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Originally Posted Online: July 02, 2009, 11:26 pm Last Updated: July 03, 2009, 12:03 am 25th Blues Festival off to a smokin' startComment on this storyRelated stories
Fred Roby of Milan was taking a drag on his cigarette in the refreshing breeze along the Mississippi River Thursday, inside an orange-netted "smoking" area at the IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. "I like country music, but I can get into it," Mr. Roby said, next to his good friend Patty Smith, a true blues fan who was kicking back a beer as Bob Dorr and the Blue Band were also smoking. "It's rhythm and soul. It gets right into your heart," Ms. Smith said of the rollicking, chugging tunes at LeClaire Park. "This is great, sitting by the river." The special $5 "Retro Night" price was "awesome," she said, and why the couple came down on Thursday. Typically, Blues Fest tickets are $15 per day, as they are today and Saturday. But the main sponsor, IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union, wanted to celebrate its fifth anniversary with the festival. "We're making sure everyone could afford to get into the festival," credit union spokeswoman Laura Ernzen said. The night also fit the "retro" theme of bringing back early Blues Fest artists to mark the gig's 25th year, she said. "This is one of the hidden gems of the Quad-Cities," Ms. Ernzen said. "People don't realize the magnitude and popularity of this event. "We get world-class musicians whose tour schedule is all over the place," she said. "The Blues Society has really specialized in finding the up-and-coming blues artists — people you might not have heard of, but who are phenomenal. "It tends to be a great launching pad" for those newer acts, Ms. Ernzen said. The nationally and internationally known lineup includes Australia's Fiona Boyes, a past winner of the International Blues Challenge, at 5:30 p.m. today. "You're always discovering new people you've never heard of, and they're always fantastic," said Carol Bingaman, who drives with her husband, Mike, two and a half hours -- each way -- from Ottumwa for all three days of the fest. They've been coming for 16 years and are Mississippi Valley Blues Society (MVBS) members. Like many, Mrs. Bingaman was overjoyed to have the event back in the park after last year's flooding. "Last year, not a lot of people came. It wasn't the same," she said. "There's nothing like LeClaire Park." "This is the best," said Mr. Dorr, 57, a Davenport Central High alum who's had a blues band since 1981 and was the headliner for the first Blues Fest here in '85. The Cedar Falls-based host of "Backtracks" on KUNI (94.5 FM) noted that, after 30 years of lobbying, he finally has an all-blues show Sundays from 5 to 6:30 p.m., which debuts July 12. Thursday was his first appearance back at the bandshell in 10 years. "This is the Mississippi River. That is the blues," he said. "This is like the crossroads of a lot of blues. It's the Mississippi freakin' River, and Highway 61, the blues highway." Mr. Dorr was among area blues fans who formed the Mississippi Valley Blues Club in 1984. Under the MVBS, the festival has "grown into this world-famous thing that's fortunate to have pretty good leadership all the way through," he said. "The dedication of the people who do this on an annual basis — there is just a real good cadre of volunteers," said Nate Lawrence, an MVBS member on the education committee. "This is a really great event," he said. "We've really got a strong lineup." Mr. Lawrence, who was at the Chicago Blues Festival a couple weekends ago, said the Davenport schedule of 28 acts -- on two stages -- is superior to it. Blues Festival headliners Friday -- Eddie "The Chief" Clearwater, 10 p.m., bandshell stage -- Sugar Pie DeSanto, 9:30 p.m., tent stage Saturday -- Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, 10 p.m., bandshell stage -- Magic Slim and the Teardrops, 9:30 p.m., tent stage Tickets are $15 per day, and children 14 and under are free if accompanied by an adult with a ticket. For more information, visit www.mvbs.org/fest. |
