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When the sound of blues music rings through the air in Gladstone, it means summertime is near.

This weekend will mark the 13th year the summer season has been kicked off with blues music in Gladstone. Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6, will be the annual Summertime Bluesfest at Oak Grove Park, Northeast 76th Street and North Troost Avenue.

The festival will start Friday evening at 6 p.m. with three blues acts, King King, BJ Allen and Blue Voodoo, and Chris Duarte. The event will then continue Saturday at 2 p.m. with Mark Montgomery & Max Berry, JP Soars and The Red Hots, Moreland & Arbuckle, Rosie Ledet & The Zydeco Playboys, and Guitar Shorty.

The park will open for visitors one hour prior to the start of the music on each day.

The event is put on each year by the Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce and has been known to bring crowds of more than 15,000 blues fans from around the Kansas City area and beyond.

Bluesfest would likely not happen without numerous volunteers that lend their free time to the success of the event. Many of these volunteers have been involved since the event’s early years.

Chad Nichols, event co-chair, has been involved with the preparation of the community event for about 10 years. This year marks the second time he has co-chaired the event.

Nichols, who is a chamber member through his employer, Shelter Insurance, said he got involved with Bluesfest as a way to give back to the chamber and the community he works in.

Co-chairing the event involves organization of meetings leading up to the event, making sure everything is in order for a successful weekend and the organization of other volunteers.

Rhonda Dugan, like Nichols, returns to the music festival year after year as a volunteer. She has been involved since its beginning. She got involved with the event that she said started as a barbecue competition before it became a blues music festival.

“I enjoy the whole atmosphere of it. Working it is just a plus,” she said. “It’s a great way to participate in a community event and it doesn’t really feel like that much work.”

Dugan has assisted the chamber in her 13 years as a Bluesfest volunteer with the food booths that serve Gladstone’s now infamous “saucy buns,” other snacks and drinks.

“It’s a nice way to meet some old friends and listen to some blues music and you happen to work a few hours,” she said about volunteering.

Parking for the event is $5 but admission is free. Visitors may bring coolers but no outside alcoholic beverages are allowed. Dogs are also not allowed in the park during the event.

PERFORMANCES

- Friday, June 5 — King King, BJ Allen and Blue Voodoo, Chris Duarte (music starts at 6 p.m.)

- Saturday, June 6 — Mark Montgomery & Max Berry, JP Soars and The Red Hots, Moreland & Arbuckle, Rosie Ledet & The Zydeco Playboys, Guitar Shorty (music starts at 2 p.m.)

- All acts will perform on the amphitheater stage at Oak Grove Park, Northeast 76th Street and North Troost Avenue

Staff writer Meagan O’Donnell can be reached at 389-6606 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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