Three-Day Music Festival Returns to Old Falls Street – Sept. 16-18, 2016

Mark your calendars for the 9th Annual Niagara Falls Blues Festival, returning to Old Falls Street, USA, Friday, Sept. 16 through Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. This year’s festival, featuring the theme “Power of the Blues,” will be held on Old Falls Street’s Middle and Park Blocks, and hosts internationally-acclaimed blues musicians throughout its three days, as well as various food and beverage vendors. As usual, guests are able to enjoy the weekend’s music free of charge.

Friday’s schedule features the first “Full Moon Chicago Blues Review,” beginning at 5 p.m. The evening features performances by Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues, Eddie Shaw & The Wolfgang with special guest “Mr. Downchild,” and Shawn Holt & The Teardrops with special guest John Primer. The late night band, performing under the tent at 10:30 p.m., will be The Chris O’Leary Band.

Saturday’s schedule kicks-off at 1 p.m. with the 10th Annual Memorial Classic Car & Bike Cruise. It is free to join the cruise. Anyone wishing to enter their classic or custom vehicle or motorcycle in this annual cruise is asked to assemble at the Sal Maglie Stadium parking lot in Hyde Park in Niagara Falls, NY, at 12:30 p.m. that day. The assembly will follow a route from Hyde Park, down Pine Avenue and make its way to Old Falls Street to start the day’s musical festivities.
Saturday’s line-up begins as soon as the cruise assembles at the Old Falls Street concert venue (approximately 1:30 p.m.), with music by Western New York’s own Aces & Eights, and The Electras under the tent. Following the local favorites, the Main Stage will feature The Tommy Z Band, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, and “The Pioneer of British Blues” John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers.

“John Mayall is truly a living legend as he was the mentor to many great British musicians such as Eric Clapton, Elton John, Rod Stewart, and the Rolling Stones,” said Toby Rotella, Niagara Falls Blues Festival chairperson.
Saturday’s late night band will be Popa Chubby, performing under the tent at 10:30 p.m.
Sunday’s schedule begins at 12 noon and features a Gospel Brunch with Marsha McWilson & Friends, who will entertain the crowd until 6 p.m.

The Niagara Falls Blues Festival is presented by Niagara Festival and Entertainment Group. For more information on the festival or the 11th Annual Memorial Classic Car & Bike Cruise, email info@niagarafallsbluesfest.org or visit www.NiagaraFallsBluesFest.org.

More information on Old Falls Street, USA’s programming can be found on www.FallsStreet.com.

Balabans LLC – Located in the Park Place Historic District neighborhood – is organizing the inaugural #PorchFestNiagara as their contribution to the occasion. PorchFest is a grassroots music festival that turns porches into stages for local bands and musicians that originated in 2007 in Ithaca, NY (http://www.porchfest.org) The goal is to celebrate the spectacular architecture, especially the “verandas” of the area with mostly acoustic music and plants. All artists understand this is a free, volunteer-run event, and onlookers are encouraged to tip them to keep the local music scene alive. The residents of the diverse neighborhood look forward to showing off their homes, porches and gardens in the area that is sometimes overlooked due to the location bordering downtown. In addition, self-guided tour brochures will be available providing an overview of the district as well as some nearby buildings. The event is Saturday, July 23^rd from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Free trolley service will operate in a continuous loopd during the 2016 Garden Walk Niagara, (https://niagarafallsgardenwalk.com/)

On Sunday, July 10^th an ice cream social was held to celebrate the 100 years of Dorothy Jackson at the First Baptist Church in Niagara Falls. Mrs. Jackson, a former 4^th Street resident and retired NF Board of Education employee has been a church member there for 70 years. Dorothy is still an active parishioner and is a regular at the monthly “Inasmuch” luncheons, the church community’s service group. A former Sunday school teacher, Dorothy recalled a time when she was tardy for class and the students pranked her by loosening the legs on the desk so it collapsed when she put her books on it. She laughingly said, “I was never late again.” Many more, Dorothy!

First Baptist Church will participate in the Park Place Historic District neighborhood events during Garden Walk Niagara on Saturday, July 23^rd. From 12 – 3 pm, James Flood, FWTC, FCSM, will give tours of this Victorian Gothic structure that was built in 1900 and has a lovingly restored pipe organ. http://www.niagarafallsbaptist.org/