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Wlaf1450A full day of live music and Appalachian art on Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025
CARYVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)-Louie Bluie Music and Art Festival is happening on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Cove Lake State Park at Caryville. Join us for a day full of music, art, food, and fun!Â
When people from one culture exchange music with each other, each gains insight into another way of life. Music will be performed on three stages across the festival area. Stay tuned for more music acts as they are announced.
We are so excited to have the following major music acts lined up for Louie Bluie 2025:
- The LUA Project – cultural arts-based “Mexilachian†music that blends original and traditional music of Mexico, Appalachia, and the Atlantic basin!
- The Armstrong Trio featuring Louie Bluie’s famous son, Ralphe Armstrong, and his friends, Ray Kamalay, and John Reynolds! Lucky us to host these esteemed musicians!
- Sparky and Rhonda Rucker – Applaud Sparky who is a 2025 recipient of Tennessee Governor’s Folklife Heritage Award! Singer, storyteller, historian, author, and 2024 University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement awardee. His lifetime accomplishments are outstanding! Follow us for more on this!
The festival, inspired by the legendary Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, aims to celebrate his immense contribution to the arts while nurturing the talents of the next generation of musicians and artists. With Campbell County’s deep roots in music, the Louie Bluie Music & Arts Festival serves as a testament to the enduring power of Armstrong’s influence and the importance of keeping these traditions alive.
Register to be a Volunteer with our gratitude!
We would not be able to produce the festival without the help of volunteers. We need about 100 or so to make this event happen successfully. All volunteers receive a festival t-shirt, unlimited water bottles, and our most sincere thankfulness. Want to register? Super!! You can register online.
Louie Bluie is about heritage and tradition. Showcase your skills at our Arts and Craft Village!
Hey! Holidays and gift giving follows right on the heels of the festival! Nothing beats the joy of giving a gift made by a local artisan!
Deadline is fast approaching to apply to be a part of our Arts and Crafts Village – the deadline to register is August 15.
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, school art clubs, or organizations dedicated to encouraging the arts.
Past examples have included pottery, homemade soaps and candles, marshmallow launchers, walking sticks, local authors, jewelry, quilts, and fine art. Main criteria? Must be created by hand! Crafts preferably in the Appalachian crafts’ tradition.
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.
Learn more about the Arts & Craft Village guidelines and apply online.
Hungry? O, Boy! We Need Food Vendors!
Food vendor’s deadline to register is Sept. 1. In the past, we’ve had around 8,000 visitors, so we need lots of food vendors to keep them from going hungry! Mobile food trucks, church, and community groups are encouraged to apply.
All applications will be reviewed by a committee and participation is subject to approval, to prevent vendors from offering the same items.
Learn about the Food Court guidelines and apply online.
Got Quilts? Show Off!
Do you have a quilt you want to share with the community? Submit your quilt as part of our juried quilt competition. This yearly display is one of the highlights of our festival and showcases the talented quilters in our area. This venue fills up fast and there is a specific amount of space for the exhibit, so don’t delay!
Deadline to register is September 16th. Read the Quilt Show Rules and apply online.
Youth Visual Art Competition
The essence of art is the beauty, skill, innovation and purpose found in the delicate balance between technical skill and emotional depth! Our popular Youth Artist Competition encompasses middle school age students grades 6-8 and high school students grades 9-12. This venue is open to any youth artist, regardless of school or county. Contact Chair Leah Kitts at leahhk@gmail.com for answers to questions.
Learn more about the Judging Rules and Guidelines.
Bring the whole family to the exhibit in the ArtSpace tent!
Thank you, Thank you! Our Major Sponsors!
While the festival is free, the cost of producing it is not. Without the financial platform made possible by local government, state government, local businesses and friends, this event would not be possible. Thank you, business sponsors and media sponsors for your dedication to our community and to our festival. We deeply appreciate your support!
Major Sponsors
- Tennessee Arts Commission
- Y-12 Federal Credit Union
- Campbell County Government
- Powell Clinch Utilities District
- Campbell County Chamber of Commerce
Major Sponsors
- City of Caryville
- LaFollette Utilities
- City of LaFollette
- ORNL Federal Credit Union
- United Cumberland Bank
Media Sponsors
- WLAF AM FM TV & DOT COM
- Volunteer Times Facebook Page
- The LaFollette Press
Free Admission
Free admission and parking to attend the festival, however donations are encouraged to help the Campbell Culture Coalition support and provide engaging arts and music opportunities within our community.
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this one-of-a-kind celebration of music and art in the heart of Appalachia. Join us on September 20, 2025, for a day filled with incredible performances, unique artworks, and memories that will linger way after the festival is over.
We appreciate 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.
Additional festival information is available at LouieBluie.org. For information about the Campbell Culture Coalition, visit campbellculturecoalition.org. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-07/28/2025-6AM)