The Soul Shine Blues Festival, First Step’s major fundraising event of the year, will be staged Saturday
at Meadowbrook Park Ballroom.
Blues veteran Lonnie Shields is the headliner.
The gates open at 1 p.m. and blues artists are scheduled to perform beginning at 2 p.m. at Meadowbrook
Park Ballroom in Bascom. Music will continue until 8 p.m. Admission is $20, with free admission to
children under age 5. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Shields, born in West Helena, Arkansas, began his career performing with the Jelly Roll Kings and has
sung his way around the world. Shields has played with Elvin Bishop, Johnny Rawls, Sam Carr and the
Unforgettable Blues Band, Eddie Shaw and many others. His gospel roots influenced his soul and funk
sound. Shields continues to perform around the United States, Europe, and Canada and is releasing his
latest CD this year.
Also performing will be:
• The Good Bad and the Blues, winners of the prestigious Black Swamp Blues Society blues challenge
2011, and 2012, 2013 and 2014 International Blues Competition semi-finalist.
• The Tiffin-based band, Brazin Bull with guitarist Bud Mowery, drummer Gary Burns, vocalist Chip
Rowland and bassist Tom Courtney. 
• The Soul Shine Blues Band including guitarists Ryan Hensley and Ott Mercer and Jay Albright on harp.
Food from the Main Street Deli and City Barbeque of Findlay will be available for purchase.
