About the Mid-Mississippi Muddy Water Blues Society of Quincy, Illinois

The Mid Mississippi Muddy Water Blues Society (MMMWBS) was formed in 1994 as a result of the First Blues Fest in Quincy, Illinois. A small group of people interested in the education and promotion of Blues music locally formed the MMMWBS. The Society is a 501C3 not for profit organization that works to promote, educate, and keep Blues music alive in the local area.

Some of the projects that we have worked with in the past include the Blues in the Schools program, various media donations to the Quincy Public Library, and hosting the Quincy Area Blues Fest. Other projects that we’ve been involved with include jam sessions and various fundraisers, such as the Blue Note Open. This is an indoor winter golf tournament that is a fund raiser for the QABF and the Can Jam, which raises money and food donations for area food pantries. And our nwest fundraiser is the annual “Blue Note Derby” a night of (stick) horse racing.

In years past, we have raised funds to help the KHQA Rescue Cam Fund at the Quincy Area Blues Fest. This is a program to help all area Fire Stations become equipped with Rescue Cams (thermal imaging cameras) to help find victims in heavy smoke and total darkness. And we have also made other contributions in the past to other area interests such as the Salvation Army and the Indian Mounds Pool Project, and recently have been helping area food pantries with our annual “Can Jam” food fundraiser.

The Quincy Area Blues Fest had a good reputation as a top tier small blues festival in the Midwest. Until now, there have been 16 years of annual Blues Fests being held in Quincy’s Historical Washington Park. The park, a real “Gem” in the “Gem City” is a one-square block area in the heart of the Quincy Historic Business District. It’s a beautiful setting with a lot of shade trees and is well know for being the site of one the historic Lincoln-Douglas debates, as well as a site visited by the Mormon pioneers. The Fest was held annually on the third weekend in July. Quincy features several affordable hotels within walking distance of the Washington Park festival site. Unfortunately, the Blues Society IS NOT planning on hosting a 2010 Festival, as several factors beyond our control have caused us to make this difficult decision.

We gladly accept music CD’s from Bands wishing to have their music included in our Blues Society Music Library. These can be sent to us at Quincy Area Blues Fest, PO Box 887, Quincy, IL 62306. All materials will become the property of the MMMWBS and after the  The Society’s Music Library is done as a service to allow members to check out new artists and to hopefully encourage them to purchase those Artists’ music that they enjoy.

We conduct monthly meetings on the third Thursday of the month at 7 pm at The Blind Pig, 12th & Lind in Quincy, in the back room. We gladly welcome all newcomers and encourage the participation of all members. Thanks for checking us out on the Web!

Board Members

President
Linda Gertz

Vice President
Ben Bumbry

Treasurer
Melissa Gilmore

Secretary, Newsletter Editor & Webmaster
Jerry Davis

Board Member At Large
Chris Cowen