The fourth annual Murphysboro Blues Fest is this Saturday and officials are predicting a success.

Dan Ward, recreational director for the Murphysboro Park District, said the event was designed to promote a summer series.

We’ve got this band stage and lawn with places to sit, he said. The whole idea was to promote an entire summer concert series.

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The fest originated four years ago at Riverside Park as a blue- grass festival, but has been plagued with man-made and natural disasters over the last two years.

Two years ago we had the floods, and last year through the spring and fall we were going through remodeling, he said.

Even with problems, Ward estimated 3,000-4,000 people attended last year’s event. He said the Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau estimated approximately 6,500 people would attend this year’s fest.

Joseph Glasser, promoter for the Blues Fest, said the show has very good performers and is expecting nothing but good things.

The headliner for the fest is Edgar Winter. Winter will take the stage at 9:30 p.m. and will play his mix of blues, jazz and gospel- influenced music, including the famous favorites Frankenstein and Free Ride.

The Oliver Sain Revue, a St. Louis based rhythm & blues band, has been together since the 1980s

see BLUES, page 5

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