2011 Billtown Blues Festival ... yeah!

The first real sign of spring, at least to me, is when Billtown Blue Notes scribe Bill Wilson releases his press release on the upcoming Billtown Blues Festival, set this year for noon to 10 p.m. June 12 at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds. Bill knows his blues and is a gifted writer, so instead of me doing a lame rewrite of his release, I'm including his intro containing pertinent festival info in the text to this blog and am adding a link to the Billtown Blues Association website where all of the artists' biographical info can be accessed.

Before you do that, though, I have to point out something about this year's festival that has got me stoked beyond words ...

I'm extremely excited this year (not that I'm not excited every year) because California-based harmonica madman Mark Hummel is bringing his Harmonica Blowout to this year's festival. Mark has been hosting the Blowout, which typically features a handful of the world's best blues harp players on the same stage, for years. Some of the shows have been released as CDs (I've got Volume 2 ... it rocks!). In addition to Mark, the festival "blowout" will feature heavyweights such as Phil Wiggins, Jerry Portnoy and Steve Guyger. That is a whole festival worth of talent in one unbelievable set!

Okay, got that off my chest. Heeeeere's Bill!

(Written by Bill Wilson, Billtown Blues Association)

Williamsport, PA is an area with a long standing musical heritage. It not only maintained at least one opera house in its early days but was visited by such luminaries as Louis Armstrong and more. Many musicians chose to make this area home. They or remnants of their families still live in the area. Upon reflection I can remember two with ties to the Big Band Era and two harmonica players who were among the best I have heard. In 1990 the Billtown Blues Association (BBA) was formed to help promote blues music in this area, and twenty-two years later the Billtown Blues Festival is still going strong. What began with a few local and regional acts playing on a small stage on Canfield Lane, now draws record crowds. The festival, held the second Sunday in June, is a family-friendly event with the main stage offering a diversified range of blues acts, an acoustic tent that includes a harmonica workshop for children, food and craft vendors, a CD tent for performer’s merchandise, and the BBA membership and merchandise tent. This festival has attracted people from all over the country, not to mention the occasional international visitor. We have a reputation among artists as a festival they enjoy playing. Set in the beautiful Susquehanna Valley, at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville, the festival will host nine acts. Our journey into the blues has introduced us to everyone from local favorites Blue Willie & the Billtown Jukes, The Impromptu Blues Band and Queen Bee & the Blue Hornets to blues legends Luther Allison, Jimmy Rogers, Pinetop Perkins and many more. This year the BBA received a Keeping the Blues Alive Award, presented by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN for our Association’s efforts in promoting the blues through this festival, our many events, newsletter, and website. This year’s line-up will include The Porkroll Project, George Kilby Jr. & the Road Dogs, Laurie Morvan Band, Big James & the Chicago Playboys, Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout, Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang, Doug McMinn’s 30th Anniversary Band, Shawn Strickland, Andy Barnhart & “Big Mitch” Ivanoff. It promises to be a great day of entertainment featuring a little bit of something for everybody. The festival begins at noon with the gates opening at 11a.m. As in years past, coolers will be permitted, but we do ask that no glass be brought in. A bus will run from various points in Williamsport to the fairgrounds and back for those who would rather leave the driving to someone else. Tickets are $18 in advance, $23 at the gate, with those under 16 admitted free. The show will be held rain or shine and all ticket sales are final. The ticket price is comparable to what it would cost to see a single band at most venues. Don’t miss this opportunity to see some fine blues bands do what they do best. For complete details, including ticket locations, bus schedules, lodging, camping, directions and more visit us on the web at www.billtownblues.org.