Inaugural Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival to take place in December

LAKEWOOD RANCH — On Tuesday, Gulf Coast entertainment company Independent Jones and
Benjamin Productions announced the inaugural Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival, which will take place on December 7 at Waterside Park in Waterside Place. The announcement comes on the heels of Realize Bradenton's announcement that the Bradenton Blues Festival had been permaneantly canceled.

"It was important to us to keep the legacy that was created by Johnette (Isham) and Realize Bradenton alive," said promoter Paul E. Benjamin in a press release. "After looking at a number of places, we decided that Lakewood Ranch was the best place to host the event, which will draw in blues fans from across the world.”

Benjamin was the artistic director of the Bradenton Blues Festival, which debuted in 2012 under the direction of Johnette Isham, who passed away in July.

The one-day, all-ages-welcome festival will be hosted next to Kingfisher Lake, on the Sarasota side of Lakewood Ranch, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a music lineup to include national and international touring blues artists from around the world, similar to the Bradenton Blues Festival.

"The blues are like coming home for me," said Bettes Angell, president of Independent Jones. "The Bradenton Blues Festival was the first festival I was a part of producing. Now we’re excited to bring a world-class festival to Lakewood Ranch."

In addition to the stellar musical lineup, the promoters say the festival will feature a variety of local food vendors, as well as craft vendors. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in interactive activities..

"We’re thrilled that the beloved blues festival will find its new home at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch," said Laura Cole, senior vice president of Lakewood Ranch Communities.

Tickets for the festival will soon go on sale. Pre-sale tickets will be $75, day of $90, along with a limited number of VIP tickets that come with special perks. Tickets will be sold online at www.lakewoodranchbluesfestival.com.

Blues fans can sign up to receive updates and announcements about the festival, including exclusive food and drink releases, lineup announcements, and more at the festival website. Sponsorship opportunities will also be available for businesses interested in aligning themselves with this exciting event.