Blues turn to musical roots for 2023-24 season

ST. LOUIS - In celebration of the enduring spirit and impact of blues music - the eponymous genre that gave this hockey team its name back in 1967 - the St. Louis Blues today debuted the opening notes of a new arrangement designed to meld the city's vibrant music history with its passion for the unmistakable experience of Blues hockey.

For Blues die-hards and fans of the blues alike, this multi-faceted and multimedia campaign will amplify the city's famous blues music scene and support local artists across a variety of fan events and initiatives beginning with the build-up to the 2023-24 Blues season.

Team founders Sid Salomon, Jr., and Sid Salomon III embraced the region's music heritage by naming the team after the song "The St. Louis Blues," written by W.C. Handy in 1914. In that spirit, this season the Blues are supporting the efforts of three non-profits to amplify talented blues musicians across St. Louis. The team's new collaborations with the National Blues Museum, Gateway Arch Park Foundation, and Kranzberg Arts Foundation will feature unique activations at the fall music festivals hosted by each group:

In recognition of International Blues Music Day on Aug. 5 - celebrated annually from the U.S. to Australia - the Blues are sponsoring the final Blues on the Block performance of the year outside the National Blues Museum this Saturday in downtown St. Louis. Additionally, the Blues have formed a strategic partnership with the non-profit museum to help serve its mission of furthering exploration and education around blues music. At Saturday's Blues on the Block performance, a Blues for Kids Grant will be presented to the National Blues Museum to support their STEM-focused community outreach programs. To help welcome Blues fans to the event, team partner Hi-Pointe Drive-In will give 10% off their meal to any customer wearing Blues gear at their Washington Ave. location on the day of the event.

During the season, the Blues will work with the National Blues Museum to hire from their network of musicians to serve as featured pre-game performers at the Anheuser-Busch Biergarten inside the main concourse of Enterprise Center. The Blues will also sponsor local musicians through the museum's busker program before select home games throughout the season, stationing the artists strategically along the most popular routes into Enterprise Center to play Blues fans-and fans of the blues-into the venue.

The busker program will make its debut inside Enterprise Center this Thursday, Aug. 3, when the Blues host an Open House event from 5-8 p.m. for fans interested in purchasing 2023-24 season ticket plans (full-season, half-season, and mini-plans). Attendees will have an opportunity to visit the iconic Blues locker room, tour premium clubs and suites within the venue, and take advantage of other special opportunities, such as ticket-incentive offerings and giveaways.

From in-game entertainment to the team's online presence to fan and community events across the region - all new and enhanced - the Blues will continue to introduce new elements reflecting that "rhythm and blues" theme to their fan experience throughout the season.

Fans should stay tuned in the coming days and weeks for additional updates about new events and initiatives to help Blues fans celebrate the start of the Blues 2023-24 North American Tour.