Kettle Moraine Blues Fest 2024 – April 19

2nd Annual Kettle Moraine Blues Fest at The Bend Theater

A 2-day festival of live Blues music you don’t want to miss!

Buy a ticket for day 1 (Friday, 4/19/2024) or day 2 (Saturday, 4/20/2024) OR buy a 2-day pass to experience both nights of The Bend’s Kettle Moraine Blues Fest.

Friday, 4/19/2024:

Night 1 of Kettle Moraine Bluesfest (Friday, 4/19/2024) features Host Mandi Strachota followed by The Katz Sass and ending the evening with John Primer &The Real Deal Blues Band.

John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band

John Primer has undisputedly helped build the sound and style of Chicago blues as we know it today. The echos of tradition bellowing from the birthplaces he played such as: Maxwell Street, Theresa’s, Checkerboard and Rosa’s Lounges, pulse from every chord in his fingers today. John Primer is a Chicago Blues Living Legend.

The Katz Sass

The Katz Sass is a contemporary blues/rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with roots in Texas blues topped with a Taste of 1960’s Irish and British blues guitar influence.  This award winning band is a 2013, 2014 and 2016 WAMI Nominee for Blues Artist of the Year!  Keyboardist Kevin Schultz won the 2023 WAMI award for Organist of the year.  “Is it Wrong” written by The Katz Sass was a WAMI finalist for 2023 Blues song of the Year.

Saturday, 4/20/2024:

Night 2 of Kettle Moraine Bluesfest (Saturday, 4/20/2024) features Host Mandi Strachota followed by  Reverend Raven and ending the evening with Mississippi Heat.

Mississippi Heat

Led by harmonica master and songwriter Pierre Lacocque, Mississippi Heat is a world-class Chicago Blues Band. Their motto is “Traditional Blues With A Unique Sound” as they present fresh yet vintage-based musical ideas. MISSISSIPPI HEAT’s name is a reflection of Pierre’s reverence for Mississippi’s blues culture and music.

Buddy Guy has gone on record saying that it’s “been a long time since I heard a good blues band like this.” And recently the band received this critical acclaim from Bonnie Tallman at the Billtown Blues Festival (Hughesville, PA): “Can’t find enough words to express how blown away everyone was with the Mississippi Heat performance! It was spectacular in every way.”

The band has made waves on the blues charts by regularly reaching the #1 spot on Living Blues Magazine’s radio charts.

Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys

Bringing crowds to their feet at the hardest to please and sophisticated night clubs in the Midwest, Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys play traditional blues, straight up with a big dose of passion. With smoking grooves, served up with hot harmonica and smooth stinging guitar they play original songs peppered with nods to Slim Harpo, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and the three Kings.

Doors open at 6:30 PM to give you time to find your seats, visit our historic lobby, concession stand and fully stocked bar! Show begins at approximately 7:30 PM