25th Annual Bull Durham Blues Festival Back Home at the DAP

The St. Joseph's Historic Foundation, Inc. in Durham is pleased to announce the 25th Annual Bull Durham Blues Festival will return to the Durham Athletic Park (DAP) on September 7 & 8, 2012.

After moves around the city to other locations, the festival's return to the DAP is exciting news, said Janella Sellars, Interim Executive Director. "It is time for the festival to come home.  Community members regularly share their wonderful experiences at the DAP, noting the good food, music, dancing through the night and the camaraderie they have come to look forward to every year at the Blues Festival.  Many have children who've grown up attending the festival at the DAP.  It's a family-friendly environment that the community has come to love and cherish as it is now interwoven into the fabric that is Durham," she said.

The festival has sought a permanent location since the renovation of the DAP in 2008-09, and in past years, has been held at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham Performing Arts Center and Durham Central Park. Despite the numerous changes of locations, Sellars says the community has continued to support the festival with letters, emails, phone calls and news articles.  They want to see the festival strengthen and continue its status as one of the top Blues Festivals in the country, she said.

While this year's Blues Festival continues its tradition of harp blowing, guitar strumming, down home blues, it also promises something for the entire family, including a KidsZone with interactive entertainment for youngster, and a Marketplace where blues lovers can indulge in an eclectic mix of regional and international foods for the soul, arts and crafts by NC artists, and a variety of unique specialty items.

The artists' line-up will be announced in the coming weeks.  Special discounted Pre-Sale Tickets will be available June 1-30, with advance tickets going on sale July 1st. Blues lovers are invited to bring their blankets, but to help preserve the field, lawn chairs will not be allowed. The festival goers can enjoy the fun on the infield or in the grandstand, rain or shine!!  Gates open at 5 p.m. and show ends at 11 p.m.

The annual Bull Durham Blues Festival, produced by St. Joseph's Historic Foundation, Inc., has been successfully presented since 1988. It is nationally recognized as one of the premier blues festivals in the country and has been honored with the "Keeping the Blues Alive Award" by The Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN.  The festival has become one of North Carolina's largest celebrations of the blues, recognizing Durham's rich musical heritage as an important center of Carolina and Piedmont Blues.