Wayne Baker Brooks in a promo photo by Alain Boucly. (Photo provided)

The 33rd River City Blues Festival is set for Friday and Saturday at the Lafayette Hotel Ballroom in Marietta.

The event is put on by the Blues, Jazz, & Folk Music Society, whose board President Jay Phillips said five of the seven upcoming performances have never been on the stage for this festival.

“I’m excited because we have a great mix of a variety of different types of blues,” he said. “Acoustic solo, soul-blues, funk-rock-blues, Chicago-style blues and blues from Memphis.”

Phillips said some of the artists are from Chicago, New York, Memphis and Cleveland.

“What is wonderful about the Lafayette Hotel Ballroom is there’s not a bad seat in the house and we have a large dance floor,” he said.

Austin Walkin’ Cane holds his guitar for a photo. (Photo provided)

He said guests can stand, move around and meet the artists after their performances.

Society Secretary Joyce Sellers and board members Teri Pealer, Lesa Hunter, and Kezia Parsons said they were looking forward to the event this weekend.

“I’m looking forward to McKinley James, a young, up-and-coming bluesman,” Sellers said. “I can’t wait to hear him perform his style of blues.”

Hunter said there will be festival T-shirts available for purchase. They were designed by artist Morgan C. LeFay.

“I’m proud to be part of a society that has been bringing national acts to the Mid-Ohio Valley for over 30 years,” said Parsons.

Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com and at the door on the days of the event. A weekend pass is $120, while tickets for Friday night and Saturday afternoon are $45 each. Saturday night tickets are $60.

33rd River City Blues Festival schedule:

Friday

¯ 5-5:45 p.m. – High Schools That Rock (free and open to the public)

¯ 8-9:30 p.m. – Tas Cru Band

¯ 9:45 p.m. – 11:15 p.m. John Nemeth

Saturday

Afternoon

¯1-2:15 p.m. – Austin Walkin’ Cane

¯2:30 to 4 p.m. – McKinley James

¯4:15-5:45 p.m. – Brandon Santini

Evening

¯ 8-9:30 p.m. – Wayne Baker Brooks

¯ 9:45-11:15 p.m. – Bernard Allison