On behalf of the entire BJFM (Blues, Jazz and Folk Music) Society Board, we would like to thank so many individuals and groups for their support, whether financial, volunteering, in-kind donations or all the other countless ways that others helped to make the 33rd River City Blues Festival and other activities we do a success.

First, a great thank you to our audience members, whether you came for the first time this year, or you’ve been coming for years. Your support, excitement and interest in seeing live, fun music and visiting the Marietta area is what keeps our board going. Next, we are thankful to the generous foundation grants and donations from Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Marietta Community Foundation and the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation as well as so many community businesses and individuals that support our festival and society, including the Cobbler’s Coffeehouses and Blues in the Schools programs.

Though we are always looking for more volunteers, we so appreciate all the people that volunteer, giving their time and efforts to make the festival run smoothly year after year. Amber Phipps and others from the Marietta Times and Parkersburg News and Sentinel; Chase Campbell and Payton Brooker and others at WTAP News; Emily Votaw and her student Woohyuk Kong with WOUB public media; and radio station WMOA were all so professional and informative in their media coverage of the festival.

We appreciate the support of David Bricker and the staff at the Microtel who host many of the musicians and audience members. The Historic Lafayette Hotel has been our host for all 33 years and even earlier with Launa Holden Morus, the incredible event staff who work such long hours to keep things clean and make everyone welcome as well as the rest of the hotel staff who are all to be commended. Vinnie Mele, who handled all the sound, lighting and backline, was praised as always by the acts for his outstanding professionalism. Finally, we want to thank the amazing musicians who travel long distances to share their wonderful talents with us here in the Mid-Ohio Valley and beyond. Without all of these individuals and groups, our BJFM Society Board would not be able to bring both the economic and cultural benefit of the heritage of live blues music to our area every year.

All of you inspire us to continue to share the joy of live music.