The 17th annual Niagara Falls Blues Festival returns to Old Falls Street on Saturday for a day of free live music.
This year’s lineup features a mix of nationally recognized and regional performers, including:
● Rockin Jake
● Cleveland’s Backstreet Blues Band
● The Coupe De’Villes
● Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr.
● Coco Montoya
● The Mud Morganfield Band
In addition to the music, attendees can purchase food, beverages and other concessions along Old Falls Street. The festival will take place from 1 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The annual event was founded by Thomas Philip “Toby” Rotella. The former owner of the Imperial Garage, who was for more than a decade the driving force behind the blues fest, passed away in March of 2023 at the age of 82.
In 1984, Rotella put on the first Niagara Falls Blues Festival on the grounds of the Niagara Falls Convention Center, where the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino now stands.
“This is his invention,” His life partner, Sherry Kushner said in 2023. “The Niagara Falls Blues Festival is what it is today because of Toby. it’s an actual thing because of him.”
Thanks to Rotella, Kushner and other supporters, including the City of Niagara Falls itself, the festival has become an annual late summer staple on Old Falls Street where it has been held since 2014. Over the years, the festival has drawn thousands of people downtown, many coming from other parts of the state, the country, from Canada and other locations worldwide.
The festival will have a smaller lineup this year than in year’s past, with six acts performing across just one day.