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Saturday, April 13: Gray Sky Blues Music Festival

Downtown Tacoma, Stongate Pizza

FRANCO PALETTA AND THE STINGERS: The band plays meat and potatoes blues, nothing fancy, just solid and even flashy at times.

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The annual Gray sky Blues Music Festival began in 2008 when the Daffodil Parade organizers approached the Tacoma Events Commission, asking for help to get more people to attend the long running parade. Seizing on the opportunity to bring some brightness to the mid-spring doldrums, the Commission envisioned the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival as a fun way to welcome brighter days of spring and the summer ahead. 

"Tacoma has a long history for live music, and is known for its talented local musicians," says organizer Gary Grape. "This is an opportunity for us to not only showcase national talent, but to feature our local and regional talent as well." Joining the headliner - Portland's Franco Paletta and the Stingers - is a healthy helping of local and national talent, such as the Chase Walker Band from Los Angeles, who are performing as part of the South Sound Blues Association's Youth Guest Program.

The Swiss Pub, The Harmon Brewery and Cutter's Point Coffee all host more than 12 blues acts throughout the day. Pacific Northwest blues musicians such at Malcolm Clark, Nolan Garrett and Maia Santell and House Blend play mid-day.

The aforementioned Franco Paletta and the Stingers, a Chicago style blues band made for dancing will cap the Swiss' show at 6 p.m. The headline show is the only segment requiring a cover charge; everything else is free.

For those looking for a cool down, there is also After Festival Party at the South Tacoma's Stonegate. The party starts at 8:30 p.m. with Blues redemption upstairs and an "All Ages Jam" hosted by Jumpin' Josh Violette downstairs. Expect cameo appearances by the festival musicians.

Read Timothy Grisham's full feature on the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival in the Weekly Volcano's Music section.

DOWNTOWN TACOMA, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, NOON TO 7:30 P.M. DOWNTOWN, 8 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT AT STONEGATE, FULL SCHEDULE AT SOUTHSOUNDBLUES.COM

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