They’re on a mission from god. The god of the blues, and your taste of frilly, gratuitous pop stuff is the final sacrifice. Though you can take your exodus for blues to the Mississippi delta or Chicago, for a full-day helping of how the blues is recognized and played today, look no further than Eau Claire. Saturday, Sept.13 in Owen Park is the fifth annual Coalition Blues Festival. Expecting at least the 1,500 people that came last year, this is the area’s free, public showcasing of rock ’n’ roll’s original genre. Even more than the years before, the music’s thrust is localness – all the music will be exclusively local groups, including Davey J and the Jones Tones, Eau Claire Blues Allstars, and Memorial High School’s national award-winning Bluemanji. And furthering their own mission from god, those tough secret agents of blues and gospel revival, the Blues Brothers will be passing the hat around, so to speak, on behalf of the Eau Claire community table. Though unfortunately, Dan Ankroyd and, even more so, John Belushi won’t be around to sunder you with their take of the Rawhide theme. Free food will also be available.

Coalition Blues Festival: Soul Logic, Harry and the Nite Crawlers, Davey J and the Jones Tones, Rust St. Blues, Bluemanji, Eau Claire Blues Allstars, Robert “One Man” Johnson, Mojo Lemon • Saturday, Sept. 13 • Owen Park • 11am-9pm • FREE • 577-4197 • www.coalitionblues.net