Am glad to see Les' birthplace coming together to raise a little hell in his honor. This will be a party Les would be proud of with events at his final resting place, Prairie Home Cemetery, as well as the museum, library, several special performances at the Les Paul Performance Center, and one at Les Paul Middle School. But the event interesting me most would be the five bands and 25 musicians performing a special pre-BluesFest concert out at Naga-Waukee Park on Aug. 6th. These are some of the performers I'm familiar with, so I know it will be a great time.
the following is from the 4/15/15 Waukesha Freeman:
Les Paul centennial birthday planned for BluesFest weekend
Tickets for BluesFest go on sale today
WAUKESHA — Tickets go on sale today for Waukesha BluesFest, and this year the festival will feature a Thursday evening celebration of Les Paul’s 100th birthday.
According to a press release from the Waukesha Rotary Club, which puts on the event, BluesFest will take place Aug. 7 and 8 at Naga-Waukee Park in Delafield.
The Les Paul celebration is planned for Aug. 6 and will feature a Les Paul All-Star Guitar Band led by Wisconsin axe master Greg Koch, a Les Paul & Mary Ford tribute by Chris Hanson and Robin Pluer, the Sam Llanas Band, Guitars 4 Vets Five-Star Band and the 2015 Les Paul Launchpad award-wining band.
The night will kick off with a mass guitar strumalong, with everyone invited to join in the fun. Items from the Waukesha County Museum’s Wizard of Waukesha exhibit, including one-of-akind guitars and other unique displays and activities, will be part of the celebration and throughout the weekend, according to the release.
Tickets for the Les Paul celebration are $25 in advance and children 12 and younger get in free with a paying adult. Parking is included in the ticket price. Tickets are available at www.waukeshabluesfest. com. All ticket proceeds from the Les Paul celebration will benefit the Waukesha County Museum.
The BluesFest entertainment lineup will include Greg Koch and The Tone Controls, Chris King Robinson, Cadillac Pete and The Heat, Zach Pietrini and The Broken Bones, Ralph Jr. and The Blackjack Blues Band and Matt Tyner on Aug. 7, and The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Son Little, Damon Fowler, Josh Hoyer and The Shadow Boxers, Billy Flynn Blues Band, Mojo Radio and the Les Paul Launchpad Award finalist on Aug. 8.
Advance tickets go on sale online today.
Today through May 31, oneday tickets are $12 and twoday tickets are $21. Beginning June 1, prices increase to $17 for one-day tickets and $29 for two-day tickets. Prices at the gate will be $22 for one-day and $39 for a two-day ticket. Children ages 8 and younger get in free with a paying adult.
Tickets are available online at www.waukeshabluesfest. com and will also be available in person starting May 1 at all Waukesha State Bank locations, all White House of Music locations and Almont Gallery in downtown Waukesha.
New this year, Waukesha BluesFest is offering an “Elite Experience” seating option which will give fans a front-and-center reserved seat. These advance ticket seats will be numbered and issued on a first-come basis as they are sold for each day. The ticket also includes admission to the grounds and parking as well as two complimentary beverages of your choice and a souvenir festival art poster. The tickets are priced at $45 per day. Only a limited number of Elite Experience tickets will be available for sale.
Proceeds from Waukesha BluesFest go back into the community through the Waukesha Rotary Club Charitable Fund, Inc. a recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
For more information, visit www.waukeshabluesfest.com.
— Freeman Staff
