History

The Lowertown Blues and Funk festival begin in 2005 by promoter Steve Heckler. Then called the  "Famous Dave's BBQ and Blues Festival",  the event was held in downtown Minneapolis, MN at Peavey Plaza. In 2012 Peavey Plaza underwent changes, with debate that carried on for a long time about how to preserve and update this historic property at the south end of Nicollet Mall. The festival found itself without a home or a title sponsor until 2014, when Steve and festival director Mike "Tiny" Rogers had an opportunity to re-brand and relocate the festival to Mears Park in the Lowertown neighborhood of St. Paul.  The first “Lowertown Blues Festival” in 2014 featured Shemekia Copeland, Hamilton Loomis, Lamont Cranston and Sena Ehrhardt. In 2016 a second day was added, with "Funk" music a priority on the Friday, and Saturday featuring a wide variety of Blues, R&B, Zydeco - both days with national & local acts. The Youth Performance Stage was added to showcase new and upcoming musicians, and helps promote future achievements in the performance arts.

In 2020, our event was cancelled due to Covid and in 2021 we hosted the Summer Concert Series at Dual Citizen Brewery featuring 3 concerts with with The Good, The Bad and The Funky, Hamilton Loomis and Bernard Allison Group. In 2022 we again had our fest at Dual Citizen Brewery, and in 2023 we changed our name to Midtown Blues & Funk Fest to better reflect our location at the border of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Famous Dave’s BBQ & Blues Festival

2005 - Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials, The Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers with Alberta Adams, Big Walter Smith, Mike Kindred and The Butanes with Willie Walker
2006 - Texas Slim, Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings, Lady Bianka, Phil Guy w/ the Butanes, Billy Branch, Big George Jackson, Paul Metza & Sonny Earl
2007 - Ron Hacker, Big James and the Chicago Playboys, Eddie The Chief Clearwater, Big Time Sarah, Ron Thompson and the Resistors.
2008 - Ellen McIlwaine, Tom Hunter, The Brass Kings, Paul Metsa & Sonny Earl
2009 - Tinsley Ellis, Corey Stevens, Anna Popovic, Bernard Allison, Shannon Curfman
2010 - Guitar Shorty, Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, the Lamont Cranston Blues Band
2011 - Chubby Carrier, Lonnie Brooks, The Corey Stevens Band, Mojo Buford
2012 - Walter Trout, Davina & the Vagabonds, Charlie Musselwhite, Johnny Rawls Band, Charlie Parr

Lowertown Blues & Funk Fest

2014 - Shemekia Copeland, Hamilton Loomis , Lamont Cranston, Sena Ehrhardt
2015 - Elvin Bishop, Walter Trout, The Dee Miller Band, The Lisa Wenger Band
2016 - The Family Stone, Otis Day & the Knights, The Good, The Bad & The Funky, Bernard Allison, Corey Stevens, Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials, The Butanes Soul Revue, Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown)
2017 - Average White Band, Chase & Ovation, Mick Sterling, Tommy Castro & the Pain Killers, Shannon Curfman, The Jimmys, Renee Austin
2018 - Free & Easy, High & Mighty, Ohio Players, Mae Simpson Band, Scottie Miller, Crow, Toronzo Cannon, Chubby Carrier, Marcia Ball, Big George Jackson
2019 - Sumo Seven, Boogie Wonderland, Thomas McClary Commodores Experience, Craig Clark Band, Bridget Kelly Band, Joyann Parker, Carolyn Wonderland, Popa Chubby, Jon Cleary
2020 - (Cancelled due to COVID-19) Ana Popovic, Dumstaphunk, Selwyn Birchwood, The Good, The Bad and The Funky, Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys, Alex Rossi, Mark Cameron Band
2021 - Summer Concert Series - The Good, The Bad and The Funky, Hamilton Loomis, Bernard Allison Group
2022 - Shemekia Copeland, Selwyn Birchwood, Lamont Cranston, Crow