22nd Anniversary Season!

Celebrate the 22nd season of The District’s Blues in the District Concert Series.

Join us for Blues in the District presented by Blessing Health System and The District!

Friday, July 26th, join us as welcome Mary Jo Curry Blues to the stage.

This is a free event in Washington park from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Free activities for children will be provided by Blessing Health System.

We also be welcoming a District Crossover Event this evening, with vendors from the Quincy Farmers Market. The Quincy Farmers Market runs every Saturday May – October from 8 AM – 1 PM. Market Sponsored by Quincy Medical Group and Thyme Square Cafe.

About the Artist:
Mary Jo Curry is an electrifying, engaging, entertaining, powerhouse blues vocalist based in Central Illinois. Legendary, BMA nominated, international recording artist, James Armstrong, said that “Mary Jo has a voice, confidence, and stage presence that is hard to find these days.”

Mary Jo’s newly released CD entitled “Mary Jo Curry” has been getting significant air play and rave reviews. Peter Merrett, PBS106.7, Melbourne, Australia said, “Mary Jo Curry was born to sing the Blues because this voice cannot be taught to you but rather has to come from deep down in one’s soul. Apart from possessing a mesmerizing voice Curry can write one helluva’ Blues song.” Blues Blast Magazine said, “Mary Jo Curry is a powerful debut release of the first order.” The CD was produced by the incomparable James Armstrong. The album provides the listener a great cross section of the type of music you will hear when you attend a Mary Jo Curry live performance. The CD features 4 original songs written or co-written by Mary Jo, and 5 outstanding blues compositions where Mary Jo puts her stamp on songs previously recorded by female blues greats that have inspired her.

The CD has been in the top 10 of the RMR Top 50 Classic Blues Album Chart for 24 weeks, 3 weeks at the #1 spot. The CD garnered the #5 spot on the Top Classic Blues Albums for all of 2016. Three songs from the CD have made it to the #1 spot on the RMR Top 50 Classic Blues Song Chart, with four songs landing in the Top 10 Classic Blues Songs for 2016.

Mary Jo’s talent has been recognized by the honor of receiving the Kankakee Area Music Awards, “Best Blues Artist” for 2016. The CD was selected to represent the Prairie Crossroads Blues Society in the Blues Foundation’s, Best Self Produced CD competition.

Ms. Curry’s college training was in theater performance and voice. Her professional career started as lead singer in a popular rock cover band. While doing a show with a local theater group, Mary Jo was “discovered” by theater talent scouts who wanted Mary Jo to audition for a role in a major touring troupe; this audition led to a stint as a professional theater performer. Five years ago she fell in love with blues music, and was soon invited to join a Central Illinois blues band. The band quickly realized that Mary Jo was the real deal, and the band restructured itself to feature Mary Jo as the lead vocalist.

Mary Jo is joined onstage by her husband, Michael Rapier, who plays lead guitar, acts as band leader, and shares in the songwriting duties. The last 5 years have been the incubator to allow Mary Jo to shape her sound and her direction as a blues performer, and she is now ready to bring her blues to the world.

2nd and 4th Fridays | June. July. August

• June 14 | Harper and Midwest Kind
• June 28 | Amanda Fish
• July 12 | Ivas John
• July 26 | Mary Jo Curry
• August 9 | Brother Jefferson Band
• August 23 | Marquise Knox