The third annual Lowertown Blues Festival is turning to some blasts from the past for its free July 23 event: Booker T. Jones, Bernard Allison and Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown.

The two-stage affair in Mears Park in downtown St. Paul will also feature Corey Stevens, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, the Butanes Soul Revue, Joel Zoss, and Hurricane Harold & Doug Otto.

Jones, a four-time Grammy winner, is best known for his work in the 1960s with Booker T & the MGs ("Green Onions") and as a studio organist (Otis Redding, Freddie King, Johnnie Taylor) and songwriter ("Born Under a Bad Sign," "I've Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)").

Since 2009, Jones has released three solo albums, collaborating with the Drive-By Truckers, the Roots, Lou Reed, Sharon Jones, Anthony Hamilton, Estelle, Vintage Trouble and Mayer Hawthorne, among others.

Although the event is free, there is a limited VIP section for $50 with reserved seating and access to the artists. To buy tickets, go to www.tikly.co/events/1141