The 23rd annual Hot Licks Blues Festival returns Saturday. Here's what you need to know
Blues music will soon fill the air in downtown Granville — all with the goal of funding art education programs in Licking County.
The Hot Licks Blues Festival returns Saturday to Granville's Broadway for the 23nd year.
This is the third year the Newark Organization for the Creative Arts is organizing the festival after taking it over from co-founders Jerry Martin and Tom Carroll in 2021.
"I'm so psyched that this is one of the things that we have to offer to our local community," NOCA Executive Director Nat Reeb said. "It's a great tradition. As Granville resident, I'm very excited to be instrumental in making this thing happen."
Who is preforming at the Hot Licks Blues Festival this year?
The 2023 Hot Licks line up includes:
Guitar Company
Tom Carroll's Organic Chemistry
The Blue Cats
Mark May Band
Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio
The festival is headlined by Grammy-nominated Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio, which is a stripped down little band with a down home, front porch feel that blends voices, piano and electric guitar with cajón, the versatile South American percussion instrument, according to a news release.
Reeb said Bishop, a Rock and Roll and Blues Hall of Famer, was at top of his list when booking acts for the 2023 festival.
"I think that people are going to be blown away at the musicianship and the familiarity of the songs," Reeb said.
When does the music start?
Guitar Company will take the stage at 1 p.m., and the last performer, Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio, is expected to wrap up by 11 p.m., Reeb said.
Is there a cost to attend?
The festival is free to attend but there are ticket upgrade option available, which supports NOCA’s immersive arts education program and its facility on West Church Street in downtown Newark.
The VIP upgrade includes a poster and T-shirt designed by local artist David Butler, Reeb said.
What food and drinks will be available?
A wide variety of food options will be available during the festival, including Poppy's Roadside Diner and vendors for shaved ice, kettle corn, pizza and others, Reeb said.
In addition to the regular beer lineup the festival has offered over the last two decades, Reeb said organizers have partnered with Three Tigers Brewing Co. to create a special beer called XXIII, in honor of the festival's 23rd year. He added that proceeds from the the 5.2% hazy pale ale will benefit NOCA.
What streets will be closed and how long will the closures last?
East Broadway will close between Main and Prospect Streets at 6 a.m. Saturday and is expected to reopen by 1 a.m. Sunday, Granville Police Chief Bill Caskey said.
He said parking will be restricted on College Street as Ohio 661 will use that road for the duration of the festival.
What is NOCA?
NOCA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizer and presenter of the creative arts, aims to provide experiences, education, and resources to foster artistic endeavors in central Ohio, according to its website. It offers music lessons and operate the Vinyl Vault record store on West Church Street in Newark, Reeb said.
The organization also runs the IDEA Lab, which is a computer lab, at its West Church Street facility. The lab's computers are equipped with creative software, such as photo and audio editing programs, that people can rent as they work on projects, making those costly programs more accessible to the community, Reeb said.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: What to know ahead of Granville's 23rd annual Hot Licks Blues Festival