The 2017 Blues & Roots on Water Street festival is set for Saturday, June 10. The event will take place at the Kiss The Sky and Water Street Studios complex. Two stages … six artists … food and beverage … all taking place inside and within the friendly confines of the Kiss and Water Street Studios (and the BEI Dock).

The line up this year is stellar … a nice mix of Blues and Americana and Roots. Wayne Baker Brooks will be headlining the Blues Stage while Jonas Friddle & The Majority are headlining the Roots Stage. Rounding out the line up for the Blues stage are The Ladies of Leland and Noah Gabriel (and band), while the Roots Stage will also feature The Leadfoot Band and Chicago Farmer. We are excited, delighted and tinkled pink to have all of these mighty fine musicians playing our fest this year! A little mix of Blues Rock, R&B, Soul, Bluegrass, Truegrass, Front Porch Old Timey Knee Slappin’ Roots and legendary Chicago-Style Blues comin’ from a man with a rich and deep Blues heritage.

This year we decided to change the names of the two stages to the Blues Stage, and the Roots Stage, as opposed to the Electric and Acoustic stages as they were called last year, to more properly reflect the music that will grace each.

The doors to the festival will open at 4:30pm with the first performance being scheduled to kick things off on the Roots Stage at 5pm. Here’s the Performance Schedule as currently laid out. We may tweak things a little bit here and there but we pretty much think that this is what the schedule is going to look like:

Jonas Friddle & the Majority

4:30pm Doors Open
5:00pm Chicago Farmer (Roots Stage)
6:00pm Noah Gabriel (Blues Stage)
6:30pm The Leadfoot Band (Roots Stage)
7:30pm The Ladies of Leland (Blues Stage)
8:30pm Jonas Friddle & The Majority (Roots Stage)
9:30pm Wayne Baker Brooks (Blues Stage)
11:00pm The Party moves over to the Rivers Edge Bar & Grill on River St.

As was the case last year, tickets will be limited. This year, only 400 tickets will be made available for purchase. The first 300 tickets purchased in advance are $25. After that, the price will increase to $30. So, it’s a good idea to get them early and cheap. Last year, the festival sold out and people were turned away at the door the day of.

Tickets can also be purchased at Kiss The Sky and Water Street Studios and have been on sale since March 15.

Get Tickets online here.

Block out June 10th on your calendar. Look for more details on this page and Facebook, including the rest of the musical lineup which will feature a total of six (6) acts on two stages with lots of room in between for hanging out, art viewing, good conversation, food from River Edge Bar & Grill, beer from Solemn Oath Brewery, Wine from Bright Angel and special Blues on Water Street cocktails combining aged bourbon from Whiskey Acres and handcrafted concoctions from Windmill Ginger Brew that you won’t want to miss. In addition, Whiskey Acres Distilling will be hosting a “tasting” at the festival from 6pm until 8.


Here is a little bit of Wayne Baker Brooks for your listening enjoyment while you order tickets!