Blues music makes a big return in the Monterey International Blues Festival.

The Monterey Bay Blues Festival had chugged along for 27 years, bringing such talents to the Monterey County Fairgrounds as BB King, Etta James, The Neville Brothers, Buddy Guy, Keb Mo and Glady Knight. Not to mention regional and up-and-coming acts.  

All that musical muscle came with obstacles: lack of sponsorship, big names requiring big paychecks, plateauing or declining attendance.

In 2012, after a mad dash to secure big-name sponsors failed, organizers finally succumbed and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Oct. 24. 

Now it seems, the thrill is back. 

It’s just been announced that it’s reincarnation as the First Annual Monterey International Blues Festival, hosted by the The Salvation Army and Guitars Not Guns, will alight again on the green grass of Monterey County Fairground's Garden Stage noon to 6pm on May 13. 

Their inaugural lineup will include Charlie Musselwhite, Mighty Mike Schermer, Taylor P. Collins, John “Broadway” Tucker and Monterey Blues Revue.

Other performances will come from local acts including the Monterey Bay Blues All-Stars, the Guitars Not Guns band and Red Beans & Rice. Master of ceremonies is slated to be Pete Fallico, a jazz radio personality since 1975. 

According to a press release, it returns under a newly formed 501c(3) formed by a board of directors that includes Lee Durley, John Laughton, Steve Vagnini, Amy Threadwell and Ken Lopez. 

The one-day blues festival—stocked with food and merchandise vendors, historic exhibits and more—will also serve as a launching pad for the marketing campaign of the City of Monterey’s National “Summer of Love/50th Anniversary of the Monterey Pop Festival,” the release goes on to say. 

The $25 advance tickets are available at ticketfly.com, and will otherwise cost $35 day of at the event.

More information can be found at www.montereyinternationalbluesfestival.com.