14tH Annual Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza showcases a tasty variety of brews and blues in an idyllic mountain setting

(MAMMOTH LAKES, CA – February 10, 2009)   Successfully celebrating its 14th year, Mammoth’s Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza promises an energetic lineup of blues talent and a grand tasting of microbrews from around the country. It all takes place Friday, July 31st through Sunday, August 2nd outdoors among the pines at Sam’s Wood Site, located on Minaret Road between Main Street and Meridian Boulevard, with California’s Eastern High Sierra as the backdrop. Back again this year, to help with lodging reservations is City Concierge at Mammoth Lakes!

Headlining this year’s Bluesapalooza (complete calendar of events available) is one of the best blues/rock guitarists in the world, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and longtime Mammoth favorite, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers.  Other well-known performing artists include the wickedly intense, southern blues star, Eric Sardinas and Big Motor, the uncanny blues vocalist and harmonica player John Nemeth, the funky, jazz tinged, blues soaked sounds of John Lee Hooker Jr. (son of blues great John Lee Hooker), the powerful and soulful singer Janiva Magness and the funky good time, down-home party blues of The California Honeydrops.  “This is the most rockin’ lineup in our 14 year history,” says Sean Turner of Mammoth Brewing Company, the event’s sponsor. “We are proud to bring these amazing performers and this exciting event to Mammoth Lakes.”

And, what goes better with Blues than a good microbrew! “Last year we had more then 70 microbrews, a festival record,” says Turner,  “and that’s our goal again this year!” Mammoth Festival of Beers features some of the country’s best such as Mammoth Brewing Company (sponsor of the event), Deschutes, Mendocino, Alaskan, Bear Republic, Anderson Valley, Anacapa, Stone, Lost Coast, Green Flash, Ballast Point, Kern River, Samuel Adams, San Diego, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, New Belgium and many more. Along with the beer and blues, tasty blues food will be served in the ever-growing Blues Food Court - Blues-style BBQ and plenty of other foodstuff will satisfy the heartiest of appetites and keep the party going!

The Friday Night Blues BBQ and Concert (5-9:00 pm) is a great way to kick off a Mammoth blues weekend, and is not to be missed!  The evening begins at 5:00 p.m. with a delicious Blues-style BBQ as well as a variety of other food vendors to satisfy every taste. Then things really get cookin’ with some good-time, New Orleans-style blues with The California Honeydrops followed by the evening’s headliner, the blues harmonica great Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers.

The Mammoth Festival of Beers Grand Tasting (12-5:00 pm) begins at 12 noon on Saturday at Sam’s Wood Site, and includes unlimited beer tasting until 5:00 p.m. Bluesapalooza (11:45 am-9:00 pm) gates open at 11:30 a.m. with continuous music until 9:00 p.m. Blankets and low-back sand chairs are encouraged for the first-come, first-serve seating. Pets and outside alcohol are prohibited. The weekend event will take place rain or shine.
                                                                          
Brand New for 2009! The Sunday Morning Hangover Party, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Unwind! Kick Back! Relax! The Beer Festival is over but not the fun! And best of all, admission is FREE!  Bring your blanket or sand chairs, soak up the sun, and enjoy some live music on us! We will be serving breakfast, Bloody Mary’s and of course, some local Mammoth Brew (breakfast and bar separate cost). If you’re in a helpful mood, lend a hand by picking up some garbage from Bluesapalooza and we'll buy you a beer!

Ticket prices are per person and include the Ultimate Blues/Brews/BBQ Party Package, $80 (combination of the Friday Night Blues BBQ & Concert (includes BBQ dinner) and Saturday Brews & Blues Party Package); Friday Night Blues BBQ & Concert (includes BBQ dinner), $40 advance / $45 at the gate; Friday Night Blues only, $25 advance / $30 gate; Saturday Blues/Brews Party Package, $54 advance / $64.00 gate; and Saturday Blues only, $45 advance / $50 gate. Children 10 and under are free with a paid adult. Saturday’s party package includes unlimited beer tasting and commemorative glass (21 years or older to purchase). Ticket prices are subject to service charges. Artists and times are subject to change.

Parking is along Minaret Road and at the Eagle Lodge Parking Lot on Meridian Blvd. Parking shuttles are available on Saturday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Eagle Lodge Parking Lot.

Tickets are on sale now and this year’s event is expected to sell out. Discount Tickets are available when you purchase lodging from City Concierge. Gate Tickets are available online at www.vallitix.com or www.MammothBluesBrewsFest.com; by phone at 888-825-5484; locally at the Mammoth Brewing Company Retail Store and Tasting Room at 94 Berner Street in Mammoth Lakes; and at the gate day of the event. For festival updates and additional information, contact 888-99-BREWS (888) 992-7397, or visit www.MammothBluesBrewsFest.com