For the last thirty years, die hard blues fans have gathered in Long Beach over the Labor Day weekend to soak up blues at its finest at the Long Beach Blues Festival. This year, however, the festival has gone on hiatus, shifting in size to a one-day jam, the KJazz Blues Bash. Once again hosted by KKJZ (88.1 FM), the affair is  a major fundraising event for the public supported radio station, and like many organizations and companies, the tough economy has had its impact. Citing the challenges of the economic downturn, KKJZ station manager Stephanie Levine commented that “the blues festival hiatus was a tough decision.”  She still offers blues lovers some encouraging words, adding in a statement, that “we continue to work toward bringing back the festival in all its glory.”

Now, enough of the bad news. The good news is that Sept. 4, the Cal State Long Beach joint will be jumping with a free outdoor fair featuring food and local music in the afternoon and a rocking ticketed concert in the evening headlined by Keb’ Mo’, Guitar Shorty, the Arthur Adams Band and Jon Cleary. The fete, which will be held on the CSULB campus, begins with a street festival showcasing the Deacon Jones Blues Band, Artwork Jamal, Bill McGee, Give Me Back My Wig, and Nancy & the Night Crawlers. The party continues with the evening concert at the university’s Carpenter Performing Arts Center. VIP as well as reserved and general admission tickets are available by visiting the KKJZ website at www.jazzandblues.org or by calling 562-985-7000

In its three decades, the Long Beach Blues Festival and KKJZ have carried the blues torch, bringing this original American art form to a cross-generational population, presenting a virtual who's who of the genre.  Some of the greatest blues giants ever, among them John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Etta James and Bobby Blue Bland have lit up the Festival stage over the years.

The venue may be smaller this year, but the spirit remains strong and the vibe promises to be huge. Whether you call it a Bash or a Festival, you can’t lose when you support the blues. The Long Beach Blues celebration at CSULB will be the place to be on Sept. 4.