Blues at the Arch Festival is a free, weekend-long music festival.
ST. LOUIS—Experience blues music like never before on the Arch grounds the weekend of August 12-14. Gateway Arch Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Blues Museum and the National Park Service, hosts Blues at the Arch, reimagined as a free music festival.
The Blues at the Arch Festival pays tribute to St. Louis’ storied blues history and showcases the talents of national and local entertainers in the North Gateway of Gateway Arch National Park, near the Eads Bridge and Laclede’s Landing.
For the first time, the 2022 Blues at the Arch Festival will feature food trucks, a market, after parties and more on Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13. On Sunday, August 14, guests are invited to attend a special Sunday Blues Brunch at 612North and explore the park and National Blues Museum.
“We are eager to welcome guests from across the country to Gateway Arch National Park to enjoy a true ‘St. Louis experience’ at the Blues at the Arch Festival, especially after two years of virtual concerts,” said Ryan McClure, executive director of Gateway Arch Park Foundation. “Hosting events like this is part of our mission to keep our hometown national treasure vibrant now and for generations to come. If you haven’t been to the park in a while, there’s no better time than a weekend-long music festival to enjoy it in a brand new way with family and friends.”
Offering the event for free to the community allows more people to learn about the city’s heritage with the blues while showcasing the best in the genre both locally and nationally, says Erin Simon, deputy director of the National Blues Museum. “The blues continues to be a thriving art form in St. Louis because of accessible programming like the Blues at the Arch Festival. That is what keeps blues alive, and it’s incredible to bring all of these artists on one stage to celebrate the blues’ past, present and bright future.”
For more information on the Blues at the Arch Festival, visit archpark.org/blues.
ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP (subject to change):
Friday, August 12
- 5 p.m.: Blues at the Arch opens
- 5:15 p.m.: Annika Chambers
- 6:15 p.m.: House music and announcements
- 6:45 p.m.: Marcia Ball
Saturday, August 13
- 12 p.m.: Blues at the Arch opens
- 12:15 p.m.: Matt “The Rattlesnake” Lesch
- 1:15 p.m.: House music
- 1:45 p.m.: Ms. Hy-C & Fresh Start
- 2:45 p.m.: House music and announcements
- 3 p.m.: Circus Harmony
- 3:30 p.m.: Line dancing (crowd participation)
- 4 p.m.: Jeremiah Johnson
- 5 p.m.: House music
- 5:30 p.m.: Keesha Pratt Band
- 6:30 p.m.: House music and announcements
- 7 p.m.: Selwyn
Sunday, August 14
- Sunday Blues Brunch at 612North: Next door at Laclede’s Landing – and at the site of a former jazz speakeasy – enjoy a ticketed brunch with a magnificent view overlooking Gateway Arch National Park and live blues entertainment from Skeet Rodgers. A portion of proceeds will go toward supporting future Blues at the Arch festivals and programming. Brunch ticket information is available at archpark.org/blues.
- Explore the City: Guests are encouraged to enjoy St. Louis by visiting the Gateway Arch and the National Blues Museum.
About Gateway Arch Park Foundation
Gateway Arch Park Foundation is the official philanthropic partner and conservancy for Gateway Arch National Park. Its mission is to ensure the Gateway Arch, its grounds, neighboring public spaces, and attractions are a vital, welcoming, well-supported resource to the community and nation for generations to come. The Foundation is part of an alliance that helps meet this mission, which includes the National Park Service, Bi-State Development, Great Rivers Greenway, Jefferson National Parks Association, and the City of St. Louis. For more information, visit ArchPark.org.
About the National Blues Museum
The National Blues Museum (NBM) is a non-profit organization that preserves the blues’ historical significance as the foundation of modern music in the United States and celebrates the musicians who continue to advance the genre. Located in Downtown St. Louis, MO, NBM uses artifact-driven exhibits and interactive galleries to share the history of the blues with future generations and current lovers of the genre. NBM highlights the best in live blues both locally and nationally in their one-of-kind performance venue, the Legends Room. For more information, visit nationalbluesmuseum.org.
