Get Out to Live Music!

True to form, Bruce Wheeler put together an outstanding lineup for the Heritage Music Bluesfest this year. This year appeared to bring a record attendance. While I have not seen the official report, the stage was much more crowded than previous years; and the seats were near capacity.

The main stage lineup included Debbie Davies, Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets w/ James Harman, Sugar Blue, Delta Guitarslingers, Michael Burks – Sherman Robertson & Carl Weathersby, Lionel Young, The Soul of John Black, Barbara Blue, Blue Bella Revue w/ Nick Moss and the Flip Tops, Bil Lupkin & Kilborn Alley, Watermelon Slim & the Workers, Ana Popovic, The Mannish Boys, Trampled Under Foot, Seth Walker, Tinsley Ellis, Deanna Bogart, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, and Johnny Winter & James Cotton.

The second stage featured some very fine local talent: Sarah’s KickStart Blues, Adrian Niles, The Biscuit Rollers, Billy The Kid & the Regulators, Amanda McCoy, and The Catch Blues Band.

As is true with most festivals, there is nearly always a surprise. For this one, Deanna Bogart was the surprise to me. I have heard her on XM Radio before, but to see her performance in person is out of this world. Her energy on stage is amazing. The audience obviously knew what to expect as they crowded the stage. She captivated our attention as she and her band performed some fabulous Blues.

Thank you again Bruce for putting this together and to all the fans out there who support Live Music and the Blues.

Another great loss to the music community and those who love live music: LeRoi Moore.

Our hearts go out to LeRoi’s family and multitude of friends during this tragic moment. There will forever be a void where LeRoi once stood and his music flowed.

Steve & Brenda and the staff of Get Out To Live Music

From DMB Web Site:

“We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program.”

From CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/19/davematthews.band.death/index.html

We saw Dave Matthews in Virginia Beach on Thursday breaking our string of no music vacation days. What an awesome concert! The visual effects are phenomenal with a constant stream of video, pictures and band shots. Dave opened up with Seek Up, one of my personal favorites! The concert was a perfect blend of old and new DMB music. The band did a great cover of Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” that kept the audience on their feets. Speaking of on their feets, the entire audience stood and danced for nearly all of the concert! It was fun!

Well, our first stop on our summer tour fell flat. We planned to be at the Rocktown Grill in Harrisonburg, VA for their accoustic live music on the patio last night, and the band canceled earlier in the day. Bummer. There did not appear to be anything else out there to see.

We did enjoy some fine calimari and a crab cake sandwich alone with a couple brews and then got a good night sleep. The staff were really great. This is certainly a great place to stop off. They have live music quite often and mix up the genres.

Off to New York State today.