Blues, Brews & Bites festival raises $31,000 for Topeka foster families

TOPEKA, KS— It’s summertime and the living is easy at the second annual Blues, Brews & Bites festival in Topeka’s historic Ward Meade Park. 

 Attendees sipped local beers and enjoyed Cajun classics like jambalaya and red beans and rice at the outdoor concert benefiting TFI Family Services, a national organization dedicated to foster child welfare and family reunification. 

Saturday’s event, which occurred on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, began with a rousing performance of the national anthem by local singing group Divas on Fire. 

The theme of the day was blues with an emphasis on Zydeco music, a genre that grew out of southwest Louisiana. The idea for the theme came from Suki Blakey, a member of the Topeka Blues Society board of directors. She and the Topeka Blues Society connected TFI with blues performers for the event.

“Suki and the Topeka Blues Society are always a joy to work with. They are professional, experienced, and bring a wealth of knowledge along with an army of volunteers.  We consider them a valuable partner,” said Tina Holt, VP of Development and Marketing for TFI Family Services. 

The event featured performances by The Nace Brothers, Divas on Fire, The Cate Brothers, and Josh Garrett. Garrett hails from the bayou town of Houma, Louisiana and travelled up to Topeka to lend his Zydeco stylings to the event. Several members of the audience said he was the reason they bought their ticket.

“These are like, blues people,” Blakey said, describing the crowd. “You’ve gotta turn their heads. If you’re sitting in an audience and someone comes out and wows you, you don’t forget that. They’ve got to have the wow-factor and if they don’t, you don’t use them.”

By the end of the evening, TFI sold 358 tickets and raised $31,000 for Topeka children in foster care, topping the number raised at its last event in 2019. Holt said the organization hopes to continue doing the event annually and has already set a date for their next Blues, Brews & Bites festival, Sept. 10, 2022. 

By Meaghan Boyd

September 15, 2021