HUGHESVILLE – The 25th Annual Billtown Blues Festival is slated for Sunday June 8 at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville PA with a showtime of noon until 10 p.m.

Throughout their 25 years, the Billtown Blues Association has maintained its focus on bringing national and international acclaimed artists, along with local and regional artists who have demonstrated a devoted interest in performing blues music, to its stages.

The first festival was held on the private property of then County Commissioner Paul Glunk. Approximately 100 people supported the inaugural event. A make-shift stage featured local and regional acts and the event proved to be an artistic and financial success according to Hughesville founders Bonnie Tallman and Charlie Lockard. Thanks to numerous contributions and support from the performers, the event laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Billtown Blues Association Inc. The following year featured the first national touring blues acts, Saffire the Uppity Blues Women and William Clark.

Since then legends have graced the Billtown stages and after out-growing the original venue, the festival moved to its current Hughesville location in 1994.

The 300 plus member Association functions as a 10 member core unit producing 3 to 4 events per year.

Now drawing several thousand music fans, the 25th Annual, 2014 Festival, will feature area favorite EG Kight from Georgia with invited area artists Sean Farley, Andy Seal, Jeremy Jaffe, and Tim Hooper. In addition, multi nominated Blues Award artist Brandon Santini from Memphis, guitar wizard Kelly Richey and her powerhouse band from Cincinnati will perform. Performers Magic Slim, Shawn Holt and the Teardrops are scheduled along with a return visit of Alligator Recording artist Lil’ Ed and Blues Imperials.

The Billtown Blues Festival has become known as a “reunion” destination for blues fans and family gatherings from around the country. Historical data including photos and festival detail is available by visiting billtownblues.org.