MEDICINE PARK – The celebration of blues music has been a tradition for the past 16 years at this fun, creative community in southwest Oklahoma. That’s why thousands of people will flock here Sept. 2-4 for the annual Blues Ball.
“The Blues Ball is one of the longest festivals we’ve had,” Town Treasurer Yolanda Ramos said. “It’s a fun event and it’s free, and you can’t beat free.”
The 16th annual event also brings in thousands of tourists and sales tax revenue that assists Medicine Park with its list of needs, including a new park that is scheduled to begin construction in October. In addition, the town intends to build a new stage that will be the venue for the Blues Ball and other musical attractions.
The temporary stage for the blues performers is at Hitchin’ Post Park. The new park and stage will be built in front of Bath Lake.
This year’s festivities begin Friday at 7 p.m. Headlining Friday’s lineup will be the Terry Quiett Band followed by Indigenous as Saturday’s headliner and Kalo on Sunday. Other bands include longtime favorite Chant Duplantier, Skye Pollard & the Family Holler, Sweet Brenda, Dirty Red, Big Train & the Loco Motives, Lone Star Mojo and Medicine Park’s own Amanda Howle & the Big Bad Wolves.
Music performances start at noon on Saturday and Sunday.
The Terry Quiett band has spent the last several years on hiatus, but jumped back into the scene with a brand-new EP of original music entitled Truth & Intent released in May 2020 at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Wichita, Kansas.
This album finds Terry reuniting with the original power trio from Cut the Rope and Just My Luck, featuring his longtime drummer Rodney “Shotgun” Baker and bassist Rev. Aaron Underwood. Truth & Intent contains a batch of energetic and groovy tunes TQB fans will find a fresh extension of the soulful blues rock they love, according to Quiett’s website.
Meanwhile, Indigenous’ vocals and lead guitarist Mato Nanji first picked up a guitar at 16 and has toured the country with his blues/rock band with great artists such as Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Brown. Nanji continues to share his music across the nation with all of the Indigenous fans across the nation and looks forward to seeking everyone at the Medicine Park show, the band’s website states.
The third headliner, Kalo, is fronted by Israeli guitarist, singer-songwriter Bat-Or Kalo and also travels and tours the U.S. and Israel solo (wearing only her last name and her vintage Gibson electric guitar), her website reports. Fiery, unbridled and electrifying, Kalo’s guitar chops and contralto voice are a force like none other.
Kalo is a tour-de-force that is a staple act across the Midwest, packing venues in Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas, with frequent tour stops in the Northeast and South. From NYC’s famed Bitter End music club to Beale Street in Memphis, Austin’s 6th Street, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Knucklehead’s Saloon in Kansas City and beyond, the dynamic act has played alongside the raucous rockers Andy Frasco & the U.N. but has deftly channeled their roots opening for famous blues guitarist John Mayall. They’ve also shared festival stages with acts like George Thoroughgood, Robert Randolph & The Family Band and many more.