Monthly Archives: August 2011

August 23, 2011

Chenango Blues Festival Just the Best One Day Festival Around !

Well here I sit, recovered from another exhilarating Blues festival in Norwich, NY. In it’s 19th year of all volunteer festival sponsorship Eric Larsen & crew shows what can be accomplished when activism and dedication take to the front.

Starting in 2003 with headliners Anson Funderberg and Sam Meyers, thru 2003 featuring Shemekia Copeland, Guy Davis, and Little Charlie & The Nightcats up to the present day with Doug MacLeod, John Hammond, Ana Popovic, and NMAS Duo, the Chenango Blues Festival consistently puts out great shows, and always has the Friday of festival weekend free for the community. THANK YOU !

My top five (OK I’m gonna try this again): No I won’t, everyone was so damn good…..

#1: Ana Popovic

Just a strong performance. Ana and band ripped her way through the set as if they were possessed. the temperature of the infield stage and area went up several degrees as she hit the stage with such a jolt that the crowd looked like they were not quite ready for what she was bringing. A dear lady who is talented and kind and proving her worth as a blues lady !

#1: James Cotton Band
What ! I must be crazy. Well I did see them two weeks ago in Delaware, so. But again they are so professional, dynamic, and thrilling to watch. Each of these guys could front a band of their own (and some have and still do). Mr. Cotton was very much right on again, harp playing beyond what anyone could expect, he rightly holds on to the title of Superharp. I cannot say enough about how good the band is.

#1: Mississippi Heat

Goodness gracious, what a wall of sound and energy from this Chi-town based International collection of artists. Mr. Pierre Lacoque (harp) and Ms. Inetta Visor are as good a duo as one can find. Yikes they blew away the crowd Friday night – for free !

#1: Tas Cru
A shout out to one of the most interesting songwriters around. With his full band he charmed the audience and proved he is more than just a clever songwriter, he is a true bluesman. Great free show on Friday with a full band and sweet toned ladies on vocals!

#1: Honey Island Swamp Band

Funky, Louisiana swamp boogie music is this bands specialty, and they do it damn well. Their appeal crosses over from generation to generation, with guitar driven grooves and some of the funkiest rhythm from drums, bass, and keys you got a gumbo of good times. People, check them out.

#1: Gina Sicilia
A dynamic up and coming singer song-writer, Ms. Sicilia has grown immensely in her chosen field over the last few years. Her releases capture the passion and soul of her live performances as well as any out there. Joined by Dave Gross, who plays anything ever made, and is also a fine producer, and the best travelling rhythm pocket (Tom Papadatos on drums and Scot Hornick on bass).

#1: John Hammond

Mr. Hammond was electric, no not in the plugged in sense, but in the field of energy way. His guitar playing, singing and harmonica work wowed the crowd, who screamed for an encore. His stories behind the songs were wonderful insights into this legend and his travels on the Blues Highway. Goodness, he was just grand.

#1 North Mississippi All-Star Duo
Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson brought the music of the North Mississippi to the hills of Central New York State. It was visceral, intriguing, and were fun to see. Young folks flocked in to see them, and by doing so, either knowingly or unknowingly, are now exposed to the Blues and will be lifelong fans. Great to see these two young men do their thing. They closed out the show and left us all excited for next year’s 20th anniversary.

#1: James ‘Super Chikan’ Johnson I have seen Supe many times before, but not as a solo act. He was wonderful. His ability to turn the tent stage into his front porch with stories, tales, anecdotes and just good sippie-seekan-saw music was a treat for everyone, plus his hand made guitars are true American folk art.

#1: Doug MacLeod

Doug played three times (at least) that weekend. Once for the Veterans, once for the community at the Library, and once in the tent stage. there were many folks who saw all three and they never tired of his story telling, songwriting skills and musical ability to make a venue small and intimate. His message of hope and the positive life-affirming val;ue of the Blues was well received by everyone there. His genuine love and beliefs seamlessly float from him to the audience and we all leave remembering to pack our sense of humor first thing in the morning. If I have to pick a true #1 it would be Mr. MacLeod (as would many others). Thank you, ‘Dub-las’

A special shout out to Suspicious Hats, the one local band. They opened up the tent stage on Saturday. Comprised of Todd Rutan, Tim Andrews Nick Andrews and Nate Collins brought a relaxed congenial vibe to us all.

