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.<\/p>\n
The Yakima Blues and Local Brews Bash<\/em>will make its debut on Saturday, June 14th<\/sup> from 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the Historic North Front Street district. Two separate stages will be packed with high-quality, non-stop blues throughout the festival. The Depot Stage will showcase the Seattle-based The Wired! Blues Band<\/em> at 2:45 pm, Kevin Selfe and the Tornados <\/em>from Portland, Oregon at 5:00 pm, and The Nick Moss Band <\/em>at 7:30 pm. The Opera House Stage will feature Yakima favorites Stan Fortier & The Black Market Horns<\/em> at 2:00 pm, The Rod Giles Band<\/em> at 4:15 pm, and Shoot Jake<\/em> at 6:30 pm.<\/p>\n Fronted by Kevin Selfe, who last year signed with the world-renowned blues label Delta Groove Productions, Kevin Self and the Tornados <\/em>was inducted into the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame in 2012. The Wired! Blues Band<\/em> has received numerous Washington Blues Society \u201cBest of the Blues\u201d awards, including being named three times as \u201cBest Blues Band\u201d, and in 2012 won the prestigious International Blues Challenge <\/em>in Memphis, Tennessee.<\/p>\n Headed by 16-time \u201cBlues Music Awards\u201d nominee Nick Moss, The Nick Moss Band <\/em>will be the featured act for the evening performance of the Yakima Blues and Local Brews <\/em>Bash. The Chicago-based group is a staple on the national blues circuit and regularly performs at venues around the world.<\/p>\n Craft breweries located within 100 miles of Yakima have been invited to showcase their beers at the Yakima Blues and Local Brews Bash<\/em> and several, including Bale Breaker Brewing Company (Yakima), Yakima Craft Brewing Company (Yakima), 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.<\/p>\n Only people 21 years of age or older will be allowed on the festival grounds, but North Town Coffeehouse (32 North Front Street) will host a free family area during the event.<\/p>\n Tickets to enter the event will cost $10.00 in advance and $12.00 at the gate. Tickets for the festival can be purchased at the Capitol Theatre Box Office (19 S. 3rd<\/sup> Street), 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 non-profit Seasons Performance Hall while some of the money generated by the festival will go into a fund to help pay for next year\u2019s bash.<\/p>\n