Figge Opens, Blues Fest Cancels
While one art venue opens, another music festival cancels.
The Figge Art Museum will be reopening to the public on Tuesday, June 9 and to members-only on Saturday & Sunday, June 6, 7. Admission is free which also makes it a no touch visitor experience, according to Figge staff.
If you go you are asked to reserve a time slot before you go. The Figge Cafe will stay closed until June.
File this under 'that's a bummer' news....this year's Blues Fest has been canceled. Earlier this year fest organizers pushed back the date from July 4 weekend, to Sept. 18-19, the Mississippi Valley Blues Society board decided
“that it is in the best interest of our fans, artists and vendors to cancel a live Festival until the ongoing pandemic is far behind us,” president Bob Clevenstine posted on mvbs.org.
MVBS board member say, the potential for a second wave of the coronavirus or peak later this year is very real, and would render the 35th Anniversary Fest a non-event if large group gatherings remain discouraged through late summer into fall. Organizers considered options for live delivery including a single day event, but the logistics and costs (outside of performer fees) are the same as a two day event.
In addition, our long distance-traveling fans are less likely to invest the travel dollars for a single day event, and convincing vendors to set up for a single day would be a challenge.
According to the MVBS website, volunteer members are currently redoing their website and are working toward live-streaming artists' performances, presenting classic workshop videos, and featuring artist interviews, and make performances available to members and donors.
In the meantime, we'll wait til next year and hope for the best.