The South Skunk Blues Society will put on their 33rd annual Bowlful of Blues at Newton’s Maytag Park Sunday afternoon. Four main acts will take the Maytag Bowl stage between noon and 9 p.m. Mike Cooling is the President of the South Skunk Blues Society He says a lot of hard work goes into the nine-hour event every year, but seeing the crowd enjoying the music is special. 

“When you see people smiling, getting up and dancing, having fun and giving you thumbs up, it makes it all worth it.”

Cooling says the annual celebration of Blues Music has even had an impact on many of the performers.

“I have been told by more than one artist that Bowlful of Blues is on their “bucket list” simply because the energy is so positive and the atmosphere is so conducive to having a good time and playing great music.”

This year’s performers include The Ghost Town Blues Band from Memphis, Tennessee, Mandalyn and the  Hunters out of Northwest Indiana, Florida’s Sean Chambers and Savoy Brown Rhythm Section, and Hector Anchondo, who was raised near Salem, MIssouri. Advance tickets are still available today for $25, while admission at the gate at 11 a.m. Sunday is $35 cash. Kids 12 and under are free. The advance tickets can be found in Newton at Hy-Vee and Mattingly Music, or at the Vinyl Stop in Grinnell, and Zzz Records in Des Moines. Food trucks will be on site and there will be family-friendly activities such as face painting. Bring chairs or blankets and coolers are welcome with no glass bottles. For more information visit the South Skunk Blues Society Facebook page.