Page 67 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2012

attendees) Ottawa Bluesfest was renamed View of the King Biscuit Blues Festival Main Stage, iew of the King Biscuit Blues Festival Main Stage,
attendees) Ottawa Bluesfest was renamed
V
Helena, AR Courtesy of Hammons and AssociatesCourtesy of Hammons and Associates
The Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest and recently Helena, AR
The Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest and recently
changed to the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest nature of profi t-centered promotion. I prefer
changed to the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest
nature of profi t-centered promotion. I prefer
just last year, insuring fi nancial backing for
just last year, insuring fi nancial backing for to think of it much like that commercial that
to think of it much like that commercial that
Guide and you will fi nd more on the blues years to come. highlighted the invention of the Reese’s
festival buffet than anyone could possibly fi t Of course there are other reasons for Peanut Butter Cup, “You got some chocolate
on their plate. Now as a vintage blueser, I alternating nom de guerre. You may recall in my peanut butter.” It’s all good!
admit anyone under 45 looks like a kid to the historic (1986 to present) King Biscuit Well, as we took this short stroll down
me. As I look around at festivals and clubs, Festival was required to change their the memory lanes of our even shorter
it seems to me the proportion of folks my name to The Arkansas Blues & Heritage memories, you may ponder the point. I
age to these “kids” is about equal. Ahhh, Festival for the years 2005-2010 due to prefer to look at it in simply grand terms.
a clear indication the blues is drawing new somebody’s insistence they didn’t have Refl ections of the past most certainly defi ne
fans as well as retaining the refi ned crowd the rights to use the name. Thankfully for our heritage and create a point of grand
(ahem). those of us with information overload and expectations for our future. As Bruce Cole,
Of course, I would be remiss, if not shrinking memory, they returned with the Chairman of the National Endowment
myopic, if I did not mention the rise of the original name in 2011. for The Humanities, once said, “Citizens
phenomenon of blues cruises. Since the Now, my dear friends, the blues purists ignorant of their history are robbed of the
virgin voyage of the largest franchise, The would surely take umbrage if I didn’t touch riches of their heritage.” We are where we
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise in 2002, on what they describe as the decline of have been and we grow from where we
these types of blues venues sell out in a “real” blues festivals as we know them. are going. I believe we should grab some
heartbeat to rabid fans craving a pampered I have been right next to them, while we more memories and pack for the next blues
and unfettered environment shared elbow- are happily dancing our patooties off, festival. We’ll see you there!
to-elbow with the artists. It also creates an just to hear them grumble, “I thought this
unprecedented opportunity for artists to was supposed to be a blues fest. What’s John “Blueshammer” Hammer is a writer/
spread their creative wings hosting fabulous with the rock!” (or jazz or pop or country, photographer based in Minnesota. He
jams with large, artistically differing groups whatever). Personally, I do not hold such publishes Blue Monday Monthly, which is
of peers. The special memories for all shallow, yet rigid standards. I can hear distributed in seven states and online at
involved in this experience are priceless. the basic progressions and structure of the www.bluemondaymonthly.com. John is also
One thing that caught my attention is blues in just about anything. However, to a promoter of live events and producer/host
the naming rights for blues festivals as the give them their due, I will acknowledge of the Hammered by The Blues weekly radio
larger corporate sponsors get involved. that in recent years some promoters may show on KOWZ 100.9fm / 1170am as well
The mega-sized (average of 300,000 book a few name acts that may have been as streaming on his website. To contact John
promoted in other genres to draw a larger about photos, subscriptions to Blue Monday, or
and more diverse crowd. Folks, that is the just to shoot the breeze:
blueshammer@bluemondaymonthly.com.

Fans pack the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest with cell
phones waving Photo by Steve Gerecke

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