Here is the notice I received today:

“Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival rescheduled to 2021

After careful consideration, and with a heavy heart, Winthrop Music Association is cancelling the 33rd Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival scheduled July 17-19, 2020. This has been a very difficult decision but we must put the health and safety of everyone first, and the uncertainty surrounding the next few months has made planning untenable.

Ticket holders have two options:

Donate ticket amount to Winthrop Music Association, the 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization which runs the Festival, or
Receive a ‘Face Value’ refund from Ticket Tomato.
Ticket donations will be placed in a fund to support the musicians scheduled to play this year, as well as to assist the Methow Valley community including our local food bank, The Cove. “The impact of the unfolding pandemic on blues artists as well as on members of our community has been enormous,” says WMA board president, Rick Northcott. “Winthrop Music Association will continue to do what we can to help support the Methow Valley and our music community.”

“Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival has weathered many hardships over its 33 years —wicked winds, raging wildfires— and some came close to sinking the event,” continues Northcott. “But thanks to our festival attendees and to our dedicated Winthrop team and partners, we’ve been able to not only survive these challenges, but have grown strong, become financially sustainable, and thrived as the largest and longest-running blues festival in Washington.”

“We couldn’t be more grateful for the support and faith of our fans,” adds festival director, Erika Olsen. “We urge you to stay healthy and safe in these times, and to look for ways to best help one another and care for your loved ones, friends, and community. We’re counting on emerging from this with an even better sense of what matters, and we will be back – July 16-18, 2021. We can’t wait to celebrate our love of music and community with you again at the Blues Ranch on the Methow.”

Please contact Ticket Tomato at 800-820-9884 or email info@tickettomato.com to either donate or receive a refund.

Warmly,

Winthrop Music Association
Erika Olsen, Rick Northcott, Jim Smith, Peter Dammann, Dave Swenson, Rich Reeves, Bart Northcott, Don Ashford

P.S. Please consider sustaining the musicians and artists whose work you love by purchasing music either directly from them or online; their livelihood and viability depend upon your support.

Winthrop Music Association (WMA) is a 501(c)3 non profit organization formed in 2005 to ensure the continued success of the annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival. WMA strives to promote arts and cultural activities in the Methow Valley and beyond. WMA is a proud supporter of The Cove Food Bank, Methow Valley School District Music Program, Methow Arts, Methow Valley Theater, Room One, Washington Blues Society Musician Relief Fund, Inland Empire Blues Society, Cascade Blues Association, Methow Valley AAU Basketball Booster, Tommy Zbyszewski Methow Valley Education Foundation scholarship and many others.

33RD ANNUAL WINTHROP RHYTHM & BLUES FESTIVAL
Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival
Located at the Blues Ranch on the Methow River in the resort town of Winthrop, Washington, the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is a three-day event packed full of exciting national and regional entertainment for all ages. There is on-site camping, food and craft vendors, portable showers, and a beer garden. The Blues Ranch is the perfect setting for one of Washington’s finest music festivals. We look forward to another great year and hope to see YOU at the 33rd Annual Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival!!

All Content Copyright © Winthrop Music Association (WMA), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Web Development by PromoLab”
We have gone to this festival every year since 2004, the year after we got married. This is partially thanks for the camper van my grandfather had given me on Valentine’s Day of that year. So this is the first year we will miss it and apparently my grandson is mad at the virus for cancelling his Rhythm and Blues. So my heart hurts today.