When Julius Lewis and Leslie Bell planned the first Milwaukee Blues Festival in 2009, they didn’t have high hopes.
“We actually didn’t think that it would work,” Bell says, assuming that the city’s blues scene wasn’t robust enough. “We took a chance on faith, and the people showed us different.”
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Fourteen years later, the festival is returning to the Miller High Life Theatre on March 31, bringing a lineup of nationally-known musicians. “When it first started, we had a lot of older artists. … Now we’ve grown in popularity with the younger fans,” Bell says. “We’re bringing the younger generation of artists that are up-and-coming.”
This year’s lineup includes Tucka, Calvin Richardson, Pokey Bear, King George, Chick Rodgers and J-Wonn. Bell is expecting a sellout. “The crowd and the fans are what make it fun,” she says.
Tickets and more info are available at millerhighlifetheatre.com.
