I Dare You You Won't
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A timeline of our efforts to

Preserve

A 36 Year Retrospective

1984

The first MVBS meeting was informal and happened at RIBCO (Rock Island Brewing Company) in April; the group included Ross and Doris Haecker, Gene and Nancy Morgan, Steve Brundies, Terry O’Brien, Frank Holst, Nathaniel Hawker and Dana Taylor. That following July, MVBS was recognized as a non-profit corporation.

MVBS becomes an officially recognized non-profit corporation

MVBS provides blues entertainment at Hampton’s River Road Days

1984

After being approached by the "City Fathers" of Hampton, the MSVB provided a full day of Blues music at Hampton's River Road Days in August. Later that year MVBS presented Koko Taylor and Robert Cray at RIBCO.

1985

In July, the first annual Mississippi Valley Blues Festival happened at LeClaire Park in Davenport. Local and regional blues bands were featured.

First annual Mississippi Valley Blues Festival

I'm gonna play something so funky you can smell it

1986

In May, MVBS presented Buddy Guy and Jr. Wells with opening act Sugar Blue at the Col Ballroom in Davenport. In July, the Blues Festival extended to three days and featured national acts including John Lee Hooker and Memphis Slim.

1987

In May, MVBS hosted Albert Collins at the Col Ballroom. A few months later in December at the same venue, MVBS hosted Johnny Winter with opening act Little Ed and the Blue Imperials.

The Ice Man Cometh to the Col Ballroom

National Blues Foundation Award for Best Blues Society

1988

MVBS won the National Blues Foundation award for 'Best Blues Society'.

1990

This was the first year that workshops became a part of the annual Blues Festival.

Blues Workshops Introduced at Blues Fest

We're gonna need a bigger trophy shelf

1993

MVBS won the National Blues Foundation award for 'Best Blues Society' again.

1999

BlueSkool became an interactive part of Blues Festival.

Ring Ring Goes the Bell; BlueSkool is in session

MVBS won the National Blues Foundation Award for Best Festival

2014

And again, MVBS won the National Blues Foundation award for 'Best Blues Society'. LeClaire Park flooded two years in a row, and the Blues Festival was moved to the streets of downtown Davenport.

2020

MVBS launches the new website where hundreds of hours of past Blues performances are archived, and where live Blues events will be streamed. More coming soon!

New website, new look

New in the Store

All proceeds from the MVBS store help fund our mission and our efforts to preserve the Blues.

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You Ain't Getting
Out of here
without Singing
The Blues

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