Building on recent efforts to brand downtown Yakima as an arts and entertainment destination, a new festival will be launched this June built around craft beer produced in the region and locally popular, nationally recognized and internationally acclaimed blues artists.

The Yakima Blues and Local Brews Bash will debut Saturday, June 14, from
2-9 p.m. in the Historic North Front Street district. Two separate stages will be
packed with high-quality, nonstop blues throughout the festival. The Depot Stage will
showcase the Seattle-based The Wired! Blues Band at 2:45 p.m., Kevin Selfe and the Tornados from Portland, Ore., at 5 p.m., and The Nick Moss Band at 7:30 pm. The Opera House Stage will feature Yakima favorites Stan Fortier & The Black Market Horns at 2 p.m., The Rod Giles Band at 4:15 p.m., and Shoot Jake at 6:30 p.m.

Fronted by Kevin Selfe, who last year signed with the world-renowned blues label Delta Groove Productions, Kevin Self and the Tornados was inducted into the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame in 2012. The Wired! Blues Band has received numerous Washington Blues Society “Best of the Blues” awards, including being named three times as “Best Blues Band,” and in 2012 won the prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Headed by 16-time “Blues Music Awards” nominee Nick Moss, The Nick Moss Band will be the featured act for the evening performance of the Yakima Blues and Local Brews Bash. The Chicago-based group is a staple on the national blues circuit and regularly performs at venues around the world.

Craft breweries located within 100 miles of Yakima have been invited to showcase their beers and several, including Bale Breaker Brewing Company, Yakima Craft Brewing Company, Icicle Brewing Company (Leavenworth), and Iron Horse Brewery (Ellensburg) have already committed to be part of the event. Naches Heights Vineyard, Gilbert Cellars, and Antolin Cellars, all based in Yakima, will also be serving their varietals at the festival.

Only people 21 years of age or older will be allowed on the festival grounds, but North Town Coffeehouse will host a free family area during the event.
Tickets to enter the event will cost $10 in advance and $12 at the gate. Tickets for the festival can be purchased at the Capitol Theatre Box Office (19 S. Third St.), online at yakimablues.com, or by calling 853-ARTS. Scrip for beer and wine tastings, as well as for food prepared by restaurants from the Historic North Front Street district, will be sold at various locations on the festival grounds. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the nonprofit Seasons Performance Hall while some of the money generated by the festival will go into a fund to help pay for next year’s bash.

The Yakima Blues and Local Brews Bash is being sponsored by the city of Yakima, Seasons Performance Hall, Ted Brown Music, City Hall 1886, and the Historic North Front Street Merchants Association.

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