Hotlicks Bluesfest becomes one of Granville’s biggest traditions

GRANVILLE, Ohio – Action-actor Bruce Willis has been in Granville this past week filming for his newest movie ‘First Kill.’ However, the attention today in the Licking County village was on Blues music.

For the 17^th year in a row downtown Granville has hosted the Hotlicks Bluesfest, a free Blues concert in the village’s downtown. Event Coordinator Tom Carroll said part of the reason for the festival is to raise money for a good cause.

“It’s all going towards charity. A couple of cancer oriented charities. One is the Christopher Carlson Foundation, which helps families that have pediatric cancer in their family,” said Carroll. “Then also Blues for the Cure which is lead by Shawn Carney, one of our featured artists today.”

In addition to the music there were several food trucks and a beer garden. The festival ran from 1 p.m. till 10 p.m. and Carroll said one of the main reasons they hold the festival is to give people a chance to hear music they don’t normally hear.

“Our initial mission is to bring this great American art form to our community. Jerry Martin and I started this 18 years ago and we just love the Blues and we wanted to put this event on because there had been nothing like this in our town,” said Carroll.

Carroll said it has turned into one of Granville’s biggest traditions.