One well-known blues artist will showcase his talents as John Rutherford headlines this week's edition of Downtown Summer Thursdays.

Rutherford is from Calgary and has played at some historical landmarks, including the old King Eddy hotel, both before and after it closed.

He says he's looking forward to getting out and checking out the local arts scene in Okotoks.

"I'll be playing some music for sure," he says. "I'll be doing my solo kind of shtick, which is me on my electric guitar, a little amplifier and vocals. So I'll be playing and welcoming others to the stage to come up and perform as well."

Rutherford says he has performed in the Foothills prior to his performance Thursday night.

"I have worked in Okotoks before and I did a concert a couple of years ago at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre and I've played at a couple of other summer events recently and I've always enjoyed coming to the community and playing there and working with everybody in Okotoks."

If you won't be able to see Rutherford Thursday, he'll be back for the Harvest & Blues Festival on September 23 and 24.

"The developments of the Harvest and Blues Festival for Okotoks in September is really exciting as it develops into something kind of new and embraces the blues, and we've got quite a stellar line-up in place for September," Rutherford says.

Rutherford's performance commences at 6 p.m. and will go until 8 p.m.

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