Page 82 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2013

the BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE Congratulates the reCipients of the KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE award for BEST BLUES FESTIVAL
KBA Recipient

BLUES FOUNDATION’S BLUES FESTIVALS OF THE YEAR 2013

By Lloyd Peterson & Pierre-Alexandre Legault in even bigger names to attract locals as well as our loyal blues
festival fans. The festival was so well-received that first year that the
Mount Baker R&B Festival (US) Canadians began coming down. With continuing support from the
Bellingham, Washington Washington Blues Society, other festivals like Winthrop R&B and
Sunbanks and Canada’s White Rock Blues Society, we were well on
our way to becoming a significant, international blues event.
Once established as a force in the blues community, we have
been able to create one memorable event after another. It may be
the relaxed, homespun “vibe” of Mount Baker that accentuates the
event since it’s so unique unto itself. The grounds have everything
you need: food and crafts vendors, beer garden, free showers
and camping, autographed guitar raffles and even a Gospel Hour
on Sunday. Every night, after the Main Stage show ends, almost
everyone moves into our indoor venue to jam until 2am. In addition
to providing all this, the festival has also raised and donated over
$70,000 to aid those in need in the community.
Most nominated festivals are not only much larger, they are
usually held in much bigger corporate markets. “Grassroots” is the
name of our game… A festival “by and for the people!”
The 2013 lineup for the 18th annual Mount Baker R&B Festival,
What a “long, strange trip it’s been.” From simple beginnings August 2nd-4th, continues with another collection of fine performers.
in 1995 at the River’s Edge Christmas Tree Farm with a meager Come see us! www.bakerblues.com. ~ Lloyd Peterson
100 people in attendance, to today’s 3,000 fans and a world-class
venue of the Deming Log Show Fairgrounds, the Mount Baker R&B
Festival has grown into a real world-class event.
In 2005, after celebrating 10 years at the tree farm, it became
clear that it was time to move.
The tree farm was “magical” in that it framed the stage in an
intimate crown of cedar and fir trees. The fact that it lacked camping
and adequate parking made it impossible to attract enough people
to bring “marquee” talent and generate the revenue to pay for it.
Not that we didn’t have talent. We were lucky enough to have
had Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Bob
Margolin, Magic Slim, Dave Hole, Walter Trout, Chris Duarte, Big
Jack Johnson, Nappy Brown, Robben Ford, David Lindley and the
best local and regional talent in the Northwest.
In this case, “bigger had to be better.” It’s hard to imagine a better
site for a festival. The Fairgrounds have it all: 180 acres of pristine
mowed grass, an indoor facility with a stage that accommodates
1,500 people for jams, RV hookups, ample water and power and a
dump station. Best of all, “no dirt!”
The heart and soul of the Mount Baker Festival is the 40-50 loyal
volunteers who tend the grounds and ensure fan safety. Once we
had grounds, facilities and staff in place, the stage was set to bring The Mt. Baker Rhythm & Blues stage glows at night Photo courtesy of Lloyd Peterson

80 Blues Festival Guide 2013