Albert Castiglia performing in the tent stage at last year's Chenango Blues Fest. This year's lineup features 12 high caliber performances, including a long-awaited performance by Jimmie Vaughan after his appearance was canceled last year. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

NORWICH — On Saturday the Chenango Blues Association announced the band lineup for the 29th annual Chenango Blues Fest, scheduled for Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20 at the Chenango County Fairgrounds.

On Friday, admission is free to see performances by 30-year blues veteran Popa Chubby, seven-time Toronto Blues Society "Female Vocalist of the Year" winner Angel Forrest, as well as rock 'n' roll and R&B cover band Hi-Jivers.

Saturday's lineup features the highly anticipated performance by headliner Jimmie Vaughan, who was slated to perform at last year's Blues Fest before having to cancel due to COVID exposure. Other performers include Southern Avenue, The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling, Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, Altered Five Blues Band, EG Kight Trio, Annika Chambers, Phil Wiggins and Corey Harris, and Built for Comfort.

Although a set schedule for the performances has not yet been released, Chenango Blues Fest Organizer Eric Larsen revealed the closing acts for both nights.

"Jimmie Vaughan will be playing last in the infield, and Nick Moss with Dennis Gruenling will be playing before him on that stage, and Altered Five will be before them on that stage. So that’s kind of the closing three there," said Larsen. "Popa Avenue will be the closing band on the tent stage, and then Popa Chubby is the closing band on Friday night."

The NBT Summer Concert Series will also be returning this year, although a full lineup has not yet been announced.

"We are close, but we’ve got one more spot to fill and we’re kind of hoping to get that spot before we do a full announcement. Although if we don’t get it pretty soon, we may go with the seven of the eight that we already have," Larsen explained. "We’re going to hold off on any announcement just yet."

Tickets to the Chenango Blues Fest will go on sale Sunday, May 1. They can be purchased online on Simpletix, or in person at the Chenango Blues Association office at 5 South Broad Street. General admission tickets are $35 from May 1 to August 11, then $45 from August 12 until the day of the show.

"They’ll be able to buy them online on our ticket platform, the same as they did last year. We are allowing this year for people to buy them in person at our office at 5 South Broad Street, but not until May 1," said Larsen. "We’re going to scan them to get in, so you won’t have a physical ticket like the old days. Or you could have a physical ticket, you could print it out, or it’ll be a mobile ticket on your phone."

For those wishing to camp, tent camping tickets are available for $70 from May 1 through August 11, then $80 from August 12 to 20. RV camping spots are an additional $50 for a basic ticket, and an additional $75 for an enhanced ticket, which includes amenities like electricity hookups and shared water.

Tent camping tickets will also be available at the gate on Saturday, August 20. However, RV camping tickets must be purchased in advance, according to Larsen.

"We do allow tent camping tickets to be purchased at the gate, but not RV camping," he explained. "We have to kind of slot them, and we typically sell out too, so we don’t want people thinking that they can just show up with their RV and we have to tell them no, sorry, there’s no room. So we put on our website pretty clearly those have to be purchased in advance."

"We will also allow for camping registrations by mail, so they can send us a check by mail for camping," he added. "Especially if you want to RV camp, go ahead and start sending those in anytime now. Make sure you’ve got your spot."

Camping tickets purchased in advance will be mailed out after tickets go on sale May 1.

Keep an eye on the Chenango Blues Association Facebook page and website, chenangobluesfest.org, for information and updates about this year's Chenango Blues Fest and Summer Concert Series.

"We just encourage people to share our posting widely so that all their friends, neighbors, and out of state friends and neighbors know about it," said Larsen. "We encourage people to come and check it out."