Silver Spring Blue Weeks Will Include ‘The History of the Piedmont Blues, a Journey Through the Lens of Black Artists’ Presentation on Monday, June 12

The 14th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival will include a special free online presentation from 7-8 p.m. on Monday, June 12, as music historian Rick Franklin leads “The History of the Piedmont Blues, a Journey Through the Lens of Black Artists.”

The presentation will be available via Zoom. To register, go to Meeting Registration - Zoom.

The festival will have events from June 11-17. A full day of music will take place from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, at Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring.

More information about the festival is available at https://silverspringdowntown.com/do/14th-annual-silver-spring-blues-festival.

Mr. Franklin is from Alexandria. His military family traveled the U.S. and England. Since 1981, the Arlington resident has been playing acoustic guitar and singing the blues at community events, local festivals, international festivals, clubs, cafes and other venues.

Rick's musical style is an acoustic finger style blues with vocals known as the "Piedmont Blues.” That style is identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore, along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson and Archie Edwards.

Rick has taught guitar and is committed to the preservation and diffusion of the blues.