Chenango Blues Fest readies for 24th on heels of international top honor
NORWICH – Beginning this evening, the return of the much-anticipated three days of music that encompasses the annual Chenango Blues Fest (CBF) kicks off much to the blithe of blues and live music festival-goers from across the nation.
In typical fashion, convoys of die-hards in RV campers will flock to the Chenango County Fairgrounds where a crowd upwards of three thousand more isn’t unheard of.
Earlier this year, the Chenango County Blues Association – the nonprofit organization responsible for bringing the annual Chenango Blues Fest online in 1993 – was recently notified that the festival has been selected by the Blues Foundation to receive its top honor.
“It really came out of nowhere for us. We didn't apply for anything – we kind of just received a phone call one day and that was that,” said Chenango Blues Association (CBA) President Eric Larsen.
Founded in 1980, The Blues Foundation is Memphis-based, but world-renowned as the organization whose mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form.
While unexpected, Larsen and other representatives from the CBA are jumping at the opportunity to receive the accolade, and will head south to Memphis, Tenn. to attend the award ceremony. The ceremony just so happens to coincide with the 32nd International Blues Challenge beginning January 27, featuring the final rounds of the world's largest and most prestigious blues music competition.“We've never had the opportunity to attend the Blues Challenge —something I've always wanted to do — but now we have a perfect excuse to go down and actually be a part of it,” said Larsen.
The Blues Foundation honored 15 individuals and organizations in 2016’s ‘Keeping the Blues Alive’ (KBA) Awards during back in January.
Each year, the Blues Foundation presents the KBA Awards to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to blues music. The KBA, as well as seminars, showcases and receptions for blues societies, fans, and professionals.
According to Larsen, the model for the CBA's success is incremental growth over time. What started as a small affair with merely four acts in its first incarnation has morphed into a two-day, full-on festival complete with dozens of vendors, professional sound engineering, and on-site camping for the more than 3,000 locals and out-of-towners who came from as far as Atlanta in 2015.
Much in part to the festival's positive impact on local culture and the arts, the CBA was approached by corporate sponsor NBT Bank in 2015 with an offer of additional funding to enhance CBA's programming presence. The result: a marked increase in the number of “free” shows organized by the CBA in their offshoot 'Summer Concert Series' held at the City of Norwich's East Park stage every Thursday from July through August.
“The Chenango Blues Association and its core group of volunteers, many of which have stuck with the Blues Fest from the very beginning, works very hard each year to bring world-class talent and culture to our community,” said Larsen.
What's more, this year (for the first time ever) the Blues Foundation board eliminated a number of KBA categories as a way for the Committee to honor individuals who have excelled in a variety of KBA categories, according to KBA Committee Chairman Art Tipaldi.
“The slate of 15 winners includes individuals who have made a difference with their lengthy commitments to the blues,” said Tipaldi.
This year’s event is poised to be one of the best quality and heaviest attended on record thanks to its international recognition and ever-increasing caliber of acts to headline. Big name main stage acts the likes of Anders Osborne, Canned Heat and Duke Robillard promise to drag in fans of all ages from across the country.
“That being said, it wouldn't have ever been possible without the contributions of local businesses like NBT Bank of Norwich, and Preferred Mutual Insurance over in New Berlin, and grant assistance from the R.C. Smith Foundation and the Chenango Arts Council.”
In addition, a number of local businesses have pitched in to bring the first-ever “Blues Bus” shuttle service online to assist out-of-towners with getting around the City. The shuttle will make stops at a number of locations and attractions throughout the weekend adding another level of safety and convenience for all.
Thursday, August 18
7 p.m.: Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers- Free NBT Summer Conert Series show at the East Park Sound Stage
Friday, August 19
Frontier Communications - Free Friday night show, Chenango County Fair Grounds
6 - 6:45 p.m. - Funky Blu Roots
7:15 - 8:30 p.m. - Laurence Jones
9 - 10:30 p.m. - Davina and the Vagabonds
Blarney Stone Pub, Downtown –
9:30 p.m. - Michael Hill with special guests from Badweather Blues
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Sheffield Bio-Science Infield (Main) Stage
noon - 1 p.m. - Noah Wotherspoon
1:45 - 3 p.m.- Southern Avenue
4 - 5:15 p.m. - Curtis Salgado
6:15 - 7:30 p.m.- Canned Heat
8:45 - ? Anders Osborne
Nelson & Flanagan/Grouse Ridge Kennel Tent Stage
1 - 1:45 p.m. - Vanessa Collier Band
3 - 4 p.m. - Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons
5:15 - 6:15 p.m. - Duke Robillard Acoustic set
7:30 - 8:45 p.m. - Carolyn Wonderland Band
Blarney Stone Pub, Downtown –
10 p.m. – Vanessa Collier (Full Band) with Blues Fest special guests TBA
In typical fashion, convoys of die-hards in RV campers will flock to the Chenango County Fairgrounds where a crowd upwards of three thousand more isn’t unheard of.
