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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Off Topics → Sad sign of the times.
Monterey Blues Festival goes under. http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=803128
Rick
Sad news indeed Rick.I never have been to it,but its historical yo the US music scene for sure.
Same fate that ended the San Francisco Blues Festival, the longest running blues festival, in 2009. I just read some news about this last week and a link to send contributions to try and save the festival. This Sat. is the 1st Monterey Bacon Blues & Brews Festival at the same fairgrounds the old festival had been held. The ticketing format might have had something to do with their demise. The headliners performed in groups on the main stage and you had to buy 3 different tickets to see the entire day & night of music, which got rather pricey.
Save The Blues!!!
J Dawg
Sad for the festival I suppose. NOT so terribly sad for the blues in the long run. Sad for the blues would be Chicago Blues Festival going under. It is free and I believe going for over a quarter century. It and the Ottawa Bluesfest are the best. Actually, a bluesfest to me has become untenable to me for many locations. I cannot speak for Blues Cruises, but land versions either get too much talent to try to draw masses of people (many who like one or a few acts with one or a few they either don't like or can leave a tad more than take), or the talent pool is so-so, or people just don't know the names well enough to forego other avenues of entertainmemt available a given weekend. Bowling, tv loafing, or a picnic may have greater appeal! I think the Chicago Blues Festival more strictly sticks to the blues, while others, like the Ottawa Bluesfest (not free), branch out while showcasing a majority of blues acts (broad scope definition of blues). San Francisco's Bluegrass Festival, aptly named Hardly Strictly Bluegrass does the same, featuring acts which are absolutely not bluegrass, while having some who are somewhat bluegrass and some strictly bluegrass performers. It is also free (with it being financed by one man's estate, thought to probably last until about 2022 I think). All 3 of these are multiple day set in MAJOR metroplitan cities. Monterey, despite being breathtakingly beautiful, is still out of the way, especially in these times... Southern Californians, let alone across the nation or international interested fans have a difficult trip to make logistically, let alone financially. And it is tough enough times for a single act, so performance fee demands of those who are needing a good gig payday push a little harder (as if or because they really don't need the exposure per se), driving co$t$ up and up, or refuse (perhaps making promoters uneasy about letting another top act getting away regardless of it possibly being the one that draws first blood in the red ink column) or back out if terms don't meet their desires or needs.
Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket
ps- having grown up close to Ottawa, that stage collapse in 2011 was labeled "freak" act of nature, but that type of storm is ALWAYS looming and able to pounce like a tiger in summer, as is something like 2005 when it was so hot and muggy Sonny Landreth closing the festival said it was worse than Louisiana. Thank goodness Cheap Trick, crew, and fans all escaped death and serious injury.
"
JDawg,
Did you really say first annual Monterray BACON, Blues Festival?
I know everything is better with bacon, but how many more people will that actually draw?
I'm reminded of a Jim Gaffigan line: "Would anyone even know what a water chestnut tasted like if it wasn't for bacon?"
Seriously though, it's sad to be losing these long standing festivals. Glad Chicago is carrying the torch. This has been a widely attended and WILDLY popular event for Chicago. Here's a little history:
Chicago has a storied history with blues that goes back generations stemming from the Great Migration from the South and particularly the Mississippi Delta region in pursuit of advancement and better career possibilities for musicians.[1][2] Created by Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Lois Weisberg, the festival began in 1984,[2] a year after the death of McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, who is generally considered "the father of Chicago blues".[3] Each year the organizers choose a theme, generally to honor a recently departed blues musician.[4] Obviously, Chicago blues acts are common. Also, in keeping with the blues' influence on other musical genres, there are some soul, jazz blues and blues-rock acts. Since those early beginnings the festival has risen to a status that the City of Chicago bills as the world's largest free concert of its kind.[5] The Blues Festival is the largest of the city's music festivals.[5]
JDawg,
Did you really say first annual Monterray BACON, Blues Festival?
I know everything is better with bacon, but how many more people will that actually draw?
I'm reminded of a Jim Gaffigan line: "Would anyone even know what a water chestnut tasted like if it wasn't for bacon?"Seriously though, it's sad to be losing these long standing festivals. Glad Chicago is carrying the torch. This has been a widely attended and WILDLY popular event for Chicago. Here's a little history:
Chicago has a storied history with blues that goes back generations stemming from the Great Migration from the South and particularly the Mississippi Delta region in pursuit of advancement and better career possibilities for musicians.[1][2] Created by Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Lois Weisberg, the festival began in 1984,[2] a year after the death of McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, who is generally considered "the father of Chicago blues".[3] Each year the organizers choose a theme, generally to honor a recently departed blues musician.[4] Obviously, Chicago blues acts are common. Also, in keeping with the blues' influence on other musical genres, there are some soul, jazz blues and blues-rock acts. Since those early beginnings the festival has risen to a status that the City of Chicago bills as the world's largest free concert of its kind.[5] The Blues Festival is the largest of the city's music festivals.[5]
YES!!! Bacon, Blues, & Brews!!! First go 'round at this idea. Search it on Facebook for info, Les Dudek is headlining.
Pass The Bacon Please!!!
J Dawg
Sad for the festival I suppose. NOT so terribly sad for the blues in the long run. Sad for the blues would be Chicago Blues Festival going under. It is free and I believe going for over a quarter century. It and the Ottawa Bluesfest are the best. Actually, a bluesfest to me has become untenable to me for many locations. I cannot speak for Blues Cruises, but land versions either get too much talent to try to draw masses of people (many who like one or a few acts with one or a few they either don't like or can leave a tad more than take), or the talent pool is so-so, or people just don't know the names well enough to forego other avenues of entertainmemt available a given weekend. Bowling, tv loafing, or a picnic may have greater appeal! I think the Chicago Blues Festival more strictly sticks to the blues, while others, like the Ottawa Bluesfest (not free), branch out while showcasing a majority of blues acts (broad scope definition of blues). San Francisco's Bluegrass Festival, aptly named Hardly Strictly Bluegrass does the same, featuring acts which are absolutely not bluegrass, while having some who are somewhat bluegrass and some strictly bluegrass performers. It is also free (with it being financed by one man's estate, thought to probably last until about 2022 I think). All 3 of these are multiple day set in MAJOR metroplitan cities. Monterey, despite being breathtakingly beautiful, is still out of the way, especially in these times... Southern Californians, let alone across the nation or international interested fans have a difficult trip to make logistically, let alone financially. And it is tough enough times for a single act, so performance fee demands of those who are needing a good gig payday push a little harder (as if or because they really don't need the exposure per se), driving co$t$ up and up, or refuse (perhaps making promoters uneasy about letting another top act getting away regardless of it possibly being the one that draws first blood in the red ink column) or back out if terms don't meet their desires or needs.
Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocketps- having grown up close to Ottawa, that stage collapse in 2011 was labeled "freak" act of nature, but that type of storm is ALWAYS looming and able to pounce like a tiger in summer, as is something like 2005 when it was so hot and muggy Sonny Landreth closing the festival said it was worse than Louisiana. Thank goodness Cheap Trick, crew, and fans all escaped death and serious injury.
Your right Rick about the Chicago Blues Fest.Its free.It stays pretty strict to the blues.It mainly local Chicago artists which is good for the local scene.Not too much in blues rock. It seems to draw a large crowd every year. Thing is you can catch these acts in a small club or bar for the most part outside of the headliners.
Sad news indeed. However, on the bright side...the co-promoted Boulder Junction Blues/Rock Festival is getting very close to being a Fact. More info on a separate thread. 
Roy
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