Big Muddy Blues Festival returns to Laclede's Landing on August 31

The lineup features Marquise Knox, Ms. Hy-C and Fresh Start, and Big George Brock, among others.

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The Big Muddy Blues Festival celebrates St. Louis' musical heritage by bringing the blues community together every Labor Day weekend.

Staged at Laclede's Landing, the festival was complicated this year by flooding and construction, so the event takes place on one day, this Saturday, August 31, and one stage. Though the festival will be smaller than previous years, it still promises an amazing lineup:

  • 2–3 p.m.: Fab Foehners featuring Eric McSpadden
  • 3:20–4:20 p.m.: Jeremiah Johnson
  • 4:40–5:40 p.m.: David Dee
  • 6–7 p.m.: Uvee Hayes
  • 7:20–8:20 p.m.: Big George Brock
  • 8:40–9:40 p.m.: Ms. Hy-C & Fresh Start featuring Roland Johnson
  • 10–11 p.m.: Marquise Knox

When Jeremy Segel-Moss began working as the festival’s producer five years ago, he made a point to prioritize local musicians in the lineup. “St. Louis has one of the deepest wells of blues, soul, and R&B music in the whole country,” says Segel-Moss. “Just because they’re local acts doesn’t mean they’re not also national acts."

Knox, for instance, will soon be going on a three-month tour. Johnson’s album Blues Heart Attack reached No. 5 in the Billboard Blues Albums Chart. And Ms. HY-C & Fresh Start Band won the 2019 International Blues Challenge.

Segel-Moss wanted to offer the same variety you might see any other year or day in St. Louis. “It’s like a sampler plate: This is a great opportunity to see a wide variety of sound, age, and talent," he says. "You have young cats like Jeremiah [Johnson] and old cats like Big George [Brock].”

For Sharon Foehner of Fab Foehners, the festival is a “chance to represent a population that is underrepresented—black women who sing and play an instrument," she says. "I’m proud to carry this tradition into the 21st century in honor of women like Eda Baker and Memphis Minnie.”

For Ms. Hy-C, the festival is a homecoming of sorts. “I’m really looking forward to doing this Big Muddy to let all the fans know that I’m representing St. Louis,” she says after winning the IBC challenge in Memphis. “For our band to be one of the seven bands included, I feel like I’m a part of the elite. I’m real honored that they chose me to represent this year.”

“The truth about Big Muddy?” says Segel-Moss. "It’s just a celebration of what happens every other day of the year here all over town. And we just get together this weekend to celebrate what is happening.”

Big Muddy Blues Festival runs from 2 p.m.–11 p.m. this Saturday, August 31. Admission is free. For more information, go to bigmuddybluesfestival.com.

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