June 11, 2019 | by Michelle Queen

11th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival Returns June 15

The Silver Spring Blues Festival on June 15 is an outdoor street block party featuring national and regional blues stars playing acoustic and electric blues. Festival activities include vendors, crafts and dancing in downtown Silver Spring. This is an opportunity to hang out with dad on Father’s Day weekend, play in the fountain and pick up a gift. The festival runs from 10 a.m. through 10 p.m.

Start with the Silver Spring Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Ellsworth Drive, at 10 a.m. head to the stage on Veterans Plaza for free acoustic blues until 3 p.m.

Acoustic performances include Ja Ja & Friends at 10 a.m., Gina DeSimone & Pat Quinn at 11 a.m., Lil Bit A Blues featuring Warner Williams at noon, Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Ensemble at 1 p.m. and Ian Walters & Matt Kelley at 2 p.m.

Little Bit A Blues received a WAMMIE nomination and a JIMI award for their most recent record, “The Best of Little Bit A Blues: Live at B.B. King’s Bluesville.” Member Warner Williams won the 2011 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States’ highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.

After enjoying the sounds of acoustic blues, return to Ellsworth Drive for the electric music on the Fountain Stage from 3 to 10 p.m. Performers include School of Rock at 3 p.m., Colin Thompson Band at 4 p.m., Linwood Taylor Band at 5 p.m., Carly Harvey’s Kiss & Ride at 6 p.m., Rick Jones Music Emporium at 7 p.m., James Armstrong Band at 8 pm. The festival wraps up with the all-stars jam at 9 p.m.

There’s outdoor seating at the restaurants, or bring your festival chair, or dance the entire day. Free parking is available in the numerous garages and the festival is walking distance from the Silver Spring metro.

Performances will be on Veterans Plaza starting at 10 a.m. and at the Fountain Stage starting at 3 p.m.

See the full line-up here.

Take a look at this video from the 10th Annual Blues Festival: