South Orange Blues Festival Returns This Sunday

Written by Eric Goodman. 

The South Orange International Blues Festival, founded by Orange native and long-time South Orange resident Mike Griot in 2010, will return to South Orange Village with performances from many renown musicians.

The free Festival will be held Sunday, Sept. 8, from noon to 8 p.m. at Cherry Lane in South Mountain Reservation.

Featured this year are renowned Blues acts including Dave Styker & Blue to the Bone, Dean Shot, Michael Hills Blues Mob, Billy Hector, Lil' Bastad, Bill Sims Jr., and Al Gold. The "Culinary Rocker" Johnny Ciao will serve as the host.

The Festival is sponsored by County of Essex, Mental Health Association of Essex, Investors Savings Bank, and PWI Entertainment & Media.

"Created through the African-American experience, the Blues are integral to who and what we are as a nation. It's our own classical music,” sad Griot, who also serves as the festival's executive producer. “Once exposed, most Americans instantly recognize that much of their favorite music has its roots in the Blues.”

“I founded the Festival to celebrate all this and bring a robust Blues experience to the culturally rich melting pot of northern New Jersey,” he said.

The South Orange International Blues Festival schedule is as follows

11:00am –12:00pm BILL SIMS, JR. 

12:20pm – 1:20pm AL GOLD

1:40pm – 2:40pm LIL’ BASTAD 

3:00pm – 4:00pm DAVE STRYKER & BLUE TO THE BONE 

4:20pm – 5:20pm DEAN SHOT

5:40pm – 6:40pm MICHAEL HILL’s BLUES MOB 

7:00pm – 8:00pm BILLY HECTOR