14 Oct Blues at Moonlight 17 – Important Announcement

Hello everyone,

I’m writing to let you know about my decision to postpone the seventeenth edition of the Blues at Moonlight Badass Rock ’n’ Roll Festival. The new date will probably be set between May and June next year. I need to carefully consider all the options and circumstances so as not to interfere with fellow organizers of similar events, as used to be done in the old days when the 1950s rock ’n’ roll scene was still small.

This decision comes from the fact that the festival’s original dates, in early October – which I considered ideal when I first launched it at the Sunset Hotel back in 2007 -were gradually altered. Due to various issues with the hotel, each year we were assigned less favorable dates, even as late as the end of November. By then, people were already more focused on Christmas than on rockabilly, and we also found ourselves very close to other festivals with longer histories and stronger backing. Despite these difficulties, I’ve always kept my enthusiasm and commitment to making it happen, achieving very positive results in terms of musical quality and atmosphere, and without any incidents whatsoever.

Over the years, with my growing responsibilities and changes in the Sunset’s management, I decided to bet on a smaller format tied to my record label project, El Dandy Records. The last two editions under this format have been very rewarding and have allowed me to release new albums or reissues by artists such as The Best Band Influence, Ric Arlandi, The Muskrats, Bitter Lemons, Lady Luck Lexy and The Riverside Boys, Wild Devils, or Roy P Cat and the V8 Daddies – also giving them the opportunity to perform in an exclusive and friendly gathering of label friends.

However, in the last four years, other festivals with the same theme have appeared, scheduled at the same time or very close to my dates. This has weakened attendance, as the audience – already small and part of an aging scene – has chosen to explore these other similar options in Valencia, Tenerife, or elsewhere. Many of these events have often booked the same artists and DJs I was the first to bring to our area, whether to take advantage of the dates or perhaps for lack of their own ideas – who knows. My festival is a small-scale event with no municipal or institutional support whatsoever; all the costs come out of my own pocket. That’s why I don’t compare myself with those better-funded festivals that attract a massive crowd, many of whom may not even own a single rockabilly record. The scene has shifted toward that kind of format, very different from what I experienced back in the 1990s.

In short, my festival keeps the same spirit; it’s simply being postponed to a date I feel will be more suitable. I hope all of you who feel affection for Blues at Moonlight and have enjoyed good times there will understand my reasoning and stay tuned for our upcoming news.

Sincerely,

Miguel