Hot Springs’ Big Steam Blues and Roots Music Festival and the Hot Springs Food Truck Festival have joined forces to deliver a weekend of great music and great food, Sept. 26 – 27.
“The collaboration is all about bringing people together over great music and even better food,” the organizers said in announcing the joint event. “It will be The Ultimate Blues and Bites Weekend.”
The music festival headliners will be Mississippi bluesman Vasti Jackson on Friday, September 26, and Paul Thorn, who combines Southern rock, country, Americana, and blues, on Saturday, September 27.
The combined festivals will take place in Hill Wheatley Plaza and the adjoining Bridge Street Entertainment District in the heart of downtown Hot Springs. Admission to both events is free and open to the public. VIP tickets for $100 are available for the music festival.
Fourteen food trucks purveying everything from funnel cakes to wings have been signed up, with more expected, according to the festival website.
In addition to Jackson and Thorn, the music festival will feature a Friday lineup that includes Keith Johnson and the Big Muddy Band and the Fred T. Band. The Saturday lineup will include Matthew Curry, Trey & Jason, Jerry McCoy and the Groove Diggers, the Tina Cossey Band, and the Steve Malec Band with special guest Brady Roseberry.
Vasti Jackson is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the musical director and guitarist for Z.Z. Hill, Johnnie Taylor, Denise LaSalle, Little Milton, Bobby Bland, and Katie Webster.
Jackson’s album, The Soul of Jimmie Rodgers, was nominated for the Best Traditional Blues Album for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
Paul Thorn has toured as an opening act for Huey Lewis & The News, Sting, John Prine, Marianne Faithfull, Mark Knopfler, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Toby Keith, and Jeff Beck.
Information on both events is available at BigSteamMusicFestival.com and Facebook: Spa City Food Truck Festival.
