Walter Trout Needs A New Liver

Walter Trout is an incredible blues guitarist that rocks.I have been fortunate enough to see him several times at the Western Maryland Blues Fest. His musical resume includes working with John Lee Hooker. He was a member of Canned Heat and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers.

Here is Walter with Coco Montoya, John Mayall and his Bluesbreaker...

Below Mr. Trout with Canned Heat...

Walter as a solo artist...

You can help Walter Trout. Here is a link for what you can do or share!

Stormy Friday

This late Spring/Early Summer I must be attracting the fowl weather. I blogged about my adventures in Beryl. Well my first Friday on being home I volunteered at the Western Maryland Blues Fest. Well the weather was rainy with severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado warnings and sightings in the area. None the less they decided to carry on with the festival.

It wasn't to bad one down pour during my shift. IT was warm and the rain kinda felt refreshing. Though when it poured it was cold. However, later in the evening they made folks evacuate and delayed the show for an hour and a half due to the threat of strong winds. Kudos, for the City of Hagerstown for opening up some public buildings for blues fans. The city kept their word and all the bands played.

I had mixed feelings but being on the outside it is easy to second guess. One it would make sense to cancel for public safety. However, they would have still had to pay the bands and some fans would have been disappointed. So, I guess the way they handled it was best. Fans got to see the bands, no one was hurt. The city acted responsible and their was great music.

The Blues Lost Another One R.I.P. Michael Burks

I didn't see this one happen..Michael Burks dead at the age of 54. It is reported he collapsed at the airport going through customs. My deepest condolences to his wife, family and love ones. I met him once after his set at the Western Maryland Blues Fest and he was a warm, friendly man. He was very nice and genuine to his fans. That's how I will remember him signing autographs and greeting fans in the rain.

Here is a picture of him doing just that..(I took the picture)

His talent is what most people will miss. I know I will miss his guitar skills and his music as a fan. I am glad I got the chance to see him perform.

Here is performing at the Fest ...

Here is another tune from that show...

He will be missed..

Passing it on

Blues is a traditional American music form which has been passed down from one generation to the next. Today, I continued this tradition with my daughter. My daughter is four years old and loves music. I encourage her and my wife and I share our music, the music we like with her. She also hears her own music as she develops her own taste. I support that too and trust me I heard about it when I bought my daughter a Justin Beiber shirt.

Today, I took her to the harmonica workshop. Where she learned a bit about the harmonica and encouraged to learn more. She was also able to watch Joanne Shaw Taylor perform. My daughter loves my guitars. She also loves to hear girls singing on the radio. What better way to introduce my daughter to the blues than with a girl kicking it on the guitar.

I want my daughter to be inspired. I want to keep the music I love alive and I want to share it with my daughter.

On Meeting Paul Reed Smith

At the Western Maryland Blues Fest on Saturday I met most of the performers. I also met a guitar icon in Paul Reed Smith. He graced the stage with Davy Knowles and Backdoor Slam for a couple of songs. After the show I caught up with him backstage before he left.

Paul Reed Smith is more famous for his guitars than his guitar playing. He is the man behind Paul Reed Smith guitars sometimes referred to as PRS guitars. Davy Knowles uses his guitars as does Carlos Santana. I will never have the chance to meet Leo Fender or Orville Gibson. However, tonight I had the honor of meeting Paul Reed Smith even if it was just briefly.It topped off a pretty awesome guitar fan day.

Tomorrow is night one of the Western Maryland Blues Fest

Ana Popovic is the headlining act tomorrow night, the young Yugoslavian blues guitarist. Here is a link to her website. Bonerama is the other national act on the bill Friday evening. Some New Orleans flavored funky blues horns. Here is a link to there site.

Then the regional and local acts get their shots on the big stage including Duffy Kane and Grand Point Station. Should be a great evening. If you are in the area you should stop by. Saturday is loaded with great guitarists.

Z to A: Devon Allman's Honeytribe

Devon Allman and his band Honeytribe will be playing the Western Maryland Blues Festival next Saturday at 1PM. If you like Blues, Southern Rock, and Jam Rock then this band is not one to miss. I did catch the band down at Wanee and they put on a heck of a show.

Z to A Challenge: Ernie Hawkins

Since, the June festivals are around the corner and I need to catch up with a few blogs I thought I would promote some of the artist performing. Next Sunday Ernie Hawkins will be performing for free at the Western Maryland Blues Fest in Hagerstown, Maryland. He will be performing 2PM-3:15PM at the City Park.He will also be conducting a free workshop from 12-12:45.

More info on Ernie Hawkins can be found here.  More information on the Western Maryland Blues Fest can be found on my Examiner article.

Z to A: Hagerstown Blues

It is time to get ready for the Western Maryland Blues Fest in Hagerstown. It starts Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of next week. Here is an article I published on the Examiner previewing the festival.

Joanne Shaw Taylor will be playing Sunday in City Park.

Davy Knowles will highlight Saturday. Lots of good guitarists will be at the festival.

A to Z : Festivals

It is getting closer and closer to festival season. It is one of my favorite times of year. These days I write about them and I have spent many years going to them. I'm lucky I live in an area with lots of music festivals nearby. The only problem is sometimes there are multiple festivals going on at the same time and one can't go to them all.

One of favorites is the Western Maryland Blues Festival in Hagerstown, Maryland. In past years I have met or seen blues greats like Hubert Sumlin, Walter Trout, the late Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, and more. Here is a picture of me with Kenny Neal at last year's blues fest:

This year's line up has some great young blues guitarists like Joanne Shaw Taylor, Davy Knowles, and Hamilton Loomis. You can read about the full line up here.

A little closer to me in a smaller town, there is the Brunswick Music Festival in Brunswick, Maryland. THis year's lineup has not been announced yet. It will be here. Last year it was a mix of blues, folk, bluegrass, and country all wrapped into one. Here is a review of the festival I wrote last year. Below is a picture of me and Kelly Bell of the Kelly Bell Band after his set at last years festival.

 The bad thing was the festival was at the same time the Harpers Ferry Outdoors Festival was going on, which is always a good time with live music and a silent auction. It was also the same time the Winchester Blues House Festival was going on. Believe it or not the Kelly Bell Band played both festivals last year! The line up for the Winchester Blues House Festival can be found here. Then it all wraps up with a huge bluegrass festival at Watermelon Park in September.