A celebration of the blues is about to unfold under the Gateway Arch.
The 11th-annual “Blues at the Arch” music festival kicks off on Friday and runs through Sunday, featuring blues music and the myriad genres it has influenced, including rock, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and more. Hosted by Gateway Arch Park Foundation and presented by The Steward Family Foundation, the free festival will transform the North Gateway of Gateway Arch National Park with live music, local eats and drinks, and dancing with the Arch and riverfront and its backdrop.
“St. Louis has played a pivotal role in shaping the blues and its influence across American music,” said Ryan McClure, Executive Director for Gateway Arch Park Foundation, in a press release. “From the Old Rock House, which once stood on the Arch grounds, to the rail lines and waterways that carried the sound across the country, St. Louis helped create and proliferate blues music and the many genres that grew from it. This festival is a celebration of that legacy.”
Photo by Ella Manthey
This year’s festival lineup includes modern blues artist Toronzo Cannon alongside Tullie Brae, the Soulard Blues Band, and a host of guest DJs spinning the blues. In addition to live tunes, the festival offers a selection food and drink from some of St. Louis’ most-loved food trucks and a Kids Korner with interactive programming by The Magic House and City Museum. For history buffs, there will be a walking tour that shares the history of blues in St. Louis, and on Saturday, an educational program titled “Exploring the BluesPrint,” an opportunity to hear from a panel of blues legends, including Uvee Hayes, Bernie Hayes, Chris Shepherd, and Meaza Joy.
“Blues at the Arch” is just one of many festivals, events, and activations hosted by Gateway Arch Park Foundation in Downtown St. Louis. Learn more about the organization and its work in our community, including how to join or renew a membership at any level, on its website.
Photo by Ella Manthey