After a decade, the Blues at the Arch Festival has expanded quite a bit, but it’s also returning to the fundamentals. More blues, please!
It’s bigger than ever, with a preview night on Thursday and concerts on the grounds of the Gateway Arch happening Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Hear from Uvee Hayes, up-and-coming local star Dylan Triplett, Myles Lacey, Keeshea Pratt, Skeet Rodgers, Dexter Allen, Anita Jackson, and Mr. Sipp. And the festivities end with fireworks.
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Here’s what to know before you go.
What’s New
The festival officially kicks off Thursday at the National Blues Museum. (The new free-but-ticketed event featuring Jeremiah Johnson is sold out.)
“[The National Blues Museum] have always been a partnership of ours,” says Camille Brooks, director of programming and events at Gateway Arch Park Foundation, who adds that the festival celebrates the legacy of blues in St. Louis through the foundation’s mission of activating the Arch and surrounding areas. “This year, we get to showcase the museum.”
On Saturday, the Rhythm and Roots Market will feature goods from local makers and a small stage with performances from Jazz St. Louis. For budding blues artists, there’s a musical “petting zoo,” where kids can get up close and personal with musical instruments.
The Premium Experience returns after its debut last year. It’s a paid ticket that entitles holders to shaded seating, artist meet-and-greets, swag, and elevated food options. You can add it for a single day or the whole weekend.
Gateway Arch Park Foundation members are also invited to a special cooled tent with food and drink on Friday evening.
The Backstory
“Blues at the Arch originated as a weekly music series, every Friday night in August,” says Brooks. “Of course, during [the pandemic,] we had to take a break. As we came back afterward, we thought, There are some really cool blues and music festivals around the country, and they are a weekend long.”
The post-pandemic festival consolidated and grew to a jam-packed Friday-and-Saturday event in 2022. Brooks and her colleagues figured a more concentrated festival would increase tourism and bring visitors from other cities. Last year, the festival brought $2 million in economic impact, according to a study shared by the festival.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve gone to Chicago Blues Festival. We’ve gone to Memphis. We’ve seen what other cities are doing,” Brooks says. “From those trips, we decided, Let’s add some more days!”
As the event has evolved, the focus has become clear. “Our attendees love blues—they are true blues enthusiasts,” Brooks says. “Last year, we were like, ‘Let’s talk about the history of blues and how it intertwined with other genres.’”
Attendee surveys, she says, were pretty clear: “’We want blues!’ So the theme is ‘Back to our Roots.’”
