NORWICH – For a third straight year, the Chenango Blues Festival drew a record crowd to the county fairgrounds Saturday, with some festival-goers hailing from distant locations such as Pennsylvania, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, Louisiana and Florida.
Thousands attended the popular event, which celebrated 20 years of bringing the best of the blues to the area with performances by J.J. Grey & Mofro, the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, Duke Robillard, Davina and the Vagabonds, James Armstrong and many more.
It was, said Chenango Blues Association President Eric Larsen, a Blues Fest to remember.
“We always get together Sunday afternoon to re-cap and everything just went so smoothly,” added Larsen. “It was a perfect day, we had more people than we’ve ever had and we had zero problems. It was fantastic.”
The 20th annual Blues Fest kicked off Friday night with a trio of free performances by Murali Coryell, Alligator Records recording artist Anders Osborne and the New Orleans-based Papa Grows Funk. Coryell jump started the show with a virtuosic set that had fans crowding to the front of the stage. Osborne, subsequently, proceeded to wow audience members with a furious – and jaw dropping – assault on his battered Fender Stratocaster, while Papa Grows Funk closed out the night with a lengthy, inspired set of jazz and funk, New Orleans style.
The gates of the Chenango County Fairgrounds opened at 11 a.m. Saturday, and by the time Hightone recording artist James Armstrong hit the stage, hundreds had taken up their positions, setting up folding chairs or wandering the grounds while checking out the many vendors on hand. Armstrong didn’t disappoint, kicking things off with his Buddy Guy-like vocals and stinging guitar.
The best part, said several members of the blues association, is that – once things get going – the music never stops. Interspersed with each Sheffield Pharma Ingredients main stage performance, as in years past, are performances on the Nelson & Flanagan-Grouse Ridge tent stage. Harmonica player Tom Townsley – joined by Seth Rochford on guitar – got things started on the tent stage, followed by Samuel James, Ann Rabson and Bill “Sauce Boss” Wharton.
Back on the main stage, Davina & the Vagabonds had the crowd rollicking as she and her fellow bandmates took listeners on a journey to New Orleans and back, weaving an intricate mix of jazz, blues, gospel and soul. Blues legend Duke Robillard followed, definitely a festival favorite, performing his trademark blend of traditional blues, mellow jazz and good old-fashioned rock-n-roll. The crowd in front of the main stage continued to swell as Louisiana supergroup Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars wowed festival-goers, featuring guitarist Tab Benoit, percussionist Cyril Neville and legendary New Orleans drummer Johnny Vidacovich. Yet it was J.J. Grey & Mofro that stole the show as darkness descended on the
