Reading Blues Fest

November 17-20, 2022

by Justin Heimbecker, Executive Director, Berks Arts

One of the great things about living in or visiting West Reading is that just a short trip across the Penn Street Bridge opens up even more possibilities for entertainment — for instance: the annual Reading Blues Fest, presented by Berks Arts!

This celebration of traditional blues, and its contemporary subgenres, will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading from Thursday, Nov. 17 through Sunday, Nov. 20.

Guests can hang out at downtown Reading’s award-winning hotel for an evening, an entire day or more, enjoying concerts, blues-themed lunches and brunches and late-night after-parties.

Headliners for this year’s festival include Tab Benoit with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Sugaray Rayford with Vanessa Collier, Eric Gales with Dawn Tyler Watson, The Blood Brothers: Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia, BC Blue, The Dave Mell Blues Band, Dave Keyes, Dave Keller Trio, and more.

These artists represent 24 BMA awards, including three B.B. King Entertainer of the Year honors — Benoit in 2007 and 2012, and Rayford in 2020.

This year, Reading Blues Fest has added a special Community Kickoff Concert on Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Reading Liederkranz, starting at 6 p.m. at the club on Mount Penn overlooking Reading. Performing will be Clarence Spady & The Electric City Band featuring The Berks Horns, and Busker Incognito Trio hosting Crossroads Blues Jam before Spady takes the stage. Getting the fest started on Friday at 11:30 a.m. will be The Bluesmasters, featuring bassist Bennie Sims, keyboardist Cliff Starkey and saxophonist/vocalist Erich Cawalla. This nowtraditional blues lunch will be held at the iconic Peanut Bar Restaurant in downtown Reading, which will also host The Dave Mell Blues Band for a blues dinner Saturday night.

The rest of the concerts will be held in the DoubleTree’s Grand Ballroom and in its nightclub, Cheers.

Ticketing levels for the Reading Blues Fest range from an all-inclusive VIP package that includes a two-night stay at the DoubleTree, to tickets for individual concerts. For more information, visit www.readingbluesfest.com.