Welcome to the October, 2022, edition of BLUES JUNCTION. Last month in this space we discussed my trip down to San Diego. As it turns out the Surfliner that took me from San Luis Obispo to San Diego almost became the surf rider. It was discovered back on September 9^th, the day that I was reveling on the rails, that high surf, caused by a hurricane off the coast of Mexico, lapped up onto the tracks. The pounding that the tracks took forced the closure of the route in Capistrano Beach for a time. Beach erosion and rising tides are cause for concern for not only regular train travelers, but homeowners in that area as well.

Capistrano Beach may be familiar to our readers as it is part of the Doheny State Beach Park and had been the site of the long standing Doheny Blues Festival.

That festival had moved to a city park down the street for two years before the pandemic closed the event for the past two years. Its return to the very popular state beach park for which the festival got its name has been speculated for some time. We should know in the next two months or so if the Doheny Blues Festival will return and what form that it will take.

What we do know is that the Redwood Coast Music Festival took place earlier this month and it was a spectacular event. It had more talent than any festival that I have attended in many years. Read about my experience at this absolutely extraordinary event.

It was great hanging out all weekend with the one and only Charlie Lange. We both went as civilians. He wasn’t manning his Bluebeat Music mobile record (CD) store and I didn’t request a press credential. This event was about the music and we soaked up as much as we could.                                                                       

Speaking of Charlie, he has many of the records we discuss in the October edition of our Recommended Listening Feature on his site. He is also the sole distributor of a new limited edition CD from San Pedro Slim. Slim aka David Kiefer is in our Monthly Artist Spotlight.

Three artists, whom I enjoyed up in Eureka earlier this month, are featured in interviews here in the October edition of BLUES JUNCTION. Enjoy conversations I had with Duke Robillard, Joel Paterson and Ray Norcia of Sugar Ray & the Bluetones fame.

It was great hanging out and visiting with so many old friends up in Eureka. It was also great meeting some new friends as well. This vintage American music is truly special and it was great to see it treated with the respect and dignity it deserves at the Redwood Coast Music Festival.

Until next time be well and be in touch.

-  David Mac



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