Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Fest June 25 & 26

[GN YAKN]

The Blues Fest is in need of volunteers to sell Blues Bucks and to check ID's. In exchange for working a 2 1/2 hour shift you will get free admission, $10 in Blues Bucks and a coupon for $2 off merchandise. (Total value of $22!!!)

We need volunteers!!! Please call Cathy Hill at 479-561-4552 if you can help. More information on the line up of acts, show times, shifts, etc. at:

http://www.riverfrontbluesfest.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The River Valley Chapter of the ACC has been active as both volunteers and as attendees for many, many years. Hope our local members can come out again this year to support the 20th annual festival. See the line up of acts on the website. Couple of my favorites are Grace Potter, Band of Heathens, JJ Grey & Mofro and, of course, Delbert McClinton.

Thanks!!!

Dave

PS: Local favorites Copesetic will be opening the show both nights. Hunter Smith, (legendary picker from the Barking Spyders!) plays with Copesetic!!! Come out and party with us!

[GN YAKN]

Oops! Was just reminded that this is the same weekend as Rec School. Sorry Liz! Now I remember begging off of helping at Rec School because I was already comitted to working the Blues Fest.

Note: If you have to choose one or the other, choose to help Liz with Rec School!!!!! Both are very fine events and need volunteer help.

There are probably other clean-ups and other events going on as well. Isn't it great to have options!!!

Volunteering for any worthy event sure makes the event more fun to attend. Nothing like the good feeling of a job well done!!!

I'm fortunate to have time these days to do stuff like this.

Dave

[GN YAKN]

Bump:

Weather forecast a break in the heat for Friday, it will only be 95!!!!

Watching the weather last night and Sunday's high beat the record. The record was set in 2009!!!

Hope we get the break in the heat that is forecast for this Friday.

The venue is shaded by 8:00 each evening which really takes the heat off! (Pun intended)

[Wildwood]

I guess those of us at Rec school will just have to think of Blues, huh? Coming back from Hot Springs yesterday I listened to Buddy Guy singing "Feels Like Rain" several times on my iPod. I was thinking I bet Renee could use that song for some good music for one of her videos.
Jan

[GN YAKN]

The weather finally broke!!! It won't be over 100 today!!!

Seriously, brave the heat and come down to the river front tonight!

Copesetic starts at 6:00 featuring RBF Guitar Hero Hunter Smith

Wisebird from 7 - 8

Band of Heathens from 8:20 - 9:30 and..................

Grace Potter from 10 - 11:30

Hope to see everyone (that's not helping Liz at Rec School) out at the show!

Dave

[GN YAKN]

Whew! Great Show!

Friday: Weather was hot and steamy but no rain! Small crowd for a really great show. Hunter Smith and Copesetic opened both nights. Wisebird, Band of Heathens and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were well received by the crowd of about 2,000 folks.

Saturday: Pop Up Thunderstorms threatened all day. It rained a couple of times but the crowd just waited out the showers and the show went on. All of the shows were great and JJ Gray and Mofro as well as Delbert McClinton put on really fine shows. Crowd was probably around 3,000.

We received many nice compliments from the artists about the festival organization and the friendliness of the people. We are very fortunate to have this event in our city. Hope we can put on another 20 years of shows!!! Join us when you can.....

Now, I need a nap!

Dave

[Owl]

I kind of hate to admit it but I've lived in Ft. Smith for over 30 years and Friday was the first time I made it to the Blues Fest. I had a great time!. The performers were fabulous, the sound system was first-rate, the vendors were very friendly and the whole atmosphere was just a lot of fun. I would have gone back again Saturday if hadn't been worn out from being at Rockport all day.

I'll definitely go back next year. Kudos to all the volunteers who make it a such great event.

[GN YAKN]

Hunter Smith made the front page of the local paper on Saturday with a shot of him wailing on the guitar:



And Ben "Bennie Ho" Horton on bass: