2021 Kalamazoo Blues Fest Update:

Dear Kalamazoo Blues Festival Community,

The Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association (KVBA) is grateful for our supporters, generous sponsors, donors, musicians, and volunteers over the years. We have gone 26 consecutive years, bringing joy and entertainment to tens of thousands with local, regional and national acts. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we went into planning the 2020 festival with great momentum: a new venue, increased sponsorships and an exciting line-up.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the KVBA board and festival planning committee went into a holding pattern, hoping for the best. Our concern is for our constituents, the musicians, the volunteers, production crew and all those involved.  As excited as we were for the 2020 festival, we did not want to put anyone at risk. There is a great deal of effort and cost involved in planning and putting on the Kalamazoo Blues Festival. After assessing the risks, the KVBA Board of Directors and Planning Committee had decided to cancel the 2020 Kalamazoo Blues Festival.

Like you, we have hope for recovery soon, and we look forward to live music events in 2021 even if we are not able to bring a full scale Blues Fest more than ever. KVBA board and committees will continue to support the community.  This will give us an opportunity to strengthen efforts in Blues in School, KVBA – Boogie Woogie Bob Peters Scholarship Fund, sponsorship of local music open stage and support of local venues.  Looking forward, we are open to your input and ideas on new ways to serve the community. We are always looking for volunteers.

We appreciate your support and will continue our pursuit to promote, educate and preserve this great American art form. We look forward to supporting the community in new ways in the near term as we begin to plan for a better-than-ever 2021 Kalamazoo Blues Festival.

Thanks for keeping the blues alive!

Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association Board of Directors

Mike Depoian, President

miked@kvba.com