The valley is alive with the sound of music! Summer sounds continued July 19-20 at the 13th annual Blast Furnace Blues Festival at the Town Square and Levitt Pavilion venues at SteelStacks.

The festival provides various styles of American blues including Memphis, New Orleans, Mississippi, Texas, Chicago and Harlem. Each style was showcased through contemporary and traditional blues acoustic and electric blues, soul, zydeco and gospel music.

Performers at this event have always included national recording artists, as well as local and regional performers. Celebrated blues singer/song writer and award-winning recording artist Eden Brent kicked off the Friday evening performances at SteelStacks.

Other artists included the Harlem Gospel Travelers and Eric Lindel – all part of the 11 different shows over the two days. Closing Saturday evening was Jump, Jive and Wail. Its mix of a rock blend of traditional R&B with Dixieland has an energizing sound, showcasing blues with some retro swing.

Kicking off performances at the Town Square venue was the valley’s very own Bedlam Blues Band, which has been performing in the valley for over nine years. Known for driving guitar sounds and smooth basslines, Bedlam offered the audience classic familiar traditional blues music. Grant Jardine, lead vocalist and keyboardist, kept the crowd moving to the music of Muddy Waters, BB King, Freddie King and Little Walter.

SteelStacks and Arts Quest partnered with Highmark to provide this live community event honoring America’s Blues music.

More photos from the Bles Festival appear on page A2.