12th Annual W

12^th Annual W.C. Handy Blues & Barbeque Festival

Henderson, KY June 8^th – 15^th.

“Handy Fest”, as it is known locally, has come into its own as a major Blues festival. It has long been a great venue, but, right off, I would say that it is now mature and well organized. Practically in the Heart of the country, it is easily accessible to anyone who loves the Blues. Held in downtown Henderson, KY, the organizers of the festival did a wonderful job and it went off without a hitch. I highly recommend going to this festival because they do a thoughtful job of rounding up great talent and spend a lot of effort in organizing the many events that surround the festival itself. It actually goes on about a week, with many local events that spotlight local talent.

Blessed by great weather and a close cooperation of local groups, Handy Fest was a great success. Held at Audubon Mills Park in the middle of Henderson, it sits above the banks of the beautiful Ohio River. The park has beautiful trees that shelter the concertgoers and a light breeze made sure there was a great setting for the lineup of talent. Speaking of which, although we got there on Friday, we missed Rosie Ledet and other Zydeco performers the night before. We were able to camp at James Audubon State Park only a few miles away. What a setup for a great weekend and the Blues.

Friday’s lineup included local acts “Blues 4 U” and “Casey James & The Flames”. Sonny Moorman, a Cincinnati-based blues-rock, followed them with some dexterous, spirited guitar and vocals. He is a great guitar player that you HAVE to hear. Nice licks and a variety of styles complement his act. Next up was The Anthony Gomes Band. Gomes is a pretty flashy guitar act, and he can really cut some guitar. He is proving that he can get the audience into the mood and have fun with them at the same time. His presentation is flashy, but he played some great Blues.

Curtis Salgado, a singer’s singer, stunned the crowd with some of the finest vocalizing I’ve heard lately. This guy is not to be fooled with—he’s a hot singer with some of the greatest pipes around. It’s getting harder and harder to hear a great soul vocalist anywhere these days. We’ll be talking to him about his ambitions in an upcoming interview. Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater took over the stage for the finale on Friday. He is so much fun, but he always plays some serious Blues. He left his legendary Indian headdress in the van, but I caught him with it on, posing for pix the next day. He’s very accommodating to his fans. He tore it up onstage Friday night and the crowd left feeling exhilarated. The whole day was a great mix of Blues.

Saturday’s lineup was another top-flight roster of artists, together with beautiful weather and plenty of great food—especially the barbeque! Since some of the artists that appeared were acts that I had not heard live, it turned out to be a day full of nice surprises. E.G. Kight was first up at midday. She turned the crowd on with some fine vocals and an experienced backup band. I particularly enjoyed the blend of her experienced Country voicing with the Blues. She comes from Country music, but she can sing the Blues with her own passion. Her version of “When A Man Loves A Woman” told it like it is! She was a real wit with the ladies. Smokin’ Joe Kubek w/ B’nois King followed E.G. Kight. Joe kind of stays in the background, but his guitar playing can’t help itself from jumping out. His phenomenal runs and slide work are out of this world. I particularly enjoyed his slow stuff. King’s vocals are sure-footed and mellow, so they achieve a blend like no one else.

Larry Garner was up next; with his brand of New Orleans Blues. His penchant for story telling really warmed up the audience. Miguel “Honeybear” Hernandez on bass was a knockout in his blue suit! Newcomer guitarist, Jared Daigle played some HOT guitar. Larry tells some pretty funny stories about his early childhood and rounder days. His walk into the audience after the set to shake hands with the people throughout the crowd reminded me that his first concern is with the fans. That is truly a nice touch!

My day was made by the “discovery” of an artist who lives on my doorstep—Jonell Mosser with Enough Rope. Her brand of fiery, soulful Blues really comes from the heart. She was an absolute STUNNER! She is beautiful and lively! Her vocals reminded me of the great Soul singers, but she has an intensity and fire that only comes from Janis and Bonnie! Her performance was a real treat for me, coming from Tennessee and not knowing whom she was. Blues doesn’t communicate well here, apparently. She is a top-rated act in Nashville at 3^rd & Lindley, so go see her if you get a chance. She has a new album out—Enough Rope, so pick it up at http://www.sirensongs.com/rope.html. You can bet there is more to come here about her.

As night fell, Bobby Rush and his show took the stage and immediately let the crowd know why he is the Blues Entertainer of the Year. Bobby knows how to grab the crowd by the throat and take over a stage. His hilarious antics and direct connection with the audience is immediate. With his sexy dancers and hard working musicians, his show reminds me of the great revues of the 60’s, where the whole thing is entertainment that makes the audience feel like they have been a part of it. Pumping, funky riffs and wild harp playing make the whole thing come off top rate!

Room Full of Blues topped out the evening with the best swing, jump and jive you can hear anywhere. All fabulous players the new lineup of the 35-years-in-the-making band is DY-NO-MITE! I want to say, here & now, this is a great new band! New singer with the band, Mark DuFresne is the greatest thing to happen to them since Sugar Ray. This guy can wail! His experience and vocal range are astounding. He brings great creativity and knowledge, along with a fabulous voice. He knows how to Swing! Soon we will be talking to them about the new lineup, so stay tuned.

Everybody left this event feeling like they wanted more. This is twelfth year for the Handy Fest, so they do it right. We have to thank Steve Gold and Dorin Luck for making our stay a real thrill. Thanks go out to all the hard workers who organize this festival and make it such a memorable event. We are putting this one on the schedule for next year & EVERY YEAR! Put it on your schedule too!

BluesSource.com
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