With the Baton Rouge Blues Festival just one month away, the headliners for Saturday have been revealed.
Focused on talent right at home in Louisiana this year, the five artists are:
- Kenny Neal: The Grammy-nominated Neal comes from a family synonymous with the development of swamp blues in Baton Rouge and has created an international following in his own right. He also launched his own recording studio, Brookstown Recording Studio, in Baton Rouge. Neal will be inducted into the globally-encompassing The Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame on May 6 in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Chris Thomas King: A Grammy-winning musician, King also has several acting credits, most notably opposite George Clooney in 2000’s “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” He has sold more than 10 million records, and tours as an author, lecturer and speaker.
- Chris LeBlanc: Louisiana Hall of Fame inductee LeBlanc has been a fixture on the local blues scene. He’s also shared the stage with many national artists, among them ZZ Top, BB King and Bret Michaels.
- Jovin Webb: The former “American Idol” Top 10 finalist went on to release his first album, “Drifter,” in 2024 and toured internationally to promote it. He’s nearing completion of his second record.
- Jonathon “Boogie” Long: The veteran songwriter-guitarist’s fifth album, “Courage in the Chaos,” dropped on March 6. “It’s not about me or the success that I get. It’s about other people appreciating it, about it blessing them,” he said recently.
In February, J. Hover was named the interim director of the festival. Hover has extensive experience in arts administration, live event production and nonprofit leadership. As the acting managing director for Live After Five, the free outdoor fall and spring concert series downtown, Hover aims to align the two events, according to a news release.
Live After Five spring dates will be April 10, 17 and 24; and May 8, 15 and 22…