22nd Anniversary Season!

Celebrate the 22nd season of The District’s Blues in the District Concert Series.

Join us for Blues in the District presented by Blessing Health System and The District!

Friday, August 23rd, join us as welcome Marquise Knox to the stage.

This is a free event in Washington park from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Free activities for children will be provided by Blessing Health System.

About the Artist:
Born in St. Louis, Mo, 28 year old Marquise hails from a musical family deeply rooted in the Blues. He learned how to play guitar from his grandmother Lillie and his Uncle Clifford, both being major influences in his life. For Marquise, Blues is his heritage and way of life.

Marquise spent his early teenage years in St. Louis being mentored by the late great Blues legend, N.E.A. (National Endowment of the Arts) Heritage Fellowship recipient and Grammy Award winner Henry James Townsend.
Marquise’s talents have earned him performing rights with some of America’s most notable performers such as blues legends B.B. King, Pinetop Perkins, David “Honeyboy” Edwards (the latter two also N.E.A. Heritage Fellows), along with Billy Gibbons. His talents have taken him all over the United States, Canada, South America and Europe.

His debut album MANCHILD was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut. The album was recorded with world renowned guitarist Michael Burks and his band. The release received worldwide acclaim, including Living Blues’ Best Debut Artist Award and a Blues Music Award nomination for Best Debut Artist.

His second album Here I Am was also recorded at the legendary Blue Heaven Studios. I think this excerpt from the liner notes of Here I Am Jim O’Neil says it best “When you listen to Marquise you get the sense that this is what those masters must have sounded like as young men. Marquise’s blues are so transparent and bare. It’s so easy to feel his music as totally legitimate. That’s above all what makes it so appealing. That’s what makes Marquise Knox special. He’s the whole package. A throwback blues master on the rise. Anybody believe in reincarnation?”
Marquise released his third album, Black and Blue, independently on his own record label, Knox Entertainment, LLC. This latest installment from Marquise continues to answer the questions “Can A Young Man Play the Blues” with a resounding YES with songs like “One More Reason to Have the Blues” and “Blues Man”.

This still young man has not only grown and matured as a musician, but as a citizen of this world as evidenced with his yet-to-be released song “I Know the Blues” which displays Marquise’s willingness to speak up and out loudly about the injustices still being endured in this world. 

2nd and 4th Fridays | June. July. August

• June 14 | Harper and Midwest Kind
• June 28 | Amanda Fish
• July 12 | Ivas John
• July 26 | Mary Jo Curry
• August 9 | Brother Jefferson Band
• August 23 | Marquise Knox