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San Francisco Blues Festivals

Although perhaps not as synonymous with the blues like Chicago or Memphis, San Francisco is home to several annual blues festivals and concert series. It also offers a festival dedicated to blues dancing and is home to the longest continually running blues festival in the country.
  1. Castro Valley Blues Festival

    • This festival sponsors blues musicians from the San Francisco and East Bay areas. As of 2010, tickets in advance could be purchased for $10. It takes place at the Rowell Ranch Rodeo Ground, located in Castro Valley. Children under seven are admitted for free. This festival has a wide selection of food from Mexican specialties to hamburgers.

    Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

    • This annual music festival features bluegrass, rock n' roll, rap and blues music. It occurs the first weekend of October and admission is free. The festival takes place at the Speedway Meadow at Golden Gate Park, and usually features more than 100 performers on several stages.

    San Francisco Blues Festival

    • The San Francisco Blues Festival, started in 1973, is the longest continuously running blues festival in the U.S. It takes place at the Great Meadow, Fort Mason, in the city's Marina District. Over the years, the festival has hosted such legendary performers as B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

    Down Home Blues Festival

    • Although Down Home is primarily a blues dance festival, it celebrates blues music with live DJ performances. The festival features dancers performing choreographed pieces to blues standards and more contemporary songs. Besides the dance performances, the festival also offers dance classes taught by professional dancers.

Music Festivals

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