Hard Knox Blues Festival 2006

Hard Knox Blues Festival
Knoxville, TN - 2006

It's been a long & lonely struggle for our friend, Michael Gill, but Blues is back in Knoxville, TN. The demise of the Knoxville Blues Society, its reappearance as the Smoky Mountain Blues Society, and various other problems has beset Blues fans here. As Blues fans know, a Blues festival is just about the best thing a city can do to bring entertainment that is wholesome and non-threatening to their people. But Pop music is bigger and draws more fans, that can't be denied. Albeit, if you can put up with too many people and any trouble that can cause, you can make a big impression. But Blues is a perfect evening, drawing fans and others who may have never heard this music played live.

Michael Gill is also the guy that books entertainment for the Knoxville Museum of Art's series called "Alive After Five". Blues is a staple there and is very well received by the attendees. In fact, they are learning that Blues is more than BB King & SRV. There are hundreds of other great acts to be heard, and Michael Gill is busy bringing those acts to Knoxville. It was in that spirit that he worked to bring this festival. It was also FREE!

The Saturday, June 3rd concert benefited the Heartsong Center for Accessible Art and Music. It also did some education to the public about the Blues Foundation's "Blues In The Schools" program in Knoxville, which is offered to the public schools FREE, supplanting Arts & Music programs that have been ousted from school curriculums. The Hard Knox Blues All-Stars (a collection jam of many Knoxville Blues musicians, led my Mike Crawley, kicked off the festivities. The musicians were superb, and that sheds some light on the Blues talent locally. Go out & support them!

Jenna & the Joneses were up next, and they rocked the house. With Mark Caldwell on Keyboards, Chris Smallcomb, Guitar, Charles Crisp, Drums, Danny Ledford, Drums & Percussion, and Paul Curry on Bass, as regular Jon Steele was out of town, the bands was outstanding Great Vocals & guitar work from this band, voted Knoxville's Best Blues Band of 2006. Jenna was top-flight with her vocals & Conga and is a real entertainer.

They got everyone ready for Diunna Greenleaf & the Blue Mercy Band from Houston, Texas. Diunna is a fantastic gospel & Blues diva. She is truly one of our favorites. They won the IBC award in Memphis last year, and are truly great talent. They will be appearing at Brackin's Bar in Maryville in October, so watch for them.

Stacey Mitchhart & Blues U Can Use, from their home in Nashville, arrived and tore it up for the crowd. Stacey is one smooth cat, a great vocalist, songwriter and guitar player. His large band of horns and drums backing is one of the swingingest bands around – more like a Big Band, but getting down in the Blues feeling. They rocked the house!

BluesSource was there, signing up fans for free, and talking with fans about the Blues. We had a great time & look forward to more Blues in our hometown of Knoxville, TN. Thanks to Michael Gill & Bluegill Productions and the volunteer staff for a memorable evening.

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