Event Dates: June 09, 2012

Along the South Fork American River, the rugged and beautiful Sierra Nevada foothills give stage to hard-hitting, impassioned vocals, soaring guitar work, singing harmonicas, and rocking R&B sound.  El Dorado Arts Council (EDAC) presents Coloma Blues Live every year in early June to celebrate blues music in the historic Coloma Valley, where the Gold Rush began.

The Coloma-Lotus Valley is well known as a destination for its great rafting, camping, kayaking, and whitewater rapids. The location is also known for award-winning red wine vintages, internationally famed blues music, and the California Gold Rush. The heart of the California Gold Country, the rural communities of Coloma and Lotus originated from iconic American history: the 1848 California gold discovery in the South Fork American River stream bed. Today, through its flowing historical river, abundance of pine and oak woodlands, and a medley of red (wine), white (water), blue (blues music) and gold, this thriving landscape connects and draws upon 150 years of generations of families, seasoned adventurers, ranches and orchards, to the internationally acclaimed Coloma Blues Live music festival.

A signature event of the El Dorado Arts Council, Coloma Blues Live generates significant funding for arts programs throughout the rural county. This year’s lineup spans the Blues genre from prominent and influential figures in blues and roots music to powerhouse delta sounds. Fresh new style, high-energy showmanship, and original songs that bring music enthusiasts, of any age, to their feet are the hallmarks of Coloma Blues Live. Like the Gold Rush drawing in people from all over the region and beyond, Coloma Blues Live will host blues fans and the like celebrating this historical and inspirational setting at Henningsen-Lotus Park.

A few artists that have joined the Coloma Blues Live stage include Elvin Bishop, Los Lobos, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Cray Band, Taj Mahal, Tommy Castro Band, John Nemeth and the Sugar Thieves.

El Dorado Arts Council is a non-profit organization that enriches and educates the community in all of the arts. The organization supports the cultural and economic development of El Dorado County by advocating and creating the highest quality artistic and educational opportunities for visitors and residents.

Henningsen-Lotus Park is an easy, scenic, 45-minute drive from Sacramento County, Placer County, and Nevada City.

For more information on the event, directions, sponsorship, tickets, times, and artists, please visit http://ColomaBluesLive.com.

Admission Fee: $45 Advance, ($55 at the gate), Children 7-12 $10, 6 & under Free

Ages Event is Appropriate For: 7 - 107