PORT TOWNSEND — Got the summer blues?
The Acoustic Blues Festival might be the solution.
Concerts this weekend will feature artists and music from regions where pre-war country blues formed, such as Piedmont, the Delta, Mississippi Hill Country, New Orleans and Texas.
Today and Saturday, Blues in the Clubs features performers in intimate venues across Port Townsend from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets cost $25 per night and allow entry into all venues.
On Saturday morning, the Port Townsend Gospel Choir and the Rev. Ann Jefferson will perform a free concert at 11 a.m. in Fort Worden Chapel on state park grounds, 200 Battery Way.
Then, the Acoustic Blues Showcase at 1:30 p.m. Saturday will include such performers as Meredith Axelrod, Henry Butler, Marcus Cartwright, Eleanor Ellis, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Maria Muldaur, Ben Payton, Kit Stovepipe, Adam Tanner, Suzy Thompson, Craig Ventresco and Phil Wiggins.
Saturday’s showcase will be located at McCurdy Pavilion in Fort Worden State Park, 200 Battery Way. Tickets cost $25, $37 or $46, depending on seating location. They can be purchased online at centrum.org until midnight one day before the event or at the venue box office starting one hour before showtime.
The schedule for Blues in the Clubs follows:
Today
• American Legion Hall (all ages), 209 Monroe St., will feature Seattle all-girl band Mrs. Phelps from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Phil Wiggins, Darren Loucas and Johnson’s Nails from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., as well as from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
• The Boiler Room (all ages), 711 Water St., will feature Alex Andrews from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., Adam Tanner from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Lauren Sheehan from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
• Key City Public Theatre, 419 Washington St., will feature Suzy Thompson from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., Steve James from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Lightnin’ Wells from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
• The Old Whiskey Mill, 1038 Water St., will feature Eleanor Ellis from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., Alvin Youngblood Hart from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Jerron Paxton from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
• Pope Marine Building, 607 Water St., will feature John Maxwell and Sean Divine from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., Ernie Vega, Ben Fox and Aaron Gunn from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and the Crow Quill Night Owls from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
• Cellar Door, 940 Water St., will feature Ben Payton from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., Marcus Cartwright from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Meredith Axelrod from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
• Beverley’s Hall, 1034 Water St., will feature Happy Traum from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., Henry Butler from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Ethan Leinwand from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
Saturday
• American Legion Hall (all ages) will feature Alvin Youngblood Hart from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.; zydeco with Sunpie Barned, Leory Etienne and Randy & Dean Mueller from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., as well as from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
• The Boiler Room (all ages) will feature Steve James from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., John Maxwell from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Daren Loucas and Sean Divine from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
• Key City Public Theatre will feature Ernie Vega, Ben Fox and Aaron Gunn from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Ben Payton from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Happy Traum from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
• The Old Whiskey Mill will feature Marcus Cartwright from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., Eleanor Ellis and Phil Wiggins from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Meredith Axelrod from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
• Pope Marine Building will feature Lightnin’ Wells from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., Jerron Paxton from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Crow Quill Night Owls from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
• Cellar Door will feature Lauren Sheehan from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., Adam Tanner from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Alex Andrews from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
• Beverly’s Hall will feature Henry Butler from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., Suzy Thompson from 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Ethan Leinwand from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
For more information about the Acoustic Blues Festival, visit centrum.org/port-townsend-acoustic-blues-festival-performances.
