Wagga's ready to get the blues

The Bidgee Blues Club based in Wagga will embrace their slogan of Where the Mississippi meets the Murrumbidgee on Saturday when they celebrate the second annual International Blues Music Day.

Last year's inaugural celebration started with an online petition headed by American musician Johnny Childs in 2011, which secured some 10,000 members across the world.

The date was then set for the first Saturday of August and Wagga led the official 7pm toast last year because of its time zone.

Bidgee Blues president Kerrie Brodie said people flocked to town during the celebration, with people travelling from Albury, Canberra and Griffith.

"It's just about promoting blues music and paying respect to past and present blues musicians," Ms Brodie said.

The club's monthly open mic nights at the Home Tavern are a breeding ground for the formation of blues bands, and their weekly appearance on 2AAA radio has also prompted growth and interest in the club.

Ms Brodie said they had since recieved feedback from across America, Asia and Europe.

The day features 11 hours of live blues music from 1pm at the Commercial Club.

The club will be the second town in the world to make the official toast this year behind Albury.

Ms Brodie said blues music was still very much alive and plans were in the works to develop a children's workshop at the celebration next year to ensure it continued.

"If we don't educate the youth on blues, it's going to die."

The Bidgee Blues Club started eight years ago and has between 50 and 80 members.