Tony Brown and Dennis “Daddy-O” McMurrin perform during Czech Village Blues 2017 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS – Friends of Czech Village has been hard at work to resurrect the Riverside Roundhouse, home to farmers markets for decades.

Last year, the group teamed with the Linn County Blues Society to host Czech Village Blues as a fundraiser to bring back the Roundhouse, which was dismantled following the 2008 flood that devastated the city.

See photos from last year’s Czech Village Blues.

Friends of Czech Village announced today that the one-day music festival will return this summer, with Ruf Records Blues Caravan as headliner.

Here is more about today’s announcement:

Czech Village was blocked off at 16th Avenue SW for Czech Village Blues in 2017. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Czech Village Blues announces Bernard Allison, Mike Zito and Vanja Sky: Ruf Records Blues Caravan as 2018 headliner. This is three acts in one: You’ll not only find one young gun with a dazzling career ahead of her, but also two heavyweights with sky-high reputations.

“The LCBS is excited to continue the tradition that began with Bluesmore, to support live music in Cedar Rapids,” said David Antin, President, Linn County Blues Society, “Bernard Allison alone would rock Cedar Rapids. This trio is more than we could have hoped for.”

“We are thrilled to partner again with LCBS,” said Michelle Bell, President, Friends of Czech Village. “Over 1200 were in attendance in 2017 and raised over $10,000 for our causes. We expect this year to be bigger and better.”

The second annual Czech Village Blues will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2018 in the Czech Village neighborhood of Cedar Rapids. Once again, the event will be a one-day blues music show to help Friends of Czech Village raise funds for the reestablishment of the Riverside Roundhouse in Czech Village and help the Linn County Blues Society raise funds to support its programs and charitable organizations.

For more information about this exciting act please visit www.facebook.com/bluescaravan Bernard Allison’s website: www.bernardallison.com, Mike Zito’s website: www.mikezito.com and Vanja Sky’s website: www.facebook.com/vanja1sky.

Friends of Czech Village is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for and reconstructing the Riverside Roundhouse building in the Czech Village neighborhood. Once rebuilt, this high-quality facility will be a venue for farmer’s markets, recreational activities, festivals, social occasions, and more. For additional information, please visit www.CzechVillageFriends.org.

The Linn County Blues Society is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion and perpetuation of Blues music in Eastern Iowa, as well as to provide charitable contributions to other community organizations. For more information, please visit www.LCBS.org.

Sponsorships for Czech Village Blues are available. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mark Rowell: 319-560-2253, publicity@LCBS.org

The Joanna Connor band performs at Czech Village Blues. (photo/Cindy Hadish)