Knoxville Blues Festival

Knoxville Blues Festival
by
Gary Miller
October 3, 2001

It seemed like a reprieve from the horrible events of just 10 days ago. Some wondered if it would come off at all. Others wondered if they would be safe in a crowd. Some were glad to leave behind the grief, even for just a few hours. As I pulled up to Market Square in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, I knew one thing: If there were ever a need for Blues music, today was it. The suffering the whole country is going through is enormous - a life-changing event in the history of the world. "Everyone has the Blues at one time or another," an old B. B. King, line runs through my head. I really believe this music was born out of pain and will help relieve the pain. That's what it is for and about.

So many people had worked tirelessly on this project. Our thanks go out to them. So many people didn't believe in the Blues Festival that it hardly had a chance. Yet, Market Square slowly filled up. "The show must go on," after all! The lineup was set for Blues In The Schools, a more than worthy project of every Blues Society in America. Next, Mojo,a great local group with Al Owrutsky and friends, brought everyone around to the Blues. Thanks for some great sounds, especially that Swing stuff. How appropriate!

The Scott Holt Band was up next, with some really rockin' Blues. Scott has played with Buddy Guy, among others, so he was really experienced in getting the crowd on its feet. His forays into the audience were what got the people boogying, and he even gave his guitar to one young lady for a short Blues lesson! His version of the National Anthem certainly got people's attention. It was a chance for everyone to be together in spirit at the end of such a tragic week.

Liz Mandeville Greeson was up next, and what a bang-up job she did! A wild gal, certainly, she is full of great Blues feeling and absolutely stunned the crowd. What a voice! She is a great entertainer and the band was really solid. Not one bad anything here! Her style is that of the great women Blues singers, and she holds nothing back. A few great Blues stories are her forte, and most women at the fest got the message. She was hilarious! Watch for this great act!

Tinsley Ellis came back to Knoxville, and we're glad he did! He is truly steeped in great guitar tradition, and his playing was perfect. (Thanks for "America, The Beautiful"!) I was so glad to see him return to Knox, since he expressed a desire to me to come back here to play last year. His great work at Ella Guru's, a (now defunct) local club, will long be held sacred. This man works HARD! He tours constantly, and loves to play. He is very serious about his music and it shows. This is some great guitar, and he is welcome back anytime. Rock on, Tinsley!

Larry McCray, who I saw at the Prairie Dog Festival in Wisconsin, was as great as I remembered him. What a nice guy! He's right up there in my book of great guitar players. Aside form having a great vocal style and delivery, his guitar literally wailed and screamed through the canyons of downtown K-Ville. Shades of Albert King, Albert Collins and Freddie King crept, and sometimes jumped out, during his set! The crowd had never heard anybody like this before. His guitar playing is phenomenal, and this was a chance to see the Blues played right up in front. What an experience!

I know that the Festival was something that Knoxville needed at this time. Not just for everyone to get together, but to experience something that is truly American together. This is our national heritage. This is our soul. This is something we need, Knoxville!

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(Published by Blueswax 10/03/2001)