Advertisement

Blues Fest features free Thursday party, and an American Idol winner

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

Caleb Johnson won season 13 of American Idol. He has since toured with KISS and Black Stone Cherry. He will be the Saturday night headliner at the Prairie Dog Blues Fest in Prairie du Chien, July 30, at 10:30 p.m. It should be a magnetic show.

By Correne Martin

 

The lineups just keep getting better and better for the Prairie Dog Blues Festival, which is hosting its 24th annual blues-rock music party July 28-30, on St. Feriole Island in Prairie du Chien, according to the event’s loyal fans. 

This year’s mix of 13 artists will bring their fresh takes of rock and roll, country, soul, pop and funk to the traditional blues genre. 

Idol winner

This includes an American Idol winner. Caleb Johnson’s sole mission is to spread the gospel of rock-n-roll! From his beginnings on American Idol to relentless touring with KISS, Black Stone Cherry, and Trans Siberian Orchestra, Johnson has electrified countless audiences with his thunderous voice and magnetic stage presence. 

Now hot off the heels of  his critically acclaimed 2019 album, “Born From Southern Ground,” Johnson is back with a new album entitled “Mountain Mojo Vol. 1.” Recorded in three whirlwind days at Nashville’s legendary Blackbird studios, Johnson and company pushed through a tumultuous 2020 and created what could be Caleb’s best record to date. Johnson enlisted the best of the best to back him on this new album.

Free Thursday night

There will also be a free night of music Thursday night, July 28, along with free camping on the island that night.

“This is a good chance for community members who have never attended to check out the longstanding festival and the electrifying live music that is available every July in Prairie du Chien,” said Todd Yeomans, fest president. “We like to think it’s one of the biggest parties of the summer on the Upper Mississippi.”

The Thursday Night Kickoff Party will feature Memphis’ The Ghost Town Blues Band, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. All food vendors will be set up at 5 p.m. and free alligator samples are planned for the night as well. 

Not your grandpa’s blues band, Ghost Town’s live show has been captivating audiences in the U.S., Canada and Europe with their “second-line horn entrance,” cigar box guitars and electric push brooms to Allman Brothers style jams and even a hip-hop trombone player. The band’s stage show and energy is unparalleled and has been called the best new live blues show in the world.

Full lineup

Friday’s main stage lineup will include: the young blues-country-pop voice of Katie Henry, kicking things off at 5 p.m.; hard-rocking rhythm and blues trio Jimmy Nick & Don’t Tell Mama at 7 p.m.; formidable guitarist Joanna Connor at 9 p.m.; and popular rockers The Steepwater Band shutting down the main stage at 11 p.m. All day Friday, between main stage acts, Left Wing Bourbon will be mixing up their cocktail of soul, boogie and funk on the beer tent stage. 

Then, on Saturday, the main stage will feature: local band Mama’s Worry starting things off at 12:30 p.m.; the Avey Grouws Band from Bettendorf, Iowa, one of the hottest Midwestern bands right now who have their own groove-based blues/rock tone, at 2:30 p.m.; Cuba-born and Chicago-raised guitarist Eddie Turner at 4:30 p.m.; blues and roots pianist Veronica Lewis at 6:30 p.m.; hard-stompin’ blues songwriter Gabe Stillman at 8:30 p.m. and season 13 American Idol winner Caleb Johnson at 10:30 p.m. Taking the beer tent stage throughout Saturday will be the powerhouse blues band with old-school influences, Dirty Red and Soul Shakers. 

For more information or tickets, visit prairie dogblues.com, or stop by Sports World in Prairie du Chien for tickets. 

Rate this article: 
No votes yet