The Ally Venable Band performs Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, during Czech Village Blues in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
CEDAR RAPIDS – Czech Village Blues hit the right notes in its second year as a collaboration between Friends of Czech Village and the Linn County Blues Society.
The Ruf Records Blues Caravan performs during Czech Village Blues. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
This year, the stage moved to A Street SW, rather than blocking off the main thoroughfare of 16th Avenue SW, offering easier access for both cars and pedestrians for the six-hour blues extravaganza.
Youth stage performers started off the night, followed by Tim&TheTrutones, Shane Johnson’s Blue Train and the Ruf Records Blues Caravan, heating up an already warm night.
The Blues Caravan featured up-and-coming Ally Venable, as well as veteran bluesmen Bernard Allison and Mike Zito.
Saturday’s event was a fundraiser for the Riverside Roundhouse, with plans for the venue to be rebuilt in the area next to Czech Village, where homes existed before the 2008 flood and where a park is now planned.
The $2.5 million facility is scheduled for 2020. Czech Village Blues 2017 netted $12,000. This year’s figures are still being tallied.
See photos from last year’s Czech Village Blues and more from Saturday’s festival:
Musicians perform at the Youth Stage. during Czech Village Blues. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
This was the second year for Czech Village Blues in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Scott Sanborn of Friends of Czech Village speaks at the start of the festival on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Tim & TheTrutones perform during Czech Village Blues. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Shane Johnson’s Blue Train was one of several performers at Czech Village Blues. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The audience fills Sokol Park during Czech Village Blues on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Shane Johnson performs during Czech Village Blues. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Audience members dance during to the music of Ruf Records Blues Caravan. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A young spectator gets a high-five from Ally Venable during Czech Village Blues. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Ally Venable performs Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
T-shirts are sold during the festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Ruf Records Blues Caravan performs during Czech Village Blues. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Mike Zito entertains the crowd in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Bernard Allison performs during Czech Village Blues. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Mike Zito plays a solo on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Bernard Allison looks over the crowd at Czech Village Blues in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
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