It comes with much thought and discussion that we, the Officers of The Board of Directors for the Mid-Mississippi Muddy Water Blues Society,a local 501c3 non-profit Arts Organization, make the following announcement:

Upon reviewing the results of the outcome of the last several years Annual Quincy Area Blues Fest, we as an organization have decided to not host a 2010 Quincy Area Blues Fest. This move is in part fueled by our current economic situation, increasing difficulties of fundraising, a decrease of local attendance, and the event not growing into a more financially self supporting event. We as an organization feel we cannot risk the large financial undertaking that this event requires at this time. If we are to host a festival in 2011, the festival logistics will have to be reworked, to give the event a chance to be a more self supporting festival with stronger local fan support.

Over the past few years, our Societies whole focus has been based solely on working towards funding the annual Festival, and little else. We have always felt that the Festival should not be our Societies sole mission, just one part of it. Ultimately, we have wanted to work towards seeing more Blues Education and Blues awareness in the area. There is now a free Blues music concerts series, live Blues music in other venues, as well as several local radio shows now on the air. We are thrilled with seeing these efforts come about and have success; we have now helped accomplish part of our Societies mission of Keeping the Blues Alive. The local Blues music scene is stronger than it has ever been, and in this fact, we feel a real sense of accomplishment.

We now feel it is time to return towards reviving Blues Music Education to our area schools, with the hopeful return of the Blues in the Schools program to area schools. And we would also like to offer some annual financial support to some area schools music programs in the future, to help young aspiring music students with their pursuit on continuing music education.

Thank you to all of the Sponsors, volunteers, and supporters of this great fest over the past 16 years; you have given many people a wonderful experience to always remember. Though it may seem sad to end one chapter of our Societies history, we are excited in the state of the current local blues scene, and we are ready to begin yet another chapter…

Sincerely,

The President, and Board of the MMMWBS

The weekend is over–and it looks like we survived another Quincy Area Blues Fest. We all here at the MMMWBS just wanted to tell EVERYONE-”THANKS”! Thanks be heaped on the Sponsors and Advertisers, (who came through in a tough economy). Also-thank you to the Radio, TV and Newspaper for helping us get the word out, and covering the event. Thanks to the Marion Gardner Jackson Arts Trust-you’ve been with us since the beginning-the Blues is great American ART!

And a special thanks to all the volunteers-who-without them we’d never even be able to have this event at all. Thank you to the great musicians-who poured out their hearts in the music they played, and the great entertainment that you provided us… And of course-THANK YOU-the blues fans–you are what we do this event for-you and the great Blues Artists-who we can’t make rich-but we can make them feel good about what they do–for at least one day a year, here in Quincy!

The weather was the best that we’ve ever had, and though the crowds have been larger, we feel blessed to be able to pull the event off in a very tough economy, and our hearts go out to some of the other Fests across the country that couldn’t hold their Blues Fests this year. We’ll hope that that next year can be better, and that many Fests can once again come back to life-bigger and better than ever. We hope to see everyone again next year! And thanks for your support of this event and our little all-volunteer organization. We are proud to work at accomplishing our Society’s Mission of “Keeping the Blues Alive”-they’ve never been more alive here in Quincy-Thanks all!

NOTE TO OUR POTENTIAL OUT OF TOWN GUESTS–If you’ve considered, but never been to Quincy for our little fest-this would be the year to make this your first trip. Quincy is a beautiful little historic town, with some of the greatest architecture for a city this size that you’ll ever see. Our Fest is very laid back, and music is the centerpiece of this event. Our musicians love coming to Quincy, and they feel comfortable in wandering around-not being trampled by a large crowd. We’ve got plenty of shade trees, and even if it’s blazin’ hot-we always seem to get a little breeze coming thru the park-that-combined with a cold beverage, and some great music-will make things alright…We are a family friendly event, and we have affordable hotels all around the Park, and throughout town-so this can be a great affordable weekend getaway!