NORWICH – Organizers of the 14th Annual Chenango Blues Festival say the county fairgrounds will double as an observatory this weekend, as stars from the Gulf Coast are predicted to shower crowds with a musical light that’s all their own.
Two stages, the main and acoustic, will harness a lineup of musicians mostly native to the musical hotbeds throughout Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Diverse through experience and device, their talents are spiced by regional influences in blues, gospel, zydeco, funk, boogie-woogie, rock and roll, and country. Such a guided and relentless rush of music may invoke an unforgettable cultural incarnation within the City of Norwich.
Organizer and longtime Chenango Blues Association member Eric Larsen contends that the charm of eager citizens in Norwich and the surrounding areas is really the draw that makes this festival, and other events in this area, so successful and necessary.
“These events make for a great quality of life,” said Larsen, pointing to the upcoming Colorscape Art and Music Festival, the Gus Macker each July, the Family Bluegrass Festival in June, and a host of others, including the Blues Festival. “We try to put on a family oriented, low cost event with a host of national acts – the festival is as good as the biggest events in the country.”
National acts include event headliner Marcia Ball, an award winning mainstay in the Austin music scene, whose precise piano chops dance audiences up and down a raucous keyboard, and lull them down to bittersweet depths with soulful ballads.
Second in command is Tab Benoit, a bluesman from Baton Rouge who has learned, and taught, his blues guitar skills from a young age. Benoit, bolstered by a dynamic drum and bass duo, is described by festival organizers as being armed with “powerful guitar playing and a leathery, Cajun-spiced vocal attack.”
Music enthusiast and blue-fest patron Spencer Conant said the high quality of the talent and the inclusive environment are his reasons for continually coming back to the festival.
“The blues fest has a great atmosphere,” said Conant, a Norwich resident. “It’s not that often that nationally recognized acts make it to this area.”
That’s not all that’s making it to this area. According to surveys taken at last years festival, fans came from a number of other states and a swath of counties within New York state.
“The blues festival is an excellent way to introduce people to Norwich,” said Norwich resident and festival fan Cassie Andrews, whose parents Tim and Eileen have been involved with the event since its inception. “They (Chenango Blues Association) have created a festival that lets others know what makes Norwich such an eclectic community.”
An eclectic group of other Gulf Coast has also be gathered for this year’s festivities, including New Orleans funk, soul, rock, and blues icon Walter “Wolfman” Washington, who will be bringing his trademark guitar style; relatively new but lauded traditional Mississippi blues and gospel guitarist Daniel “Slick” Ballinger; and zydeco, roots, and blues extrovert “Jumpin” Johnny Sansone.
The festival will be inundated with a multitude of food vendors, including top tastes from Dinosaur Barbecue, Timi’s Greek food, and Taylor’s chicken and ribs joining Vittles’ burgers and dogs, and the Ontario’s spiedies and wings.  Also on hand will be local products like Baker’s Maple and Evans’ cheese. Craft vendors and exhibits will also abound. A kid’s tent will also be available with adult supervision so parents can enjoy the music while their children are in a safe environment.
Larsen attributed the largest portion of the festival’s continued success and ability to bring in world-class performers to the local business owners who contribute so much to this event and many others. “The bulk of the money is given by local businesses – we really can’t thank them enough,” said Larsen, who acknowledged that many contributors often times do so without need for recognition. “No business support, no show.”
The Blues Festival will officially kick-off at 6 p.m. this Friday, at the Guernsey Memorial Library, with a free and open workshop being conducted by world renowned lap-slide guitarist Mary Flower. Two free concerts will follow at the Chenango County Fairgrounds, starting at 7:15 p.m. with local blues band Uncle Bruce followed at 8:30 p.m. by the critically acclaimed Memphis rock, blues, and country frontman Alvin Youngblood Hart. The Saturday festival will begin a noon with Paul Mark and the Van Dorens, and run all day and into the night, wrapped up by Marcia Ball who comes on at 8:15 p.m.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate.  Attendees 18 and younger get in for free, those 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult.  Friday’s show is free for everyone.
Camping is also available on site; cars will be charged $35 for both nights, $20 for one night; RVs will be charged $45 for both nights, $30 for one night.  
The Chenango Blues Association said the Chenango Blues Festival is only made possible because of “great local support,” and would like to thank the following sponsors; Manpower Inc., this year’s naming sponsor, joining Manpower as major sponsors are Laral Management; Gilbert Machine & Tool; Snyder Communications; Grouse Ridge Kennels; Nelson & Flanagan; Frontier Communications; NBT Bank; and Procter & Gamble.  Other important support was received from Benedict Corp.; Gary Brightman; Chenelec/Electron Coil; Steve Crawford, Giltner’s; Kerry Bio-Science; L.W. Morse & Sons; Mead Westvaco; Nazzitos Wines & Liquors; Norwich Beverage; SD Concepts; Linda Tracy-Palmatier, LLC Consulting; and Walking Ridge Development.  In addition, this event was made possible through public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by the Chenango County Council of the Arts.