Big Steam Blues & Roots Music Festival returns to Hot Springs

Minneapolis U.S. Bluesman Bernard Allison in concert in the old theater in Constantine, Algeria, on Thursday, 21 May, 2009, during the Dimajazz festival. The concert is partly funded by the U.S. embassy in this north African country, and is one of many cultural events sponsored by the United States across the Arab world as President Barack Obama’s administration reaches out to the “hearts and minds” of people often wary American policies. (AP Photo/Alfred de Montesquiou)

by: Brandon Ringo

Posted: Jul 10, 2023 / 04:15 PM CDT

Updated: Jul 10, 2023 / 04:20 PM CDT

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Big Steam Blues & Roots Music Festival will be returning to downtown Hot Springs for its second year in September.

The festival will be headlined by Memphis-based guitar prodigy Eric “Raw Dawg” Gales on Friday, Sept. 29 and Bernard Allison on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Other performers include Port City Blues Society Players, the Tina Cossey Band and Trey & Jason on Friday. The Chad Marshall Band, Akeem Kemp and Tullie Brae round out the lineup for Saturday.

Big Steam will be a free event, but VIP tickets are available for purchase and will include reserved seats and other perks.

Festival organizers said that dozens of volunteers will be needed, as well as sponsors. Anyone interested in being a part of the event should contact Mary Zunick.

For more information on the festival, visit BigSteamMusicFestival.org.