From last year’s blues-quake ...

With a remarkable lineup of 18 bands, Blues on the Chippewa returns this summer for its fourth year. The free festival is held in downtown Durand over the course of two days jam-packed full of blues. Started by Rob Edwards and Dan Callan in 2008, this is one of the best places to get your blues fix. Many of this year’s bands are returning from previous years including Mojo Lemon, Love Buzzards, and Left Wing Bourbon. Other groups playing at the event will be Lucas K and the Coolhand Saints, Swamp Kings, Sena Ehrhardt Band, and headliners Westside Andy & Mel Ford Band and Lamont Cranston, both of which are new to the festival this year. Music on the main stage will start at noon on Saturday and at 11am on Sunday. After Saturday’s bands have finished the blues will continue to eight different downtown locations where many of the acts will perform again. On Sunday a blues jam session will be held immediately following the festival’s conclusion at Shari’s Chippewa Club. In addition to the exceptional array of music, the festival will include a craft fair, a motorcycle and classic car show, and a 5/10K run, all of which will take place on Saturday. Concessions will also be available throughout the weekend. Proceeds from concessions will go to the Pepin County Food Pantry.