NORWICH – The Chenango Blues Association has announced the line-up for the 19th annual Chenango Blues Fest – to be held Aug. 19 and 20 – and also for the 2011 Free Summer Concert Series.

Held at the Chenango County Fairgrounds, this year’s Blues Fest will feature some of the best in the blues, according to Chenango Blues Association Board President Eric Larsen. Kicking off the excitement will be Doug MacLeod, who will hold a free blues workshop at 6 p.m. on Aug. 19 at the Guernsey Memorial Library, with a pair of performances to follow at the fairgrounds – Tas Cru from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. and Mississippi Heat from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

Aug. 20, however, will see the popular festival kick into high gear, with performances by Gina Sicilia, the Honey Island Swamp Band, guitar sensation Ana Popovic, blues harmonica legend and Grammy Award winner James Cotton and headliners the North Mississippi All-Star Duo, featuring Luther and Cody Dickinson.

According to Chenango Blues Association Board member Tim Andrews – who’ll be performing with his band, The Suspicious Hats, on the Nelson & Flanagan Acoustic Stage on Aug. 20, this year’s festival is the “best line-up we have ever been able to put together.”