Tickets

2021 FESTIVAL UPDATE

April 2020

Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival rescheduled to 2021

After careful consideration, and with a heavy heart, Winthrop Music Association cancelled the 33rd Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival scheduled July 17-19, 2020. This was  a very difficult decision but we had put the health and safety of everyone first, and the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic made planning untenable.

When we cancelled the 2020 Winthrop R&B Festival, we offered our ticket buyers two options — a full refund, or the opportunity to donate all or part of their ticket purchase to the Festival.  The response was overwhelmingly generous, not that we are surprised! Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival has weathered many hardships over its 33 years—wicked winds, raging wildfires— and some of those challenges nearly sank the event. But thanks to our attendees and our dedicated Winthrop team and partners, the Festival not only survived, but grew stronger, became financially sustainable, and thrived as the largest and longest-running blues festival in Washington.

Our deepest gratitude to all who donated. Because of YOU we were able to provide ‘blues stimulus’ grants to all artists booked this year as well as provide funding to The Cove Food Bank.  YOU ARE AMAZING!

Ticket donations were placed in a fund to support the musicians scheduled to play this year, as well as to assist the Methow Valley community including our local food bank, The Cove. “The impact of the unfolding pandemic on blues artists as well as on members of our community has been enormous,” says WMA board president, Rick Northcott. “Winthrop Music Association will continue to do what we can to help support the Methow Valley and our music community.”

“Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival has weathered many hardships over its 33 years —wicked winds, raging wildfires— and some came close to sinking the event,” continues Northcott. “But thanks to our festival attendees and to our dedicated Winthrop team and partners, we’ve been able to not only survive these challenges, but have grown strong, become financially sustainable, and thrived as the largest and longest-running blues festival in Washington.”

“We couldn’t be more grateful for the support and faith of our fans,” adds festival director, Erika Olsen. “We urge you to stay healthy and safe in these times, and to look for ways to best help one another and care for your loved ones, friends, and community. We’re counting on emerging from this with an even better sense of what matters, and we will be back – July 16-18, 2021. We can’t wait to celebrate our love of music and community with you again at the Blues Ranch on the Methow.”

Winthrop Music Association (WMA) is a 501(c)3 non profit organization formed in 2005 to ensure the continued success of the annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival. WMA strives to promote arts and cultural activities in the Methow Valley and beyond. WMA is a proud supporter of The Cove Food Bank, Methow Valley School District Music Program, Methow Arts, Methow Valley Theater, Room One, Washington Blues Society Musician Relief Fund, Inland Empire Blues Society, Cascade Blues Association, Methow Valley AAU Basketball Booster, Tommy Zbyszewski Methow Valley Education Foundation scholarship and many others.

Thank you to all who donated to our blues stimulus grant for our 2020 artists: