CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF)- The Louie Bluie Music and Arts Festival is all but here, Saturday, September 28, at Cove Lake State Park. “Rain or shine, we’ll have Louie Bluie,” said Manuel Mesa, Executive Director of the Campbell Culture Coalition.

Celebrate Roots Music, Art, and Tradition at the 2024 Louie Bluie Music and Arts Festival
September 28

Cove Lake State Park, Caryville, Tennessee
Gates open at 10 a.m. – Festival ends at 6 p.m.

Get ready for a day of music, art, and community spirit as the Louie Bluie Music and Arts Festival returns to Cove Lake State Park. This free festival offers a unique blend of musical performances, artistic showcases, and engaging activities that celebrate the rich cultural heritage of East Tennessee.

A Vibrant Lineup of Music and Performances

This year’s festival promises a diverse musical experience across multiple stages:

• Louie Bluie Stage: Featuring the Sequatchie River Band, Ada Khoury Band, Mike McGill and the Refills, Evelyn Jack, Mal Nombre and co-headliner Tee Dee Young. 
• Back Yonder Jam Tent: Enjoy the Old Fiddlers Tribute featuring Nate Dodson, Jeff Kales, Tater Caruthers, Michael Klug, and Jeff Swan. Sponsored by Friends of the Cumberland Trail State Park, these talented fiddlers will also lead impromptu jamming sessions. Musicians of all levels are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in the fun.
• Rickard’s Ridge Restaurant Stage: Delight in performances by local favorites Shadow Ridge, Southern Grace gospel group, and the Rickard Ridge Pickers from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.
• Sounds Like Home Stage: We’ll feature performances from the Sunshine Ambassadors, Jacksboro Elementary students with Sean McCollough, Lawnmower, Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, The Bearded, Andy Cohen, and our co-headliner MSG Acoustic Blues Trio!

Arts and Crafts Village – A Shopper’s Paradise

The Arts and Crafts Village is a highlight of the festival, featuring talented artisans and unique handmade goods. Whether you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift or just browsing, you’ll find an array of crafts that showcase the creativity of local makers. Visit our Arts & Craft Village page for a list of some of our vendors.

Vendors Include:

• Barb’s Gourds and Crafts
• 2 Sisters Twisted
• Sea Witch Fiber Arts
• Cartoon Sculpture
• Bubbles and Baubles
• Laurie’s Rustic Charm Crafts
• Green Tea Quilts
• Postmark LaFollette
• And many, many more!

Quilt Exhibit in the Pavilion

Don’t miss the Quilt Exhibit, showcasing over 50 entries of intricate quilting craftsmanship. Experienced festival and fair judge Mary Dacres of Ohio will serve as this year’s judge. After the show, each entrant will privately receive a detailed scoring sheet that will include helpful comments. This feedback provides what you need to take your quilting hobby to the next level.

Located on the top of the hill, the exhibit is accessible via golf cart for those with mobility challenges. Visitors can view the quilts and vote for their favorite. Ballots are available at the door.

To enter your quilt, download the ‘fill-in’ entry form or complete our online entry form. But HURRY! Entry deadline is September 24.

Family NATURE-ing Interactive Activities

Family NATURE-ing offers engaging activities for all ages, including the opportunity to create your own leaf butterflies to take home, a craft session with recyclable materials, and fish imprinting – a creative way to explore nature through art. 

These activities, along with the Louie Bluie Learning Library, enhance the festival’s family-oriented Nature Area, providing an expanded lineup of hands-on experiences.

Visit the Family NATURE-ing page for a list of MORE activities.

Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program (TAAP)

This year’s festival proudly features participants from the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, sponsored by the Tennessee Arts Commission and led by Dr. Bradley Hanson. These master artists and their apprentices are preserving traditional crafts, including:

• Joseph Hensley and Samantha Hensley: Fiddle Luthiers, showcasing the art of fiddle-making.
• Jeanette and Charlotte Underwood: Appalachian Agricultural Folkways, focusing on seed saving, foraging, and food preservation.
• Leo Collins and Tony Branam: Buck Dancing, preserving the art of square dance calling and traditional dance styles.
• Additional participants include Marcella Buis and Donnie Simonton (gourd art), Eva and Mauricio Luna and Alejandra Berry (Piñata Making), Jerry Machen and Cornelia Briscoe and Dahlia Price (Carpet Art and Rugs), Héctor Saldivar and Ariel Hickman (Ceramic Folk Art), and Rick and Brendon Stewart (Coopering – making wood vessels).

Be sure to read all about these talented apprentices on our website!

Festival Information at Your Fingertips

Stay connected during the festival by scanning QR codes placed throughout the park for easy access to the full schedule and event details. For more information on participating artists, food vendors, and the complete lineup, visit www.louiebluie.org

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 string band virtuoso. He was an artist, storyteller and a writer who mastered the fiddle, mandolin and guitar. 

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

The Louie Bluie Festival is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, including the Tennessee Arts Commission, City of Caryville, Y-12 Federal Credit Union, Lawson Family Foundation, Campbell County Commission, Campbell County Chamber of Commerce, Powell-Clinch Utility District, LaFollette Utility Board, ORNL Federal Credit Union, United Cumberland Bank, City of LaFollette, Litho-Craft Printing, Dirt Road Recovery, Woodson’s Cash Stores, Hearthside Bank, Builtwell Bank, and Black Bear T-Shirts, and media sponsors WLAF and WATE-TV.

Additional special thanks to our photographers: Gary Heatherly, Carlos Jones, Robert Batey, Greg Blackmon, Tony Long, Bob Giasson, and Patrick Murphy Racey. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 09/27/2024-6AM)