News File Photo Tosha Owens and Broken Arrow Blues entertain concert-goers at the 17th Annual Alpena Blues Festival in 2021. They will return to the stage on Saturday, June 21 at the Alpena Bandshell at Bay View Park.

ALPENA — The 21st Alpena Blues Festival is set for 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, with no admission price at a popular outdoor venue.

Ed Hickok, president of the Alpena Blues Coalition, said the organizing group wanted to offer the community a free concert this year in a new location — the Alpena Bandshell at Bay View Park.

“The biggest change for this year, that we’re going to try, is it’s free,” Hickok said. “No admission.”

Concert-goers can look forward to hearing four different bands, starting from 2 to 4 p.m. with Blues by the Drop 5 in their first time at the Alpena Blues Festival.

“They’re a Michigan band,” Hickok said of Blues by the Drop 5. “They have kind of cut their teeth on the Chicago style of blues, which is a very traditional kind of blues.”

Then, from 4 to 6 p.m., Broken Arrow Blues with Tosha Owens will take to the stage. Audiences may remember Owens and the band from when they performed at the 2021 Blues Festival in downtown Alpena.

“Broken Arrow Blues has been such a steady performer for us and we get a great crowd reaction from them,” Hickok said. “We’re just tickled to have them back again. I think this might be their fifth or sixth appearance at the Alpena Blues Festival.”

Grand Rapids band Asamu Johnson and Associates of the Blues will perform from 6 to 8 p.m.

“They’ve gotten national fame,” Hickok said. “Heck, they’ve got like five or six CDs out. They’re like a hidden gem. I don’t even remember how we found out about them, but we did, and they are fantastic.”

Eliza Neals will take to the stage from 8 to 10 p.m.

“She’s got a voice that’ll really make the hair on the back of your neck go up,” Hickok said of Neals. “She sings and plays keyboard in her band, and they’ve got a great, great sound. Contemporary blues.”

The Alpena Blues Festival celebrates the rich history and culture of blues music, bringing together musicians and enthusiasts from all over, according to the Blues Festival website, alpenablues.org.

“We aim to create a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere for attendees to celebrate and appreciate this iconic genre,” the website explains.

The free concert is being held in memory of Maggie Lamb.

Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to donate at the concert, so the Alpena Blues Festival can continue to “Help Stamp Out Hunger with the Blues.”

To learn more about the bands and the festival, visit alpenablues.org.

Reach News Community Editor Darby Hinkley at 989-358-5691 or dhinkley@TheAlpenaNews.com.