The Baton Rouge Blues Festival is back and bigger than ever. With a 2014 lineup featuring names like Dr. John and the Nite Trippers, Little Freddie King, Kenny Neal and Henry Gray plus an expanded art market and VIP areas, the festival's footprint April 12 will be its largest yet.
But while some argue that as festivals grow larger they lose touch with their local roots, chairperson Chris Brooks said the Baton Rouge Blues Festival is holding on ever tighter to what gives the event its life.
"We're going to continue to (localize programming) throughout the festival every single year," Brooks said. "We always remind ourselves of that. We want to, in a perfect world, get Eric Clapton, but it's educating people of the swamp blues heritage and showing it through a different light and sound. … They don't necessarily think it's swamp blues that's influencing these newer musicians."
The festival this year is comprised of four stages, and they've shifted around from previous year's layouts. The main stage, the Foundation Stage, will be located at the base of Repentance Park, and the Swamp Blues Stage will now be at Galvez Plaza. The newly-added Gospel/Soul Stage will be located at the river side of the Shaw Center, and, finally, an additional performance space for local bands will be inside the Old State Capitol.
"The city gave us all this space to use," Brooks said. "We wanted to utilize as much green-space as possible."
The addition of the stage in Repentance Park means organizers can utilize the water fountain and covered space outside City Hall much more easily this year. That area will be filled with about a dozen local art vendors, local food trucks and the new 12 Bar.
12 Bar adds a kind of VIP-space for the main stage, Brooks said, offering two drinks, private bathrooms and a special viewing area. Tickets for 12 Bar are $20 and can be purchased on the day of the festival.
"We want quality over quantity with (food and art) vendors," Brooks said. "We want to make it as local and relative to our surroundings and culture as possible.
"It's not a big business, Bayou Country Superfest-type festival. It's all the people in this community, utilizing all those resources and talents we can to put this on."
Here's a quick look at everything you need to know about the Baton Rouge Blues Festival. Don't see what you need? Leave a comment below with your question or special insider's tip and we'll try to answer it or add it to the list:
What: The Baton Rouge Blues Festival was first founded in 1981 but is now in its sixth year following a 15-year hiatus. The festival celebrates the city's blues heritage and how it's affected new music.
Where: Everything takes place in downtown Baton Rouge. We recommend you bike or walk to the festival if it's an option because it does get crowded.
What's it Gonna Cost Me?: Nothing. The festival is free and open to the public, and it goes on rain or shine.
The Lineup: The 2014 lineup is the festival's biggest yet and features names like Kenny Neal, Dr. John and the Nite Trippers, Black Joe Lewis, Henry Gray and more. Click here for the full lineup, and click here for the blocked schedule.
Yeah Bike: An attended valet bicycle parking area will be located at the intersection of North Boulevard and St. Louis Street.
Park Early: If you're driving on Interstate 10 from Lafayette, take exit 155A. If you're driving on Interstate 10 from New Orleans, merge onto Interstate 110 and take exit 1B. Parking will be a drag, but if you've got to do it, head to the River Center parking garage or park on the street along River Road.
Fun for the Family: Kids are more than welcome at this festival. A special area for the youngins' will be located in the middle of Town Square.
Cash Money: Many vendors will be outfitted with the ability to take credit cards, and ATMs are scattered throughout the grounds but it would be smart to have some cash on-hand before hitting the festival. With so many people in place, the cell phone service portable credit card machines often rely on could be sketchy.
Step Inside: If you feel like you need a break from the sun and sounds, head inside to the Old State Capitol, where interviewers meet with blues musicians all day for conversations about what makes them tick. The interview series, entitled "Backstage at Blues Fest," will be accompanied by some local bands and performers and the showing of LPB's "Rainin' In My Heart" blues documentary and, importantly, air conditioning.
Shop 'til you Drop: A newly-expanded arts market will be located behind City Hall. The market was juried by Amy Strother and her arts committee and features as much Louisiana-born artists as possible, according to festival chairperson Chris Brooks. It'll have about a dozen artisan booths for you to wander through, including Mimosa by Madeline Ellis, Taufeez Muhammad, TJ Black, Madie Lucas, Shaun Aleman, Finnian Scott Kelley and others.
Feed the Beast: Also expanded is the festival's food offerings this year. The food trucks and vendors include: Chicken Shack, Fat Cow, Any Occasion, A Bite Outside, Troy Martin, Cou-Yons, Pullin' Pork, Chet Marelli, Kool Chicks, Belle of Baton Rouge, Taco de Paco and Susan Strange Catering.
Cheers to That: Guests who are 21 and older will be able to purchase margaritas, beer and assorted mixed drinks. You can also revel in 12 Bar, an expanded, VIP-style experience at the festival. For $20, you can access a special viewing area for the Foundation Stage complete with two free cocktails and private bathrooms. Tickets for 12 Bar can be purchased on the day of the festival.
Don't Go Home Yet: The festival might finish, but the party rages on at the Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre inside the Shaw Center. Chris Thomas King and Friends will kick off at 9:30 p.m., immediately following the close of Dr. John and the Nite Tripper's headlining show. The after-party is free, but donations are encouraged.
There's an App for That: Download the Eventjoy app. Search for "Baton Rouge Blues Festival," and click "Join Event." There, you can find all the knitty-gritty details and make your own, personalized schedule.
Still Not Enough?: Click here for all the bluesy events surrounding the festival to stay up-to-date on the capital city's blues happenings all week.
Follow Me: Follow reporter Chelsea Brasted on Twitter for up-to-the-minute coverage of the festival all week long and on Facebook for more in-depth stories and photos.
Just Don't Do It: Leave the pets at home, festival lovers, as well as any professional-grade cameras, recording devices, weapons, ice chests, outside beverages, beach umbrellas and tents.
MORE ON THE BATON ROUGE BLUES FESTIVAL
Read up on Baton Rouge's blues history ahead of Baton Rouge Blues Festival
For Black Joe Lewis, music is all about creating an organic, fun experience
Baton Rouge Blues Festival is bigger than ever: All you need to know to make it count
Here in Louisiana, we know how to throw a celebration! Great food, great fun, always memorable! If you are looking for something fun to do, you've come to the right place! 
