Photo submitted by Rebecca FredricksonThe Bel Airs perform at the 2017 Holiday Blues Blast, a fundraiser that primarily benefits the MO Blues Association’s Blues in the Schools program. This year’s event is set for Dec. 1 at The Hall at Michigan Place. Bringing the blues with a holiday flair, the MO Blues Association will host its annual Holiday Blues Blast next month.
The annual event is set for Dec. 1, with a dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the show itself, featuring the Bel Airs, starting at 7 p.m., at The Hall at Michigan Place, 714 Michigan St.
Becky Fredrickson, secretary for the MO Blues Association, said the event serves as a fundraiser for the association, which primarily uses the money raised to fund the Blues in the Schools program. The program brings in professional educators who are also blues musicians to local schools to teach about the genre of music and its history.
“This is sometimes the only exposure kids have had to this American music art form,” Fredrickson said in an email. “Over the past few years, we can say we have been able to bring this program at least once to every elementary school in the Jefferson City, Wardsville and Holt Summit area.”
Fredrickson said the association typically uses Fruteland Jackson from Chicago as the music educator, and the goal is to raise $2,000 at the Dec. 1 fundraiser.
The event will include a 50/50 raffle and MO Blues Association T-shirts will be for sale. The dinner before the show with the Bel Airs will be catered by The Hall at Michigan Place.
Tickets for the event are $20 and can be purchased at Will West Music & Sound, Vines on Broadway, The Hall at Michigan Place or from any MO Blues Association board members.