Doleful lyrics, righteous bass solos, call and response; these elements are characteristic of our beloved blues music. Blues fans gathered in Town Square Saturday for a gorgeous, breezy day at the Baton Rouge Blues Festival. Healthy doses of both local and national music greeted fans. The park offered two stages, delicious traditional Louisiana cuisine, and of course, Abita.
The Blues Festival musicians, like the cuisine, were flavorful and had something for everybody. The Young Band Nation Blues Project comprised of local students, kicked off the fest with an impressive display of budding talent. The musical stylings of Baton Rouge native acts like James Johnson and Jonathon “Boogie” Long reminded audiences of the our capital city’s impact on the blues scene. Even though not all performers were indigenous, the crowd made them feel welcome by clapping, dancing, and singing to the tunes.
Lightnin’ Malcolm, Cameron Kimbrough, and Louisiana native Cyril Neville delighted audiences. For the veteran blues fans, older acts like Watermelon Slim and Johnny Winter played the classics, but kept the atmosphere fresh. The fest was a wonderful refresher on the history of southern culture and the uniting power of music. The annual event was hosted by the Baton Rouge Blues Foundation.
Taylor Schoen, Reveille Radio News
 
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Contact Taylor Schoen at [email protected]