The origins of Austin Blues Festival date back to 1999, when Clifford Antone — the founder and namesake of Antone's Nightclub — hosted the first-ever Antone’s Blues Festival at Waterloo Park. Antone created the festival as a way to showcase some of his favorite artists –– Blues hall-of-famers like Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and Ray Charles graced the Waterloo Park stage during the festival's initial three-year run.  Now, Antone’s nightclub hopes to honor Clifford Antone’s legacy of making a home for blues by hosting the Austin Blues Festival.