An iconic Arizona blues festival is postponed in 2024. Here's what happened

It was supposed to be a 10th anniversary celebration this year, but instead, the Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival has been postponed.

Jennifer Grogan, who co-founded the festival with her mother, the late Debbi Grogan, in 2013, shared a note on the festival’s Facebook page explaining her decision to postpone the event, which would have taken place the weekend of June 7-8.

Last year's Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival included sets by Larkin Poe, Samantha Fish and Kenny Neal at the Continental Country Club Driving Range.

“Dear Beloved Blues Lovers,” Grogan wrote.

“I find myself in a moment of profound emotion, where words seem to fall short. My heart aches as I share with you that I have made the difficult decision to postpone the Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival. This decision has been weighed heavily, and it brings me deep sorrow to convey it to you.”

Flagstaff Blues and Brews co-founder cites 'harsh realities'

Grogan said she “wrestled with the harsh realities of the festival's financial situation” these past few months, trying to find a solution that would “keep the music playing and the spirits high.”

The problem, Grogan wrote, is that the festival has become “financially daunting to sustain independently.”

Two COVID grants Grogan received from the state over the past two years have helped, she said, adding, “Without these, the festival would have been on the brink of financial ruin.”

But those funds have run out and, as Grogan explained, “the financial landscape for 2024 looks bleak." They looked into cost-cutting measures — reducing the talent they bring in, cutting back on site expenses — but even then, the numbers didn’t add up.

“The venue we've always loved has been increasing its prices and there's no alternative venue that would offer a more affordable solution,” Grogan wrote.

“The bands, too, have seen a surge in their prices, making it impossible to afford the ones I thought were within reach just a few years ago. Renting all the equipment needed for the blues festival, paying the dedicated staff who pour their hearts into making this festival a reality, it's all become too overwhelming.”

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What's next for Flagstaff Blues and Brews?

Grogan said the decision wasn’t easy to make.

“This festival, dear to my heart, has been a labor of love, a beacon of hope during the challenging times of COVID, and a legacy of my mother,” she wrote.

“But I can't risk the financial well-being of my company to keep it going in 2024. It feels like I'm letting everyone down, like I've failed my mother. It feels like I'm losing her all over again.”

Grogan told The Arizona Republic, "I really am hoping to have this again in 2025."

The Facebook post said she’ll be seeking potential investors or a potential buyer for the festival.

“This decision, born out of necessity, is one I believe will secure the festival's long-term future,” she said.

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EdMasley.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Flagstaff Blues and Brews postponed in 2024. Here's why