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What’s the Buzz? 🎷Blues, Brews & River Views
Ready to feel the blues in the best way possible? Kick off Father’s Day weekend with four unforgettable nights of free blues, barbecue, and good vibes at the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival in Henderson’s riverside park and it’s bringing the heat—and the harmonicas—to Henderson for four straight days of FREE live music, lip-smacking barbecue, and Southern soul on the riverfront. Named for Henderson native W.C. Handy (“Father of the Blues”), the event is entirely volunteer-driven and fueled by donations, keeping it truly free.
🎶 Lineup That’ll Melt Your Face (In a Good Way)
Wednesday, June 11
🎸 Music starts at 5 PM with Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen followed by Piper & The Hard Times
🔥 Ghost Town Blues Band brings the energy at 9PM
Thursday, June 12 – Zydeco Night
💃 Dance like nobody's watching (but they are) to The Zydeco Hellraisers starting at 5:30 and Dwayne Dopsie around 8PM
🍛 Bonus: Cajun-style food hits starting at 5:30PM
Friday, June 13
🎤 An all-day blues-a-thon starting at noon with heavy hitters like Blue4U, Tinsley Ellis, Cedric Burnside, Joanne Shaw Taylor, D.K. Harrell, and delivered straight from the Louisiana swamps Tab Benoit comes on at 9PM—yeah, it’s stacked.
Saturday, June 14
🎇 The grand finale starts with a Parade at 10AM with the music starting back up at noon with Doug MacLeod, The Michael Gough Group featuring John Martin, Dylan Triplett, Curtis Salgado, Ana Popović featuring Fantastafunk, and finally Larkin Poeand.
🍗 The BBQ Situation
From saucy ribs to smoky brisket and that fire Cajun cuisine on Zydeco Night, your mouth will be doing the two-step. Vendors are slingin’ good eats daily—come hungry.
🪑 What to Know Before You Go
Admission? Totally FREE
Location? Audubon Mill Park (right on the river—chef’s kiss)
Bring? Lawn chairs, your funkiest shades, and stretchy pants
Vibe? Soulful, family-friendly, and laid-back (until the solos start shredding)
🐝 Final Buzz
Get your playlist ready, rally the family, and mark your calendars! Share this with friends, hit "Going" on the event page, and prepare your taste buds for a bluesy barbecue getaway. Henderson is heating up for Handy Fest 2025—don’t miss the chance to experience soulful melodies by the riverbank, completely on the house.
📸 Tag us with #EvansvilleBuzz to be featured. Bonus points if your photo includes a harmonica, a BBQ sandwich, or someone dancing barefoot in the grass.
Stay local. Stay weird. Stay buzzin’.
— The Buzz Team✌️
