The Festival has also announced upcoming deadlines for vendor registration and more.

By Crystal Bentley

CARYVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)– Join us at this year’s Louie Bluie Music and Arts Festival, a celebration of Tennessee’s rich cultural heritage. Mark your calendar for Sat., Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 pm. at beautiful Cove Lake State Park. The festival is free to attend while generous donations at the gates helps the Campbell Culture Coalition continue supporting these invaluable cultural treasures. Come be a part of the magic at the Louie Bluie Festival.

New performers have recently been added to the lineup. Blues legend and guitar whisperer Tee Dee Young (photo above) will join as a co-headliner. Young, a native of Lexington, KY., has been performing and playing for audiences for many years. While playing his own unique style of the blues, his dynamic stage presence, exciting harmony and energy will put you in the mood to dance. Come enjoy the unique style Young brings to the blues.

The Bearded are an old timey string band with brand new songs from East Tennessee. They specialize in traditional dance, old-time, bluegrass, jug and blues music. Also, a sundry collection of original songs and contemporary favorites round out their infectious and upbeat sound. The Bearded have performed on stage with The Carolina Chocolate Drops and Dom Flemons, as well as openers for bands like The Reel Time Travelers and The Steel Drivers.

The festival organizers are proud to bring back the Tennessee Art Commission’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, preserving rare and endangered traditions via the Tennessee Folklife Program. Meet luthiers, agricultural artists, coopers, Pinata-makers, ceramic artists from Mexico, gourd artists, carousel-makers, buckdancers, and more. Including our local neighbors: Tony Branam, Joseph Hensley, as well as Jeanette and Charlotte Underwood.

The Stages lineup currently includes:

  • MSG Acoustic Blues Trio
  • Sparky & Rhonda
  • Tee Dee Young
  • Sequatchie River Band
  • Andy Cohen
  • Ada Khoury and Diane Matheson
  • Mal Nombre
  • The Bearded
  • Tee Dee Young
  • Carnival Xhibition

The festival will also feature a judged quilt show, and judged middle school and high school-age students’ art will be displayed. Youth artists do not need to be registered at a Campbell County School to participate. Find more details under the tab “Judged Art” at louiebluie.org.

Plenty of food and drink options, including affordable bologna/boloney sandwiches, will be on the grounds, as well as a large Arts and Crafts Village full of handmade items. You’ll find pottery, jewelry, homemade soaps and candles, marshmallow launchers, walking sticks, local authors, fine art, and much more. Check out the pottery and woodworking exhibits.

Are you a crafter? Deadline coming up soon.

The deadline to register to be a part of the Arts and Crafts Village is Sept. 3. Crafters whose work shows originality, craftsmanship, quality of design, and appropriateness to the Appalachian tradition are highly encouraged to apply. We’re looking for individual artists and school art clubs who are dedicated to encouraging the arts. In the past, some examples have included pottery, jewelry, homemade soaps and candles, marshmallow launchers, walking sticks, local authors and fine art. We’re grateful to all those who have already signed up! Check the website soon to view all the craft vendors and their products.  Support these artisans by purchasing your holiday gifts from them.

Booths are available for $60 per 10 x 10 ft. space, limited to two spaces. Electricity is available at an additional cost of $15/booth, but limited, due to the number of park outlets.

All applications will be reviewed by a committee and participation is subject to approval. This is to prevent vendors from offering the same items. Contact Nelsie Wooden at wooden6@bellsouth.net or Karen Clear at 423-871-2352 for more information.

Quilt show deadlines

If you’re interested in participating in the quilt show, be sure to enter by Sept. 24. You can enter up to four quilts! Let your family, friends, neighbors and Louie Blue festival attendees see your quilting artistry and skill. More than 10,000 festival goers in 2023 had the chance to view a record-setting number of quilt entries. This is your prime opportunity to celebrate with the community, and to have people show appreciation for your part in the great quilting traditions of eastern Tennessee.

There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons in multiple categories, along with a Viewers Choice award for the crowd favorite. The Best of Quilts award-winner will receive a $100 cash prize.

Still accepting food vendor applicaitons

The food vendor’s deadline to register is Sept. 1. Last year, we welcomed 10,000 visitors, so we need lots of vendors to keep them from going hungry! We need a few more vendors. Mobile food trucks and church and community groups are encouraged to apply. These will also be subject to approval.

If you are feeling inspired by the Boloney craze, stop by the Festival Headquarters Tent and pick up a limited-edition Boloney T-Shirt to commemorate the event.

Would you like to volunteer?

This Festival would never happen without the help of dedicated volunteers. Over 100 volunteers are needed to help set up, pick up trash, help vendors and performers know where to go, and more. All volunteers receive a free T-shirt and free bottled water. Visit the website for a full list of volunteer opportunities or contact coordinator of volunteers at maureenoconnell75@gmail.com.

Parking is generous, free, and there are designated locations for handicapped. This is a family-fun event so plan to bring everyone from grandparents to babies.

Be sure to follow the Festival’s Facebook page for updates. You can also visit HERE for more information.

About the Louie Bluie Festival

The Festival takes place at Cove Lake State Park in Caryville, a town in the heart of mountain music country, just off Interstate 75 Exit 134. Historically, Campbell County is a place steeped in music, and today is no different. It’s the home of Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, the Festival’s namesake, who grew up in LaFollette in the 1920s and was an incredibly talented black string band virtuoso. He was an artist, storyteller and a writer who mastered the fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Thank You to the Tennessee Arts Commission (support the TN Specialty License Plate Program) and National Endowment for the Arts for their funding and support of the Louie Bluie Music and Arts Festival. This project is also supported by Powell Clinch Utilities District; Campbell County Commission; Town of Caryville; Campbell County Chamber of Commerce; City of LaFollette, LaFollette Utility Board, Lawson Family Foundation; Y-12 Federal Credit Union, and numerous businesses and citizens of Campbell County and Knox County. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/08/2024-6AM)

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