THUNDER BAY – Organizers haven’t completely ruled out holding a Thunder Bay Blues Festival in 2021, but it’s increasingly looking like 2022 might be a better option if the popular summer festival is to return.
Trevor Hurtig, manager of marketing at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, said at this point most musical acts aren’t looking too feverishly at 2021 dates.
“Yes, the industry is stuck at a standstill for the most part. There are a number of acts pencilling in dates for 2022 at the Auditorium. However, they are becoming increasingly less interested in 2021 dates, or talking about a festival date right now," Hurtig said in an email response.
“Blues Festival remains something that we wouldn’t rule out, but the further we get into 2021 without having those public gathering numbers increase, the less likely it is that anything would be happening for the Festival in 2021.”
Hurtig said at this point, their first priority is to reopen the Auditorium, when it’s safe to do so, and then start looking at Blues Festival options.
“Until it becomes safe to significantly raise those public gathering numbers (both inside and outside), this industry is by and large stuck on pause,” he said.
The Thunder Bay Blues Festival was cancelled for 2020 prior to the pandemic, organizers stating at the time they simply couldn’t land enough quality acts to make it worthwhile. A return in 2021 had not been ruled out when the decision was made.
