History of the Holy Cow Moosic Festival

Known as the Belvedere Blues Festival through the 10th annual event in 2009, the fund-raiser actually started in 1999 as the "Rock 'n Read" event for the Fremont County Adult Literacy Program. It was held in the parking lot behind Merlinos’ Belvedere Restaurant in Cañon City, and it turned into one of Fremont County's biggest annual events. It featured the first-ever performance of the “Belvedere Blues Band,” featuring Texas blues guitarist Buddy Whittington teamed with local Fremont County musicians Pete Santilli, Glenn McCarter, Sam Toman, Dave Means and Rick Kamerzell. It was a big success and the crowd wanted more! The concept for the blues festival was born . . . . .

In 2010, the Holy Cow Moosic Festival is moving to the former football field just west of the Holy Cross Abbey, east of Lindner Chevrolet.  Over the years, we’ve grown from a single-night event in one tent, to three days of music in multiple tents. The reputation for a first-class festival has grown right along with our event! Held each fall on the weekend following Labor Day, the event has evolved into one of the biggest musical events in Southern Colorado, attracting bands and visitors from all over the country. Bring your own lawn chairs and get ready for a great time at the Moosic Festival - on east U.S. Highway 50 in Cañon City!  Come out and help benefit the many non-profit organizations in Fremont County!

Belvedere Blues Festival #1 (October, 2000) – We featured Buddy Whittington with the Belvedere Blues Band in a one-night show inside a tent behind the Belvedere.

Belvedere Blues Festival #2 (October, 2001) – The festival expanded to a two-day (Friday & Saturday) event, featuring Buddy Whittington and the Belvedere Blues Band, The Clam Daddys, Tempa & and Tantrums, Betty Lewis, Wallace Cotton and the Royals, and Little Ricky & The Roosters.

Belvedere Blues Festival #3 (October, 2002) – The first three-day festival featured Buddy Whittington and the Belvedere Blues Band, The Clam Daddys, Tempa & and Tantrums, The Maynard Mills Blues Band, Sonny Rhodes, Tiny Barge & The Big Chill, Smokin' Joe & The Mighty Burners, Los Blancos, The Colorado Ambassadors, The Disclaimers, and Joanie Houston & Pete Santilli.

Belvedere Blues Festival #4 (October, 2003) - featured Buddy Whittington and the Belvedere Blues Band, The Clam Daddys, Tempa & and Tantrums, The Disclaimers, Tiny Barge & The Big Chill, Metro Blues, Little Ricky & The Roosters, Little Mary & Her Hometown Boogie Kings, The Erica Brown Band, the Colorado Ambassadors, Peter Burg & Blue Suburban, and a jam session with Buddy Whittington.

Belvedere Blues Festival #5 (October, 2004) - featured Buddy Whittington and the Belvedere Blues Band, The Blues Bullies, The Clam Daddys, Tempa & and Tantrums, Kelley Hunt, Down From Mars, Big Sky, Metro Blues, The Erica Brown Band, Tommy Thomas & The Working Man Band, Bruce Hayes, and Crosser-Davis.

Belvedere Blues Festival #6 (September, 2005) - featured The Clam Daddys, The Jill Watkins Band, Down From Mars, The Erica Brown Band, Tempa & The Tantrums, Du4Roux, The Bruce Hayes Band, The Spurlock Variety Band, and The "Hell in a Handbasket" Band.

Belvedere Blues Festival #7 (September 8-10, 2006) - featured Side Project, The Geezers, The Continental Kids, Ricky Dee Hall & The Voodoo Hawks, The Clam Daddys, Randy McAllister, The Buddy Whittington Band, Walter Trout & The Radicals, The Spurlock Variety Band, and Mem Shannon.

Belvedere Blues Festival #8 (September 7-9, 2007) - featured Ron Thompson and The Resistors, John-Alex Mason, The Geezers, The Continental Kids, the Randall Dubis Band, The Clam Daddys, Jake Loggins, The Erica Brown Band, George Whitesell and His All-Stars Featuring Ms. Jill Watkins, and the Atomic Fireballs featuring Carlos Crull.

Belvedere Blues Festival #9 (September 5-7, 2008) - featured Ron Thompson and the Resistors, Randy McAllister, Lionel Young, Ken Saydak, The Delta Sonics, The Atomic Fireballs (featuring Johnny Watson and Carlos Crull), The Clam Daddys, Tempa & The Tantrums, The Lazy Aliens, Catfish & The Crawlers, and Andy Schneider.

Belvedere Blues Festival #10 (September 11-13, 2009) - featured Buddy Whittington with The Atomic Fireballs, featuring Carlos Crull, Broken Angel, Jake Loggins Band, Flash Cadillac, Johnny O Band, Clam Daddys, Albuquerque Blues Connection, The Informants, Sons & Brothers, Tommy & The Cruisers, and Randy McAllister.