Due to increasing popularity, the Lowertown Blues Festival is expanding to a second night and is transforming into the Lowertown Blues and Funk Festival.

The festival announced that the added night on Friday, July 22 will include a funk lineup of The Family Stone, Otis Day and the Knights,and The Good, The Bad and The Funky.

The blues portion will the be the following day on Saturday, July 23, including performances on the main stage by Booker T. Jones, Bernard Allison Group, Corey Stevens, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, and The Butanes Soul Revue

All ages are welcome for the free festival.

“Given that it’s the Year of Music here in Saint Paul, it’s only appropriate that we add a little extra funk to the Lowertown Blues Festival,” said Mayor Chris Coleman in a release. “I’m looking forward to all of the great music the festival has to offer – as well as all the excitement and energy it always brings to downtown Saint Paul.”

The Lowertown festival runs on Friday from 4 to 10 p.m. and on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.

Free Metro Transit bus and light rail passes are available at lowertownbluesfestival.com

From BBQ to Funk

The festival started out in 2003 as "Famous Dave's BBQ and Blues Festival" in Peavey Plaza in Minneapolis, their website explains. 

But after construction at Peavey Plaza, the festival was moved to the current location in Mears Park in Lowertown where it has been held for the third year in a row.

It is now the largest free blues festival in the Twin Cities.

For more information on the Lowertown Blues and Funk Festival click here.