Cleveland Street To Rock The Block With Blues This Weekend

CLEARWATER, FL — Blues on the Block, a spinoff event of the Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival, will be taking over the 600 block of Cleveland Street on Feb. 4-5.

Attendees will enjoy live music from national blues recording artists, culinary experiences from downtown restaurateurs, craft beer and wine from local brewers, market vendors and more.

The annual Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival is taking a hiatus during construction of the Imagine Clearwater waterfront park and music venue, which is expected to be completed in 2023.

"This year marks my third Clearwater Blues Fest in a row, and I’m thrilled to be back," said Sarasota blues singer, guitarist and songwriter RJ Howson, who will perform Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Originally from Chicago, Howson has shared the stage with blues icons at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa's Lounge and Kingston Mines. Since moving to Florida, he's opened for Butch Trucks & the Freight Train Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Molly Hatchet, Buddy Guy, to name a few.

"My goal is to use music to show that the roots of all people are the same and to play it forward while paying tribute to the past and my mentors," Howson said, known for his finger-picking guitar style.

"I love to speak with the strings and believe the tone is in the fingers."

Fresh from their European tour, the Ghost Town Blues Band will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, the Ghost Town Blues Band's album "Shine" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart and their live album "Backstage Pass," debuted at No. 4.

Their live show has thrilled audiences in the U.S., Canada and Europe with their "second-line horn entrance," cigar box guitars, electric push brooms and hip-hop trombone player.

On Saturday, Feb. 5, music and market vendors will begin at noon. Attendees can stroll through downtown Clearwater and visit the vendors from the Market Marie while enjoying blues music throughout the day.

2022 Blues on the Block Lineup:

Friday, Feb. 4

• 5 p.m. - Ally Venable
• 6:30 p.m. - Ghost Town Blues Band
• 8 p.m. - Anders Osborne

Saturday, Feb. 5

• 12:30 p.m. - Soulful Femme
• 2:30 p.m. - RJ Howson
• 4 p.m. - Jose Ramirez
• 5:30 p.m. - Selwyn Birchwood
• 8 p.m. - Southern Hospitality

Blues on the Block is a free event and tickets are not necessary for general admission. VIP tickets are available for $75 and include a backstage lounge experience in Station Square Park with complimentary food and beverages and access to reserved seating directly in front of the stage.