Emma Creek Farm, located three miles east of Halstead, Ks, is where “Blues” brothers, Ken and Charles McCart were raised along with brothers Robert and Lee. Their father Harlan McCart planted buffalo grass at the farm in 1975 and over 40 pecan trees in 1979, but unfortunately he passed in 1982 and didn’t get to experience the beauty of the pecans after they were fully grown. The name Emma Creek Farm was chosen by their mother Irene, who passed in 1999. The festival was named, “Blues by the Tracks” simply because there are railroad tracks nearby and it sounds “Cool”.-- Ken started going to the Chautauqua Hills Blues Festival in Sedan, Ks in 2003 with his cousin Phyllis, and her husband Steve Jordan, who was the president of the Wichita Blues Society at that time. Steve plays harmonica and is lead vocals for “Made From Scratch”, a local blues band from Wichita, Ks. Ken enjoyed the festival so much that in 2004 he took Charles with him and they decided later that year that they would like to host a festival of their own in 2005 with the goal to help support local blues musicians. In spring 2005 they began construction of a stage. This is not just a temporary stage to move in and out every year, but rather a permanent stage that is made to last for several years to come. They started advertising and booking bands. Three local bands, “Made From Scratch”, “King Snakes Blues Band”, and “The Sharon Rush Band” were booked for the first year. This event was a free festival and the local paper dubbed Ken and Charles as the “Blues Brothers of Halstead”. ----The weather and attendance were good their first year and they decided to make the festival an annual event, so work began for the 2006 festival, with improvements to the stage. Ken and Charles had contact from bands, from other areas, who were interested in performing as well and so in 2006 they booked “Rich Berry” from Kansas City but still wanted to help support local bands and invited “Made From Scratch”, and “The Sharon Rush Band” back. “Matt Walsh and The Mad Dogs” and “Moreland and Arbuckle with Floyd” also performed in 2006. Note: Using "MapQuest", Shortest Time, tells you, "5: Turn LEFT onto S RIDGE RD / CR-811. 6: Turn RIGHT onto SW 24TH ST / CR-574"... SW 24TH ST/ CR-574 has not been open to through traffic for 30 years or more. Continue on U.S. 50, one mile west of Ridge Rd, or three mile east of Halstead, turn south onto Emma Creek Rd., and go 1.5 Mls. south, your there.

Charles McCart

2006 Stage

The Grounds