5th Annual Hot Springs Blues Festival is July 25-26, 2014 on the north lawn of the Historic Symes Hot Springs Hotel located in the beautiful Hot Springs, MT. The Hot Springs Blues Festival features true Blues from around the Northwest. Blues lovers will enjoy this line-up, which gets better and better every year. Come relish the spectacular mineral water, awesome food, entertainment and small town ambiance of this full service town. Lodging and camping accommodations, soaking, food, beverage, spa services, vending and more are offered at the historic Symes Hot Springs Hotel, as well as other local establishments. 




Black Mountain Moan Friday July 25 8:00 – 10:00 pm
Black Mountain Moan is a Hill Country Blues band based in Missoula, Montana. Like the juke joints of Mississippi, Black Mountain Moan plays funky grooves with deep blues feeling that keeps your feet moving, the 4 piece combines the Mississippi hill country sounds of RL Burside and Jr. Kimbrough and other hill country musicians with the funk, soul and west African music. A strong Mississippi back beat drives the hypnotic sound of the North Mississippi hills that now ring out in the mountains of Montana.


John Kelley opens up on Saturday 2:00 – 4:00 pm

John Kelley is a solo Blues musician and is also known for his Magic Mojo Blues band. He grew up in southern California where he played guitar from early childhood. As a teenager, he was inspired by the groundbreaking blues of John Mayall and Jimi Hendrix. He has been performing for over thirty years as lead guitarist, vocalist and "front man" for numerous blues bands in both southern California and the Pacific Northwest. John is a gifted musician, singer and musical arranger. Known for his solid guitar licks, expressive vocals and a genre-bending blend of eclectic musical influences, John is quickly gaining attention throughout the Northwest as a talented and animated performer. The past few years have found John sharing the stage with various recording artists including John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Little Feat, Taj Mahal, Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo, Rory Block, Sawyer Brown, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Booker "T" & the MG's, and The Delgado Brothers.


Mike Bader Bearjam 4:30 – 6:30 pm.

The Mike Bader Bearjam's new release "Worldwide Blues" is opening the door to a broader audience of music lovers. This regional act performs at festivals, clubs, special events, ski resorts and mountain lodges. Playing a unique mix of original blues, funk, reggae and jam music accompanied by meaningful lyrics, the music is danceable and crowd inspiring. Bader has directly opened for many award-winning major acts including Taj Mahal, Tommy Castro and Carlos Del Junco and other notable musicians. A veteran of several tours, Bader's debut album, Clearcut Case of the Blues, was named one of the top U.S. blues releases of 2004 in the 11th Annual Real Blues Awards.

Mudslide Charley plays on Saturday 7:00 – 9:00 pm
MudSlide Charley creates a powerful and seminal expression of 21st century blues. With our soul firmly planted in the dirt of the Mississippi Delta, we weave together Blues, Hip Hop and early R&B into the fabric of our sound, to write and perform songs that exude emotional fervor, and joyous spontaneity. Simultaneously brash and playful these blues tell vital stories full of danger, longing, sexuality, and hope. Loaded with groove and Inspired by the patchwork of American roots music, MudSlide Charley's brand of gut-bucket blues and ramshackle soul is as authentic as it is original and will surely make you dance.

Big Daddy & the Blue Notes plays on Saturday 9:30 – 11:30
Steve Kelley and his cohorts Dave Griffith, Rosario Brunetto and Don Caverly make up one of the Flathead Valley's most legendary bands, Big Daddy & the Blue Notes. Kelley (Big Daddy) has been rocking blues audiences for decades, and he and his band has become a go-to staple for great live blues entertainment. Their seasoned chops, honest and cheeky repertoire, and weathered souls communicate the essence of the blues to everyone who hears their music.