Earlier this year, the Chenango County Blues Association – the nonprofit organization responsible for bringing the annual Chenango Blues Fest online in 1993 – was recently notified that the festival has been selected by the Blues Foundation to receive its top honor.
“It really came out of nowhere for us. We didn't apply for anything – we kind of just received a phone call one day and that was that,” said Chenango Blues Association (CBA) President Eric Larsen.
Founded in 1980, The Blues Foundation is Memphis-based, but world-renowned as the organization whose mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form.
While unexpected, Larsen and other representatives from the CBA are jumping at the opportunity to receive the accolade, and will head south to Memphis, Tenn. to attend the award ceremony. The ceremony just so happens to coincide with the 32nd International Blues Challenge beginning January 27, featuring the final rounds of the world's largest and most prestigious blues music competition.“We've never had the opportunity to attend the Blues Challenge —something I've always wanted to do — but now we have a perfect excuse to go down and actually be a part of it,” said Larsen.
The Blues Foundation honored 15 individuals and organizations in 2016’s ‘Keeping the Blues Alive’ (KBA) Awards during back in January.
Each year, the Blues Foundation presents the KBA Awards to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to blues music. The KBA, as well as seminars, showcases and receptions for blues societies, fans, and professionals.
According to Larsen, the model for the CBA's success is incremental growth over time. What started as a small affair with merely four acts in its first incarnation has morphed into a two-day, full-on festival complete with dozens of vendors, professional sound engineering, and on-site camping for the more than 3,000 locals and out-of-towners who came from as far as Atlanta in 2015.
Much in part to the festival's positive impact on local culture and the arts, the CBA was approached by corporate sponsor NBT Bank in 2015 with an offer of additional funding to enhance CBA's programming presence. The result: a marked increase in the number of “free” shows organized by the CBA in their offshoot 'Summer Concert Series' held at the City of Norwich's East Park stage every Thursday from July through August.
“The Chenango Blues Association and its core group of volunteers, many of which have stuck with the Blues Fest from the very beginning, works very hard each year to bring world-class talent and culture to our community,” said Larsen.
What's more, this year (for the first time ever) the Blues Foundation board eliminated a number of KBA categories as a way for the Committee to honor individuals who have excelled in a variety of KBA categories, according to KBA Committee Chairman Art Tipaldi.
“The slate of 15 winners includes individuals who have made a difference with their lengthy commitments to the blues,” said Tipaldi.
This year’s event is poised to be one of the best quality and heaviest attended on record thanks to its international recognition and ever-increasing caliber of acts to headline. Big name main stage acts the likes of Anders Osborne, Canned Heat and Duke Robillard promise to drag in fans of all ages from across the country.
“That being said, it wouldn't have ever been possible without the contributions of local businesses like NBT Bank of Norwich, and Preferred Mutual Insurance over in New Berlin, and grant assistance from the R.C. Smith Foundation and the Chenango Arts Council.”
In addition, a number of local businesses have pitched in to bring the first-ever “Blues Bus” shuttle service online to assist out-of-towners with getting around the City. The shuttle will make stops at a number of locations and attractions throughout the weekend adding another level of safety and convenience for all.
Thursday, August 18
7 p.m.: Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers- Free NBT Summer Conert Series show at the East Park Sound Stage
Friday, August 19
Frontier Communications - Free Friday night show, Chenango County Fair Grounds
6 - 6:45 p.m. - Funky Blu Roots
7:15 - 8:30 p.m. - Laurence Jones
9 - 10:30 p.m. - Davina and the Vagabonds
Blarney Stone Pub, Downtown –
9:30 p.m. - Michael Hill with special guests from Badweather Blues
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Sheffield Bio-Science Infield (Main) Stage
noon - 1 p.m. - Noah Wotherspoon
1:45 - 3 p.m.- Southern Avenue
4 - 5:15 p.m. - Curtis Salgado
6:15 - 7:30 p.m.- Canned Heat
8:45 - ? Anders Osborne
Nelson & Flanagan/Grouse Ridge Kennel Tent Stage
1 - 1:45 p.m. - Vanessa Collier Band
3 - 4 p.m. - Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons
5:15 - 6:15 p.m. - Duke Robillard Acoustic set
7:30 - 8:45 p.m. - Carolyn Wonderland Band
Blarney Stone Pub, Downtown –
10 p.m. – Vanessa Collier (Full Band) with Blues Fest special guests TBA
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