Kentuckiana Blues Society

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Kentuckiana Blues Society

PO Box 755
Louisville, KY 40201-0755

The Kentuckiana Blues Society, founded in 1988, is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and perpetuation of the Blues Tradition in all of its forms

Preservation: Through extensive research and documentation, the KBS has made major inroads into the documentation of the Blues tradition in Louisville, Kentucky. This research has led to the discovery of many rare photos, interviews, and the location of many early Blues related sites. An archive has been established by the KBS to centrally locate all of these materials and make them available to members. We have also located the grave sites of Blues greats Sylvester Weaver and Bill Gaither and arranged for the placement of headstones to preserve their memory.

Promotion: From its inception the KBS has been actively involved on the local Blues scene. Many local and regional talents have been showcased in local venues under either direct sponsorship or contributed support of the KBS. Such artists as Albert Collins, Pinetop Perkins, and Henry Townsend were all able to appear in Louisville under the auspices of KBS.

From 1988, KBS has been involved with and supportive of the Garvin Gate Blues Festival - which is held the second weekend of October. For three years, 1997-1999, the festival was moved from the Garvin Gate Neighborhood of "Old Louisville" to Theatre Square downtown before it was temporarily discontinued. In 2007, the original Garvin Gate Blues Festival was reborn at Oak & Garvin by the Garvin Gate Neighborhood Association and was welcomed back warmly by the Louisville blues community.
See the Events Page for details on this and all events.

KBS has had active participation in the Waterside Arts and Blues Festival throughout its history. At this event KBS provided Blues exhibits, workshops, and hosting. KBS welcomes Bisig Impact Group to their current sponsorship of the new Louisville Blues-n-Barbecue Festival at the Water Tower.

The KBS Unsigned Blues Talent Contest garners recognition for new bands, and, due to our affiliation with The Blues Foundation, the winner is eligible to compete in the finals of the International Blues Talent Competition in Memphis, Tennessee. The contest is usually held in August at Stevie Ray's Blues Bar. The deadline for application submission is in July. Check the Contest Page for details, application and list of previous winners.

The annual KBS Blues Cruise is a way to explore the diversity of Blues sites and bands in the Louisville area. The Cruise is usually held around the middle of May ... check the events page for details on all KBS events.

Perpetuation: Probably the strongest commitment that KBS has is its efforts to perpetuate the Blues Tradition so that generations to come may be able to come to a knowledge and appreciation of the Blues. In a way this perpetuation encompasses the other two "p"s of our mission: it is through the preservation and presentation of the Blues that we can begin to perpetuate it.

One of the ways in which KBS perpetuates the Blues is through the annual presentation of the Sylvester Weaver Award to an individual in recognition of their efforts in representing the mission of the KBS.
(Check the Awards Page for details and winners of the Sylvester Weaver Award)

Additionally, we seek to perpetuate the Blues with formal and informal presentations about the Blues to various groups, and through our own presence at festivals and concerts.

Membership: KBS encourages membership by anyone interested in the Blues. Members receive our monthly newsletter Blues News, as well as opportunities for discounts on local events and purchases (see Sponsors Page for details). All members are encouraged to attend the monthly meetings of the Society to bring their own views and talents to the support of the Blues.

Contributions and Sponsorships: KBS welcomes all contributions and sponsorships of its events that do not compromise the integrity of the Blues. These donations are tax deductible to the amount that the law allows.

The KBS Board meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm at various Blues Venues around town. Members are welcome. Check the Front Page of the Web Site or the newsletter each month for location information.