+1 B-Man

I am so happy this is happening.  It seems to be shaping up as a worthy substitute for the Duluth International Folk Festival which disappeared about 5 years ago after running for 50 or so years in Leif Ericson Park.  Hopefully it will take off.  Thanks and Congratulations to Shane and all the others on bringing such a great vision to fruition.

Bayfront Blues is $43 for a single day? I remember back in the day when it was like $25 for the entire weekend. We used to go, and we'd see tons of people we knew. Then they raised the prices and we'd go, but it had become "Cities people partying it up in Duluth" weekend. Now, we just check out the after concerts around town, don't bother with the Fest itself. Maybe we're just blues-ed out.

Not to obsess about this, but I guess what I was thinking was: $29 for a concert, okay but $29 for a community-building event only allows a certain part of the community to participate.

Yes, the first Blues Fest was free, I was there (and have only missed a very few), and preg at the time, standing in the rain in ponchos - having come up with friends from the cities. 

Later, a canned good donation was the suggested entrance cost, then subsequently a very low fee for the whole weekend, as Claire mentioned.

Nothing ever stays free - even the Harvest Fest and the Fall Fest at Chester Bowl - which used to be like a fall Farmer's Market day, all have an entrance fee. The May Fest was eliminated, as was the Viking Fest.

As far as Blues Fest, back in the day, there were so many good bands, and over the last several years it's become so much lessor. Also, the types of vendors have become more limited, and the Fest became all for profit - totally losing the original feel of years ago. Less and less vendors are there each year as well - many can't afford the fees/cuts of the take to make it worth their while. That truly sucks.

And the headliners have sucked more and more each year, especially in regards to the cost of the tickets. The numbers of Fest-goers have dropped as well.

I do, however, agree that the after gigs are heaps better than the actual festival - making it hard to decide which venues to hit, as there are so many good gigs going - kinda like during Homegrown - so many bands, so little time to get to see each one, or they overlap each other time-wise at their various venues. 

But there's just something about sitting/dancing in the August sun, or under the stars, with a cold beer, and a group of your friends under your pirate flag or blinking nipple bra that can't compare to being inside any bar or arena.

I'm all for more festivals - so much more could be going on here throughout the summer. 

I paid $15 last Nov to see Cloud Cult at Scholastica - it was AWESOME, and so worth it. So getting a full day's Fest, Cloud Cult, plus Franti = WIN! It's still way cheaper than any arena concert, and you have two great acts in attendance.

I, too, miss the Folk Fest, as do many others I know. What happened YMCA?

The Maritime Festival is similar - you pay X amount to get into each day's event, more if you want to go aboard the ships or what not. But there are some super bands coming for that one too - so overall, the cost really is worth it for what part you choose  - for the bands anyway - the ships do nothing for me personally, but there are others who are very into it all. To each their own.

I can agree though, that it would be nice to be able to separate the pricing for checking out only the event stuff vs seeing the bands ( say wristbands for seeing bands only) at the various the Festivals, that or having some sort of 'family' pricing, making it more affordable for all. The Air Show and Reggae Fest are pricey as well, but people manage to attend.

PS. If cost is a factor - then consider volunteering for the various events you want to attend (check their websites). Often times you only work a few hours, and get a ticket/pass, and a t-shirt too.

Ramos wins. Peace-for-profit?