Downtown GrooveFest: Blues Brews & BBQs

JOIN US for a fun and funky downtown festival!  Saturday, September 16th – Summer Send Off becomes “Downtown GrooveFest” featuring Blues, Brews, and BBQs! Celebrating and honoring the unique history of Cambridge, and the sounds that inspired the name Groove City, MD. Joining us for the free outdoor street festival will be The Young Senators Reloaded, Uphill (Swampland Blues), SoulTET, Chris English duo, the CSD High School Jazz band, and more!

Read more about … GrooveFEST: Blues, Brews & BBQ

Tickets on sale now! Buy them online or visit the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce at 528 Poplar Street.

The street festival is free to attend, including listening to all the great sounds of our festival performers. The enjoy the food and other programming including the BBQ competition, VIP Packages, Blues workshop, and Jazz & Blues POP UP after Party, you must pick up a ticket.

Buy online here!

Schedule of Events:

12pm – 2pm Musician interviews with The Young Senators Reloaded, Uphill, and SoulTET facilitated by Paul Clipper and Dr. Donna Flaggs, emcees of community radio WHCP 101.5FM blues programs “Bay Blues” and “Lady Spins the Blues” Inside @ 447 Race Street

2pm Guided Groove City walking tour by Eastern Shore Network for Change. Learn about the people and places that inspired the name “Groove City” and the Jazz and Blues age in Cambridge, MD when national touring artists performed on Pine Street, a historically African American community. Meet inside @ 447 Race Street, 20 minute outdoor walk.

3pm Mojo 101: Regional styles in American Blues. Learn more about the different artists and styles that make up the blues. Interactive presentation by Chris “Catdaddy” Palistrant and Adam “Deacon Blues” Nixon of the band Uphill. Inside @ 447 Race Street

5pm Free GrooveFEST: Blues Brews & BBQ street festival and friendly BBQ tasting competition. Sample generous servings of chicken, pork, and beef BBQ dishes and pick your favorite dish of the day! Tickets available $15 in advance or $20 on the day. Music is FREE, Free kids activities by Coastal Hospice. Live podcast by Big Timing Comedy. IRONMAN Maryland Main Street Mile wacky relay race. Outside @ 500 Block of Poplar & 400 Block of Race Streets.

10pm til late POP UP After Party at 447 Race Street. Features LIVE Music by local performer Kenavious Jones and his Fire on the Bay group. Memphis inspired food and drinks by Cambridge Eateries chef Patrick Fanning. Tickets $20 include food and 1 drink ticket. Benefits Cambridge Main Street. Thank you to NOVO Properties and Cabin Creek Animal Hospital for helping to sponsor. Inside @ 447 Race Street.

Individual tickets or VIP Packages available.

Interested in volunteering? Complete this online form!

Interested in becoming a vendor? Complete our online vendor application form.

Thank you to our event sponsors: Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area, Kelly Distributing, Novo Properties, Cabin Creek Animal Hospital, Michelle Barnes Attorney at Law, Chesapeake College, Rural Maryland Council. Thank you also to our media partners Dorchester Star and WHCP Radio.

Interested in becoming an event sponsor? email for more info!