WESTPORT — The 15th annual Westport Rock Rhythm & Blues Festival is coming on Friday to Sunday, Sept. 5 to 7, at the Holy Ghost Club fairgrounds, 171 Sodom Road. Proceeds from the popular three-day music fest benefit A Wish Come True Inc., a Tiverton-based nonprofit celebrating its 26th year (1982-2008) of granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Festival Chairman Frank “Frankie” Ray said festivities will begin on Friday evening with a chicken barbecue from 6 to 10 p.m. featuring music by Bud Smith & Friends Bluegrass Band. Due to space restrictions, $15 tickets are available in advance only at 508/636-8346.

On Saturday and Sunday, the festival opens at noon, with live outdoor entertainment starting at 1 p.m. daily. A $10 gate donation covers adult admission for both days, with no charge for children 12 or under. There are no raindates.

Supported since its inception by a loyal contingent of motorcycle enthusiasts, the fund-raiser kicks-off with the noontime arrival of cyclists of all ages in the fifth annual Motorcycle Run, which will assemble at 9 a.m. Saturday at Dave’s Beach in Fall River for an 11 a.m. departure. A $10 per person registration fee includes the motorcycle rally as well as a two-day admission to the music festival.

Saturday’s music line-up starts at 1 p.m. by the horn band Mr. Chubb. Fall River’s favorite roadhouse blues band Shot in the Dark takes the stage at 2:30 p.m.; followed at 4 p.m. by one of the South Coast’s favorite blues quintets, the Blues Train Band, which celebrated the release of its first CD last February. Members include Jack Jennings, Donn Legge, Dori Legge and Paul Raymond. Then, it’s festival newcomer Wolf & the Jam Daddies, a four-piece blues band featuring Fall River’s Bruce ‘Wolf’ Murgia, at 5:30 p.m.

Kicking off the dance party on Sunday at 1 p.m. is Louie Leeman and Cheap Sneakers, a talented mix of musicians from Westport and Fall River. Fans of Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire and James Brown will revel in the 2:30 p.m. performance of Soul Power, a dynamic 11-piece show band featuring Rhode Island’s David Cherry, with George Correia, Wayne Manning, Chris Bryant, Tom Khoury, Ron Machado, Don Dupre, Philip Mullen, “Saxman” Dave, Frank “Frankie” Ray and Rick Couto. Then at 4 p.m. is the seven-piece Fall River-based party band Wild Nites and C&B Horns. Its repertoire includes Top 40 hits, funk, classic and modern rock, as well as rhythm-and-blues favorites with Joe Joynt, Chad Mazzarella, John ‘V’ Vasconcellos, John Furtado, Todd Salpietro, John Sousa, Rob Charest and Ray Vasconcellos. Starting at 5:30 p.m., the New Bedford-based ’80s tribute band Memory Lane, with Sanctuary’s Fred Ponte, closes the concert.

Festival-goers may purchase alcoholic beverages and hot food items at concessions. Family picnic baskets (non-alcoholic beverages) and lawn/beach chairs are welcome. The family-friendly festival also provides an array of free activities for kids of all ages, including face-painting, arts and crafts, hot dogs and soda, courtesy of the Rutowski family of Fall River, as well as pony rides by Lil’ Critters. Additional festival fund-raising efforts include daily raffles and auctions.

To volunteer to help, or purchase advance tickets, call Frank Ray at 508/636-8346 or 508/493-0915, fax 508/636-7180, or e-mail to HolidayTravel1@wmconnect. com.

To refer a child, discuss a donation, or request additional information, contact A Wish Come True Inc. at 401/781-9199, fax 401/781-6227 or e-mail awish@ awishcometrue.org.