On Saturday and Sunday, September 26th and 27^th, San Diego, California will again open its arms to the blues world and open its heart to the hungry. The 2015 San Diego Blues Festival has all the makings of an artistic and philanthropic success. In previous years 8,000 pounds of canned food items per day were donated to the beneficiaries of this event. 100% of the proceeds go to benefit The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

The festival will again be produced by journalist and longtime San Diego blues music impresario Michael Kinsman. In only its fifth year The San Diego Blues Festival has emerged 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 also come and gone. Shows in Sonora, Eureka and Irvine Lakes come immediately to mind.   

The city is just a natural to be the host of an event such as this. San Diego is the most inviting and user friendly big city anywhere. The festival grounds at Embarcadero Marina Park are simply as beautiful a setting for a blues festival as can be imagined. Embarcadero Marina Park strattles a yacht harbor and the San Diego Bay with views of the Downtown San Diego skyline, Coronado Island and the Coronado Bridge. First class resort hotels are just a short walk on a footpath that runs along the San Diego Bay and skirts past the Shoreline Village shopping and dining district. 

This year’s program as always is a very well-conceived blues music potpourri. Some of the artists on the bill this year include Booker T Jones, Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Marcia Ball, Henry Gray, who will be playing with Chris James and Patrick Rynn, The Paladins, the pairing of Kim Wilson and Anson Funderburgh, Big Jon Atkinson and the Nationals, Nathan James and the Rhythm Scratchers and others. Kinsman takes the time and trouble to put together a balanced line-up that features different styles and various textures and hues from the blues palette which makes for a very satisfying weekend of music. This year’s line-up reflects that sensibility.

The festival utilizes two stages on either side of the large park and the music toggles between the two venues. The sound, lighting and stage crews are always first rate. 

Not only am I looking forward to enjoying two days of music, I enjoy participating in such a worthwhile cause while catching up with my San Diego Blues family.

- David Mac

Editor’s Note: Here is a link to the San Diego Blues Festival website.