Blues is an American-born musical genre that originated in the Deep South of the United States. Blues has its roots in African musical traditions, African-American work songs, spirituals, and the folk music of white Americans of European heritage. As an original traditional American art form, the blues tells stories of personal adversity, overcoming hard luck, expressing feelings, and a desire to escape it all.
Through the performances, educational opportunities, and activities presented by national, regional, and local artists, the Bluebird Blues Festival provides an opportunity for the community to be immersed in the culture and history of this musical tradition, to understand its origins and impact on the region, and to see themselves as an integral part of its endurance and propagation. The festival not only showcases local, regional, and nationally-renowned musicians, artisans, storytellers, and scholars, but also encourages active participation, bringing to life the musical, artistic, and cultural connections between festival attendees and the living tradition that is the blues.
