Welcome To the Crossroads Blues Society!

Blues Around the Clock(tower)

The inaugural Byron Crossroads Blues Festival (BCBF) will be held on August 28, 2010 at the “crossroads” of Second and Union Streets in Byron.  Gates open before noon and the festival will run until midnight outdoors.  The downtown bars and restaurants will remain open until 2 AM after the fest to accommodate festival attendees and provide a time to wind down post-festival.  The Byron restaurant owners are providing support for the festival and they will be the only providers of food for the festival, showcasing the wonderful menus they serve up each day.  

The festival features six great bands from Rockford, Madison and Chicago who are noted for their outstanding blues music.  The Barstool Bob Blues Band open the fest at noon.  The Resistors, a Rockford band, play at 2 PM and are followed at 4 PM by the acoustic duo from Chicago of Filisko and Noden. The Cashbox Kings are at 6 PM and bring their jumping style of music from Madison and Chicago. At 8 PM they will feature the Westside Andy/Mel Ford Band also from Madison and Chicago, and at 10 PM they close with Chicago’s Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames.

 Tickets gare on sale now.  Advanced tickets are only $5 ($10 at the gate on the day of the festival).  Tickets are available at most Byron Bars and Restaurants, Byron Bank, Guzzardo'sMusic, Big Cities Lounge, Byron Barbershop and through Crossroads Blues Society.  The festival area will be closed off for festival attendees, an area from the alley on Second Street (next to Ohare’s Hairport and The Just Sew Shop) to east of Tailgaters, and from north of Spanky’s on Union Street to south of The Fifth Alarm.   The festival will be held rain or shine; there are no refunds.  Access to and from the festival will be controlled; bring your own chairs as no seating will be provided.  Food and beverages will be available for purchase in the festival area and in the restaurants associated with the festival.  No coolers, food or beverages purchased elsewhere will be allowed to be brought into the festival.

 The festival is being run by the Crossroads Blues Society and the Byron Bar and Restaurant Association.  Crossroads is a 501c3 non-profit corporation whose purpose is to promote Blues Music Education in Northern Illinois.  Part of the festival proceeds support the Crossroads Blues Society “Blues in the Schools” Program.   The Byron City Council approved the festival unanimously.  Byron Mayor Chris Millard complimented festival Chairman Steve Jones, Crossroads, and the Byron restaurant owners for their preparation, hard work and cooperation.  For more information visit www.byroncrossroadsbluesfestival.blogspot.com.