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StumbleuponDayton Blues Fest comes early this year
Friday, July 18, 2008
That's no typo ... The Dayton Blues Festival has come early this year. In order to allow more time between the Reggae Festival on Aug. 31, the organizers have moved the annual outdoor festival up to Sunday, July 20.
The Blues Fest returns to Dave Hall Plaza Park, on East Fourth Street between Main and Jefferson streets, at 1 p.m. Sunday. The free event, hosted by emcee Earl "Southside" Hayes, features performances by Noah Wotherspoon, the Blues Messengers, Miss Lissa & Company and more.
"When I started three years ago, I made a list of all the blues bands that I knew from all around the area," festival talent programmer Marty Romie said. "Most of them had never been in the Blues Fest and should be in it. I think there were 23 or 24 bands, and I've pretty much worked through that list now."
West Milton blues trio Reece and the Renegades opens the day at 1 p.m. The group led by Reece Lincoln, bassist for Michael Locke and the Repeat Offenders, is making its first appearance at the festival. Other acts appearing for the first time include the Doug Hart Band, Mr. Keith Little and His Blues Body, Miss Lissa & Company and the Blues Messengers.
"We try to get five or six new ones each year and a couple of repeats," Romie said. "I've had a few people I've had to put off a couple of years, but I've worked through some of the people I've been waiting for years and years to get in."
Big Gil's Funky Blues All-Stars and The Royal Blues are making return performances at the festival, but it has been several years since either group performed.
Tim Arnold & the Gem City Soulshakers will close out the evening with a local all-star jam featuring Sharon Lane, the Gem City Horns and longtime Blues Fest favorite Noah Wotherspoon.
"I love Dayton," said Wotherspoon, who is now based in State College, Pa. "I love coming home to play. I'm going to be playing with Marty Romie and Josh Johnson, so I'll have the old Stratocasters going with Tim Arnold up there with us. Tim was my first blues mentor, and blues is still such a big part of me. Growing up in Dayton, the blues community there has been like a family to me."
Jeff Hill, the president of the newly established Dayton Blues Society, agrees. "The blues community is like a family," he said. "Yes, we have a crazy uncle or two ... but we're still family."
Romie is serving as event chairman for the new non-profit group, which includes vice president Jake Shumaker, treasurer Bob Dessecker, secretary Tammy Hill, membership chairman Steve Wright, grants chairman Greg Bell and sponsorship/donation chairwoman Mary Little. Officers and board members will be accepting memberships for the first time during Sunday's Blues Fest. The membership fee is $25.
CONTACT contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.
how to go
WHAT: Dayton Blues Fest with Noah Wotherspoon, the Blues Messengers, Miss Lissa & Company, The Gem City Soulshakers and others
WHERE: Dave Hall Plaza, at Fourth and Jefferson streets
WHEN: 1-9 p.m. Sunday
COST: Free
MORE INFO: (937) 333-8400; www.daytonbluessociety.com
1 p.m. Reece and the Renegades
2 p.m. Doug Hart Band
3 p.m. Big Gil's Funky Blues All-Stars
4 p.m. Mr. Keith and His Blues Body
5 p.m. The Royal Blues
6 p.m. Miss Lissa & Company
7 p.m. The Blues Messengers
8 p.m. Gem City Soulshakers, with Noah Wotherspoon, Sharon Lane and the Gem City Horns
