On Saturday, September 7^th, San Diego, California, opened its arms to the blues world and opened its heart to the hungry. The San Diego Blues Festival 2013 was an artistic and philanthropic success. Over 8,000 pounds of canned food items were donated to the beneficiaries of this event, The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

The festival was produced by journalist and long time San Diego blues impresario Michael Kinsman. In only the third year after an eight year hiatus, The San Diego Blues Festival has emerged, or reemerged, as a very important event filling the September void left by the disappearance of the oldest blues festival (San Francisco) and the largest (Long Beach) on the west coast. Smaller, less established festivals in California have gone by the wayside as well, including shows in Sonora and Eureka.  

San Diego is the most inviting and user friendly big city anywhere. The city is just a natural to be the host of an event such as this. The festival grounds at Embarcadero Marina Park, are simply as beautiful a setting for a blues festival as can be imagined. The host hotel, The Embassy Suites is just a short walk on a footpath that runs along the San Diego bay and skirts past the Shoreline Village shopping and dining district. 

The program was a very well conceived blues music potpourri.  The sun splashed crowd of over 5,000 was treated to some excellent performances. They included sets by blues veterans Jody Williams and Billy Boy Arnold who along with pianist Henry Gray, who played last year’s festival, are among the very last of the Chicago blues men whose careers began in the early 1950’s. Charlie Musslewhite, a perennial festival favorite, whose own career was launched in the windy city a decade and a half later, headlined the festival. The former child prodigy, multi instrumentalist and singer Lucky Peterson turned in an entertaining set. Dave Alvin played with what was billed as, his Downey Blues All-Stars. Newcomer Nikki Hill’s performance had youthful exuberance combined with a veteran’s panache.  Eden Brent served as a mid-afternoon sorbet as her piano based material is a favorite of the blues cruiser crowd many of whom were in attendance. Longtime San Diego blues man Bill Magee was also on the bill.

There were a few sets that even began before noon. The San Diego based soul band The Tighten Ups got the day started and were followed by The Fremonts whose music leans heavily on Excello Records style swamp blues. At 9:30 am the great harmonica player, vocalist and provocateur Billy Watson got everything warmed up as he played just outside the festival grounds in a trio setting that featured Pete Fazzini on guitar. 

The Festival utilizes two stages on either side of the large park and the music toggled between the two venues. The sound, lighting and stage crews were first rate and the performances were not marred by any major technical problems. Congratulations go out to to Michael Kinsman and his staff for a job well done. Aim Home Loan and all the festival’s corporate underwriting sponsors deserve a hearty thank you as well.

Next year the festival will be expanding to two days and will be held on September 6^th and 7^th. It is never too early to begin plans for a San Diego blues vacation. I hope to see you there.  

-        David Mac