Free Concert Series on Fridays in August

Gateway Arch National Park - by the Eads Bridge

August 3:  6:00 - Little Dylan | 7:00 - Zac Harmon

August 10: 6:00 - Keesha Pratt | 7:30 - Marquise Knox

August 17: 6:00 - Skeet Rodgers and the Inner City Blues Band | 7:30 - Dexter Allen

August 24: 6:00 - Jeremiah Johnson | 7:30 - Christone "Kingfish" Ingram

Blues at the Arch returns for its 3rd year! Named "Best Way to Celebrate St. Louis" by the Riverfront Times, this partnership between the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, the National Blues Museum, and the National Park Service brings renowned blues artists to the Arch grounds for free concerts in August. Stay tuned for more announcements!

August 3

Little Dylan

Dylan Triplett is a 17 year old Blues and Soul prodigy. Dylan started singing when he was 9 years old, picked up professionally since late 2016, and began singing with Miss Carolyn Mason. Influenced and tutored by his father, Dylan began branching out with other young artists and young prodigies like Blues phenom, Marquise Knox. Not long after, Dylan began performing regular guest spots with Marquise and continued to sharpen his craft.

Dylan also found motivation and influence from other notable St. Louis shakers such as Alonzo Townsend, Charles “Skeet” Rodgers, and the legends of the past such as Oliver Sain, Ray Charles, James Brown, and many others as you will feel as soon as he picks up the mic.

Those influences have led him to already grace stages like The Baby Blues Showcase, The National Blues Museum, and opening up for Pabst Blue Ribbon’s Marquise Knox's 27th Birthday Celebration Show. If you have any doubt about the future, Dylan Triplett is the answer, and he’s still only 17. Buckle Up.

Zac Harmon

Zac Harmon is an award-winning guitarist, organist, singer, and songwriter whose distinctive style combines the best of old-school soul-blues artists with modern lyrics and themes that bring the blues into a new century. Jazz Review said, “With his big blues sound from Mississippi, Harmon can go toe to toe with some of the best blues men in the business. Please don’t be shy, go ahead and mention Harmon’s name in the same sentence with Bobby “Blue” Bland, Albert King, and Bobby Rush — just to name a few.”

Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Zac Harmon is a true embodiment of the music that emanated from the city’s historic Farish Street district, home of blues legend Elmore James.

Since then he’s been on a roll, becoming one of the blues' strongest live performers, thrilling fans everywhere from Memphis to Mumbai.  His live performances combine elements of everything that influenced him: soul-blues, gospel, reggae, and modern blues-rock.

August 10

Keesha Pratt

Singing since the age of six, Keesha Pratt has shared the stage with several notable national figures including bluesman Bobby Rush, Eddie Cotton, opera singer Grace Bumbry, soul singer Musiq Soulchild, and gospel icon the late Reverend James Moore.

Pratt has accomplished what few Mississippi based singers before her has ever achieved: the ability to attract fans from all walks of life without ever straying from the intricate roots that nurtured her awarding winning voice in the first place. Draped with amazing style, class, and sophistication, Pratt takes you on a journey through all genres of music.

Some of Pratt’s accomplishments include “The Jackson Free Press Artist of the Week 2011”, “The 2012 Female Artist of the Year in the Jackson Music Awards”, and a featured artist the 2010 Chicago Blues Festival. Her road to the top of her musical game in Jackson has been filled with the type of conviction that now causes a younger generation to look to her as a musical influence.

The Blues Foundation out of Memphis crowned Keeshea as the Queen of the 2018 International Blues Challenge (IBC) on January 21, 2018.  As the 34th annual edition of the blues competition wrapped up at downtown Memphis’ Orpheum Theatre, Pratt and her brass-heavy Texas ensemble taking home 1st place in the best band category.

Marquise Knox

Marquise Knox hails from a musical family deeply rooted in the Blues. He spent his early teenage years in St. Louis mentoring under the late great Blues legend & St. Louis Patriarch, N.E.A. (National Endowment of the Arts) Heritage Fellowship recipient and Grammy Award winner, Henry James (Mule) Townsend.

Marquise's talents have earned him performing rights with some of America’s blues legends, B.B. King, Pinetop Perkins, Taj Mahal, Michael Burks, Eric "Guitar" Davis, and David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Bobby Rush, and even your favorite rockers like Z.Z. Top.

