For years, the sound of summer blues carried across Marina Park — guitars echoing over the waterfront, lawn chairs filling with longtime music fans, and crowds gathering for what became one of the city’s signature festival weekends.

At its peak, the Thunder Bay Blues Festival drew thousands to the waterfront and established itself as one of the city’s marquee summer music events.

Now, after years away, the blues are returning in a new form.

This August, the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium will launch Blues in the Ballpark, a two-day outdoor music festival at Port Arthur Stadium that organizers describe as both a tribute to the original Thunder Bay Blues Festival and the beginning of a new era for outdoor live music events in the city.

In responses from Marketing Coordinator Bianca Kelos on behalf of the Auditorium, organizers said the event falls during a milestone year for the organization.

“It’s our 40th anniversary year and the perfect time to introduce a music festival again,” organizers said. “The new venue and lineup give it a fresh feel while still paying homage to the original Bluesfest.”

The festival, presented by IG Wealth Management, will feature artists including Tom Lavin & The Powder Blues Band, Erja Lyytinen, Marcus Trummer, and The Texas Headhunters — a blues supergroup featuring guitarists Ian Moore, Johnny Moeller and Jesse Dayton.

Organizers say the lineup was intentionally curated to reconnect the festival with its blues roots.

“The artists were curated with the help of the Thunder Bay Blues Society and reflect the past, present and future of blues music,” they said.

That includes rising names such as Marcus Trummer, who recently earned Male Blues Vocalist of the Year honours at the Canadian Blues Music Awards for his debut album From the Start, alongside internationally recognized performers such as Lyytinen, who is travelling from Finland for the festival.

For organizers, bringing back Tom Lavin and the Powder Blues Band carried particular significance. The group performed at the original Thunder Bay Blues Festival in 2002, helping launch what would become one of the city’s defining summer traditions.

“Bringing back Tom Lavin and the Powder Blues Band really was a nod to the original Thunder Bay Blues Festival,” organizers said. “Their influence is truly incredible. Their music spans four decades, and they really are a cornerstone of the Canadian blues music scene.”

Over time, the original Bluesfest expanded beyond blues into a broader mix of genres. Still, organizers say this year’s event makes a conscious effort to focus exclusively on blues music.

The move from Marina Park to Port Arthur Stadium marks one of the festival’s biggest changes. Organizers describe the new format as smaller and more intimate, with fewer tickets available and audiences positioned closer to the performers.

“The new venue provides for a more intimate listening experience,” organizers said. “With a smaller capacity, everyone will feel closer to the artists.”

The stadium’s permanent infrastructure — including washrooms, concessions and fixed seating — also helps reduce festival setup costs while keeping ticket prices more manageable.

Festivalgoers will have the option to sit in the stands, relax on the field or bring lawn chairs closer to the stage, though organizers say the front section will remain open for dancing and standing-room viewing.

Organizers say the festival also fills a growing gap in Thunder Bay’s summer entertainment landscape, offering audiences a chance to experience a large-scale outdoor music event locally once again.

“There wasn’t another outdoor music festival like this during the summer months, and people wanted an event like this to attend locally and not have to travel for it,” organizers said.

The Auditorium has a long history of presenting outdoor events in Thunder Bay, something organizers say remains an important part of the organization’s identity.

For many residents, organizers believe the original Bluesfest represented more than just concerts.

“We believe people missed the chance to enjoy an outdoor music festival and a chance to come together with the community and enjoy the music,” they said. “It was a great way to discover new artists and enjoy familiar classics.”

For the Auditorium itself, stepping back into large-scale outdoor programming also carries a sense of pride and possibility.

“It’s a privilege to curate something of this magnitude and so quickly again,” organizers said. “Our festival had a very good reputation with musicians, agents and the community, and we look forward to building upon that history.”

Organizers also see the event as an opportunity to explore additional outdoor programming through the Auditorium.

“This event is a proven format but also a trial balloon for additional outdoor programming from the Auditorium, opening new opportunities to serve Thunder Bay music fans,” organizers said.

The response so far suggests audiences were ready for its return. VIP tickets sold out quickly, while general admission sales continue to move steadily.

While this year’s inaugural edition focuses primarily on touring artists, organizers say they hope to expand local involvement in future festivals, including opportunities for Thunder Bay performers.

Organizers say they ultimately hope Blues in the Ballpark marks the beginning of a renewed annual summer music tradition in Thunder Bay.

“We hope that we can continue to bring Thunder Bay a music festival each summer, whether it’s strictly blues music again, or other genres,” they said.

For now, though, the goal is simple: two summer days built around live music, community, and the feeling of gathering together once again.

“We just want everyone to enjoy two days of authentic blues music from a variety of different artists,” organizers said. “We want them to sit back, relax and enjoy the music with the backdrop of a charming day at the ballpark.”
Blues in the Ballpark, presented by IG Wealth Management, takes place Aug. 21 and 22 at Port Arthur Stadium. The festival begins at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 21 and 1 p.m. on Aug. 22. Tickets and full festival information are available through the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium website.