Earning a Keeping the Blues Alive Award from the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee earlier this year, the Briggs Farm Blues Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary on Thursday, July 6 through Sunday, July 9.
Bringing 10,000 blues fans each year to the scenic hills of Nescopeck, the festival has featured over 130 artists from all over the world across two decades on the 250-year-old farm. A beautiful family-friendly atmosphere with camping, multiple stages of music, authentic Mississippi Delta food, and a vendor village help Briggs Fest maintain its reputation as “the best weekend of the year” as it continues to grow annually, even spawning its own blues record label last year.
With appearances in 2015 and 2016, Devon Allman was set to return to Briggs Farm this year, but had to cancel due to the death of his father Gregg Allman in May, so John Nemeth & The Blue Dreamers filled in on Friday.
NEPA Scene attended Saturday’s festivities, which included performances from Eric Gales, Thornetta Davis, Lonnie Shields, and Vanessa Collier on the Main Stage and Clarence Spady, Swampcandy, R.L. Boyce with The Cornlickers, The Norman Jackson Band, Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen, The Mighty Susquehannas, and Miss Melanie & the Valley Rats on the Back Porch Stage.
The blues is not only alive in Northeastern Pennsylvania, it’s thriving at this vibrant and culturally significant event.
See NEPA Scene’s photos from last year’s Briggs Farm Blues Festival here.
Photos by Tammy Heid-Malloy/NEPA Scene
