NORWICH – Make sure you have your family’s lawn chairs and blankets set up by noon, because you wouldn’t want to miss a beat of the 16th annual Chenango Blues Festival this weekend at the fairgrounds.
Award-winning national artists from across the country will present an entertaining cross-section of blues styles, from New Orleans brass, to Chicago-style grit to down right funky soul. Gates open at 11 a.m.
Headlining acts on the main stage Saturday, sponsored by Kerry Bio-Science of Norwich, include the popular west coast band, Blues Harmonica Blowout. The all-star harp show features Mark Hummel, Rick Estrin and Kenny Neal, with Rusty Zinn on guitar.
Blues Association hospitality volunteer Linda Palmatier said watching the harp group perform tomorrow would be “a once-in a life-time opportunity” for festival goers.
“We actually got to choose what harmonica players we wanted to put together with Mark Hummel for our show. Rick Estrin, formerly of Little Charlie and the Nightcats, will be all wearing his colorful zoot suit, of course. And you can’t get much better than Kenny Neal, and Rusty Zinn backing them all up.”
Palmatier and about 35 volunteers have been busy this week transforming Chenango County’s fairgrounds into a comfortable home for some of the nation’s leading blues musicians. Hitting the stage before the headliners will be blues greats Sonny Landreth, Eric Lindell, Nora Jean Bruso and the George Kilby Jr. Band.
The music continues between sets on the Nelson & Flanagan/Grouse Ridge acoustic stage. Piedmont style blues masters Cephas and Wiggins; the young, talented Samuel James; and returning star Kenny Neal will get up close and personal with the audience.
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