Blues in the Valley is a not-for-profit music festival begun several years ago by a small group of blues enthusiasts interested in promoting American music heritage and providing an event for the entire community to enjoy. Since its inception, over $30,000 has been raised for various area charities and organizations. These monies have helped to support medical care, public services, education and the arts. While blues is the primary music form associated with the festival; zydeco, rhythm & blues, groove music and rock have all been a part of the event.
The festival takes place every year in the month of August at the firemen's grounds in the picturesque village park in Warsaw, NY. Warsaw is less than an hour's drive from Rochester or Buffalo in Wyoming County and just minutes from Letchworth State Park. Come and enjoy a day of music, dancing and good food at Blues in the Valley. You will be helping to promote an important American art form and many deserving charitable organizations.
2008 Featured Bands:
The Mick Hayes Band
"Mick's soul is so freaking evident and his original lyrics and music are heart-stopping. He injects raw honesty and musical sensibility into all his work, and you can't help but be haunted by how real he is."
Maria Aurigema
Maria has emerged on the local and national blues scene as a promising new artist with a bright future. Maria enjoys a growing following in Canada and has performed at a variety of clubs in Ontario such as Old Chicago's and Boomerz in London, Arizona's and Poor Folks Deli in Brantford, and the Regal Beagle in St. Catherines. Maria has frequently performed at the Lafayette Tap Room, Buffalo's home of the blues
Junkyard Dogs
Blues with a bite....traditional hard driving Chicago style blues with classic harmonica and guitar. Originating from Niagara Falls, the Junkyard Dogs are a long time favorite.
Gregg Juke and Mighty No Stars
The Mighty No-Stars were formed with a core group of some of Western New York s finest unknown musicians, but the players in the No-Stars have all been at the music game a long time. For the best in Contemporary and Classic Blues, R&B, Blues-Rock, Soul and Originals, check out the Mighty No-Stars!
Teagan and the Tweeds
Those familiar to the music scene and Rochesters coffee house musicians may very well have heard the name Teagan Ward. In the August of 2006 issue of City Newspaper she was identified as one of six homegrown singer/songwriters identified as "The Chicks with Picks". Frank DeBlaise of 98.9 The Buzzs Sunday Night Shakedown said, "Wards voice is easily twice her size. Thats not to say this 19-year-old bellows; its just not what you expect out of such a slight frame...Nobody really expects 10-foot pipes out of a 5-foot-something woman." And surely anyone who has attended one of her shows would have to agree she belts out her songs with passion and power.