Inaugural Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival Taking Place on December 7th

On March 18, 2024, Gulf Coast entertainment company, Independent Jones and Paul E. Benjamin, Benjamin Productions, announced the inaugural Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival that will take place on December 7th, 2024, at the new Waterside Park in Waterside Place. This exciting event promises to be a day filled with electrifying performances by award-winning, nationally and internationally touring blues artists, delicious food and drink, and an atmosphere pulsating with the rhythms of the blues along the water.

In honor of the legacy of Johnette Isham and the Bradenton Blues Festival, Independent Jones and Paul E. Benjamin, artistic director of the former Bradenton Blues Festival, joined together to continue the blues tradition with the first festival hosted at Waterside Park in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. This one-day, all-ages-welcome festival will be hosted next to Kingfisher Lake from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a music lineup to include national and international touring blues artists from around the world! “We are pleased to announce that a new blues festival will take place this December,” said Benjamin. “It was important to us to keep the legacy that was created by Johnette and Realize Bradenton alive. Morgan Bettes Angell and I have teamed up to create a new festival: The Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival. After looking at a number of places we decided that Lakewood Ranch was the best place to host the event, which will draw in blues fans from across the world.”

Bettes Angell, president of Independent Jones, said that she’s thrilled to honor Johnette Isham’s memory by continuing the blues in the area in a familiar way but with a change of scenery, bringing it to Waterside Park at Waterside Place. “The blues are like coming home for me,” Bettes Angell said. “ The Bradenton Blues Festival was the first festival I was a part of producing. Now we’re excited to bring a world-class festival to Lakewood Ranch. “In addition to the stellar musical lineup, the festival will feature a variety of local food vendors offering delicious fare, as well as craft vendors showcasing unique goods. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in interactive activities and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Waterside Place.

“We’re thrilled that the beloved Blues Festival will find its new home at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch,” said Laura Cole, senior vice president of Lakewood Ranch Communities. The Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival is expected to draw music enthusiasts from across the region, making it a must-attend event for anyone looking to experience the best of the blues music in a stunning outdoor setting.

Tickets for the festival will go on sale soon. Pre-sale tickets will be $75, day of $90, along with a limited number of VIP tickets that come with special perks. Tickets will be sold online at Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival.  Via the website, sign up to receive updates and announcements for the festival including exclusive food and drink releases, lineup announcements, and more. Sponsorship opportunities will also be available for businesses interested in aligning themselves with this exciting event.

From Facebook- Here is the line-up! 

• Melody Angel from Chicago.
• Dylan Triplett 2023 Best Emerging Artist, at the Blues Music Awards.
• Mitch Woods nominated for a Blues Music Award 2024 for the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the year.
• Kat Riggins nominated for Soul Blues Artist of the year 2024 Blues Music Awards.
• Monster Mike Welch nominated for Traditional Blues Album of the year 2024 Blues Music Awards.
• Vanessa Collier multiple Blues Music Awards recipient and nominated for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the year, B B King Entertainer of the year and Horn Player of the year 2024.
• Danielle Nicole seven-time recipient of Blues Music Awards. Nominated for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the year.

For more information about the Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival, including ticket sales, lineup announcements, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit the website.

Social Media | Follow Independent Jones on social media to stay up to date.

Sponsorships | Interested in becoming a sponsor, vendor, or partnering with the LWR Blues Festival? Email | info@lakewoodranchbluesfestival.com

Midjourney Photo