MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The TruBlues 97.5 Marion Blues Festival, a beloved summertime tradition in Marion County, is set to return on Aug. 17 at Buckeye Collision Service, located at the crossroads of U.S. 23 and Ohio 309. The music starts at noon, and admission is free.

The annual festival will feature four of the most talented bands in the region, including King Red and the Cadillac Band, Blue Spectrum, Creek Don’t Rise, and Deuce ‘n a Quarter.

Hot off their recent appearance at the Columbus Jazz & Ribs Fest, award-winning Deuce ‘n a Quarter pairs originals with classic American blues standards. The band was a finalist in the 2023 International Blues Challenge, with band member Brian Peters receiving the Lee Oskar Best Harmonica Player Award. Their latest album, “Keep Moving On,” showcases contemporary rhythm and blues at its finest.

King Red and the Cadillac Band, a Marion-based group led by front man David Delauder, is quickly becoming a local favorite with their smokin’ hot rock and blues performances.

Blue Spectrum, a band that covers a wide variety of music and supports individuals with autism spectrum disorder, lives by the motto, “Life is not to be viewed through the single lens of a diagnosis but to be lived through the spectrum of potential, promise, and purpose.” Zayne Harshaw, a Gahanna resident diagnosed with autism at age 4, is the band’s guitarist.

Creek Don’t Rise (CDR), an eclectic four-piece band hailing from the mountains of West Virginia and Kentucky, features country, blues, soul, and rock-n-roll in its repertoire. “Our niche is we have no niche,” the band says. Their original music, with soul-searching lyrics and powerful guitar and harmonica solos, has earned them a dedicated following. CDR has released one EP and is currently recording songs for their second release. They have opened for notable acts such as Tanya Tucker, Marcus King Band, Tyler Childers, and Johnny Rawls.

In addition to the music, the Marion Fly Wheels will sponsor a car show at Buckeye Collision Service. Local food trucks and other activities are also scheduled to be at the festival.

Admission is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Proceeds from the event will support Marion Makes Music, Inc., a 501©(3) organization dedicated to supporting music education for youth and operating TruBlues 97.5 FM in Marion.

For more information, visit the TruBlues 97.5 Marion Blues Festival 2024 event page on Facebook.