Page 55 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2017

KBa Honors Festivals

Looking for a tried-and-true blues festival that guarantees a roster of blues greats as
well as up-and-comers, good food, new and old friends of your blues family, and an all-
around authentic experience? Seek no further than the two festivals that received the
Blues Foundation’s Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) award this year. Both the Briggs Farm
Blues Festival (Nescopeck, PA) and the Porretta Soul Festival (Porretta Terme, Italy) have
been presenting the music and culture of the blues for decades.

atmosphere. From the smallest tot to the road-hardened blues
Briggs Farm Blues Festival warrior, there’s something for everyone on the farm. The

July 2017 marks the 20th anniversary for the Briggs Farm four-day festival opens Thursday night with musicians who
Blues Festival! Once again, the rolling hills of Briggs Farm in perform a vintage mystery album on the Stage of the Woods.
Nescopeck, PA, will transform into one of the most awarded Intimate and gritty, the Back Porch Stage gives the audience
blues festivals in the country, hosting thousands of dedicated a chance to get up close and personal with artists. It’s a
blues fans and exceptionally talented artists. special connection that draws a huge crowd to each show.
Much like the blues, Briggs Farm had a humble beginning. The Main Stage has hosted past greats such as
Two days of blues has turned into a staggering four days “Honeyboy” Edwards, Big Jack Johnson, Louisiana Red and
of Delta, Chicago and Kansas City inspired music on three others, to present-day rockers like Devon Allman, Samantha
stages. Young and old come together to honor and revel in Fish, Moreland and Arbuckle, Eric Gales, Victor Wainwright
the blues, but that’s only part of the Briggs Farm experience. and Marcus King. The talent speaks for itself and never
Guests love to fill the woods with tents and fire rings, visit disappoints.
the vendor village full of handcrafted items and stroll from Briggs Farm Blues Festival wouldn’t be the same without
stage to stage. The multi-generational crowd feasts on slow- the thousands of dedicated campers who, rain or shine,
smoked pulled pork, Southern-fried catfish and locally grown settle in with family and friends to hear great music. They’re
roasted sweet corn. Antique red Farmall tractors pull hay the backbone of the festival – music-minded people who
wagons through the fields of the farm, giving festival-goers a traditionally seek each other out year after year. For those
chance to relax with friends. who like feather beds and coffee makers, nearby partner
Since its first show in 1998, Briggs Farm Blues Festival hotels provide comfort and convenience for one-day, two-
has annually attracted larger and larger audiences by day and three-day festival-goers.
ensuring consistent talent and maintaining a family friendly Briggs Farm Blues Festival is a permanent home to
America’s most cherished and enduring musical genre – the
blues. The blues is an important part of America’s past, and
Briggs Farm is honored to be part of its future.
For more information, visit www.briggsfarm.com

Porretta soul Festival

Every year, Porretta Terme, a quiet resort town in Italy
known for its healthy air and thermal waters, is transformed
into a mecca of soul music. The Porretta Soul Festival, a
Tribute to Otis Redding, has become the most prestigious
European event entirely devoted to rhythm & blues and
soul music – particularly to the Memphis sound of the great
Otis Redding, to whom the festival is dedicated. This year’s
festival July 20-23 marks its 30th anniversary, as well as
the 100th anniversary of the birth of Rufus Thomas, an
John Primer wows on the Briggs Farm Blues Festival stage honorary citizen of Porretta Terme, to whom the festival’s
Photo by Mike Gendimenico park and amphitheater are dedicated. The annual event is

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