I love this festival so much and have so much fun daydreaming on how I want it to grow and what I want it to become, but first and foremost, Blues and Brews is a music festival. I know a lot of folks want more breweries and we will get there. We have to grow into that – and believe me it’s in the plan. But the one thing that will never change will be the love of music and the Blues in particular.
So, as I sit here feeling sorry for myself, because it’s supposed to be 70 today and I’d rather be outside listening to music and playing in the garden, I have a parking plan to put together. Then, as I’m trying to decide how to get everyone to be aware that we have onsite parking, I hear the most amazingly wicked guitar playing on my Apple Radio Station and I quickly click over to see who it was. Coco Montoya. All I can do is laugh and realize HE IS PLAYING AT OUR FESTIVAL!!!!!!! Wow is about all I can say. I’m so excited to see him play and hear him in person. He plays that guitar with such soul and feeling, it just pours out of him and I am officially twitterpated over the whole thing. So, I thought, you know – I’m going to see if there’s anything featuring Bob Corritore. Bob owns the Rhythm Room down in Phoenix and while I’ve watched some amazing shows down there – I’ve never really seen Bob play. Well, not only is Bob on Apple Radio, but he’s playing with Junior Watson and Fred Kaplan – the very same who will be playing with him at the festival. Prepare yourself to enjoy one hell of a day of music. With Eden Brent coming in from the east coast to join us and Janiva Magness headlining the show – these ladies will blow it out of the water! I think that’s why I love the Blues so much, the women are just as intense as the men and they bring it every time. The music that everyone is going to hear on June 21st is going to knock your socks off. FLAT OUT FABULOUS!!!
So, here I am, working on parking for this year, day dreaming about the day we get to expand to 2 days, and all the amazing talent out there just waiting for me to book. I will say, the hardest thing about this festival is deciding who plays. I only have 6 slots and I try to use Northland bands for at least 2, but I understand why some of these festivals grow to 3 days – and I have no doubt – that’s not enough time either.
Debbi