The Kenlake Hot August Blues Festival, lauded as the state’s longest continuously running music festival, is looking for a new promoter after Lew Jetton announced this week he is backing down from the role. The festival last year marked its 30th year at Kenlake State Report Park in Aurora.
Jetton said he is confident a new show organizer will step forward to keep the festival alive and he is pledging to offer his support to whomever that may end up being.
“I have been stretched really thin over the years between my full-time job, playing music of my own and helping to care for my elderly parents.” said Jetton. “I think we have the festival in a good place now and I’m confident another promoter will take it over and hopefully take it to an even higher level. Originally, I just wanted to do the festival for one year, but I saw other improvements that could be made and I continued to get it past the 30th anniversary.”
Jetton took over the festival three years ago and is credited with breathing new ilfe into the event. For many years, the festival was organized by the state park, but was taken over by another private promoter prior to being headed by Jetton.
“The personnel at Kenlake State Park told us that we had doubled the attendance from the time we took it over.” said Jetton.
The three-day festival, which draws top Blues artists from across the country, has long provided an economic shot in the arm for the Aurora area and the entire county, with festival attendees filling hotel rooms and dining in local restaurants. Jetton said he will do everything he can to keep the event alive by sharing his ability to make it successful and profitable.