Grayson Gears up for Annual Blues & Brews Festival

The city of Grayson is holding its fourth annual Blues & Brews Craft Beer Festival and Concert in Grayson City Park from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. 

The event, which is sponsored by Goose Island Beer Company, attracts craft beer connoisseurs from all around the Southeast, according to a news release. Guests will have the opportunity to sample more than 150 craft beers and classic brews from Georgia-based breweries and national craft-breweries. The beers for 2013 have not been released yet, but a list of last year's brews can be found here. 

Drinkers will be able to honor a local beer with the People's Choice award, too, which has gone to local brewer Red Hare for the last two years.

The event also brings national blues acts to the eastern part of Gwinnett County. 
This year, blues giant The Sonny Moorman Group is headlining.

Sonny is an accomplished, award-winning guitarist/songwriter who has been playing “real deal” blues, rock, blues rock and classic rock for years. His band, the Sonny Moorman Group is one of the finest power trios in today’s blues scene. Sonny’s 2009 release “Just Plain Folks” received national accolades with a Best Blues Album/ Best Blues Song nomination. 

"Although listeners can hear the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rory Gallagher, Lonnie Mack, and Peter Green in his music, any comparison does him no justice. Basically, Sonny sounds like Sonny, with a fat, creamy, and wonderful power blues resonance," wrote Brian D. Holland of Blues Revue Magazine. 

Along with Moorman, well-known local talent such as Stephen Hendrix and “friends” featuring Stephen as well as Michael Hurwitz (of Music on Main Street in Lilburn) will be performing, but the festival usually brings other musicians to show up unannounced to “jam” at the festival. 

Tickets are still available, but are selling out quickly. Advance general admission can be purchased through Oct. 4 for $30, which includes beer and the concerts, and a limited number of VIP tickets are available at $45, which includes a tasting stein, commemorative t-shirt, table seating and beer delivery to your seat.

The Blue and Brews Festival is hosted by the Grayson Downtown Development Authority and benefits the Grayson Children's Fund. For more information, or for advance discounted tickets, visit www.grayson-bluesandbrews.com.