First-ever Hidden Blues festival to hit Manayunk this weekend

Manayunk’s first-ever Hidden Blues Festival is set to take place on Saturday at the recently-renovated Venice Island just off Main Street.

The curators of the show booked artists from around the country to each play a 90-minute set of family-friendly music. The event will have food vendors and a beer garden. Attendees will receive wristbands to enter and leave as the please. 

“I think that music brings people together, and it helps people to enjoy themselves,” Sugar Blue of Sugar Blue Crew, said. “There’s nothing better than bringing people together and enjoying each other. The hidden blues fest is a very good thing.”

The Grammy winner is just one of several well-known artists from around the country that are expected at Saturday’s event.

“Philadelphia used to be really known as a jazz city in the ’40s and ’50s,” musician Steve Guyger said. “There was a time when we had a ‘Philadelphia sound’ — just something very distinct.”

“Hopefully this will be the start of something for years to come,” said Guyger.

The full line up can be seen on the Manayunk website.