We have a good selection of photos (145 or so) from this fest, to see them go to:
http://blues411.com/gallery/index.php?album=chenango-blues-festival

Until next time,
Love, Peace & Chicken Grease
chefjimi
©Blues411.com 2011
photos: Courtesy of Leslie K. Joseph

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Bluestock: Marrying the Amazing Vibe of Woodstock with the Incredible Energy of the Bluescruise.

Blues411 had just a spot in time to chat with Mr. Steve Simon who is partnering up with Radio Woodstock to bring us the summer’s main event Bluestock. Featuring Buddy Guy, The Robert Cray Band, Elvin Bishop, Tommy Castro & The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue, Shemeika Copeland and many, many more.
Steve, along with his brother Jeff who bring the hottest blues to the coolest places, are veteran concert/festival promoters who have brought the Blues to our troops in the war-torn Middle East (Bluzapalooza) to the sun baked shores of St. John’s USVI.
How did the road to Bluestock start? Where will it lead ? Steve graciously shared some valuable minutes in the week leading up to the event to answer some questions and to promise on delivering the festival of the year.

B411: Steve thanks so much for giving us some time. Bluestock and the lead up has been as hot as the summer across the nation, and now it is self-immolating. How did this start, what was the seed that started Bluestock?

SS: The seed that started it was visiting my friends in Woodstock a year and a half ago. Having not been up there since the days of the Woodstock Festival, and just being totally enamored with the vibe of the area plus the natural beauty of the area – it just screams creativity. It’s an area where new friends feel like old friends instantaneously.
My friends there are all into music and most of them into the Blues, I was so smitten by the experience up there that I thought this would be a great place to have a blues festival. Then this word ‘Bluestock’ exploded in my mind. One thing led to another and we started talking about it and dreaming about it and this led to my friends asking if I knew the people at Radio Woodstock? They put on a big music festival at Hunter Mountain every June, so next day I am meeting with Gary Chetkof and his senior staff in the Radio Woodstock offices, when lo and behold it was love at first sight. We are all cut from the same cloth, we’re all about music, we’re all about fun, and we are all over age hippies that will never grow up.
In the course of it all Gary shared with me that for the last six/seven years he has produced Mountain Jam one time a year, which is a mega-festival at Hunter Mountain. They were thinking of piggy-backing off the infrastructure and knowledge by creating another festival and they were thinking of the Blues. I am the one-stop shopping for Blues Central – it was a marriage made in heaven – so by the end of the day will be happening next week is exactly what I envisioned. To marry the amazing vibe of Woodstock with the incredible energy of the Bluescruise. Bluestock is real !

B411: It certainly is, the level of expectation is over the top, but I must say if anyone can do this you can. With your experience in Bluzapalooza and other ventures, I’d say you are uniquely qualified to weave this technicolor dreamcoat out of the Bluescruise and Woodstock.

SS: My contribution to the wonderful, wacky world of blues is to take the blues where it hasn’t been before. I have been blessed with the opportunity to do things like Bluzapalooza and go to countries where American Blues artists have not been seen before, and to entertain out troops, embassy staff – it’s so cool and we are having a lot of fun.

B411: So how many are we expecting ?

SS: We really don’t know. I can tell you that advance tickets sales are through the roof, way beyond what we expected. But having been in this business as long as I have I can tell you that there is a good two to three year gestation period to get to that critical mass of sustainability. We are prepared to subsidize Bluestock till it reaches sustainability. We are presenting a world class event to our friends and we know that it will sustain itself in thirty six months. We are already putting together the list for next year,we have the venue reserved for next year.

