It was a day made to order for a blues festival. Warm but beautiful. As I walked into the entrance gate of the Eagle's Bluff Golf Course, it even looked like a festival. Chef Farrell Ray had his famous apple wood smoker going full steam, turning short ribs and pork steaks into delectable plates sided with crab salad, baked beans and coleslaw fit for the event. Also in the air was the unmistakable smell of kettle corn. There were other vendors in the main dining area with pulled pork sandwiches, ice cream and too many more to mention. Also, available there was the collectible T-shirt to mark the first annual event along with other mentionable items from the Chamber of commerce to help put Clarksville, MO on the map. With breathtaking views from the bluffs of the golf course, there wasn't a bad seat in the field. There were big tents out in the fields with plenty of seating, and some stayed close to the covered patio in the Bluff Restaurant. There were three exterior portable bars including a "chiki-hut" set up around the Bluff Restaurant for convenience so all of the systems said "GO" to launch the first annual "Clarksville Blues Festival" — the brain-child of Clarissa & John Boyd, promoters and hosts.
Although most blues bands hate being labled, or catagorized, the first question that comes out of a friend or family is: "What were they like?" Most blues fans will tell you that there are so many levels or styles within the description of blues, that one will often attach a style to a band so that one can describe what they experienced during the concert. Is it old school? Chicago? Down south Memphis blues? Plain? Accompanied with a horn section? So there you go. Get my drift?
Right on schedule 12:00 noon, Catfish and the Big Boss Blues Band hit the stage with fellow musician Jerry Epperson sitting in. I'd say that the sound of Catfish and the Big Boss Blues Band is a more uplifting or jazzy blues with crisp horns and bright points. Bouncy at times and that's cool. Jumping. Jiving. Soon following Catfish and the Big Boss Blues Band was Crying Shame Band. Now here you go. More raw. Edgier. Stevie Ray-ish. Equipped with a slide lead guitarist and smooth harmonica. They rocked the blues. It's really interesting think about just how many styles of blues there are. My primary job of the day was photographer for Eagle's Bluff Golf Course, so I really didn't get to hear every song and I'm certainly no expert on the blues, just a big fan. My main objective was to record the day's events so I was focused on everything and everybody. As I look at my images, I can remember just how impressive these bands were. I can't give you a play by play of each and every band, but I can tell you that the day was amazing. It may have brought out many different types of people, but they all had one thing in common. A love for the blues. They were all over the grounds. Standing in front of the stage, sitting under a tent with a party or large group. Some laying on a blanket in the grass. The main stage was in a natural valley, a low point in a bowl-like shape. Under trees for shade or sitting in various parts of the field, the sounds reverberated as far away as 600 yards ... and no matter where I stood, it was like I was in front of the stage. The sound just carried perfectly. As the day rocked along, Ground Floor Band, David Dee and the Hot Tracks and the Soulard Blues Band gave the fans their money's worth. As an avid concert goer, I'll easily drop $50 - $70 to see 2 - 3 bands unless it's a Vans Warped Tour or MayhemFest and often those are a let-down. This was just $20.00 for 6 great bands.
Now comes the moment we all waited for. The headliner. Sugar Blue. It was just about dusk. 7:30 ish and the bands before him are all running a little long. About an hour and a half long by time Sugar Blue takes the stage. The lights came on and so did the bugs. For about the first 45 minutes of their first set, the bugs swarmed the lights and performers. But the troopers and professionals they are, they put the bugs aside and played their hearts out. I mean they rocked the house. Sugar Blue is a masterful harp player. His guitarist is a finger-flying mad-man on lead. I've never heard anyone faster. His riffs were tenacious and tight. The bass guitarist also takes no prisoners when it comes to talent; and flanked to her left and right is drums and keyboards. All professional. And all worthy of headlining. Just as soon as the bugs came out, the coolness of the night air sent them all away, back into their buggy beds, wherever that is. And the Sugar Blue band played on. Halfway through the set ,the band leaves the stage and the maestro, Sugar Blue, girded with his gospel voice, superior harp, microphone and amps, performed a solo that mesmerized everyone.
The night wouldn't have been complete without his claim to fame. Sugar Blue is perhaps best known for his signature riff and solo on the Rolling Stones' hit "Miss You" from their Some Girls album. He performed a similar and familiar version but not a Rolling Stone knock off. Once again, he pleased all. Throughout the day, most hung back at a "comfortable to them" position in the field and grooved, but when Sugar Blue played, they all rushed the stage and boogie-woogied with the best. Will there be a second annual "Clarksville Blues Festival"?
I'd bet on it.