Greenwood, SC will be getting the “Blues” in July. While tasting some of the best barbecue in the nation, one will “chill out” to the soothing sounds of the blues during the award winning S.C. Festival of Discovery July 8-10, 2010. Recently featured on Food Network’s Challenge BBQ competition, the S.C. Festival of Discovery has garnered national attention and a larger crowd is expected than in years past.

 

Over 80 teams are expected to compete in this years’ KCBS (Kansas City Barbecue Society) sanctioned event. Because a large amount of judges will be required to judge so many entries, officials expect the hotels and restaurants to be full of visitors throughout the weekend, producing a large economic impact for the Greenwood area.

 

Outdoor concerts will be performed at the CenturyLink Main Stage tent and throughout various “Blues Cruise” venues in the Uptown Greenwood area. Venues include Upstairs at T.W. Boon’s, Howard’s on Main, The Mill House, Uptown Sushi, the Arts Center at the Federal Building, Polo’s Restaurant, and The Museum. All concerts are free and open to the public.

Under the artistic direction of Shrimp City Slim (Gary Erwin), the "Blues Cruise" has featured a wide variety of Blues performers including, The Nouveaux Honkies, Hitman, Randy McAllister, AJ and Company, and Elliott and the Untouchables, just to name a few. This year’s lineup includes Veronika Jackson, Drink Small, Charlie Sayles and the Blues Disciples, and Wanda Johnson and Shrimp City Slim, along with numerous others.