B411: Looking slightly more in to the future, would you consider doing regional Bluestocks ?

SS: Yes we would. We can see a West Coast Bluestock, but we are not going to look at it till after next week. But we have been having a dialogue about and have location lists and venues, so sometime in the fall a group of us will take a trip out West and visit a few locations and see if it makes real sense for us. Yeah, we are very much interested in keeping the blues alive and expanding the Bluestock brand.

B411: That’s gonna make a lot of people very happy ! Anything else you wish to share with us?

SS: Can I just offer this up for everyone:
The outpouring of love from all over the world has been beyond anything I have ever envisioned. I cannot begin to tell you how much emotional, spiritual support I’ve received in my endeavors to keep the Blues alive, it’s my Vitamin C so I have a lot of thanks to give.

For more info on Bluestock: http://www.bluestock.com/
on Steve Simon Presents: http://stevesimonpresents.com/

Until next time,
Love, Peace & Chicken Grease
chefjimi
©Blues411.com 2011

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Filed under Blues, Blues411, Bluescruise, Entertainment, Festivals, Interviews

Tagged as American Roots Music, Blues Music Awards, Blues411, Bluestock, Chefjimi, Entertainment, Hunter Mountain, Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, Radio Woodstock, Steve Simon, Woodstock

August 18, 2011

19th Annual Chenango Blues Fest: August 19-20, 2011

Now in it’s 19th year, The Chenango Blues Fest has repeatedly presented it’s attendees with the higest quality Blues performers available. In 2010 it gave us John Nemeth, E.G. Kight Watermelon Slim & Marica Ball. Back in 2007 Janiva Magness, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers and Eric Lindell. Ok so go back to 1997 Koko Taylor & CoCo Momtoya….folks it doesn’t get much better than this.
With Friday a free night for the community and music fans, and Saturday featuring two stages all for the ridiculous price of $20 advance and $25 at the door (I suggest paying $25, they can use the extra $5) it is by far one of the best values around.
Not only do they offer this festival, they provide 5 free community concerts in the all too short summer season.
So if you are on the East Side of town, say from Hunter Mountain area, Albany, Peeksill, Buffalo, Rome, to Toronto, New Hampsire, Vermont and the like, get yerself down to what has been aptly monikered ‘the best one day festival, anywhere’.

19th Annual Chenango Blues Fest: August 19-20, 2011, By Blues Fans For Blues Fans

Bands for Friday
August 19, 2011
Guernsey Library

6:00 – 7:00 pm
Doug MacLeod

Chenango County Fairgrounds – Tent Stage

7:15 – 8:15 pm
Tas Cru
8:30 – 10:00 pm
Mississippi Heat

Bands for Saturday
August 20, 2011
Chenango County Fairgrounds – Infield Stage

12:00 – 1:00 pm
Gina Sicilia
1:40 – 2:50 pm
Honey Island Swamp Band
3:50 – 5:00 pm
Ana Popovic
6:10 – 7:30 pm
James Cotton
8:40 – 10:10
North Mississippi Allstar Duo
featuring Luther Dickinson & Cody Dickinson

Saturday August 20, 2011
Chenango County Fairgrounds – Acoustic Stage

1:00 – 1:40 pm
Suspicious Hats
2:50 – 3:50 pm
Doug MacLeod
5:00 – 6:10 pm
Super Chikan
7:30 – 8:40 pm
John Hammond

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Tagged as American Roots Music, Blues, Blues Music Awards, Blues411, Brad Vickers & Vestapolitans, Chefjimi, Chenango Blues Festival, Dinosaur BBQ, Doug MacLeod, Entertainment, Eric Larsen, Gina Sicilia, Honey Island Swamp Band, James Cotton, Janiva Magness, John Hammond, Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, Leslie K. Joseph, Mississippi Heat, Mitch Woods, NMAS Duo, Rochester, Super Chikan, Suspicious Hats, Tas Cru, Watermelon Slim, XM 70 Bluesville