays you, you don't play the music."

Robert Cray has been described as being at the center of the contemporary blues revival, winning him a total of five Grammy Awards and 11 nominations for his work. Robert's precise and passionate guitar licks and soulful vocals combine with his 1960's Seattle roots to produce an unique sound bringing with it images of B.B. King, and Buddy Guy. Robert's prominent cross-over success and his powerful song writing have helped to ensure his longevity and undeniable appeal.

The Catalina Island Blues Festival comes to a close Sunday, Sept. 27th, with a free concert on the lawn of the oceanfront Descanso Beach Club.   Blues bands (to be announced) will grace the lawn stage for Blues on the Beach from 12:30pm until 4 pm.

Catalina Island Blues Festival tickets are now on sale.  Tickets at $30.00, $50.00, $85.00 for seats and $110.00 per person table option.  Tickets are available online at www.visitcatalinaisland.com or at www.tix.com. 

Catalina Express is running a late boat back from Avalon to Long Beach after the Saturday evening concert, Sept. 26th. The boat will depart Avalon at 11:45pm.