Guide to the San Francisco Blues Festival - 2007

For modern fans of jazz and blues, stories of the 1930s and 40s Fillmore District in San Francisco inspire nostalgia and longing. Known as Harlem of the West, the Fillmore District and its weekend-long music parties rocked the city with the best in jazz and blues.

Even today, on any given night, you can catch a world-class blues act in town -- and the November 2007 opening of Yoshi's on Fillmore will bring even more of that spirit back to its rightful place.

The San Francisco Blues Festival collects the passion for blues in one festive location -- in the company of blues lovers and notable blues musicians.

2007 Blues Festival Dates: Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30.

Tom Mazzolini, the event's producer, founded the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1973. Mazzolini also has a long-running local blues show on KPFA radio -- Blues by the Bay.

His event draws some of the best names in blues. Over the years, the San Francisco Blues Festival has featured performers like BB King, Jimmy Reed, Otis Rush, Joe Louis Walker, Charlie Musselwhite and countless others.

The San Francisco Blues Festival celebrates its 35th year in 2007.

San Francisco Blues Festival - Website

Time: Noon to 1:30p
Location: Justin Herman Plaza (at the Embarcadero, across from the Ferry Building)

Free concert by the Lost Legends: Freddie Roulette, Harvey Mandel, Curtis Lawson, Eugene Huggins, Michael Warren, Michael Borbridge, Lisa Kindred

• John Nemeth
• Dave Alexander (aka Omar Sharriff)
• Nick Moss & the Flip Tops
• Eric Bibb
• Billy Boy Arnold & Deitra Farr & Chicago All Stars
• Tommy Castro Band
• Robert Randolph & the Family Band with Calvin Cooke and Aubrey Ghent

• Blues Guitar Women Showdown: Rene Solis Presents - Carmen Getit | Pat Wilder | Laura Chavez
• Tribute to Little Walter Jacobs: Gary Smith | Dave Barrett | Joe Filisko | Craig Horton
• Ron Hacker & the Hacksaws
• Blues Farm Revue: Carter Brothers | Johnny 'Da Doo' Wilson | Fillmore Slim | Hosea Leavy
• Joe Louis Walker | Sugar Pie De Santo | Jimmy McCracklin - Solo blues Revival
• James Hunter
• Special Anniversary BluesFest Bash: Allen Toussaint | John Hammond and the Charlie Musselwhite Band

See the San Francisco Blues Festival Schedule for performance times.

Gates open at 10a on each day of the event. General admission buys you seating on the lawn at the Great Meadow. You can pay a bit more for reserved seating -- booked in advance.

You're permitted to bring a lawn chair -- as long as it's not higher than 30 inches. And you can carry in your own cooler if it's smaller than 12x12.

Enter the festival at Marina Boulevard and Laguna Street - in the Marina District at Fort Mason.

• Location and Directions
  
• Marina District Map
• Hop Stop - Muni Trip Planner
• Muni & BART Guide (for visitors or newcomers)

The San Francisco Blues Festival has authorized outlets where you can purchase tickets in advance. You can also pick up tickets at the gate on the day you attend the performances, or check Ticketmaster online.

Ticket prices

• Advance General: $35/day or $55 two-day ticket
• Advance Reserved: $50/day or $80 two-day ticket
• At the gate: $40/day (no two-day tickets on the day of performance)

San Francisco Blues Festival Seating Map & Ticket Details

^{Source: San Francisco Blues Festival}