Thats right, I survived the Dutch Mason Blues Fest, three days of Blues, BBQ's, and Bikes. When I say three days of blues, I mean it. Our campsite was guitar blues jam central, people all over the campground heard the great music comming from our site and were attracted to it, anyone who wanted to join in were very welcome as we had two extra guitars on hand to use. I was breakfast cook and cook for 8 to 12 people each morning. after we all ate we had our morning "wake and bake" the guitars came out till the bands started to play on the big stage. Friday nite Charlie Acourt, The Great Jonny Winter, and the Faboulus Thunderbirds played and were at their best. They had an after hours tent that Joe Murphy and The Dutch Mason Blues Band played till 4;30 am
with special guest James Cotton and his amazing blues harp, we all came out of their very happy, then on the walk back we could have stopped at severel guitar jams at different camp sites but knew we had our own jam to
start up, we did and it ended just as the sun was comming up. a little sleep and we were at it again. Day two the same thing happened, breakfast, 'wake and bake' , tent guitar jam. we missed about four bands on saturday afternoon because our own jam didnt want to end, and that was all right by me cause my harp playing was at the top. Even my friends were amazed and got lots of complments. been blowing harp for 30 years at least and
didn`t now how good it could be. No cooking saturday evening as we all got cleaned up and went down to the Annual Maritime BBQ Cookoff, and we all had some great food just to support such a great venue. The nites line up was amazing again with the late Dutch Mason`s son Garret Mason and his band starting the crowd going with
his guitar licks and his dad`s great blues presence, The James Cotton band came on with special guest, 9 year
old Josh King, that made me get out of my chair and head to the front of the stage, wow this kid has talent and to see him and one of my favorites, James Cotton, was a hilite for sure. Robert Cray hipnotized the crowd with his very smooth guitar playing, and Jonny Lang ended the nite on the big stage at least, because Joe Murphy was again starting in the after hour tent. Garet Mason joined Joe along with Layla Zoe who sang like Big Momma Thorton and Etta James, she was powerful. The tent shut down round 5 am, and of course back to out site for more. Sun came up we all slept till noon. Sunday we all went down to the stage early, sat in the beer tent and had our medicine while blues bands played all afternoon, at 5 pm we all headed to the stage to see Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks and they didn`t dissapoint, Ronnie always had a great band behind him and still does. The
festivites ended around 8 pm sunday but our site jam went till 1 pm. Next day was rough but we cleaned our site ,packed up, and headed home all with a smile on our face, for the blues will make one happy.
Before we left we booked four sites for next year, can`t wait.
blue no more,,,, Badeye