Spa City Blues Society’s Relief
Tax deductible
The Spa City Blues Society has been hosting and producing the Hot Springs Blues Festival for 21 years. This past Labor Day the SCBS brought in a stellar line-up that exemplified the versatility of blues music. Anthony Gomes, Nikki Hill and John Nemeth provided a spectrum of blues tinged music,. The undercard was not too shabby either…Akeem Kemp, Nandha Blues, The Stella Vees, Hoodoo Blues Revue, the John Calvin Brewer Band, Spa City Youngbloods, Jelly Brown & Kathy Kidd, Al Hill…some very good talent performed.
According to current SCBS President, David Hughes, “It was by far some of the best music we’ve put on our festival stage. Every act was on top of their game. It was a great event. Unfortunately, hardly anyone showed up to hear them.”
The SCBS finished the event just under $14,000 in the red, something that hasn’t happened since Hurricane Ike landed on the Hot Springs Blues Festival several years ago.
“The weather was perfect. Everything was in place for an outstanding event,” Hughes continued. “It was like throwing a party and no one showed up.”
The event is held on the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend and has been for over fifteen years. It expanded from a one day event to a two day event, falling on Friday and Saturday for several years. It was moved to a three day event to encompass Sunday before going back to a two day event that kept the Saturday-Sunday format.
“Sunday is usually a bigger day than Saturday. This year, there was hardly anyone here for Sunday’s show. In fact, there was not much foot traffic in town Sunday evening.”
A combination of low attendee turnout and fewer sponsors contributing to support the event led to the deficit for this year’s festival.
In order to recoup the losses as well as to allow for the continuation of the Blues Society, the non-profit organization is seeking donations. The discontinuation of the society will stop the Hot Springs Craft Beer Festival along with the blues and Gumbo & Crawfish Festivals.
According to current SCBS President, David Hughes, “It was by far some of the best music we’ve put on our festival stage. Every act was on top of their game. It was a great event. Unfortunately, hardly anyone showed up to hear them.”
The SCBS finished the event just under $14,000 in the red, something that hasn’t happened since Hurricane Ike landed on the Hot Springs Blues Festival several years ago.
“The weather was perfect. Everything was in place for an outstanding event,” Hughes continued. “It was like throwing a party and no one showed up.”
The event is held on the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend and has been for over fifteen years. It expanded from a one day event to a two day event, falling on Friday and Saturday for several years. It was moved to a three day event to encompass Sunday before going back to a two day event that kept the Saturday-Sunday format.
“Sunday is usually a bigger day than Saturday. This year, there was hardly anyone here for Sunday’s show. In fact, there was not much foot traffic in town Sunday evening.”
A combination of low attendee turnout and fewer sponsors contributing to support the event led to the deficit for this year’s festival.
In order to recoup the losses as well as to allow for the continuation of the Blues Society, the non-profit organization is seeking donations. The discontinuation of the society will stop the Hot Springs Craft Beer Festival along with the blues and Gumbo & Crawfish Festivals.
Organizer
Dannielle Davis
Organizer
Hot Springs National Park, AR
Spa City Blues Society
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
