Peggy Ott's Blues Review
Bean Blossom Blues Festival
9/27-29/2001
Mark your calendar now for September 13-15, 2002, and head down to Bean Blossom, Indiana for the 4th Annual Bean Blossom Fest! Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers will headline this fun-filled weekend. It will also feature Robert Lockwood, Jr., Gene Deer, Mr. Downchild, No Regrets, and much more. Check it out at Harp Depot.
A six-hour drive from Grand Rapids, Bean Blossom has become THE weekend festival to attend for a great time and some awesome blues. My husband, John, and I spent the last weekend of September camping at the Bill Monroe Music Park and Campgrond, home of the festival. We arrived Friday night in time to set up the tent and take in Walter Trout. The night temerpature was cold - the band members and audience were wearing their winter coats - but that didn't slow down Walter - he was cookin' and he had the crowd jumpin'! Jams around the campfires continued into the wee hours.
Saturday dawned clear and cool, with hot coffee and hot & cold breakfasts available from the food vendors. Each student received a Bushman harmonica (designed by John), great instruction and lesshn sheets to take home.
The weekend featured two stages, the main stage and the blues stage. The advanced harp seminar took place at the blues stage, with able instruction and demonstrations by Keith Dunn and Paul Orta. THey shared tips and valuable information about playing harmonica in a band, equipment - mics and amplifiers, harp tunings, call and response, and other topics.
The harmonica contest also took place on the blues stage, as did some amazing jamming by some very young and incredibly talented harp players, including Sunny Girl (from Detroit), Mojo Mike, and L.D. Miller. L.D., 8 years old, plays with the Clayton Miller Blues Band, and was the winner of the harmonica contest in his age group.
Saturday afternoon saw perfomances by the Clayton Miller Blues Band, among others. This is a family band, with members including Dad Larry on bass, Clayrton (19) on guitar and vocals, Cole (16) on drums and vocals, and L.D. (8) on harmonica. L.D. started playing harmonica in March of 2000. He has played with Mississippi Heat, Governor Davis and the Blues Ambassadors, and Mike Kelsey, to name a few. He also made a surprise appearance with Buddy Guy on stage at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, IN.
James Cotton was the featured perfomer Saturday night. Unfortunately, James got lost in the countryside on his way to the Festival grounds, delaying the start of his performance. His band played without him until he arrived, however, than took a short break and came out to play again with him. James was certainly worth waiting for - seeing and watching and hearing him was worth the trip and price of admission alone. He drove has band relentlessly - there was hardly time for applause between numbers. And yes, he blew out a few harps.
When next summer's live blues have ended and you need a fix of some good live blues in a friendly atmosphere, Bean Blossom is the place to be. I hope to see you there!
