2008 Woodie Awards
Resounding Notes
Musicians from near and far entertain Marquette at this weekend's fourth annual Blues Fest
Shane Nyman
Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: Entertainment
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With an impressive collection of local, national and even internationally recognized blues artists, endless amounts of food and anticipated crowds of nearly 2,000 people, the fourth annual Marquette Area Blues Fest has all the makings of an exciting Labor Day weekend.
The festival, held in downtown Marquette's Mattson Lower Harbor Park, begins Saturday afternoon and concludes after sunset on Sunday. The festival is put on by the Marquette Area Blues Society.
"It's a two-day festival featuring a variety of blues artists … from acoustic blues, local artists and regional blues all the way up to national and international touring acts," said Mark Stonerock, festival director. "People always come out and they have a great time."
Headliners include guitar virtuoso Tinsley Ellis on Saturday night and blues singer Bettye LaVette on Sunday.
"(Ellis) has been playing for many, many years internationally -- fantastic guitar, great vocals," Stonerock said. "(LaVette) is a solo blues singer and was named Living Blues Magazine's number one blues singer. She's going to knock 'em dead."
Also booked for the weekend is the Rusty Wright Band, featuring last year's International Blues Challenge runner-up, Rusty Wright.
Also on tap are Big James and the Chicago Playboys, a funky blues horn band that boasts the slogan of "There ain't no party like a Playboy party."
On the local front, Fast Eddie's Blues Band will make their return to the Blues Fest stage, as well as a cast of other familiar artists, including The Flat Broke Blues Review. The Review, which is The Flat Broke Blues Band with an extended lineup, features organ player Doc Woodward and a group called The Million Dollar Horns. Also joining in is Voodoo Brew, a band featuring two Marquette Senior High School musicians and NMU student Jon Letts.
Letts, an undeclared freshman, is the son of Flat Broke guitarist Mike Letts. He's been to Blues Fest every year since its birth and said he is looking forward to hitting the stage with his father.
The festival, held in downtown Marquette's Mattson Lower Harbor Park, begins Saturday afternoon and concludes after sunset on Sunday. The festival is put on by the Marquette Area Blues Society.
"It's a two-day festival featuring a variety of blues artists … from acoustic blues, local artists and regional blues all the way up to national and international touring acts," said Mark Stonerock, festival director. "People always come out and they have a great time."
Headliners include guitar virtuoso Tinsley Ellis on Saturday night and blues singer Bettye LaVette on Sunday.
"(Ellis) has been playing for many, many years internationally -- fantastic guitar, great vocals," Stonerock said. "(LaVette) is a solo blues singer and was named Living Blues Magazine's number one blues singer. She's going to knock 'em dead."
Also booked for the weekend is the Rusty Wright Band, featuring last year's International Blues Challenge runner-up, Rusty Wright.
Also on tap are Big James and the Chicago Playboys, a funky blues horn band that boasts the slogan of "There ain't no party like a Playboy party."
On the local front, Fast Eddie's Blues Band will make their return to the Blues Fest stage, as well as a cast of other familiar artists, including The Flat Broke Blues Review. The Review, which is The Flat Broke Blues Band with an extended lineup, features organ player Doc Woodward and a group called The Million Dollar Horns. Also joining in is Voodoo Brew, a band featuring two Marquette Senior High School musicians and NMU student Jon Letts.
Letts, an undeclared freshman, is the son of Flat Broke guitarist Mike Letts. He's been to Blues Fest every year since its birth and said he is looking forward to hitting the stage with his father.
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