Now, his fourth and newly released live album "Black and Blue" features 11 original recordings. A throwback blues master has risen.

August 17

Skeet Rodgers and the Inner City Blues Band 

Skeet Rodgers & The Inner City Blues Band are considered one of the best in the St. Louis area. Charles "Skeet" Rodgers started at age 14 on drums and has played with Doc Terry, Big George, and the late Little Walter Westbrook. Thomas Johnson, lead guitarist, has played since age 10. Tommy Thomas, rhythm guitarist, is a long time player in the St. Louis area. The inspiring Christopher Taylor plays harmonica. Sam Coleman, drummer, has played with many groups and was drummer for Gates of Heaven. Blind Willie Dineen, saxophone player, has played all over St. Louis and is inspired by John Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders, Charlie Parker and Alberta Hunter. Rob Endicott, trumpet player, has several degrees in trumpet performance from Juilliard School in New York. Frank Dunbar, bass guitarist, has played with several present and past greats namely Chuck Berry, Johnnie Johnson, and Albert King. Frank was the bass player in Chuck Berry's movie, "Hail, Hail Rock and Roll."

Dexter Allen

Dexter Allen, born in Crystal Springs, Mississippi began playing the bass guitar at the age of 12 for his father's gospel group traveling around the central Mississippi area. His sweet blend of Blues, R&B, Soul and Funk landed him a deal in 1995 when he teamed up with Airtight Records, a local independent label. He caught the eye of living blues legend Bobby Rush, who made him the lead guitarist in his worldwide touring band.

Dexter's unique style landed him the 2008 Jackson, Mississippi Music Award for Male Vocalist of the year. In 2009 he won the Mississippi Music Awards Entertainer of the Year honor. In 2013, Dexter was cast in the James Brown movie "Get On Up" where he played one of Mr. Brown's musicians.

Over the years Dexter has developed a passionate, driving guitar style in the vein of Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. In 2014 Dexter was signed to Deep Rush Records, the label of icon Bobby Rush. His live show takes a page out of a classic old blues show and a custom that traces back to 1920s Delta pioneer Charley Patton: good, old-fashioned showmanship that makes people want to be in Dexter's presence.

August 24

Jeremiah Johnson Band (6:00- 7:15) 

Born and raised in St. Louis, Jeremiah Johnson is the voice of Mississippi River Blues blending with the struggles of everyday life. He began learning guitar at age 6, drawing inspiration from his rich St. Louis Blues heritage and legendary guitarists, like Alvin Lee, Eric Clapton and Hank Williams Sr. and Jr. 

Johnson’s album Grind reached the #8 slot on the Billboard Blues Charts the week of November 7th, 2015. His album Blues Heart Attack reached #5 on the Billboard Blues Charts following its release in 2016.

Johnson performs with Benet Schaeffer (drums), Frank Bauer (sax & backing vocals), and Tom Maloney (bass), bringing the Jeremiah Johnson Band to its highest level to date. It's safe to say this is going to be a huge year for the band. 2018 is going to rock!

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s love of music grew from the rich Gospel sounds emanating from his family’s church and the Blues music regularly heard played in his Delta neighborhood. A cousin to legendary Country music great, Charlie Pride and trained at the Delta Blues Museum under the tutelage of Daddy Rich and Bill Howl-N-Madd Perry, Kingfish undoubtedly has music in his soul.

Kingfish's guitar influences run the gamut from the Delta Blues of Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, and Lightnin' Hopkins to the electric Blues of B.B. King, Big Jack Johnson, Lefty Dizz, Albert King and Buddy Guy to the Rock of Jimi Hendrix, Prince, and Eddie Hazel. Not only can Kingfish play in the styling of his idols and mentors, but he also has an amazing ability to create guitar sounds entirely his own.

Through his young career, Kingfish has shared the stage with legendary names such as Bob Margolin, Eric Gales, Rick Derringer, Guitar Shorty, Buddy Guy, and many more. He has played music festivals and venues all over the U.S. and has performed internationally in several countries. He's been a guest on the Rachael Ray Show and the Steve Harvey Show. Kingfish even performed at The White House for First Lady Michelle Obama. After graduating high school in May 2017, Kingfish is now prepared to release his highly anticipated debut album in 2018.