History

Michael John’s 2013 Ventura County Blues Festival is celebrating its eighth year. Formerly known as Michael John’s Simi Valley Blues Festival this festival has become one of the most anticipated blues festivals in southern California. It has been through some changes but now with a new home at Moorpark College it promises to be bigger and better than ever. Having the festival at the college will mean fewer expenses so more money can go to charities. Money raised through the society will go to the Moorpark College Foundation for scholarships as well as the American Diabetes Association and several community charities. It will open the door for service clubs within the county to get involved and raise money for their charitable work.

The festival is the vision of Simi Valley resident Michael John Basowski. Michael has been a musician all his life and had always dreamed that someday he could do something which would make an impact on his community. He recently founded the Ventura County Blues Society whose primary purpose is to provide funding to charities through blues music to benefit the people of his community by spreading education about, awareness of, and participation in blues music, an original and vital American art form. Being a blues musician, the idea of a blues festival was the ideal way to turn his dream into reality. At the first festival held in 2006, Michael John teamed up with the local non-profit organization Write4Hope which was instrumental in helping with the logistics for the event and made it possible to hold the first three blues festivals in Oak County Park in Simi Valley.

Simi Valley’s own musician, actor, and celebrity figure Mickey Jones has been the emcee for the blues festival every year since its beginning. In addition, Michael John’s family and friends have donated their time and talent to help make this event a yearly success with over 4,000 attendees at the 2012 Blues Festival. The Ventura County Blues Society will be the presenters of the 2013 festival and look forward to carrying on this tradition for many years to come. Because of the support of our sponsors and the generosity of all the volunteers donating their time we anticipate that the 8th Annual Ventura County Blues Festival will continue to grow as it has each year and be the biggest and best one yet!