NORWICH – Spanning decades, continents and styles, organizers say the once-little Chenango Blues Festival brings together all the pieces that make up the big world of Blues.
“It touches all the genres of what’s going on in blues music,” said Dan Tracey, who helps organize the event with the Chenango Blues Association. “The blues is the root of rock and country, so we try to bring in a variety of artists, all representing the past and present.”
Blues Review magazine has rated the festival as one of the Top 6 in the country.
It begins at 6 p.m. Friday with a free performance by 1920s-era jug band “The Wiyos” at the Guernsey Memorial Library on West Main Street in downtown Norwich. Two more free shows Friday featuring “The Sidetrack Blues Band” at 7:15 p.m. and New Orleans guitarist Eric Lindell at 8:30 will follow at the Chenango County Fairgrounds.
“Eric Lindell is one of the best young blues guitar players out there today,” said Blues Association member Steven Palmatier.
Admission Saturday is $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Shows start at noon. For anyone 18 and under, admission is free.
“We try to keep it family-oriented, a place where they can come and enjoy themselves together,” fellow organizer and Blues Association member Linda Palmatier said.
Unlike in some years past, Chenango’s well known blues weekend doesn’t have a common theme in it’s 15th go-around, Palmatier said. Last year many of the performers were from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
“There isn’t a real theme geographically this year,” said Palmatier. “We’re looking at an international festival talent-wise at this point.”
Australia, Britain and both coasts of the U.S. all have representation in this year’s line-up. The group “Savoy Brown,” blues veterans from the British invasion days, were a quick addition to replace former headliner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ike Turner, who withdrew due to an illness.
“Every few years we try to book older artists we may never see again,” explained Palmatier. “We had that with Ike, but unfortunately he’s become sick. But with the pick-up of ‘Savoy Brown,’ we really haven’t dropped-off from our goal in getting a long-standing group here.”
It’s not just gritty vocals and signature guitar licks dominating the festival, either, Linda Palmatier says. From the full horn section making up “Big Sams Funky Nation” to the up-beat swing of “Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers,” Linda insists, “No two bands are alike.”
“One of our main goals is to help people appreciate and understand this loosely tied together thing called ‘The Blues,’” she said.
