BLUES JUNCTION Productions
7343 El Camino Real
Suite 327
Atascadero, CA 93422-4697
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On You Won’t See Me at Simi
Let 'er rip and tell it like it should be told Dave. I also saw at Doheny they booked the Doobie Brothers. When I went to that in years past none of that stuff was booked, just blues. ~ Don, Minneapolis, Minnesota (U.S.A.)
Whatever the genre that is what I have gone to hear. I am fortunate to live in a city where I can hear the Blues every day if I so choose but last year when others outside the Blues community took over one of our festivals we the audience lost out to the all mighty dollar. ~ Sue, Saint Louis, Missouri (U.S.A)
In 2013, I attended exactly one blues festival, The Redwood City Blues Festival. I used to attend almost every one in a 100-mile radius. Why did I stop? The people who run them stopped booking bands that I wanted to see. So, I stopped going. I can sit around, eat Spaghetti O's and listen to CD's. I have several thousand recordings to choose from. ~ Joe, Fremont, California (U.S.A.)
Sad to hear this, I thought Simi Valley was one of the last of the good ones and was thinking of flying in from Canada. Not now I guess...if I want to see Edgar Winter or the like headlining a blues festival I can do that at home. Yuck. Are there any REAL Blues festivals left? ~ Norm, Windsor, Ontario (Canada)
Hey Mac, why don’t you shut the Fuck up and party. I don’t care who plays as long as their is beer. Why don’t you come out to Simi. I’ll buy you a beer and we can party. I’m serios. ~ Matt, Reseda, California (U.S.A.)
Editor: Thank you Matt. That is very kind of you. As delightful as your offer sounds, I will pass.
I've been thinking and saying this in "not so eloquent words" for years now. Even an ever popular "Water event" that many love has inched away from true blues. So sorry. ~ Sherilyn, Scotts Valley, California (U.S.A.)
You tell ‘em Dave!! It is sad not to be able to be at this place anymore. It was fun while it lasted. ~ Pieter, Hoak van Holland (The Netherlands)
There is so much real blues talent all over California, not to mention the rest of the country and the entire world for that matter. Why in God’s name do these festivals keep serving up the same old tired crap? Oh, I know, because to most people all blues is more or less the same. Since the promoters don’t know the difference they assume nobody does. In addition to that they just don’t give a damn. Well there are people who do. I am one of them. I have traveled with friends a great distance and we spent a great deal of money in the community of Simi Valley over the past four festivals. I wouldn’t travel ten miles to see this line up. So Long Simi... ~ Doug, Omaha, Nebraska (U.S.A.)
The worst part is that the promoters probably have absolutely no idea of the magnitude of what they had going there. The names that joined together on that stage over the last few years meant the world to those of us who get it, and meant nothing to those who don't. They probably hadn't even heard of some of them, and sadly they have no idea what they have taken from us. (Says the gal who normally took an unpaid week’s vacation to be able to attend both Doheny and Simi, and who flew all the way back home to Nor Cal from the Doheny festival last year to go to work for 4 days, only to turn around and drive 5 1/2 hours after work on Friday to make it to Simi for the 4th year. (I only share this fact so the promoters might understand what it meant to some of us). They do a great job with the Cajun stage, but I'm afraid we're back at being misunderstood yet again on the blues stage. ~ Leslie, Santa Cruz, California (U.S.A):\
On Blues America
I finished watching Blues America. Like you said there was some great footage, interviews and perspectives. However, it was totally incomplete and a bit confusing. If they would have expanded on the role of the blues language leading into jazz music and the mere existence of T-Bone, Bobby Bland, Gatemouth, Amos Milbourn, etc. it might have made a bit more sense. Of course, that wouldn't jive with the imaginary story of "authentic primitive battles commercialized whiteness" that was presented. The Lomax/Butterfield fisticuffs at Newport is proof of this. Marshall Chess summed it up quickly "we wanted to sell records, not art." ~ George, Detroit, Michigan (U.S.A.)
On Otis Grand
Great interview David. I was enthralled with what Otis had to say and based on this piece went out and got me a copy of Blues 65’. It did not disappoint. All I know is if you are talking to them Dave, then they can play. I suspect you don’t suffer fools lightly. ~ Luis, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (U.S.A.)
Otis My Man...If I want to read the real unfiltered truth, I know where to go, The JUNCTION!!! Thanks Dave for finding and engaging these artists in a provocative and intelligent manner. ~ Michael, Dublin (Ireland)
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BLUES JUNCTION Productions
7343 El Camino Real
Suite 327
Atascadero, CA 93422-4697
info