Last year, Federal Way Symphony President Rene Ewing felt a duty to her city.

After shootings and other negative happenings started to define Federal Way, Ewing decided it was time for a perception makeover.

Ewing had attended the Des Moines Rotary Music Festival with her children. She became inspired by how the festival was organized and how the proceeds aimed to help local music efforts, and Ewing decided it was time for Federal Way to have a music festival of its own.

After receiving city and symphony board approval, the Federal Way Symphony will host its first-ever blues festival, “Rhythm and Brews,” from noon to 8 p.m. Sept. 16 at Town Square Park.

The festival, which Ewing has been pitching to city officials since February 2015, will feature blues music from local artists and bands like Mark Riley, Stickshift Annie, Chris Stevens Band, featuring Jay Mabin, and the Federal Way Symphony Big Band.

That’s not all. The Blues Festival will feature between 12 to 20 craft beers and wines from local wineries, and there will be three local food trucks on hand: Stacks, 314 Pie and Nibbles Southwest Fusion.

“I’ve been very disappointed on the publicity this city’s gotten, which has been very negative,” Ewing said. “I feel like this will draw people to Federal Way. It’s something that can give people a positive experience and do a lot for our community.”

Over the course of the last year, Ewing has visited other blues festivals, such as those in Des Moines, Auburn and Tacoma.

She discovered that the combination of local music and local brewing brings together a widely diverse audience. With this pitch, she convinced the parks department to rent the symphony the park for the event.

For the music, Ewing connected with Highline music teacher and drummer Todd Zimberg, who helped line up the bands.

The goal for the Federal Way Symphony is to raise money, but the “for what” is two-fold. The symphony needs to raise money for itself to keep up with costs as it prepares to move into the Performing Arts and Event Center. The other goal is to raise money to benefit local youth programs the Federal Way Symphony supports, such as providing private music lessons for students who cannot afford them. The symphony hopes to raise enough money to extend the private lessons program from six to eight weeks.

“I’ve had no one tell me this is a bad idea,” Ewing said. “People generally got excited.”

Ewing and the Federal Way Symphony hope the festival will make Federal Way a better place while improving musical opportunities in the city.

“I think this helps our city,” Ewing said. “It’s my intrinsic belief that this is all about helping Federal Way be a better place.”

For more information on the 2017 blues festival, visit federalwaybluesfestival.com. Tickets cost $30 if pre-ordered or $35 at the door.