Tampa Bay Blues Fest review

3 days...Fri..Debbie Davies, toured with the great Albert Collins for 3 years, winner W.C.Handy Award for best contemporary female blues artist in 1997. Beginning a tour to support her new CD due in August w/Charlie Musselwhite, Coco Montoya, and Tab Benoit. Great Les Paul gal. She can PLAY!! Next, my favorite of the whole thing, Michael Burks. He steps out with his Les Paul and you know he's THERE!! He's very interactive, the only one that left the stage and wandered the crowd while playing. He is a must see!! Sugar Ray and the Bluetones from New England..good Chicago style blues.... Dave Mason.(fact,Hendrix heard Dylan's "Watch Tower" at a party he was invited to by Mason and recorded his version that night at Olympic Barnes, South West London, with Mason playing acoustic guitar. From Traffic samples to the song "We Just Disagree", he covered them all. Great band with him!        Sat...EGKnight, another blues lady who was a country player until1995 when she heard Koko Taylor. I would give her most props as a singer..Watermelon Slim..I have to admit I have a soft spot for this man..when one of the performers on the Blues Cruise had a medical emergency Slim led the efforts to raise money on board for his care. He is an amazing performer and good guy!!!Eric  Lindell, young group from New Orleans, a Tele and a Les Paul, can't go wrong there! Next was Lil'Ed and the Blues Imperials with what the Washington Post calls "contagious wildness". He's been known to do a back flip on stage!!He always wears a Fez. They have been on Conan twice. A real get you moving band! Then the legendary Koko Taylor. Bless her soul! It was HOT and she is in her 80's!!! She can still sing it!!! Last on Sat was Dickey Betts...enough said already re him!!! Sunday Walker Smith Group, Keb Mo style from Florida, good tunes.. Nora Jean Bruso, sassy lady with a gospel background. GREAT band..again 1 Tele and 1 Les Paul..YES...Then the one and only Guitar Shorty. Texas Style Ballsy guitar, full bottom blues, yummy!!!! Percy Sledge, still a soulful crooner and last but not least Jerry Lee Lewis. Although he's not as animated as in the past he gave a spot -on performance. What a way to close the festival. Hope this gets you out to see some of these performers. Support good music....... Sorry this is so long......Cathy