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Set in Historic Deadwood
Deadwood Blues Fest
The Deadwood Blues Festival, created by the Deadwood Tobacco Company (DTC), is an annual celebration of live blues and soul music in the heart of historic Deadwood, South Dakota.
Our goal is to bring together top national talent, regional favorites, and passionate music fans for an unforgettable weekend of music, community, and atmosphere. Set against the scenic Black Hills, the festival blends great sound, unique venues, and the rich character of Deadwood into one incredible experience.
Meet the Team
Behind the blues magic is a passionate crew dedicated to bringing unforgettable music experiences to Deadwood. Get to know the people making it all happen.
Bill Rectenwald
Founder & Partner
BIll is the owner of Deadwood Tobacco Company and an avid Blues fan. Since he bought DTC in 2018 he has put on over 600 ni ghts of blues music in Deadwood. Bill came up with the concept of the Deadwood Blues Fest after a trip to Omaha to find new regional bands to bring to Deadwood. Bill’s goal with DBF is create a nationally known event that will draw blues lover’s to Deadwood for years to come.
Randy Brown
Promoter & Partner
Randy Brown is a retired morning drive radio host and program director who found his passions in cigars and concert promotion. He hosts DTC ’ s bi - weekly podcast Blowin ’ Smoke and has co-promoted some of the biggest names in entertainment at Deadwood’s Outlaw Square including Hank Williams Jr., Shinedown, Gary Allan, Halestorm and Dwight Yoakam. Some day he will bring Foo Fighters to town. Randy is an active member of MSI Promotions Committee and serves on the Outlaw Square Board.
Molly Brown
CFO & Partner
Molly is an Entrepreneur and active member of the Deadwood community. She is currently the Managing Partner of GenPro Energy Development, a solar development company working with tribes and municipaliti es in the Great Plains. She helped launch the Deadwood Live Concert series by heading hospitality, bar operations, cash management, and general operations. For DBF, Molly heads up finance, accounting, and marketing. She is President of the Deadwood Lead Economic Development Board and a Historic Preservation Commissioner.
Jody Rectenwald
Partner
Jody is co - owner of Deadwood Tobacco Company and has been a pharmacist for 25 years. She supports box office operations and the VIP experience.
Ethan Burmeister
Creative & Digital Media
Ethan Burmeister is a videographer, designer, and licensed drone pilot currently doing documentary, content creation, photography and design in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Ethan is the creative mind behind Deadwood Tobacco ’ s n ational brand and will oversee all creative branding and digital advertising for DBF .
Steve Jacobs
Media Consultant
Steve Jacobs is a South Dakotan by way of Texas who traded heat, humidity, and mosquitos for cold, snow, and mosquitos. Graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas, Steve has spent decades in the music industry, marketing, radio, and was just recently named the top digital marketer in America according to Radio Ink Magazine. Steve and wife Angie are settled in Rapid City with family and grown children nearby. “Good on ya” is Steve’s preferred Texas blessing when turning strangers to friends.
