The 12th Annual Blues by the Bay Festival is August 30 & 31, 2008 (Labor Day Weekend) at Halvorsen Park in Eureka. Once again, the show features nationally known blues performers from around the world, great food, local micro-brews and arts and craft vendors.

On Saturday the festival features Joe Louis Walker, Shane Dwight, the Phantom Blues Band, Ruthie Foster, the Kaye Bohler Blues Band and Ron Thompson. Sunday features John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings, Henry Butler, Earl Thomas, Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band, and Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy.

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, the Sunday evening and festival headlining act, has been performing since 1962. Mayall has provided a learning ground for many artists who played in the Bluesbreakers. The list includes greats such as the legendary Eric Clapton; Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac; Mick Taylor who joined the Rolling Stones; Harvey Mandel, Walter Trout and Larry Taylor later in Canned Heat; and Coco Montoya who went on to start his own band. As Eric Clapton has stated, "John Mayall has actually run an incredibly great school for musicians."

Saturday’s headliner is the multiple Grammy & Blues Music Awards (WC Handy) award winner Joe Louis Walker and “The Bosstalkers.” Joe Louis Walker is one of the most heralded blues artists of our time. He is a true powerhouse guitar virtuoso, unique singer and prolific songwriter who has toured the world religiously throughout his career and earned himself a legion of dedicated fans around the globe.

The 12th Annual Blues by the Bay Festival is a two day, 12 act show sitting in the beautiful setting of Halvorsen Park on Humboldt Bay. Doors open at 9:30 with music from 10:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $45 for Saturday or Sunday and $25 for youth 13 – 18 years of age and are on sale now at Wildberries Marketplace, the Works (Eureka & Arcata), The Metro, Coast Central Credit Union (all Eureka Branches), Fortuna Music Mart, Wildhorse Records, RCMF Office at 523 5th St., Eureka, by phone at 707-445-3378 or on the net at www.bluesbythebay.org. This year’s Festival is underwritten by Wildberries MarketPlace.