BLUES JUNCTION Productions
7343 El Camino Real
Suite 327
Atascadero, CA 93422-4697
info
On September 10, 2016, the city of San Diego once again opens its arms to blues music fans from all over the world and those fans will open their hearts to the hungry. The San Diego Blues Festival is one of the great annual events on the blues calendar.
Patrons are asked to bring two canned food items and in previous years the San Diego Food Bank has added 8,000 pounds of canned food to their inventory as a result of this festival. I urge our readers to click on this link to be taken directly to the festival’s very comprehensive website. There you will find a tab that details the most needed food items. Ticket information and directions along with short bios on the festival artists are also available at this site.
The festival’s producer again this year is long time San Diego blues impresario Michael Kinsman. True to form he has, as usual, assembled a stellar line up of artists who offer up the many shades and textures of this quintessential American music. There are many misconceptions about blues music. One of these which might be held by people new to this music is that it is one dimensional. Kinsman blows that theory out of the water with all the firepower of a Navy destroyer the likes of which you might see cruising by the festival site on San Diego Bay.
From the Chitlin’ Circuit shenanigans of Bobby Rush to the down home electric blues of Big Jon Atkinson and The Holla Pointe you will find a style of blues that suits your tastes. From the frenetic energy of young Nikki Hill to the laid back country pickin’ of Watermelon Slim, it’s all at the San Diego Blues Festival.
I’m particularly looking forward to hearing harmonica ace Billy Watson as he will be joined by the legendary guitarist Junior Watson (no relation) for a set of music that will be as exhilarating as it is unpredictable. Also there will be a very rare San Diego appearance by Chris Cain. I invite anyone within ear shot of Cain to close their eyes for a moment. You will swear you are listening to B.B. King. King’s influence touches virtually all electric guitar players in some way, but it hangs all over Cain like a San Francisco fog.
Then there is the Bey Paule Band fresh from their appearance at the Porretta Soul Festival in Italy. Fronted by Anthony Paule, they will be backing not one, but two of the best soul-blues singers to come down the pike. Frank Bey as well as Wee Willie Walker will provide the vocals for this guitar player’s phenomenal band.
Then there is the festival headliner, Los Lobos. They are one of the greatest rock & roll bands ever. I say that without apology or hyperbole. Their music is as far reaching and as widespread as their hometown of Los Angeles.
They have spent most of the last four decades playing with an elasticity that is simply astounding. The band plays vintage rock&roll, blues, soul, Norteña, folk, Tex-Mex and Southern Louisiana R&B with deft precision. The band weaves mostly original material with tunes from some of the musical destinations I just mentioned. David Hildalgo, Cesar Rosas, Louie Perez, Conrad Lozano and Steve Berlin have been at this a very long time and have the chops to prove it. Los Lobos has released 22 albums and if you keep track of such things has won four Grammys and garnered another dozen nominations.
As Kinsman told me recently, “Los Lobos represents everything great about American music and we are very proud to bring them to this year’s festival. Each year we try very hard to present a diverse line-up within the context of blues music and this year we may have outdone ourselves. Los Lobos represents musical diversity all on their own. They are a great fit and they are the perfect headliner for this year’s event. We are all very excited.”
In addition to eight hours of great music and a chance to contribute to a very worthwhile cause, the San Diego Blues Festival offers up something else... San Diego. The venue is located at Embarcadero Marina Park North at Sea Point Village Drive. The grounds feature two alternating stages, which are sandwiched between the San Diego Bay and a yacht harbor, with views of the San Diego skyline in the background. It is a spectacular setting. I’ll see you there.
Like what you're reading?
Support our efforts by donating
<- here
Copyright 2022 BLUES JUNCTION Productions. All rights reserved.
BLUES JUNCTION Productions
7343 El Camino Real
Suite 327
Atascadero, CA 93422-4697
info